Life is hard and it throws all sorts of problems at us. I want to talk to you about HOPE! I want to encourage you and build your faith up.

 

Let’s define “HOPE”

Hope is commonly used to mean a wish: its strength is the strength of the person’s desire.  In the Bible hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is His faithfulness.

Why is Hope so important?

Well lets start with what the opposite of hope is and what it creates in our life.

Fear

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (msg)

               Then Moses summoned Joshua. He said to him with all Israel watching, “Be Strong. Take Courage. You will enter the land with this people, this land that God promised their ancestors that he’d give them. You will make them proud possessors of it. God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.

1 John 4:18 (amp)

               There is no fear in love {dread does not exist}. But perfect {complete, full grown} love drives out fear, because fear involves {the expectation of divine} punishment, so the one who is afraid {of God’s judgment} is not perfected in love {has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love.}

Anxiety

Isaiah 41:10 (msg)

                Don’t panic. I am with you. There is no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold steady, keep a firm grip on you. 

2 Timothy 1:7 (amp)

               For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but {He has given us a spirit} of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline {abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control}.

Depression

Psalm 32:10 (amp)

                Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in and relies on the Lord shall be surrounded with compassion and loving kindness.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (amp)

                Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God {set aside self righteous pride}, so that He may exalt you {to a Place of honor in His service} at the appropriate time, casting all your cares {all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all} on Him, for He cares about you {with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully}

Our Hope is in Christ Alone!

 

“For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection.” ~Billy Graham

If you have lost all HOPE, here are a few verses that will encourage you:

1 John 5:13-15 (msg)

               My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in god’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. and how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours. 

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 (amp)

               For it is by grace {God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ} that you have been saved {actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life} through faith. And this {salvation} is not of yourselves {not through your own effort}, but it is the {undeserved, gracious} gift of God; not as a result of {your} works {nor through your own effort}, but it is the {undeserved, gracious} gift of God; not as a result of {your} works {nor your attempts to keep the Law}, so that no one will {be able to} boast or take credit in any way {for his salvation}. For we are His workmanship {His own master work, a work of art}, created in Christ Jesus {reborn from above-spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used} for good works, which God prepared {for us} beforehand {taking paths which He set}, so that we would walk in them {living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us}

 

John 4:13-14 (msg)

              Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst-not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

 

How do you receive this Hope I have talked about, you may ask? Through salvation; and How do you receive salvation?

John 3:16-17 (nlt)

             “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Acts 4:12 (amp)

             And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved {for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation}.

Romans 10:13 (amp)

              For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord {in Prayer} will be saved.