Ending with Hope

Introduction

I want you to fill in a blank for me to start the morning...

I sure hope that I can __________.

Go ahead. Think of something you’re ‘hoping’ for, and put it in the blank. I sure hope I can, make it through the message without sleeping! I sure hope I can steer clear of COVID! Save enough money for Christmas presents! Get my kids, family, friends, wife something meaningful! Get the job I desire!

How about this one… See some peace in our country.

What is it? What is it that you would fill in the blank with.

For me, in this moment, I would say this. I hope that I can communicate the genuine and true hope that you have or can have in Jesus.

For the follower of Jesus tuning in this morning, I hope I can remind you of the hope you have. Maybe it’s been gone for a while, maybe it’s been missing. Maybe you’ve lost of little bit of the awe and wonder that you’ve had before in Jesus. Maybe the world has jaded you a little bit.

For those of you tuning in that are still processing your thoughts about Jesus, I sure hope that I can help you see what is there, waiting, in the person and work of Jesus. I hope I can show you that the lure of the world, although so nice and shiny, will never equate to the hope that you can have in Jesus.

If you’ve been following along, today, we arrive at the very last message of our 1 Peter study. If you have a bible that you’re following along with, we’re in 1 Peter 5:10-14 and we’ve been in 1 Peter since the beginning of June.

If you don’t, that’s okay, just download our JPC app on all app stores and make sure to hit the Bible portion to follow along. That’s also where you can see previous messages, keep up with Message Notes, and for those that call Journey Point home, that’s where you can give back to God what is his through the GIVE portion.

Peter is a book written by someone that was a follower of Jesus. To the world, he looked like a failed follower at times. Someone that let the world get in the way, and someone that even denied Jesus at one point. But overcoming that after Jesus rose from the grave, he wrote this letter to a group of people that were going through a lot. These people had been scattered, dispersed, persecuted, and some even killed because of their faith in Jesus. What was going on then would make 2020 look like your best life now! :)

And as you’d have it, just as Peter started off way back in June in chapter 1, here in the last several verses, he reminds this crew about the HOPE they have in Jesus.

But not only that, he reminds them ultimately that it Ends with Hope.

Ending with Hope.

Come on, type out end with hope in the comments. If you remember ANYTHING today, remember that it ENDS WITH HOPE! As every single day should.

And I think this is a message for us today, right? I don’t know where you are. Financially, relationally, mentally, socially, or wherever, but I know this… 2020 has been tough. It’s been hard. We have racial injustices going on and division around that. We have a Pandemic. We have political turmoil and division down party lines. It’s a struggle.

But you know what… I know how to end it and I know how it ends… It Ends with HOPE. In Jesus.

Let me pray, then lets read 1 Peter 5:10-14 and see what that hope calls us to do.

1 Peter 5:10–14 CSB

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. To him be dominion forever. Amen. Through Silvanus, a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

1 Peter 5:10 CSB

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.

He will Restore.

He will Establish.

He will Strenthen.

He will support.

Listen, the God of the universe, who created the air we breathe, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you.

I don’t know where you are or what’s going on, but that is Hope on a dark day no matter who you are. And this isn’t the first pandemic that God has brought his people through. If your marriage is hurting, it’s not the first marriage he’s restored or re-established. You aren’t the first person he’s strengthen on a tough day. You aren’t the first person he’s supported or lifted up.

Today, no matter your situation, with a faith in the person and work of Jesus… it ENDS WITH HOPE!!!!!

And listen, because it ends with hope, Peter reminds his readers to do 3 things.

Exalt God.

1 Peter 5:11 CSB

To him be dominion forever. Amen.

Endure Everything.

1 Peter 5:12 CSB

Through Silvanus, a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

Embrace Everyone.

1 Peter 5:13–14 CSB

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

When you go to bed tonight, tell a friend, a roommate, a spouse, a family member, whomever, that it ends with HOPE!