Hope

Father in Heaven, how wonderful it is to come to you and to worship you this is a indication of what will be in eternity the ability to stand before you the Mighty God and to worship you and rejoice in you but to do so with perfect. Peace. Perfect Wonder perfect Joy. We praise you and give you glory and we thank you, but you're here present in power and strength. Your spirit is here to each Art. Thank you for that. Pray that your spirit would be here to guide mine as I speak the words that you have placed upon my heart. May your spirit guide and direct. And give strength and power to them.

We glory in your father in the name of Jesus, Amen. Amen, well, we've reached the last of the great gifts of God as we've been going through RF month of November and it's been exciting for me to look back and see those things and I could have had it actually a little bit more. You know, God doesn't stop at for gifts. There are many gifts that we have received because we trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but I thought these four were powerful and important for us to see the first being salvation. The next is presents and the next what we can purpose for our lives his purpose that is given for our lives and finally we get down to hope the whole idea of Hope and it's not a hole Wow, I sure hope this happens. It's the great hope that we have because of all that God has done in our lives to lead us to that point the hope that we have because we have salvation the hope we have because he is his presence is here in our lives the hope that we have because he's giving her purpose for our lives. So we have a hope that is found in the reality of what God has been doing in our lot, and this is exciting. This is a great hope and I want to start it off by reading a passage from Romans. Chapter 5 remember Romans, is that great a picture of the Roman Road that we have towards salvation and salvation does occur we get the chapter 5 and it talks about what it is doing for us. Think about the hope that this is explaining here. It really covers everything that I've already talked about and War it says therefore since we have been Justified you have been made, right? If you know Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior through faith. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. You see we were enemies with God. We were going the wrong way, but we have made peace because through faith. We have trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through whom we have gained access by faith into the grace in which we now stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God is great presents bounding in our lives and in our presence in the future, not only so but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance perseverance character character and character. Hope You see all that we're going through is giving us a greater evidence of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ all the great things that happen in our lives and all the struggles. God has given us those who help us draw near to him continuing on and hope does not disappoint us because God poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who he has given us. Yeah, his see his great presence in our lives that is truly made a difference that is changed the direction of Our Lives for all eternity. He's there and he's there forever. He is with us. So that's the great hope that we have we're going to look at three different areas of the hope that we have. The first one is of course salvation and that is salvation through Christ. We're going to look at that. The second one is our work and essentially that's the purpose that God has given for our lives for Christ. And finally it is our eternity. And that is the hope that we have and look to God for for all eternity by Christ is he crisis wrapped up in all of this? And it is by him and through him that we truly have come to know the Living Lord back to Romans chapter 10, and he's gone through and talk through the whole process and how it all accounts and then he goes through how this occurred in our lives and it verses 9 and 10 of Romans 10. It says if you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. Bernese with a heart that you believe in or justified in his with a mouth that you profess your faith in are saved. In other words, it comes down to Jesus Christ. Do I truly believe that he did what he did? In other words, he was the Living God in heaven and he chose by his love for mankind to come to Earth to live the perfect life. To die on a cross shedding his blood to cover my sins. And then was raised again.

after his death Okay through all of that if I believe that and he is in heaven now. We need to come back and redeem us. I believe he's gone and he's done all this and when I accept that and come before him and ask him to forgive my sins and cleanse me and come into my life he does so and so I can Proclaim him as a matter of fact, that's the desire is to Proclaim that Jesus Christ is my God and my king. And that's what it's called us to UC. It's all wrapped around Jesus Christ. And when we've talked about all those things that we've talked about in glory in in this month all the Thanksgiving we have the Living God. It's all bound around our relationship with Jesus Christ. It says so over and over again and scripture that that's the key to life. You know, it's there's a lot of other things that come on in life and we think about those things but nothing makes the difference. Unless Christ is a part of it. Gets grounded John first John chapter 5, you know and he's gone through a lot of different things here and he gets down towards the end and he wants people to understand it through Christ and in John 1st John 5:12. He says Whoever has the son has life. Whoever does not have a son does not have

you see that? It's Jesus Christ and him alone is not Jesus Christ and somebody out something else. It's Jesus Christ Alone. Now think about that a little bit. Sometimes we want to add things to it and somebody will come along and say okay, I believe in Jesus Christ, but I want to make sure that all my bases are covered. So I believe in Confucianism. I believe in Islam as being a part of that. I believe in Hinduism and all of those things, you know, if that's the attitude in you don't really believe in Jesus Christ.

You believe okay. I got to cover all the bases, but it's not Christ Alone. what the Bible says over and over again that is only through Jesus Christ, and that's the only way That we can find Salvation. And if you put anything else in there, it's like setting up a whole bunch of different Idols in your house and say okay. I'm going to follow all these different things. That's not the way God looks at it. He says one I am the one I am the only way the only hope Paul expresses this when he writes the Timothy remember Timothy was his follower and he brought Timothy along. He taught him scripture. He helped them get involved in Ministry. And then finally Timothy becomes a leader of a number of different churches in his time and he says to Timothy and verse Timothy 1:1 Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our savior and Christ Jesus our hope Is he he wants everyone to understand Jesus Christ is the Hope is not one of the hopes. He is the only hope and it happens because of the evidences that we have seen in life. God has given us a multitude of evidences, but the greatest evidence of all is his resurrection from the dead on the third day. Did he prove his power in his strength to overcome death? We read that in in 1st Corinthians earlier on in the service that the resurrection from the dead made all the difference because it proved who Jesus Christ That he truly is the Son of God and he truly has the power over death 1st. Peter 1:3 says this praise be to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Great Mercy. He has given us a new birth into a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

See, I know that I will rise again when this body finally comes to an end.

Not because I'm so good or I'm so righteous. But because my savior my Lord did it before me and I will follow his example and raised from the dead. Because he promised it he promised I would and I hope that you have that great. Hope in you as well that I will rise from the dead because Christ did so before me he did. So to show me that I have the way and he did so to show you that you have that way in your life salvation has come to you. And as if you have received it, you have that great. Hope at great. Hope will cover a little bit more of that as we move along. But let's let's go ahead and get to the second part the work the work we've been called too and that's essentially the purpose that we covered last week, but we're going to go through it again. The work is for Christ when you were alive. What are you doing it for? What is the purpose for that work? And I want you to understand that it's the center on Jesus Christ. I can do a lot of things in my life. You know, I can have a really nice car or or I can have a wonderful home or have a great job or I can have a wonderful family. You know, if you want to get real close to it wonderful family and kids and I can rejoice and celebrate in that but the only thing that you do in this life that has anything that helps your eternity is the work you do for Jesus.

You can have a great time in life. But if Christ isn't the center of that time if it isn't involved in his life, it really isn't going to mean anything for the life that you live. It's Jesus Christ. That's the focus. Paul you know, he was in the room in prison and in the wrong prison, he wrote for different books that he sent off and part of you know, what the ministry that God called him to think about that. Okay. We think of situations are called into and sometimes those situation seem like well, I can't do anything in this place. Well here he is in a Roman prison and he writes four gospels. He ministers to literally every one of a Caesars main guard. Those aren't any ministers to the Church of Rome as they visit and see him. He has a Ministry there everyone who came to him. He would had an opportunity to minister to and sew in Philippians. He writes these words. Probably one of the great verses of the Bible for me. Anyway, it says I eagerly inspect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed. But will have sufficient courage so that now is always Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or death. For me to live is Christ and to die. You see Christ was a sinner of his life no matter what he was doing and though people thought well, he's in prison now, so I get to elevate my Ministry because he's in prison didn't matter to him price was being exalted if Christ is exalted. It doesn't matter what I look like, it's what he looks like this so important and that should be a part of each of Our Lives because that's the purpose that you and I were called to when you said you are my Lord and My Savior Jesus Christ, did you really mean that is a truly your lord and savior and that's the big question that each of us have if he's your lord and savior, then you'll live for him. Just as Paul says I live for Jesus Christ and if I die, that's okay. I'll be with him. You know and he will my life. And so it's all about number one. Are you being changed? The number to are you helping change others because of your life and you see it's all about people is not about things. It's not about possessions. It's not about those things that we do. But it's about how we influence the lives of others. Am I changing People? in 2nd Corinthians, 170 says in our hope for you is firm because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also

in other words, he's talking about the people he ministers to those people who he has ministered to of game comfort from his words, even though they may go through struggles and trials in life that he has had an influence on them and he's making a difference in their lives and he's riding back to them and saying, you know, you're the ones that make the difference. It's part of our ministry in the Gulf our ministry to others. Again, moving on in 2nd Corinthians 2 chapter 3 verses 8 and 9 it says will not the ministry of the spirit be even more glorious. And this is speaking of the law always talked about the law and how important the law was because it gave us guidelines for living Our Lives, you know, what happened with the law failure everyone who tried to live by the law failed and they weren't able to do it. Why because we're simple creatures and we will send You know any saying and and so he's saying these words raysby will not the ministry of the spirit be even more glorious if the ministry that brought condemnation the law was glorious how much more glorious is a Ministry that brings righteousness. You see the Lord taught us how to behave but righteousness clear the way for us to live that life. It is so important will I fit each and every one of us ought to press on to the life of Jesus Christ how important is that? You know and we think about all of these things, you know, I am your you're called to minister to people and you say okay. Well, I've changed all these people's life. What does that mean to me? It doesn't make any difference in my life. And God say yeah. Yes, it does. It does make a big difference in 1st Thessalonians chapter 2 all is writing to this church that is located in northern Greece. It's right on the the water there and he ministered there any got run out of town with the ministry kind of took hold and these people were following him and they're so he writes to them and he says for what what is our hope our joy our Crown in which we will glory in in the presence of the Lord when he comes Is it not you indeed you are a glory and joy? in other words when God calls you to minister to others and make people a responsible part of your life. He's saying okay when you get the glory all that you have done for these people, that will be your crown.

A crown is given to those who are part of the relationship with the King. You have become children of the Living God. You are Sons and Daughters of God himself. That's why you get a crown. Because you have a Ministry that is there for you to do.

You know, it's like somebody coming up and knocking on your door and they say Hey, you know, we look through history and the books and we found out that you're a member of the royal family of England. And if you were struggling with your life, and you had no money all of a sudden you're part of this great family that has be worth billions of pounds in their life and your partner. You don't have to worry about anyting financially anymore. You know and that's what it's like being in the Kingdom. We don't have to worry about anymore. There's nothing we have to worry about because God is going to care for it and we get that crown for being willing to honor and serve him.

so our Salvation are purpose and now we take a look at our eternity eternity with the Living God and it's You know you centered in all of this apart from him. There's no Eternity for you or I we have an eternity because of the Living God people were questioning all about this and think the Thessalonians were kind of saying what we have people dying now and what's going to happen to them and Jesus prices riding Paul is riding back to the Thessalonians and talking about this and one of those great pictures of the returning King is that found in the pages of chapter 4 of 1st, Thessalonians verses 16 and 17. It says for the Lord himself will come down from heaven with allowing command and the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God in the dead in Christ. Will rise think about that.

Everybody on Earth would know if something dramatic has happened in our world. Let's read on though. It says after the dead will rise. Okay, they've already risen so he's saying okay those people that died before you before Christ came there going to be with God after that we who are alive and left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever. What think about that little bit, you know, they'll be this loud. Joyful clang from Heaven that everybody on Earth will here and all of a sudden.

videos of people will disappear

what in the world are people going to be thinking about them?

It's an interesting thought but for you and I who know Jesus Christ will be with the Lord forever. forever You know, it'll be a great experience. Evan will not be a sad or Drury or an exciting place. It will be an exciting place. And God has promised this to you. He's promised to you and to me. That we will have heaven. Mitos is writing. Paul is writing Titus and he says in chapter 1 verse who he says in the hope of eternal life which God who does not like I promised before the beginning of time. You see God can't lie. That's part of this character. Truth is one of those significant things about the Living God. He doesn't lie and he promised. If we will have eternal life. What a great promise what a great promise, but he not only promises that we will have eternal life. He makes another great promise to is too because he doesn't lie and he doesn't change and he's promised that we will be changed and we will be renewed him 1st. John 3:2 says dear friends. Now, we are children of God and what we will be has not been made known, but will it when Christ appears? You know when he calls his home? We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is. You know the perfection. Did it was seen in Christ you and I will sit and we'll be like him because we can absorb it. We will never have that sinful nature dragon is down anymore, but we will have the Glorious presence of the Living God in full picture in our lives. And we'll be able to see him and be exactly like him. In our character and our appearance.

it is a new and wonderful hope that we have when we and he talks about heaven over and over again. That's where Matthew was looking in all his preaching he was talking about the kingdom of God and it's coming and all of these things in God goes through scripture and he reveals that Kingdom and what it will be like in all those wonderful things and we can look forward to that one of these days. He's creating that Kingdom now in heaven It's not the heaven of old. It's will be the new Heaven and the new Earth and when we have an opportunity to go there here's what it says about in Revelation 21:4. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or Mourning or crying or pain. For the old Order of Things has passed away. Yeah, Amen. In other words, you know our lives will be completely changed. There won't be that bought that we have. Now off of the struggles. We're going through or the struggles of those who we are concerned and worried about none of those things will be an issue in the new heaven because life will be changed.

And we will have a glorious wonderful time. You can go through and you can read all the different things about what heaven will be like and you can be excited about that. God wants us to be excited about the future we have and we can be because God has showed us that

So we've come to the end. We've looked at the Salvation. We've looked at God's presence of his purpose for our lives. And now the Incredible Hulk that we have and it's all comes through knowing Jesus Christ. And I hope this month is been good for your hearts to at least get you to realize that your life was changed when you came to know Jesus Christ changed in traumatic ways that you know, you might be sitting here and saying I don't feel a whole lot different than I was but you truly are different. And you truly have a different destination. You know and the hope and desires that each and every one of you have that just solidified in your life and you can go forth through our world our changing world at present time and live it with power and strength because of all those gifts that God has given us. On the other hand, if you're uncertain whether you truly have those gifts when I get right with the Living God. Receive him as Lord and Savior and come to know him as your God. and know that salvation that presents that purpose that hope because God is going to give you a fade. It will make a Sheard all of those things.

Let's pray. Gracious Father in heaven. We thank you for that Mighty. Hope that you have given us as we have trusted in you as Lord and Savior the father there, maybe somebody here who has not really committed their lives to you and they need that hope They need that salvation. But they haven't trusted you a lord. Help them to realize that the change of their life is more important than just holding on to their present character that it truly is a change for all eternity.

May you guide and bless and change lives today for the kingdom in Jesus name. Amen.