Hope

HOPE

Let's hope you feel better now.
As you read this first quote, what kinds of feelings, thoughts does it evoke?  Does it make a difference to know that this quote is attributed to Dr. Jack Kevorkian? I have another quote.  This might speak a little more, say a little more to us.  

And I hope that five years and 10 years from now, I'll be a better man, a more mature man, a wiser man, a more humble man and a more spirited man to serve the good of my people and the good of humanity.
What do you think?  Does it make a difference that Louis Farrakhan said it?

These two people, that we mostly don’t respect, used a very powerful word; hope!  Hope is defined: to desire with expectation of obtainment.  Romans 8:24 - Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it.

From day to day we hope for many different things.  We hope our cars start in the morning when we get ready for work.  We hope that our kids will learn and excel in their education.  We hope that we are able to pay the bills.  We hope that the leak under the sink isn’t something more serious than tightening up clamp.  But as Christians, we have a greater HOPE!  What is it?  

Hope is a very enduring force.  1 Corinthians 13:13 - There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.  Now love is the greatest, but hope is right in there with it and faith.  My question to you tonight is, do you hope?  Does your hope play an important part in the way you see this life and other people?

Hope VS Wishing

I think sometimes what we say we hope for is merely a wish.  When we wish, we have a desire for something.  It doesn’t necessarily mean we are waiting expectantly.  It doesn’t mean we will actually obtain it.  We just wish!  We might wish to; win the lottery, get a better job, meet someone new.  But if it doesn’t happen, oh well!

But if you hope for something, you are saying that you are waiting expectantly and you know you will obtain it.  It is fundamentally a difference in attitude; oh well vs. this is happening!  What if we wished for our salvation?  What if we wished that Jesus would come someday?  Now, what if we hope that Jesus comes someday!  Doesn’t that make a difference?  It sure does!  Some people might say that I’m playing word games, but I’m not trying to.  I believe this is an important part of our faith.  Again, 1 Corinthians 13:13 doesn’t say faith, wish, and love.  


Characteristics of Hope

We can identify things by their characteristics.  If it acts like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc….  It must be a duck!  The same is true with hope.  When we are full of hope, we show the characteristics of hope for all to see.

Let’s look at the Scripture and identify some of these characteristics…

Romans 15:13 - So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Hope is given by God.  It is given to His children as they believe in the promises that He has given.  It is realized through the power of the Holy Spirit and is accompanied by happiness and peace.  And what is the promise that He has given?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words.

So we can identify that Hope:

1. Is given by God to His Children who believe in the promise of Salvation through Jesus Christ


2. Comes through the power of the Holy Spirit


3. Will bring happiness and peace to those who experience it.

What does this all mean?  Basically, if you are tying to live for God, you will experience true hope!  Not just for this world, but for eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:19 - And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.

The Mission of Hope

And what are we to do with all this hope?  Hope has a purpose outside of us.   The Scriptures say…

1 Peter 3:15 - Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

As you live as a person of hope, people will see it in you and ask you about it.  Our hope should be so important to us, that we are willing to share why we are so full of hope!  Hope has a focus on other people.

Questions to consider

1. Do you find yourself hoping or wishing for the things of God?


2. How can the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope?


3. Can you be happy and at peace when things aren’t going well for you?


4. Are you ready to share your reason for Hope with somebody?