Part 1: The Promise of Hope

Memory Verse

1 Thessalonians 5:8 NKJV

8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

Introduction

“Hope is associated with many positive outcomes, including greater happiness, better academic achievement and even lowered risk of death. It's a necessary ingredient for getting through tough times, of course, but also for meeting everyday goals.” from an article on the American Psychological Association website.

When we have hope, anything is possible.When we do not have hope, nothing is possible.

Some people seem to be wired to be more hopeful, optimistic, and even content. But other people seem to be less naturally inclined to hope. Some even seem like they may be wired to be hopeless; their despair keeps them pessimistic, discontented, and ineffective.A Better Definition

Instruction

A Better Definition of Hope

Definition

Old Definition: Hope is a confident expectation

Better Definition: Hope is the confident expectation of a better future

Assumption

This definition assumes two things:

hope is possible

hope is personal

Provision

Hope provides us the ability to:

Decipher the past

Define the present

Design the future

A Better Source of Hope

As the Apostle Paul penned his letter to the Jewish Community, he wanted them to see Jesus as a better—better than anything—source of hope.

Hebrews 6:11–20 NKJV

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Regarding Abraham’s reception of the promise he received, he said:

Romans 4:18 NKJV

18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

A Better Future for Hope

Did God promise a better future?

1 John 2:25 NKJV

25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

2 Peter 1:1–4 NKJV

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Conclusion

If God has promised us both eternal life and everything we need in this life—and God cannot lie—then we have reason to hope.

Application

Do we know what God’s promises are? Do we really believe them?