Hope
Notes
Transcript
Scripture
Scripture
1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.
Introduction
Introduction
A number of years ago, a study was done on Norwegian wharf rats. After being thrown in the open water, one group paddled for about three and a half minutes before drowning. A second group was thrown in, but plucked out right before they drowned. The next day, when the rats were thrown back into the water, scientists were astounded to find them able to tread water for forty-five minutes or more—evidently because they were hoping they would be rescued as they were the previous day.
The same is true with us. If we don’t have hope that we’ll be rescued, we sink. But if we have hope that a rescue is coming, we can tread water through the hard times
Tonight I want to speak to you all about Hope.
Where is your hope tonight? What are you putting your trust in tonight?
When I look at this world today. It seems we are going nowhere.
It seems that all is lost.
We are bombarded by a lot of negative things right now.
Everywhere we look and everywhere we turn it does not look good at all.
Since this Covid pandemic came it has changed the way this world operates
People who may have been rich and safe and felt like all is well, suddenly has their world turned upside down
It seems that everyone is worried right now.
I am sure if I were to ask someone like Diandra she would say that cases of Mental Health issues such as anxiety and depression etc are skyrocketing
People are beginning to lose hope.
People are beginning to lose confidence in the future
Times are hard and times are bad
We have no idea who to turn to at this time
Story of a guy who killed himself by Bolo
Those things can happen when we lose hope
Tonight I want to let you know that whatever you are facing. Whatever you are going through tonight, you dont have to go through it alone.
At the end of our meeting tonight we would give you some numbers to call.
You can call these numbers if you need prayer or help or assistance and the person on the other end of the line will do their best to assist you.
Every Wednesday we have this Service that is desgined to speak words of hope into your life and help you to receive Hope.
As i said times are hard .
I remember this incident recently where this young girl died in the accident.
We saw recently in news where these young kids got burnt in a fire
How is that Father supposed to live now.
We saw recently a couple was murdered in New Grant
We are seeing more and more fatalities due to accidents
We had some seriously bad floods recently.
People have no idea who to turn to.
You can’t turn to the police cause they lacking vehicles.
You can’t turn to the Fire Services cause they also have poor equipment
Barrackpore residents struggling to get water and you can’t seem to turn to WASA for help unless you need them to dig up your roads
The point I am trying to make is we can’t put our hope in man today
Man will let you down
We need to put our hope in something greater than man
In this portion of Scripture we see that the Psalmist says to put your hope in the Lord
David was a powerful person. He had killed a giant goliath but he knew that at the end of the day - you can’t put your hope in horses and chariots
You have to put your hope in God.
Your strength will let you down, your ambition will let you down,
Your pride will bring you to destruction
All your academic degrees will fail you
But God is the one who will always be there for you
David called for Israel to hope in the LORD forever. To trust in Him is the antithesis of pride.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Just like David knew who was his hope I want to let you know that Hope has a name and his name is Jesus Christ.
He is the only person you should hope in.
Man will fail you, but Jesus will never fail you.
WHEN YOU FEEL YOU CANNOT COPE, DO NOT LOSE HOPE - HOPE HAS A NAME - HIS NAME IS JESUS
Hope in God is a Command
Hope in God is a Command
Notice in Psalms 131:3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.
David at time commanded people to put their hope in the Lord now and always.
When we look at society today and what is happening in the world - how many of our leaders are saying -PUT YOUR HOPE IN THE LORD
Now don’t get me wrong I am not telling anyone not to take any vaccines but I will tell you don’t put your hope in Science but put your entire hope in the Lord
We need more of our leaders and pastors today to put their hope in the Lord and encourage their flock that no matter what they are going through that they should keep their eyes on the Lord
Tonight I am asking you just like with David. Hope in God is commanded and for you to put your trust and your faith in him for your circumstances right now.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
In this scripture Timothy also admonishes that our hope is to be grounded in the Lord.
Our riches and our jobs will fail us.
I know many rich people who are now lacking money because they are no longer employed due to this Covid situation.
Is not just poor people affected right now
Rich people are being affected but the good news is
Many people are crying out to God
Many people know that God is their only hope at this time
Tonight I want to encourage you to hope in the Lord as it is commanded.
Hope Can Be Placed in God in the face of difficulty or Trial
Hope Can Be Placed in God in the face of difficulty or Trial
10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
I love this. God has delivered us in the past. He does deliver us in the present. He will deliver us in the future. Think about the things that were bothering you a year ago—how you thought, It’s all over. This is never going to work out. I’m toast. Then look at where you are today. Unless we really stop and search our memories, most of us don’t even remember the things we thought were going to do us in and wipe us out even a few months ago. Why? Because the Lord delivered us. He saw us through. He’s faithful. I believe one of the biggest obstacles in our spiritual growth is our tendency to forget how the Lord sees us through all the times we think things could never work out.
“Because God has delivered us,” Paul says, “He will deliver us.”
My question to you listening tonight is.
What trial are you going through right now?
What time of testing are you going through right now?
I know for a lot of people ; it is a time where you lack a job.
Is this the first time you had a financial battle?
Didn’t God deliver you in the past?
Do you believe he can deliver you today?
Paul told the Corinthian Church that when they are going through difficulties we can put our hope in him to deliver us from it
Do you think God can do the same for you tonight?
Does it look like your situation is hopeless?
My friends I want to admonish you tonight to not lose hope.
Don’t give up on God
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Sister Maria illustration
In the bad times there is always sunshine - Pastor Mario
Sometimes we feel God is not in control. Sometimes it can seem that God has no idea what he is doing
But when we look back at our lives we see his hand of protection and help
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
If your hope is in man, you’re on shaky ground because man’s breath perishes. Man goes down in the dust. Man doesn’t last. Man is unable to help. If your hope is in your husband or wife—or even the church—sooner or later you will be disappointed. Happy is the man or woman, however, whose hope is in the Lord. Hope is the expectation of coming good. And good is always found in the Lord.
Place your hope and your trust in God
There is only so much a man can do, so much the doctor can do, so much the Pastor can do for you, so much your parents can do for you
He is to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think.
He is Bigger than all my problems, bigger than all my fears,
God is bigger than any mountain I can, or cannot, see,
Bigger than all my questions, bigger than anything,
As the songs goes that i played earlier
“When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told
And there His faithfulness is told” — Keith & Kristyn Getty, “When Trials Come,” first verse
God is our everlasting hope through all circumstances.
WHEN YOU FEEL YOU CANNOT COPE, DO NOT LOSE HOPE - HOPE HAS A NAME - HIS NAME IS JESUS
I would now like to share with you some accounts in the Bible that deals with Hope.
Be Honest Like Habbakuk
Be Honest Like Habbakuk
2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
When you read the words of this prophet we see him complaining to God
Sometimes we feel we can’t be honest with God about our situation but the truth is God loves it when are honest with him
Habbakuk told God that he was calliing for help but God was not listening to him
I am sure all of us have felt so at times
It is as though God does not even care about your situaton
You are praying and you praying and it seems like you talking to a wall
God’s delay does not mean God’s denial.
Many times it takes God a lot longer to do things than we would like
We don’t like to wait
We expect God to do things right now right now......
We want God to be our slave instead of him being our master
If I say God do this right now he must do it right now
But that is not how he operates
Habbakuk says that all around there is injustice happening, destruction happening, there is violence and God is not doing anything.
Habbakuk is angry that the Lord is not doing anything
This scneario is very similar to what is happening in our society today
Look at Covid - how much people dying in Trinidad right now. How much people getting sick
Even Godly people are dying from this Covid
I Heard this Pastor who recently died from this Covid
Some of you probably know him.
How could good and faithful servants of God be dying now
Can’t God protect us . Why didn’t God protect him from this virus.
Why did he allow him to die from this virus.
Those are questions that many people are asking right now
Nothing wrong with being honest with God and telling him how you feel
Neisha and losing her cousin
Kevin and wanting to wrestle God
“God understands your pain. And what’s more, he invites your questions. He would rather have you yell and scream at him than abandon your relationship with him in icy silence. Feel free to pour out your heart to him, as David did in Psalm 56:8: “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?” God welcomes your anguish and even your anger, but you don’t have to stop there. After you’ve laid bare your hurts and your questions—after you’ve exhausted yourself pounding against his chest—then listen.
Open your hurting heart to him, and he will speak. Because even though God is almighty and all-powerful and rules over his kingdom, he also cares deeply about you. He loves you, and he will never abandon you. In fact, it’s usually at your deepest time of need that he meets you, comforts you, and lifts you into a place where healing can finally begin. But only if you’re willing to listen.”
Excerpt From: Craig Groeschel. “Hope in the Dark.” iBooks.
WHEN YOU FEEL YOU CANNOT COPE, DO NOT LOSE HOPE - HOPE HAS A NAME - HIS NAME IS JESUS
Look at Mark 9
Look at Mark 9
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered.
22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
“Can you imagine the pain this dad experienced? Over and over again, he had to stand by helplessly as his son convulsed, wrestling with an evil spirit that had taken possession of him years before. This loving father would have done anything to ease his son’s suffering. But no matter what he tried, his boy still lived in anguish.”
“After doing everything he could think to do, it’s possible that he’d finally resigned himself to despair and loss.
He had nowhere else to turn.
Nothing left that he could do.
His hope was gone.
His world was dark.”
Many times we find ourselves at the end of ourselves and we not sure who to turn to and what can help us
You may be in a similar sitatuon right now and can relate to this man
No Company wants to hire you
You were told that soemone in your company died from Covid and there is a possibility you could have it to
You may have a family member trying to throw you out of your own home
Things look hopeless right now
Billy Graham once said, “The greatest need in our world today is the need for hope. We thrive on hope, we rejoice in hope, we witness in hope, knowing that experience works hope. ‘Happy is he . . . whose hope is in the Lord his God (Psalm 146:5).’ There is hope for the future. It is centered in the Person of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose from the grave and is alive now. I have staked all that I am or ever hope to be on Him. “
This is the hope we have by our side my friends
This man turned to Jesus and asked him to have pity on him
The boy father made a strong statement that I admit i can relate to a lot
He said Lord I believe but help me to overcome my unbelief
Many times Jesus asks me that question and I have to give him the same response - Help me to overcome my unbelief
I know you can do it Lord but help me to believe
Many times all we see is the big mountain in front of us and we fail to see the Lord who is right beside us in our problems
Jesus was able to heal this man’s son and he is more than able to help you in your situation
WHEN YOU FEEL YOU CANNOT COPE, DO NOT LOSE HOPE - HOPE HAS A NAME - HIS NAME IS JESUS
Conclusion
Conclusion
I would now like to close off by telling you
“The boy wasn’t the only one healed when Jesus drove out the evil spirit. His father was healed too. Because Jesus drove out the hopelessness that had overtaken him. In the man’s sincere request, Jesus could hear the conflicting messages emanating from his battle-scarred heart.”
“How about you? Would you like to see your doubt-ridden heart healed? Wouldn’t you like to rediscover a deep, abiding assurance in the character, goodness, power, and presence of God? Is that even possible? Could God shine his light of hope into your dark, despairing heart? Could God plant a new seed of faith in your dry soil, that barren wasteland inside you?
Do you want to believe?”
Do you want to believe that God can offer you hope in this time of hopelessness in your life?
My story of 2014
You see many times we quote the scripture that God won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can handle but he often gives you more than you can handle so can learn to depend wholly on him.
Right now we are living in troubling times
Why Worry about Delta when you have the alpha and the omega
Your hope can be taken away if your hope is in a desired outcome or result. But true hope is greater than even your worst circumstance because Hope is a Person. Our God, who is Hope, is greater than any event. He can never be taken away.
Our Father’s answer to the lies of the enemy is His presence. He is with you no matter what mountain is in your path. While your enemy is pushing you to try an “easier” path, one of avoidance, shutting down, or medicating, the God of Hope knows the way through, the way over that immense difficulty. He has traveled this path and is not surprised or intimidated by any event that altered your life and destroyed your normal.
Will you walk hand-in-hand with Him over this mountain of hopelessness? He honors our hope when we find it in Him.
If your mother had cancer
Or someone raped your sister
Or you die in disaster
Tell me who do you turn to now
Could you help yourself
Could you save yourself
Who do you turn to now
WHEN YOU FEEL YOU CANNOT COPE, DO NOT LOSE HOPE - HOPE HAS A NAME - HIS NAME IS JESUS
