The Blessing of Hope

Romans 15:13 NKJV

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:3–5 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Secure in His Promise: The Blessing of Hope

INTRODUCTION

WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING WHEN LIFE GETS HARD?

WHAT GIVES YOU STRENGTH IN SEASONS OF UNCERTAINTY OR SORROW?

Life is a series of seasons. Sometimes, we walk through valleys of shadows, facing challenges that seem overwhelming

It is during these times that our hearts are heavy and our spirits weary.

But Romans 15:13 reminds us that our God is a God of hope.

He sees our struggles, understands our pain, and He promises to fill us with joy and peace, even when circumstances suggest otherwise.

AS WE CLOSE THIS SERIES, WE FOCUS ON THE BLESSING OF ETERNAL HOPE THAT SUSTAINS US THROUGH TRIALS, OFFERING US PEACE AND JOY EVEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT SEASONS OF LIFE.

IT IS THE PROMISE OF HOPE—THE SENSE THAT SOMETHING BETTER IS COMING…..

HOLD ON…..THINGS ARE GONNA GET BETTER…..

THIS TOO SHALL PASS…..

THE BIBLE TELLS US

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE A HOPE THAT GOES BEYOND BEING OPTIMISTIC.

OUR HOPE IS ROOTED IN THE PROMISES OF GOD, SECURED BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

THIS HOPE IS NOT JUST FOR THE DISTANT FUTURE; IT TRANSFORMS THE WAY WE LIVE TODAY.

IT KEEPS US THROUGH TRIALS, GIVES US JOY IN THE MIDST OF SORROW, AND OFFERS PEACE EVEN WHEN THE WORLD AROUND US IS CHAOTIC.

CHRISTIAN HOPE IS MORE THAN JUST POSITIVE THINKING.

IT IS A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION BASED ON THE UNSHAKABLE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD.

AND TODAY, WE WILL EXPLORE HOW THIS HOPE SHAPES OUR LIVES, GIVES US STRENGTH, AND POINTS US TOWARD THE BLESSING—ETERNAL LIFE WITH CHRIST

MAIN TEACHING

HOPE ROOTED IN THE PROMISES OF GOD

AT THE HEART OF OUR CHRISTIAN HOPE IS THE ASSURANCE THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES.

ROMANS 15:13 SAYS, “MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE AS YOU TRUST IN HIM, SO THAT YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

BROTHER PAUL CALLS GOD THE GOD OF HOPE.

OUR HOPE DOESN’T COME FROM CIRCUMSTANCES, OTHER PEOPLE, OR EVEN OUR OWN ABILITIES.

IT COMES FROM THE VERY NATURE OF GOD HIMSELF.

HE IS THE SOURCE OF HOPE BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES.

THE WORLD OFFERS MANY FALSE HOPES—PROMISES OF SUCCESS, SECURITY, AND HAPPINESS THAT OFTEN FAIL TO DELIVER.

BUT THE HOPE WE HAVE IN CHRIST IS DIFFERENT.

IT IS BASED ON THE SOLID ROCK OF GOD’S WORD, HIS CHARACTER, AND HIS COVENANT WITH US THROUGH JESUS.

WHEN GOD PROMISES SOMETHING, HE WILL FULFILL IT.

THIS HOPE FILLS US WITH JOY AND PEACE BECAUSE IT IS NOT BASED ON WHAT WE CAN SEE IN THE HERE AND NOW, BUT ON THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF GOD.

EVEN WHEN LIFE IS UNCERTAIN OR PAINFUL, WE CAN HOLD ON TO THE PROMISES OF GOD, KNOWING THAT HIS PLANS FOR US ARE GOOD.

READ 1 PETER 1:3-5

1 Peter 1:3–5 NKJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 PETER 1:3-5 REMINDS US THAT WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN INTO A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD.

OUR HOPE IS ALIVE BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE.

THIS LIVING HOPE GUARANTEES OUR INHERITANCE IN HEAVEN, A PROMISE THAT IS “IMPERISHABLE, UNDEFILED, AND UNFADING.”

THE RESURRECTION IS THE PROOF THAT GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES, AND IT GIVES US THE CONFIDENCE THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE FACE, OUR FUTURE IS SECURE IN HIM.

HOPE THAT SUSTAINS US THROUGH TRIALS

THE BLESSING OF HOPE IS NOT JUST FOR THE GOOD TIMES; IT’S ESPECIALLY FOR THE HARD TIMES.

IT’S EASY TO FEEL HOPEFUL WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL, BUT TRUE CHRISTIAN HOPE SHINES BRIGHTEST IN THE DARKEST SEASONS.

THIS IS NOT A NAIVE OPTIMISM THAT IGNORES THE REALITY OF SUFFERING.

RATHER, IT IS A DEEP, ABIDING CONFIDENCE THAT GOD IS WITH US IN THE MIDST OF OUR TRIALS, AND THAT THESE TRIALS ARE TEMPORARY IN LIGHT OF THE ETERNAL GLORY THAT AWAITS US.

PETER WRITES IN 1 PETER 1:6-7 THAT WE MAY HAVE TO SUFFER GRIEF IN ALL KINDS OF TRIALS, BUT THESE TRIALS REFINE OUR FAITH AND MAKE IT EVEN MORE PRECIOUS.

CHRISTIAN HOPE DOESN’T DENY THE EXISTENCE OF PAIN; IT SEES BEYOND THE PAIN TO THE GREATER PURPOSE AND THE ULTIMATE VICTORY.

OUR TRIALS ARE NOT THE END OF THE STORY.

THEY ARE PART OF A LARGER PICTURE THAT GOD IS SHAPING TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY.

THIS IS WHY WE CAN HAVE PEACE AND EVEN JOY IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.

NOT BECAUSE WE ARE IMMUNE TO PAIN, BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR SUFFERING IS NOT MEANINGLESS.

WE ARE SUSTAINED BY THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE WITH CHRIST, A HOPE THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY BY ANY EARTHLY CIRCUMSTANCE.

AS PAUL WRITES IN ROMANS 8:18, “I CONSIDER THAT OUR PRESENT SUFFERINGS ARE NOT WORTH COMPARING WITH THE GLORY THAT WILL BE REVEALED IN US.”

I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I WENT THROUGH A SEASON OF CAR TROUBLES…OUR FORD EXPLORER HAD A BAD TRANSMISSION AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC I FOUND ON CRAIGSLIST….THATS WHEN IT ALL WENT DOWN HILL….

HAD MY TRUCK FOR OVER A MONTH…..MAKING EXCUSES…STOLE MY TRANSMISSION……TOOK HIM TO COURT….

HAD TO CALL THE POLICE….HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED TO ANOTHER PLACE…..

BORROWED A CO WORKERS TRUCK…..THAT BROKE DOWN ON ME…

TRYING TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK….AND GO TO SEMINARY SCHOOL…

EVEN IN OUR SEASON OF CAR WOES…

HOPE ANCHORED IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

OUR HOPE IS NOT JUST A FEELING OR AN ABSTRACT CONCEPT—IT IS ANCHORED IN A HISTORICAL EVENT: THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION, OUR HOPE WOULD BE EMPTY.

BUT BECAUSE JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD, WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT DEATH IS NOT THE END.

OUR FUTURE IS SECURE BECAUSE CHRIST HAS CONQUERED THE GRAVE.

THIS ETERNAL HOPE SHAPES THE WAY WE LIVE TODAY.

WE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN FEAR OF DEATH OR DISCOURAGEMENTS IN THE DOWNFALL OF THIS WORLD.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

WE LIVE WITH THE CONFIDENT EXPECTATION THAT THE SAME POWER THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD IS AT WORK IN US, AND THAT ONE DAY WE WILL BE RAISED WITH HIM.

THIS HOPE GIVES US COURAGE TO FACE LIFE’S CHALLENGES AND TO PERSEVERE THROUGH DIFFICULT SEASONS, KNOWING THAT OUR FUTURE WITH CHRIST IS GUARANTEED.

AS PAUL SAYS IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58, “THEREFORE, MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, STAND FIRM. LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN.” OUR HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION INSPIRES US TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE AND PASSION, KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING WE DO FOR CHRIST MATTERS IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY.

CONCLUSION

AS WE COME TO THE CLOSE OF THIS SERIES ON "COUNTING YOUR MANY BLESSINGS,"WE ARE REMINDED OF THE MANY WAYS GOD HAS BLESSED US.

1. IN WEEK 1, WE REFLECTED ON THE BLESSING OF SALVATION: THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL, FREELY GIVEN THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE SAVED NOT BY OUR WORKS BUT BY GOD’S GRACE, AND THIS SALVATION TRANSFORMS OUR LIVES IN THE HERE AND NOW.

2. IN WEEK 2, WE FOCUSED ON THE BLESSING OF PROVISION: RECOGNIZING GOD’S FAITHFUL CARE IN PROVIDING FOR ALL OUR NEEDS—SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND MATERIALLY. WE LEARNED TO TRUST IN HIS GOODNESS AND TO LIVE WITH CONTENTMENT, KNOWING THAT HE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH.

3. AND TODAY, WE CONCLUDE WITH THE BLESSING OF HOPE: THE CONFIDENT EXPECTATION THAT GOD’S PROMISES ARE TRUE, THAT OUR FUTURE IS SECURE IN CHRIST, AND THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE FACE, WE CAN LIVE WITH PEACE, JOY, AND PURPOSE BECAUSE OUR HOPE IS ANCHORED IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

APPLICATION:

AS WE GO FROM HERE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REFLECT ON THESE BLESSINGS AND HOW THEY SHAPE YOUR LIFE

1. LIVE IN THE ASSURANCE OF YOUR SALVATION: REJOICE DAILY IN THE FACT THAT YOU ARE SAVED BY GRACE AND THAT THIS GIFT TRANSFORMS YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

2. TRUST IN GOD’S PROVISION: RELEASE YOUR WORRIES ABOUT TOMORROW, KNOWING THAT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER CARES FOR YOUR EVERY NEED.

3. ANCHOR YOUR HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION: NO MATTER WHAT TRIALS COME YOUR WAY, REMEMBER THAT YOUR FUTURE IS SECURE IN CHRIST, AND LIVE EACH DAY WITH CONFIDENCE AND JOY IN HIS PROMISES.

IN THIS SEASON OF THANKSGIVING, IT IS A PERFECT TIME TO COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS… TO REFLECT ON THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN OUR LIVES AND TO LEAN INTO OUR FAITH.

ESPECIALLY AS THE NEXT SEASON, ADVENT & CHRISTMAS, ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER…

FINAL PRAYER TOGETHER:

“GOD OF HOPE, WE THANK YOU FOR THE ASSURANCE THAT OUR FUTURE IS SECURE IN YOU THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. FILL OUR HEARTS WITH PEACE AND JOY, REMINDING US THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE FACE, OUR HOPE IS ANCHORED IN YOUR UNSHAKABLE PROMISES. HELP US TO LIVE AS PEOPLE OF HOPE, REFLECTING YOUR LOVE, YOUR PROVISION, AND YOUR GRACE IN ALL WE DO. IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.”