The Power of Hope

On Friday, February 20, 1987, the only passenger on a small private plane. Ralph Flanders from Tomah, Wisconsin was in mid-flight when the pilot suddenly stop talking. Shortly after the single engine Cessna plane took of from the Tomah airport, the pilot had a heart attack, slump over in his seat and died. Flanders, a fifty year old insurance executive, made his way to the cockpit, grab the controls, and said to himself, “You better learn how the fly this plane now.” then picked up the radio microphone and called for help. “Mayday, May day, Mayday” Help Help Help! The pilot is dead. I don’t know how to fly a plane!”

Mike Feltz a flight instructor who happened to be in the air with a student about fifty miles away, heard Flander’s call for help and flew toward the stranded passenger. Feltz coached him over the radio continuously, tell him what to do and trying to keep him calm. Flanders was piloting the Cessina for about an hour and half, but said it felt like a life time. He went back to the Tomah airfield where he had taken off from to land the plan. He circled the airfield about 5 and or 6 times. He was about to land the plane and he said, “I hope that I don’t crash. Flanders cut the throttle and tried to land the plane the first time he bounced the plane and did not land. Second time he landed at the end of run way. He said, “In the beginning I hope that I would survive, but then there was a moment I knew I was going to survive.

Hope is a powerful force and probably the most important factor when it comes to overcoming life’s biggest challenges. Without it, everything is lost.

Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu

Hope is the ability to see light inspite of the Darkness.

Nelson Mandela said, “May your choices reflect you hope and not your fears.”

Dr. Martin Luther King stated that we must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite Hope.

Paul let us know that in this the reason that we have hope is because we have been Justified.

Romans 5:1–2 NKJV

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1. The Power of Hope Helps me to realize that I am Justified.

What does it mean to justified? Because of Jesus and that I’m Covered by the

It means that I have Peace with God. Peace with God means

• that one has restored his relationship with God

• that one is no longer alienated and separated from God

• that one is now reconciled with God

• that one is now accepted by God

• that one is freed from the wrath and judgment of God

• that one is now pleasing God

• that one is at peace with God[1]

2. The Power of Hope Gives me Access to Favor and God’s Glory

Grace in this text means Favor

· We stand in this Favor

· We rejoice in this Favor

You must know that you have Favor before the Problem

You must know that you have Favor before the Trouble

You must know that you have Favor before the Struggle

You must know that you have Favor before the Doctor Diagnosis

You must know that you have Favor before the Trial.

You must know that you have Favor.

Make your Declaration I have Favor

Favor, Favor, Favor

Favor is in the Present Tense

Because I have Favor, I Rejoice in Hope of God’s Glory.

Grace Goes with Mercy

Favor Goes with Glory

Glory is in the Future Tense

Hope sets me free,

it sets me free to dream

It sets me free to imagine

It sets me free to release my Vision

It sets me free to unleash my Potential

Hope for the Believer is different that the Hope that it is in the World

The hope of the world is a desire, a want. The world hopes—wants, desires—that something will happen. But this is not the hope of the believer.

The Hope that is in the World leaves to disappointment

The Hope that is in the World leads to despair

The Hope that is in the World leads to discouragement

In world with Voter Suppression, Virus Outbreaks, Vaccines Battles

I need a HOPE that will give me Victory

The hope of the believer is a surety: it is perfect assurance, confidence, and knowledge. How can hope be so absolute and assured? By being an inward possession. The believer’s hope is based upon the presence of Holy Spirit who dwells within.[2]

The Hymnologist said My Hope is Built on Nothing Less than Jesus Blood and Righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but only lean on Jesus Name.

3. The Power of Hope Empowers me to Overcome Adversity.

Rom. 5;3-5

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us[3]

The word “trials” or “tribulations” (thlipsis) means pressure, oppression, affliction, and distress. It means to be pressed together ever so tightly[4]

Child of God you can handle the pressure because you have Hope.

We Glory in Tribulation – We Shout When It Gets Tight.

Jesus-“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33)[5]

To my Trials I must add Perseverance.

Perseverance which is patience

James says

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing[6]

Patience ((hupomone) endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, constancy, perseverance. The word is not passive; it is active. It is not the spirit that just sits back and puts up with the trials of life, taking whatever may come. Rather it is the spirit that stands up and faces life’s trials, that actively goes about conquering and overcoming them.[7]

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Ro. 12:12).[8]

Patience stirs experience (dokimex): character, integrity, strength. The idea is that of proven experience, of gaining strength through the trials of life; therefore, the word is more accurately translated character. When a justified man endures trials, he comes out of it stronger than ever before. He is a man of much stronger character and integrity. He knows much more about the presence and strength of God[9]

Paul said, In 2 Co. 12:9–10

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong”