Hope
1. Jeremiah Had Hope
2. Our Hope Is Sure
3. “On Christ, The Solid Rock I Stand”
4. Daniel Had Hope
5. Job’s Hope Wavered
6. Habakkuk Had Hope In Desperate Times
7. Ruth Had Hope
8. I Have Hope In God’s Promises
9. Our Sure Hope In Heaven Gives Us Comfort
10. How Do You Believe What You Can’t See?
11. We Are To Share The Reason Of Our Hope
12. Our Hope Is In The Lord
13. Our Hope Is Not Only In This Life
14. Find Hope In The Father’s House
1. Jeremiah Had Hope
I just finished reading the book of Lamentations. In the book bearing his name, the Prophet Jeremiah was God’s messenger to warn Judah of the pending war and captivity of Babylon, but the people put him in prison and refused to hear God’s warning. In the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah paints a grim and desperate picture of Jerusalem under the judgment of God. Among the horrible descriptions, Jeremiah remembered that God is merciful and he still had hope. Over the next week or two, let’s talk about “Hope”.
“21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:21-26)
2. Our Hope Is Sure
If I say, “I hope it doesn’t rain while we are at the zoo” that has an uncertainty that it might rain. When we see “hope” in the Bible it is not a verb that might or might not be, but it is a noun that is sure. The hope we find in Christ is based on the promise of our God. This hope is “an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast”. Is your hope in Christ Jesus?
“17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 6:17-20)
3. “On Christ, The Solid Rock I Stand”
Sunday morning our worship service opened with these familiar words, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” I had been singing these words Saturday as I was thinking about our devotions. This is a wonderful old hymn written by Edward Mote in 1834. I enjoy the old hymns because they are usually built on the scriptures. Jesus Christ is my hope, and my Rock! “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalm 18:2) “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)
The Solid Rock
1 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Refrain
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
2 When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
3 His oath, his covenant, his blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
4. Daniel Had Hope
The book of Daniel opens as Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and took the best of the children of Jerusalem captive to Babylon. “Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.” (Daniel 1:4-5) Daniel was in a strange country with people speaking a strange language. He may have seen Jerusalem as it burned to the ground. He may have lost all of his family. He lost all that he had, but he did not lose hope. He still had faith in his God. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8) Things were hard for Daniel, but he kept his faith and hope in his God. Things are hard for many right now. My prayer list grows and grows. Today I want to share a very special prayer request. I know a little boy named Daniel. At only 5 years of age, he has been through chemo and had a bone marrow transplant. He is not doing well. His family has asked for Christians and churches to pray for their son. They are not giving up hope. Will you pray for this little boy, Daniel?
5. Job’s Hope Wavered
Our hope, our faith, and our trust, is in the Lord. But, in our earthly bodies, sometimes our hope may waver. Job was a good man who put his trust in the Lord. He lost his children. He lost his fortune. He lost his livestock. And he lost the love and compassion of his wife and friends. For a little while, it seemed as though he lost his hope. “What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?” (Job 6:11) “And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?” (Job 17:15) It is hard when we are overwhelmed by our troubles and trials. There are times when we think things can’t get any worse… and they do. We must not lose hope. We must keep our faith and our hope in the Lord. He will never fail us. He will never forsake us. Job’s hope may have wavered, but he never lost hope in his God. Look at Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” When life gets so tough that your hope wavers, look to the Lord and know that He knows the way that you take. He knows the troubles you are facing. God is full of compassion. “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15) We don’t always know when someone feels like he or she has lost all hope. It is important that we show them compassion and help them find hope in the Lord. “And of some have compassion, making a difference:” (Jude 22)
6. Habakkuk Had Hope In Desperate Times
The prophecies given to Habakkuk are only three chapters long. In chapter one Habakkuk is burdened by the violence and wickedness in his land. He cries out to God, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear!”
“1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” (Habakkuk 1:1-4)
God’s answer is that He will use the Chaldeans for His judgment and “ye will not believe, though it be told you.”
“5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.” (Habakkuk 1:5-9)
Habakkuk is dismayed that God will use a nation more wicked than His own people to bring His judgment. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?” (Habakkuk 1:13) Habakkuk did not lose hope. We can find hope in the last verses of Habakkuk. Even when times are bad and we see God’s judgment on our land, we can still have hope and rejoice in the Lord.
“16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” (Habbakuk 3:16-19)
7. Ruth Had Hope
We are looking at the beautiful story in the book of Ruth. Elimelech took his wife Naomi and their two sons to Moab during a famine. The father died. The sons got married then they also died, and Naomi decided to go back home to Bethlehemjudah. She told her daughters-in-law to go back to their homes. “Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.” (Ruth 1:12-13) She had no hope for them, but Ruth decided to go with her mother-in-law. “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17) Instead of returning to her family and gods she chose to have hope in the people and God of Judah.
Preacher John Byerly spoke about Ruth in his sermon Wednesday night. Ruth said, “Let me now go the the field…” She had courage to work in the field. “And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.” (Ruth 2:3) She said, “Let me glean…” She was willing to work in the hot sun, to take care of Naomi. “And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.” (Ruth 2:7) Then she said, “Let me find favor in thy sight…” She wanted to please Boaz. “Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.” (Ruth 2:13) While Preacher Byerly was preaching, I thought about how Ruth had hope and God blessed her. She married Boaz and had a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David. This is the David who became king over Israel.
8. I Have Hope In God’s Promises
This year I planted beans three times. With all the rain, I think the seeds rotted in the ground. Friday I pulled up maybe a dozen plants that grew in the three rows I planted. We pulled the beans off the plants and they were a nice addition to our dinner. I also moved the weeds around, which grew because it was continually too wet for me to do much weeding, and found a cantaloupe that was also good with dinner. The tomatoes and cucumbers were good in my salad. When people ask about my garden this year I tell them that it hasn’t done very well. But, it has been a blessing to have fresh veggies to eat, even though I haven’t had much to can or give away. I have said that I may not even plant a garden next year. But, I probably will. I enjoy my garden, even in hard years. And if I am able, I hope that I can plant another garden next spring. God’s promise gives me hope! “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22) My God has promised seedtime and harvest will not cease. So, even after a slow year in the garden, I will probably begin in the spring with the same enthusiasm as I have during plentiful years. God’s promises give me hope!
9. Our Sure Hope In Heaven Gives Us Comfort
As I mentioned before, our hope in the things of God are not a wait and see hope. Our hope in the Lord is sure and steadfast, based on God’s Word. We can be sure that we are going to heaven when we believe that Jesus died to take the punishment for our wrong doing, and we ask Him to forgive us. We trust in Him and He takes away our sin and gives us assurance of eternal life. This is God’s Promise! This is why Paul could say, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:18)
“1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;” (Titus 1:1-3)
“5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” (Titus 3:5-8)
“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
10. How Do You Believe What You Can’t See?
Sometimes I talk about how to be saved because Jesus wants everyone to believe in Him and be saved. Maybe you have been thinking about it and you are asking, “How can I believe something that I can’t see?” It’s called faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) When you feel the Holy Spirit moving in your heart and mind, and you feel sorry for your sin, then it’s time to pray and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and save you. You may know the Bible stories about Jesus. You may like to put your Baby Jesus decorations out at Christmas. Maybe your grandparents went to church. These are things that you can see, but this is not what saves you. Salvation is of the heart. You must believe that Jesus is the only way to get forgiveness of sin and put all your trust in Him. Jesus is more than a Baby in a manger. He is the Son of God who came to earth to die on the cross to take the punishment for our sin. Faith is believing. Peter speaks of Jesus, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:8-9) Jesus loves you and died for you. Please believe on Him and ask Him to save you. It is the most important thing you will ever do.
11. We Are To Share The Reason Of Our Hope
My daily reading carried me to Ezekiel 33 and it brought to mind I Peter 3:1. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” It is God’s will that we share the reason of our hope. The Lord helps me type these devotionals each day so I can share the reason for my hope in Christ. I want to tell others about my Jesus! In Chapter 33 of Ezekiel we read of a watchman. Please read this section of the scriptures. We are to be watchmen for the Lord and warn others of the danger of not following Jesus.
“1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” (Ezekiel 33:1-9)
12. Our Hope Is In The Lord
If someone asked me the reason for my hope, I would surely tell them that my hope is in the Lord! I don’t place my hope in money, because a small disaster could take all that I have. I don’t place my hope in the leaders of our country, because they could lead us in the wrong direction. I don’t place my hope in my natural ability because I am getting older and my strength could fail. All that I am and everything I have is by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He watches over me day and night. He leads and guides me in the right direction. He gives me strength for the day and a song in the night. He loves me with an everlasting love. My hope is in my Lord! Enjoy these hopeful verses!
“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:24)
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;” (Psalm 33:18)
“For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.” (Psalm 38:15)
“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” (Psalm 39:7)
“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” (Psalm 71:5)
“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:” (Psalm 146:5)
“The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” (Psalm 147:11)
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” (Jeremiah 17:7)
13. Our Hope Is Not Only In This Life
The hope we find in Jesus gives us peace and joy. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13) Some think that we are miserable because we don’t participate in the things of the world. But Jesus gives us so much more than the world has to offer, in this life and in the life to come. Paul lived under great persecution. But, he wanted the early Christians to know that our hope extends beyond this life.
“16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (I Corinthians 15:16-19)
This sinful world grieves us and causes pain in our lives, but Jesus gives us a new life. He has promised us a home in heaven to be with Him throughout eternity.
“1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
14. Find Hope In The Father’s House
In Luke 15 we learn the story of a man who had two sons. The youngest asked for his inheritance and he took it and went into a far country. He wasted all that he had and got a job feeding pigs. He was so low and so hungry that he was near to the point of eating the slop he was feeding to the pigs. After sinking as low as he could go, he thought of going back home to his father. This gave him hope. Sometimes we make wrong decisions and we go away from our heavenly Father. If you have fallen low, and there is no where you can go, and no one you can turn to, look up. Your heavenly Father is waiting for you to return to Him. Find hope in the Lord. He is waiting with love and compassion for you to come back to Him.
“17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:17-24)
15. A Progression That Ends In Hope
I was thinking about how to end our look at “Hope” and the Lord reminded me of a progression in the Bible that ends in hope. Hope in the life of a Christian is a great virtue. It is joined with faith and charity in I Corinthians 13:13. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” We know that faith is one of the greatest characteristics of a Christian. Charity, or love, is also prevalent and important in letting others see Christ reflected through us. The Apostle Paul puts hope, right between faith and charity. In writing to the Christians in Rome he gives us a different side of hope. We might think of it as a progression that leads to a greater hope. We like it when we are coasting along enjoying life, and our cares seem far behind us. But, when troubles and trials come, we often call upon the Lord with a greater urgency and our faith grows. As we learn to trust the Lord through these tribulations, we learn patience as we wait on the Lord. The problems we face, paired with the patience we learn, gives us experience… and that experience builds our hope in the Lord. And this progression helps us grow in our Christian life! What a wonderful way to end our look at “Hope”!
“1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
