Hope's Gateway!
Hope defined (Bible dictionary): One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity.
That statement says a lot! The essence of Christianity can be defined by ANY of these three words?
Let’s test it- here’s just one verse on Faith:
I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. Acts 20:21 NLT
This verse says that there is really one message that is essential to the Christian- Faith in Jesus!
And here’s one on Hope:
3 Blessed is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope— 4 reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. 1Peter 1:3-4 The Voice
This verse says that the sign of a Christian is their being ‘Reborn into a Living Hope!’
Maybe the easiest to identify is this one on love:
34 So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. 35 Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others. John 13:34-35 The Voice
Jesus himself tells us how to identify his true followers- they demonstrate love (not just talk about it.)
So if Hope is one of the distinguishing characteristics of a Christian, what does that look like?
What is Hope?
Is Hope a wishy washy maybe or a kind of unsure optimism?
The modern idea of hope is “to wish for, to expect, but without certainty of the fulfillment; to desire very much, but with no real assurance of getting your desire.”
Real Hope Is...
I hope they have my favorite ice-cream at the store, I hope I’m not late for my appointment, I hope dinner won’t be late, I’m hungry! I hope my team wins the World Series!
I know you are aware that the Hope that God gives is so much more than mere circumstances or things.
In Scripture, according to the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope” and according to the biblical usage, hope is an indication of certainty.
Hope= “a strong and confident expectation”
“Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” Though not common today’s terms, to hope is to trust and have a confident expectation.
I do not hope to go to heaven, see Jesus face to face, and dance with my daughter Kim one day. I HOPE TO GO TO HEAVEN! I have a confident expectation!
Hope may refer to the activity of hoping (verb), or to the object hoped for—the content of one’s hope (noun).
By its very nature, hope stresses two things: (a) the future, and (b) the unseen. It deals with things we can’t perceive or haven’t received or both.
Write this one down! Mark it in your bible! Re-read this passage every day until it’s embedded in your spirit! If this is all you can remember of today’s message, then I can feel this message was successful:
18 Now I’m sure of this: the sufferings we endure now are not even worth comparing to the glory that is coming and will be revealed in us. 19 For all of creation is waiting, yearning for the time when the children of God will be revealed.
20 You see, all of creation has collapsed into emptiness, not by its own choosing, but by God’s. Still He placed within it a deep and abiding hope 21 that creation would one day be liberated from its slavery to corruption and experience the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22 For we know that all creation groans in unison with birthing pains up until now. 23 And there is more; it’s not just creation—all of us are groaning together too. Though we have already tasted the firstfruits of the Spirit, we are longing for the total redemption of our bodies that comes when our adoption as children of God is complete—
24 for we have been saved in this hope and for this future. But hope does not involve what we already have or see. For who goes around hoping for what he already has? 25 But if we wait expectantly for things we have never seen, then we hope with true perseverance and eager anticipation.
Rom 8:18-25 The Voice
Let’s let that sink in a bit! Now go back over it again real slow…
I mentioned this verse earlier- let’s examine it further in different words: the Apostle Peter says:
“In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (Peter 1:3b NIV)
The keys to this truth are in these key words:
GIVEN – It’s a gift! It’s a free gift- we can’t earn it. This picture of Hope is that God is a loving and good Father that wants to give his kids (us) good things.
NEW BIRTH- here and in many other places, we are said to be re-born, to have a new life! When you trust Jesus with your life, He promises to make it new. Isn’t that what everyone really wants? “If I could only start all over again…” You can! Elsewhere we’re told ‘the old things pass away, everything becomes new’. There is nothing that I know of that makes for real Hope than a fresh start! The ultimate ‘Do-Over’.
LIVING HOPE- Real Hope brings life- joy to living. So many things spring from the fountain of life we get to experience. What’s the opposite of Living Hope? I think the opposite of Living is Dying. Dying Hopes happen when we place our Hope in things that don’t last. Hoping in a job is fine, but what happens when you lose it? Relationships with people come and go. Living Hope is a Hope in things that are Eternal.
RESURRECTION- Through His death, Jesus paid the price for our sins. Once and forever! This is foundational, and yet, it’s His resurrection that gives us Hope! He conquered death and assures us that we will too!
How does your Hope stack up against this? If you haven’t got that confidence yet, give your faith a chance! Let that Mustard seed grow! Don’t give up. The great thing about this Hope that we’re jumping in to is that it’s risk free! Jesus only asks that you come to him with what you have. Even the tiniest seed of faith can grow!
I found this amazing verse in the OT. It comes from the prophet Hosea and I think it speaks beautifully of how God works in our lives. Here the prophet is speaking the words of the Lord to the nation of Israel. Israel had been selling out to false gods- gods of pleasure and money as well as literal idol worship. God allowed them to be brought low through defeat and slavery, but made this promise. I think he works like this with us too:
14 But once she has nothing, I’ll be able to get through to her. I’ll entice her and lead her out into the wilderness where we can be alone, and I’ll speak right to her heart and try to win her back 15 And then I’ll give her back her vineyards; I’ll turn the valley of Achor, that “Valley of Trouble, into a gateway of hope. Hosea 2:14-15 The Voice
Anyone here been in the Valley of trouble before?
As you’ve probably heard me say, my favorite passage in the Bible is Psalm 23- it speaks of the Valley of the shadow of death. In the Psalm, God is with us in this Valley to lead us and comfort us. In Hosea we find a Gateway of Hope.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
A very familiar promise that we are a part of a larger blueprint- God’s Plans! No matter what your current experience, there is a plan and you are part of it!
Making hope a reality.
Hebrews 6:11 (NIV)
11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.
So the thing is, there’s a pesky word in here that requires us to do something. Diligence! This Hope-life doesn’t just happen. We have to Go For It!
Diligence means: persistent and hard-working effort in doing something. But, you don’t have to do it alone! We’re here to help you find this Hope. We would love to help you on your journey! Is anyone needing a little Hope today? Contact me at hopelivingchurch@gmail.com.
