Hope Is meant To Have An Effect on the Believers Life and is manifested in…
1. JOY – “Rejoice in Hope…”- {Rom 12:12}. “Rejoice,”{Chairo} means to enjoy a state of gladness, to be delighted. “Chairo” is used in a whole range of situations in which the emotion of joy is evoked. To be in a state of happiness and inner sense of well being (often independent of what is happening when the Source is the Spirit!)“-{preceptaustin.}. It is present tense which means the life is to be lived in an habitual attitude off inner and outer rejoicing. This is only possible by the Supernatural work of the Holy Spirit {Gal 5:22}. This is possible even in tribulations,{1 Thess 1:6} and through prayer, {Rom 15:13}.
“Wuest paraphrases it “rejoicing in the sphere of hope.” In the “atmosphere” of hope is the idea. Like a fish needs water to thrive, joy needs hope to be alive. In other words when a believer’s hope is fresh and full and focused on Jesus Who Himself is our Hope (1Ti 1:1), this believer’s hope will be like a rain falling on a barren heart, bringing forth the fragrant flower of joy. Indeed, hope fixed on the good that God will do to us in the future is a sure foundation for Christian joy in the present. This present joy is independent of present circumstances (which may be cheery or dreary), for it is a supernatural joy , a joy that can still survive in the dark night of a believer’s soul. Such glorious joy is based not on our feelings, but on the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–note).”
“Hope” is a desire of some good with the expectation of obtaining it. It is the opposite of despair. Paul reminds Timothy that ultimately “Christ Jesus, who is our hope.” (1 Timothy 1:1)- -{preceptaustin}.
2.LOVE – ” since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ” { Col 1:4-5}
3.BOLDNESS– “Since we have hope we are very Bold.”-{2 Cor 3:12}
4.ENDURANCE In Trials – “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance {steadfastness} and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure, This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.” -{2 Thess 1:3-5}.
Trials are inevitable,- {Read James 1:2} and with them we have been gifted hope to enable us to endure them, not somehow, but to persevere, steadfastly and confident expectation and is reason for the onlookers to give thanks to God for what is manifested in your life amidst the difficulties. It does not mean there are no tears, pain that somehow you “feel” nothing because you are so untouched. That is not Christianity. Jesus “wept,” He felt the pain of others, He Himself understands our “afflictions” and comforts us in them so we may comfort others with His comfort.-{Read 2 Cor 1:3-4}. We endure by looking to Him, trusting Him who endured, and trusting His promises.-{Read Heb 12:2-3}.
Paul writes of the lives of the believers and their “Steadfastness” is a reason for others to THANK God for the testimony of your life in difficult places, ”We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness {endurance} of hope{elpis} in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,“-{1 Thess 1:2-3}.
Barclay writes, ” The word Paul uses is a magnificent word. It is “hupomone” (Greek #5281) which is usually translated “endurance” but does not mean the ability passively to bear anything that may descend upon us… and describes the spirit which not only endures the circumstances in which it finds itself but masters them. It accepts the blows of life but in accepting them transforms them into stepping stones to new achievement.” In This Hope endures steadfastly. it was a strong hope and was growing, and reason to thank God continuously for the reality of their genuine faith shining forth against a background of suffering.
5. CHARACTER –” And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings About perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope {elpis}; and hope{elpis} does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. “-{Romans 5:3-5}. The word “elpis” Vines dictionary says that it speaks of the happy anticipation of the good which is coming for the believer.” It comes from the Greek word {elpis} here, means “anticipate, usually with pleasure;expectation, confidence.” And this was reason to exult, boast in their tribulations, trials great pressures, because they knew what GOD is doing and going to produce and therefore could look on their “tribulations” with a happy anticipation of the good in their character development, and they can look forward with confident expectation in anticipation not of dread, fear but of pleasure, which is what the word “hope,” {elpis} speaks of! Pain is painful, but there is a good future ahead!
6.PURITY– ” Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. ” -{1 John 3:1-3}. Note our response, our responsibility should have an effect on our character, the way we think and act. It is to have a cleansing, purifying effect in every area of our lives which we are responsible for.
7.CONFIDENCE In The God Who Promises -” Yet those who wait {hope} for the Lord Will gain new strength;They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”-{Isaiah 40:31}. The word “wait” is translated “hope” meaning,”confident expectation.” The confident expectation that to place one’s hope in Him, He will keep His promises!
8.AN ANTIDOTE TO DISCOURAGEMENT– “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! ” -{Psalm 43:5 NLT}. When discouragement would seek to demoralize you, take courage and know His provision is…Himself. Discouragement is to lose heart,to lose courage, encouragement is to put strength into someone. Joshua was warned three times “not to be discouraged” for this is one of the evil one’s tactic, to turn us aside from following the LORD and doing His will.- {Josh 1:9}. Nehemiah knew this when he wrote, “they were trying to make us fearful, in order to discourage us so that the work might not be done.” Note the order, fear, discouragement, quit!
Thoughts that seek to dishearten, or seek to tempt you to yield in order to take courage from you must be identified, rejected and replaced with His Word, from “The God of all hope” who imparts Hope through His Word and Spirit.-{Read Romans 15:4-5,13}. To those who deposit their hope in Him, we read…
9.WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED– “ Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will not be disappointed. “- {Isaiah 49:23}. No matter what it looks like, how long it takes, the LORD is in control, He has His time table and those who hope in confident expectation, trusting in Him, will never be disappointed, Never! For to hope in Him, is to place our complete trust, confidence in Him to do what He says He will do, in His time! The word “LORD”-{Yahweh} is the proper name of God and is used in the Old Testament to speak of Him as Creator, Provider, Promise Keeper, Self-Existent, Holy, Sovereign, Unchanging! In trusting in Him there is No discouragement, no disappointment…in the LORD!
10.AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS– “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”-{1 Peter 3:15}. Hope is manifested to such an extent, even in the place of severe trials as these people were going through that, there are those who ask of them “what is the reason for your hope?” Note “the hope that YOU have.” It is personal and visible, and begs the question! And we are told we are to be ready to give an answer. Think about it in the hard,difficult place, it can be an opportunity for you to share of the LORD Jesus to someone who has watched you and seen your confidence and know something is different. Indeed, it is SOMEONE who has made the difference. Think beforehand how you will share of Him… because the question will be asked.
11. STABILIZES AND IS OUR SECURITY – ” so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 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, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek “-{Hebrews 6:18-20}. God wants us to be encouraged and have hope that what He promises He will fulfill, and our future is in His hands for our eternal good. {Heb 6:13-18}. Through His promise and oath, His character, He wants us to be encouraged and have hope. “Refuge” speaks of safety and security from danger that has pursued us. We are safe in this place of “refuge.” He wants us to “lay hold” of, to count on it, this blessed assurance! The assurance and reason for “strong encouragement” and hope is the promise of this future blessing that we have a sure, secure, eternal future based not on what you “feel”- subjective, but on the objective character and promise of God! This is our “Anchor” and what we are to “lay hold of.” Our “Anchor” speaks of that which secures the ship amidst raging storms and being swept away by waves or winds. “Anchors” were often carried by sailors away from the ship and anchor it on a reef, shore or dock,securing it, fastening it on there. Just as an ” anchor” is not in the same place as the ship, neither is our “anchor “of hope in this world but in the LORD Jesus, in the “heavenlies” where we are to set our affections. {Read Col 3:1-3}.
This “anchor” we have for our soul is sure, secure, certain of the promise of our future because on the fact that the LORD Jesus has secured it for us, purchased it, suffered for us to have it and pleads our case before the Father not that we might hope as a “wish so” but without certainty but the objective assurance our future hope is secured, having been signed, sealed and will be delivered through His merit, blood, and resurrection! It is an Objective Hope based on the promise, oath of God and the High Priesthood of the LORD Jesus. Our “Anchor” is fastened to the LORD Himself. The LORD Jesus has “anchored” our hope of “refuge” in the very presence of God. He is Someone to look forward to! “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”-{2 Cor 5;8}. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. “-{John 14:1-3}. “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.“-{1 John 3:1-3}.
12. SCRIPTURE A SOURCE OF HOPE. “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. “-{Romans 15:4}.
And His Word gives us the information that God uses to transform us, encourage us and give us daily moment by moment “hope,”and reveal the LORD to us as He is. “But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.-{2 Timothy 3:14-17 NLT}
One reason the LORD gives us His Word is that we might have “hope” in this life and the things, and people we encounter.
“Hope” – Vines Dictionary defines this type of hope as ‘favorable and confident expectation’. It has to do with what is unseen and the future. This hope here describes “the happy anticipation of the good which is coming for the believer.”It comes from the Greek word {elpis} here, means “anticipate, usually with pleasure;expectation, confidence.” The Scriptures are the source the Holy Spirit uses to inspire His people to have “hope.” Note the Scriptures are given for one reason that we may be encouraged. If you find yourself disheartened, come to Him and ask Him to encourage you from His Word for He gives encouragement Romans 15:5 says and through perseverance and encouragement we might have…”Hope.” God is “The God of all hope” who desires by the power of the Holy Spirit we overflow with Hope. ” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.“- {Romans 15:13}. Hope is God’s gift to you! You have a wonderful future to look forward to because you have a wonderful God!
13. IS FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST. -” Christ Jesus who is our hope.”-{1 Timothy 1:1}. Our hope is in a Person! Christ Jesus our Hope is our Righteousness.-{Gal 5:5}. Christ Jesus is our source of Glory.-{Rom 5:1-2}. Christ Jesus Our Hope is our promise of Redemption.-{Rom 8:18-25}. Christ Jesus our Hope is our full assurance until the end.-{Heb 6:11}. Christ Jesus our Hope is our power for steadfastness-{1 Thess 1:3}. Christ Jesus our Hope is our means for boldness.-{2 Cor 3:12}. Our Hope is found in a Person, the Resurrected LORD!
14. HOPE ENABLES US TO PRAISE GOD. -“But as for me, I will hope continually,And will praise You yet more and more. “-{Psalm 71:14}. Hope enables, empowers us to praise Him increasingly, “more and more.”
PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING FOR YOURSELF AND OTHER BELIEVERS TO KNOW HIS HOPE “ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope {elpis} of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”-{Ephesians 1:18}
We always have grounds for hope, as long as God exists! And He is eternal!
“We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in You alone.”-{Psalm 33:20-21 NLT}.
Note in the above verses the Psalmist speaks of faith, love and HOPE… His Hope is anchored “…in the LORD….” not only his but he testifies of others with the word “our.” “…For Our Hope is in You Alone.” He is not one of many options but He is worthy of all our hope placed in Him. The Psalmist had no plan”B.” His certainty, confidence, expectation was anchored “…in the LORD…alone.”
“…Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who hope in Me will not be disappointed.“-{Isaiah 49:23}.