Hope
Notes
Transcript
Defining Hope
Defining Hope
Hope is essential to living
Researchers everywhere are finding this = hope keeps us going, helps us heal, drives us on
Webster defines hope -
a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
Is that it, is it just a feeling??
Is it just having an optimistic outlook?
As believers and followers of Christ - Hope is our birthright.
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
It is not just having a positive outlook, but it is knowing there will be a positive outcome
Optimism is a wish without warrant; Christian hope is a certainty, guaranteed by God himself. Optimism reflects ignorance as to whether good things will ever actually come. Christian hope expresses knowledge that every day of his life, and every moment beyond it, the believer can say with truth, on the basis of God's own commitment, that the best is yet to come. - J. I. Packer
That’s hope
That’s what we want to talk about today.
Turn to
A song of ascents. I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.
Let’s pray
A Song of Ascents
Psalm 120 - 134 are called Songs of ascent
They were sung as people climbed the hill toward Jerusalem on pilgrimage
It as ks the question we all ask
I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?
For the Jews it was the Temple - the place of God’s presence
For so many of us place our hope in a place:
If I can only get here in my life.... but it seems the goal-line keeps moving
Hope is not a place, It is a person
You and I can find it and experience it every day.
Find Hope..
1. Surrender to God’s power
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.
Find Hope..
1. Surrender to God’s power
Who is stronger than God?
Who knows more than God?
Who better to trust than God?
There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.
Only 2 choices - our way or God’s way
Our way never leads to hope
Surrender - cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.
Surrender and you will find hope
Find Hope..
2. Rest in God’s protection
The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night.
Find Hope..
2. Rest in God’s protection
If God is the strongest, knows the most, and most trustworthy...
I can rest in his protection
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.
- John Newton
Find Hope..
3. Trust in God’s promises
The Lord will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.
Find Hope..
3. Believe in God’s promise
Promises - over 7,000 from God to man
Rest
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Never leave you
Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.
Has a plan for you
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Never stops loving you
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
His promises are true
Finding Hope
Finding Hope
We find hope not in things or places but in a person - Christ alone
The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity--hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory--because at the Father's will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. - J.I. Packer
Finding Hope
Finding Hope
What are basing any hope you have on today
Is it you and your strength and resources - both have limits
As before I choose peace, I choose joy and I choose hope
I choose Christ
What do you choose today?
