Hope in the Lord

Psalm 130:7–8 ESV

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

New Testament writers used the word hope in only one way and that was to express the idea that one anticipates (usually with pleasure) what one waits for.

In the world, the general use of the word hope is akin to wishing or dreaming for something.

The writers of the Bible, however, used the word hope when they wanted to convey that someone had a confident expectation of a future blessing of some kind.

Hope in the Lord is not akin to a lottery ticket

Biblical hope carries with it a high level of trust, confidence and assured expectation that the Lord will do what He said He is going to do.

Born Again to a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3–6 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

This Hope in the Lord has the power to transcend the destructive power of trials and difficulties

Note I said transcend - NOT GET RID OF

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

For a moment let us contemplate the vastness of the universe

Jupiter - 300 x the size of earth

Travel to Jupiter can be anywhere between just over 13 months to eight years.

I was going through the stuff, I ask the Lord to do something and he did not do anything

Despite the vastness God Hears Us

Repent of our arrogance because you are contradicting the word of God

If God heard me - then he would have done what I said

How Arrogance to I have to be to think if God heard me -

It is a privilege just to be heard

God Hears Us

Psalm 71:14 ESV

But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.

In the darkest hours and the deepest pain, Christians can still have hope.

Baptized believers in Jesus Christ can praise Him even when everything around them looks bleak and dry.

Our hope in God reveals that He is in control and He uses everything for our good.

Hope Brings Joy

Romans 12:12 ESV

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Our outward circumstances may be exceptionally painful and difficult to deal with, but because of hope we still have joy.

Romans 8:18–19 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Not only does God hears us

He Remembers His Covenant

God did not remember Israel because they cried out loud or long enough

Prophets of Baal would have had a chance. Were cutting up something fierce

Did not remember because they were the good guys like in the desert

All have sinned...

God does not owe us

I’m good so why...

My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus blood and righteousness

He remembers because of his covenant

God does not need a Reminder

Hope in His Purpose

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.