Hope

Hope

Hebrews 11:1

Now Faith is....

The Substance (Assurance) of things hoped for...

The Evidence of things not seen....

 Most of us understand faith, without faith Hebrews tells us is impossible to please God. In fact if we continue reading Hebrews 11 we soon see that the real heroes in the bible were heroes because of their faith.

We also know from scripture that faith brings results as seen in these heroes of faith, in fact James 4 tells us that “faith without works is dead” and in the same way works done without faith is a futile. These are simply mans efforts rather than man believing God.

Faith further is an essential part of being followers of Christ. Yet if I understand scripture correctly, it is hope that makes faith possible.

What then is hope?

Even as we continue to read Hebrews 11 we soon see that hope is things unseen. That is with our natural eyes, but being able to see what God sees with our spiritual eyes.

1Cor 2:9 says “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind conceived the plans that God has for those who love Him”.

Romans 12:2 speaks of the “good and perfect will of God”. From this we are able to deduce that has a will and desire that each of us is to discern.

Ephesians 3:20 says that “our God is able to exceedingly, above and beyond that which we can imagine”.

Hope is the glue that binds faith and action

Paul in 1Cor 13:13 says these three remain, “faith, hope and love”.

Hope in this scripture sits sandwiched between faith and love, but I believe this is not a mistake. For though we each need faith to believe for the things God has for us, it is the hope that we see with our spiritual minds that compels us to works and deeds of love.

Just as our God is love so too should the out workings of our faith be done in love.

Jesus said in Matthew 22:40 “the whole law and the prophets can be summed up in these two commandments”, love God and love your neighbour as yourself. (revised)

Sometimes I wonder if we the church of the 21^st century believes the love God is only for believers of Him. Yet scripture is clear that God loves all of His creation as we read in John 3:16 “For God so loved the WORLD that he gave is only begotten son...”

Paul says in Romans 5:12 “God demonstrates his love for us, whilst we were still yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Hope Deferred

Proverbs 13:8 says “hope deferred makes the heart grow sick”

Proverbs 29:18 says “where there is no finish, the people perish”.

Hope therefore makes faith possible. Just as faith makes it possible to please God, hope makes it possible to believe.

Hope therefore is essential.

What do we hope for?

We hope for what God has install for us...

We hope for the things that God has promised in His word for us...

We hope for that which is impossible for man but possible for God...

Where does our hope come from?

Romans 15:13 “our hope comes from God”...

Isaiah 40:31 “those that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength”

Psalm 121:1-2 says our help comes from God...

Philippians 3:13 says “forget that which lay behind me, I press on to that which lay ahead of me, towards the prize heavenward....”

Paul says in Colossians 1:27 “Christ in us, the hope of glory”

Hope brings us to our destiny

Two men, on the day Christ was put on trial before the high priest, were present. Both these men, in their weakest and darkest moments gave up or denied Christ.

I speak of Judas and Peter.

Whilst both these men walked with Christ and certainly were seen by Christ as friends and companions only one went on to fulfil his destiny.

Both were weak, mere men just like you and me, yet one took his life whilst the other saw the resurrected Christ.

What was the difference between Judas and Peter?

Hope, hope for the resurrected Christ.

Paul in 2 Cor7:10 speaks of godly sorrow which leads to repentance and worldly sorrow which leads to death.

Many will often exchange optimism for hope, worldly ideas or imaginations yet it is God’s thoughts and plans for us that is hope. Isa55