What Can Hope Do?

• Previously we addressed, “Where is your hope?” • Hope is a well-grounded expectation of something yet future • For Christians, hope is such an expectation of something better when Where is your this life is over HOPE? • “Hope” is found about 150 times in scripture • Romans 8:24-25, based upon what is unseen • Hebrews 11:1, faith build our hope • 1 Thessalonians 4:13, our hope sets us apart Where is your from the world HOPE? • 2 Timothy 1:12 • • • • • • Sources of our hope include: God Himself God’s word to us Jesus coming to this earth His resurrection His promised return Where is your HOPE? What can HOPE do for you? Hope (2) • • • • It can give us faith Faith in Christ and love for our brethren Colossians 1:3-5, both faith and love were motivated by hope Hebrews 11:1 – faith is the assurance of what we What can for hope HOPE Faith is meaningless do for you? without hope • • • • It can give us peace Romans 15:13, Paul’s desire was that the “God of hope” would fill them with joy and peace Philippians 4:6-7 Colossians 3:15, Let the peace of God rule in your hearts What can Hope can be a calm as HOPE we are facing anxiety in this do for you? life It can give us rejoicing • Romans 15:13, Paul’s desire was that the “God of hope” would fill them with joy and peace • Romans 12:12, rejoicing in hope • Thinking about what awaits us, it ought to cause joyful What can anticipation HOPE (consider songs we sing) do for you? • • • • It can cause joy in adversity Joy, EVEN in troubling times Romans 5:3-5, tribulations can produce much good, including hope Many examples in scripture – Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25), the apostles (Acts 5:41), What can sacrifice (2 Paul’s HOPE Corinthians 12:15) do for you? Hope gives us perspective It can cause purification • 1 John 3:1-3, everyone who has this hope purifies himself • Hope gives us reason to live pure lives. We willingly give up impurities the world seems to accept (clothing, places, language, entertainment,…) • What can2 Corinthians 7:1 HOPE do for you? • • • • • It can cause us to give benefit of the doubt 1 Corinthians 13:7, Love,…hopes all things… We live in pessimistic times. People have lost faith in each other as a rule (some deserved). Cynicism. Why? A lack of hope What can We must not give up on HOPE do people, for you? assume the best Be optimistic! • • • • It can cause us to defend our 1 Peter 3:15, give a defensefaith for the hope that is in us When hope is strong, we will GLADLY defend our faith 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, John 4:35 What can 1 Corinthians 9:22, all HOPE things to all men do for you? • • • • • It will give your life purpose Ephesians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, this is NOT us! We have real purpose! We have a goal greater than this life 1 Peter 1:13, 6:18-19, WhatHebrews can Colossians 1:5, HOPE do for1you? Thessalonians 5:8 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 It will encourage you to keep going • Incentive to not give up! • Problems are not the end! We don’t quit because of setbacks, etc. • Hebrews 10:23, endurance • Titus 2:11-13, looking for the blessed hope, we live What can • Hebrews 3:6 HOPE • do for you? Luke 9:62 “Now hope does not disappoint” Romans 5:5 In this uncertain world, how is your hope? Let us pray!