Hope for the Christian
“May the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may OVERFLOW WITH HOPE by the Power of the Holy Spirit.”- Romans 15:13
Evan, who was seven, at times accompanied me when I spoke. It went like this as I recall those years with joy….
He has an assignment that is twofold. First I want to help train him to listen when someone is preaching, and so I give him this assignment. He is to listen and pick out three things when I speak. Since he is still learning to spell, he usually draws pictures for each point. He usually gets 8 or 9 points. After the service we look at his pictures and he explains them to me. On one occasion he pointed to a man sitting in a boat and he was fishing. At the back of the boat was a long line to the bottom of the river and I asked him what this picture represents. He said, “JESUS IS OUR ANCHOR” That night I had made the point in speaking about Jesus being our anchor from Hebrews 6:18-19 – “God did this so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of THE HOPE offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have THIS HOPE AS AN ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus who went before us, has entered on our behalf.”
Evan drew his picture and got the point-JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ANCHOR!!!! And his reward? The following day he and I go to a dollar store and he picks out a gift! He loves it and so do I as I see him listening. He can usually be seen on his knees in the front row of church when I speak with his pen and paper leaning on the seat as he draws away…. What a blessing he is and what a blessing to Know WE HAVE AN ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL. An Invisible anchor that keeps us secure- and it is JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. Let us consider something of the GREAT HOPE we as CHRISTIANS have because of Gods Mercy
There is a beautiful hymn that says, “We have an ANCHOR that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the sea billows roll, fastened to the rock which cannot move grounded firm and deep in the Saviors Love.”
God is the God of “ALL HOPE.”-{Rom 15;13}. God is the One who Imparts Hope. God Himself imparts Hope and through His Word we have Hope- Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might HAVE HOPE.“
“In the New Testament the words for “HOPE” never indicate a vague or fearful anticipation when it speaks of God’s HOPE…BUT ALWAYS THE EXPECTATION OF SOMETHING GOOD.” A CERTAINTY… IT IS NOT LIKE A GAMBLER’S HOPE’ WHICH IS THE “HOPE OF CHANCE,” BUT HIS IS A DECLARATION OF A ROCK SOLID, SURE FOUNDATION…TAKE IT TO THE BANK – BLESSED ASSURANCE…BACKED BY THE LIVING GOD HIMSELF WHO CANNOT LIE…WHOSE REPUTATION AND POWER TO KEEP HIS WORD – AND ULTIMATELY THE RESURRECTION OF HIS SON – ARE OUR GUARANTOR! THE CONTENT OF HOPE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT – Is always CENTERED on God and Jesus Christ.
THE BASIS FOR HOPE IN THE New Testament is not resting on our good works- But on the Gracious Work of God in Christ Jesus- 1 Tim 1:1- “…God our Savior and Christ Jesus our HOPE,” Colossians 1:27- says “Christ in you THE HOPE OF GLORY”
THE NATURE OF HOPE
HOPE IS A GIFT of the Fathers’ Grace:
2 THES 2:16 – “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His Grace GAVE us eternal encouragement and GOOD HOPE, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Hope, like faith is afforded through the MESSAGE OF SALVATION – Colossians 1:23 – “… the HOPE HELD out in the GOSPEL.”
THE CHRISTIAN HAS
1. A LIVING HOPE
1 Peter 1:3 -“BLESSED BE THE God and Father of our Lord Jesus who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF Jesus Christ from the dead.
We Have…
2. A BLESSED HOPE
Titus 2:13 -“Looking for the Blessed Hope, and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior.”
We have…
3. A SECURE HOPE
Heb 6:19- “This Hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul, a hope both Sure and Steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us…As a ship is safe when it is anchored our hope is secure when it is binds us to Christ, our Great High priest who has entered the sanctuary…
We have…
4. A PURIFYING HOPE
1 Jn 3:3 – “And everyone who has this Hope IN them Purifies themselves even as He is Pure.” – Hope becomes the motive for personal purity.
We have an…
5. ETERNAL HOPE
Titus 3 :7 – “…SO THAT being Justified by His Grace we should be made heirs according to the HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.”
We have…
6. A VISIBLE HOPE
1 Peter 3:15 – ” be ready to give an account of THE HOPE that is within you to everyone who asks.”
We have…
7. A HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT
Romans 5:5 – “And HOPE does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”
We have…
8. A HOPE THAT GIVES PROTECTION AND COURAGE
1 Thessalonians 5:8 – “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the HOPE OF SALVATION as a HELMET.”
We have…
9. REASON TO BE JOYFUL
Romans 12:12 – “Be Joyful in Hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
We have…
10. REASON TO BE HOPEFUL
Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold unswerving to the HOPE WE PROFESS, FOR HE WHO promised is faithful.”
To Hope in God is to have “CONFIDENT EXPECTATION” in Him- His Person, His Promises, His Power to exercise those Promises, His Character and on the Faithfulness of His Son our Lord Jesus who is our Savior.
In the words of the Hymn we sing:
“My HOPE IS BUILT ON nothing less than Jesus blood and Righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus Name. On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand.”
There is no disappointment in Jesus Christ…”In Scripture HOPE USUALLY LOOKS TOWARDS THE LAST THINGS OR TO THE COMPLETION OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN…
APPLICATION;
Remind yourself often, Rejoice in Christ your Hope for you have a Hope that is anchored in God who is Faithful.
1. TALK – To Yourself and remind yourself of this truth. When your emotions would scream otherwise, when you are hit with the lie of the evil one, “nothing good can come from this…its too late…etc” Talk to yourself the TRUTH of Gods Word as here in Romans 8:28-29. The Psalmist did this when he asked of himself why he was so down, and then spoke to himself “Put your Hope in God”- Psalm 42:5
this truth
As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ you have HOPE !!
2. THANK God – for…
1. A Living Hope
2. A Blessed Hope
3. A Sure Hope
4. A Secure Hope
5. A Purifying Hope
6. An Eternal Hope
7. A Hope that Does not Disappoint
8. A Hope that Gives Protection and Courage
9. A Hope that can be Joyful
10. The Character of God – who is our reason for such great HOPE The God of Hope as the Object for our Hope
3. TELL – Others about Christ in you the HOPE OF GLORY
1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. ALWAYS BE PREPARED to give the reason for THE HOPE that you have.”
4. TALK TO GOD – AND pray and ask Him to fulfill His Word of Promise to other believers. Make this verse your prayer for them. Perhaps MEMORIZE it and MEDITATE upon it and PRAY it for yourself others-and us!
MY PRAYER FOR YOU AS YOU READ HIS WORD IS…
“ May the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may OVERFLOW WITH HOPE by the Power of the Holy Spirit.”- Romans 15:13
God bless, Grateful for Christ our Anchor! Your hope is secure for your surety is anchored in the Lord Jesus.
Rest in Him, rejoice in your hope in God and reach out and encourage others of Him who is the anchor for the soul