Joseph – Hopeful in midst of Suffering
| January 12, 2016 | Posted by Pastor Viju Mathai under General, Sermons |
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Pastor Viju Mathai
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Joseph’s Dreams
Genesis 37:5-11… 5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
He is a Type of Jesus: Joseph’s story is similar to the story of Jesus
- Beloved of the Father: Loved by the father
- Sent by the Father
- Misunderstood, Rejected, Hated and mistreated by the brothers
- They were conspired against
- They were both stripped of their garments
- Sold for few pieces of silver
- Everything was put in their trust prospered: Trustworthy and wise
- Their own brothers did not recognize him
- Tempted but did not sin
- Falsely accused and charged: Upright yet bound and condemned
- Savior: God planned their suffering in advance to save many
- Remembered by God
- Exalted by God: All knees will bow
Joseph was thankful towards a God who restores
Genesis 41:51-52… Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
I don’t see a bitter Joseph, rather I see a greatful Joseph. He married the daughter of a priest, yet he did not lose his identity. It is as if he looks into the eyes of his wife and says “it is not your father’s god, but my God who rescues, and restores. He saw the hand of God in every situations, the cistern, the Potiphar’s house, the dungeon.
What is hope?
“Faith is for the now & Hope is for the future”
“Trusting in God means resting in Him”
Without hope man cannot survive. Man can live for days without food or water, but cannot survive for a moment without hope.
Chile Mine Rescue: We all have heard about the great exploit of a whole nation of Chilly in rescuing the 33 miners trapped deep beneath the earth for 69 days. The first 11 days before they were discovered, there was chaos and mutiny among them, but the moment they were aware that they have been discovered and a massive operation is underway to rescue them, they all teamed up united and formed a society in hope to survive all odds. How did this happen? Would things have happened if they had no hope?? Would things have happened if they had no faith in those outside..Drilling?? They had convinced their mind that the folks up there are committed. This helped their faith. This built up their will and their hopes that they will survive and would surface one day
Proverb 13:12 – Hope differed make a heart sick
Hopelessness causes – discouragement, panic, fear, worry
Devil’s Yard Sale: The Devil was having a yard sale, and all of his tools were marked with different prices. They were a fiendish lot. There was hatred, jealously, deceit, lying, and pride–all at expensive prices. But over to the side of the yard on display was a tool more obviously worn than any of the other tools. It was also the most costly. The tool was labeled DISCOURAGEMENT. When questioned, the Devil said, “It’s more useful to me than any other tool. When I can’t bring down my victims with any of the rest of these tools, I use discouragement, because so few people realize that it belongs to me.” Satan’s is never happier than when he sees people giving in and giving up to despair and becoming lost in hopelessness. Have you ever felt like your whole world is caving in around you and there is absolutely no hope. Your troubles seem to mount up insurmountably. Cheer up I have good news. There is hope for the hopeless!
Kid at the baseball game: A man approached a little league baseball game one afternoon. He asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy responded, “Eighteen to nothing–we’re behind.” “Boy,” said the spectator, “I’ll bet you’re discouraged.” “Why should I be discouraged?” replied the little boy. “We haven’t even gotten up to bat yet!”
Mathew 6:25- 34 à 25. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27. Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28. “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Mathew 10:29-30 — 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith)… 2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:12… Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Psalms 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
- Worry never solved a problem
- Worry never paid a debt
- Worry never alleviated a pain
- Worry never made an enemy a friend
- Worry never turned a wrong into a right
- Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble—sometimes the troubles of tomorrow—which may never arrive anyway!
- Worry is a total waste of time. It doesn’t change anything. All it does is taint your mind and steals your joy.
- Worry and fear does not come from God. The bible says that you cannot add even an hour to your life with worry
Worry and Fear can only be countered with Faith, Hope, Trust and Confidence and expectation
- Fear knocked at the door and faith answered. No one was there.
- Childlike faith focuses on our Heavenly Father – not on our fears.
- Faith is a refusal to Worry and Panic.
- Calmness is the way we show that we are trusting in God.
- The Lord will either calm your storm . . . or allow it to rage while He calms you.
Jesus came into this world to give hope to mankind. True Biblical hope can only be found it Jesus Christ.
Christian Hope is not the same as worldly Hope – Our Hope is in the Lord
Hope & Faith starts with confidence and trust in someone or something: (Romans 15:13) Biblical hope is inseparable with a firm faith and a confidant trust in God. Confidant Trust means – reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; a complete confidence. An assurance coupled with confidant expectation
Psalms 20:7-8… 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Psalms 33:16-22… 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love (Romans 8), 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Romans 8:31, 35, 37-39… 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? …..35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …..37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39. neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Isaiah 49:23…….those who hope in me will not be disappointed
Psalms 25:21… May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.
Job 13:15… Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
- Enoch trusted God and in Faith lived a dedicated life, in a wicked age
- Abraham trusted God even when he was not sure of his destination, but he was sure of his company (Hebrews 11:8-10).
- Joseph Trusted God and that enabled him to look with faith and see how God was working through his life for others.
- Mosses trusted God to stand up to overpowering forces.
- Joshua Trusted God to do the impossible with the power of God
- Rehab Trusted God and she was willing to leave the old behind and become new
- Job Trusted God
Job 13:5… Though he slays me, yet will I hope in him
Job 19:25-27… 25. I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27. I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Is it 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.” “I hope it would rain”. Worldly hope can be defined then as a belief that something good may happen in terms of something that is physical and touchable. Examples of worldly hope are hope held that one may receive a raise or promotion or hope held that one might own a larger car or a larger home in the future. Worldly hope and Biblical hope are two very different things and on two very different levels. Worldly hope is a hope that resides purely in the here and now and in the physical world. Biblical hope is hope held by those who believe that God is ever aware of his children and their welfare.”
In the Bible, hope is never a static or passive thing. It is dynamic, active, directive and life sustaining. Biblical hope is not an escape from reality or from problems. It doesn’t leave us idle, drifting or just rocking on the front porch. If our hope is biblical and based on God’s promises, it will put us in gear. Hope is your light at the end of the tunnel. Hope is the anticipation and expectation that God will eventually turn everything around and bring you up out of the storm cloud that you may have just fallen into. Lose your hope in God and what He can still miraculously do to handle your current crisis, and your faith and trust levels in Him could sink right along with it.
- Reliance on God’s blessing and provision; the expectation of future good. Anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s guidance
- Hope is closely associated with trusting God: His promises, His nature.
- Hope is closely associated therefore with knowledge: knowledge of God, His nature, His reliability, His history with men.
- Hope is closely associated with, indeed, nearly synonymous with, salvation. Therefore, hope is closely associated with Jesus Christ.
- Hope is closely associated with the Holy Spirit, who is called the Encourager, and who’s ministry is to point the way to Jesus Christ.
- Hope is future-oriented, looking forward to a crown.
- Hope is also past-oriented, looking back to a Cross.
- And yet hope is present-oriented, trusting God for every necessary provision of the moment.
- Hope, Biblical hope, the hope of glory that is firmly anchored to the Cross, has a powerful shaping influence on our present condition. Therefore: live in hope.
Again, hope is the anticipation and expectation that God will eventually work out everything for His own good and that He will fully take up your current crisis and properly handle it for you if you will only believe and have enough faith, trust and hope that He will do it for you. It really is that simple.
Through Hope we see the unseen
Hebrews 11:1… Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
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” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” Though archaic today in modern terms, hope is akin to trust and a confident expectation. Hope may refer to the activity of hoping, or to the object hoped for—the content of one’s hope. By its very nature, hope stresses two things: (a) futurity, and (b) invisibility. It deals with things we can’t see or haven’t received or both .
Worldly Hope: Only in this world
Biblical Hope: In this world and the world beyond. By definition Hope concerns the future, things that are unseen: in this world and in the world to come
Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Example of Abraham:
Romans 4:18-21 — 18. Against all (worldly) hope, Abraham in hope (in God) believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19. Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21. being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Example of the valley of dry bones:
There are situations, which appear to be totally and absolutely hopeless.
Ezekiel 37:1-2 — 1. The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
The picture portrayed here was that of the nation of Israel in their Eastern captivity and Diaspora. The nation was virtually dead. It was lifeless, scattered, and bleached just as this conquered army’s corpses, which were strewn across a battleground. There was no way humanly possible that they would ever arise from this defeat. It would be impossible!
God alone holds the answer to hopeless situations.
Ezekiel 37:3… He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”
Matthew 19:25-26 …“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
God delights in doing the impossible!
Psalm 42:11… Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Example of Hannah’s prayer (1 Samuel 2): She did not give up even in the face of ridiculing (from Peninnah),
1 Samuel 1:7 — This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.
Your Hope will be attacked but hope always wins
Hope as an anchor – Confidant and securing: Hope keeps us from drifting
Hebrews 6:19… We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
Hope in the Lord, a Continuous Process
The book of Psalms is known as the songs of David and the other psalmists. It’s mainly one of glorifying and trusting God in His almighty and divine powers.
Psalm 31:24 — Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Psalm 71:5-6 — 5. For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. 6. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.
Where does it not come from?
Does not come through Riches
1 Timothy 6:17 — Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Does not come through strength or power
Psalm 33:17 — A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
Psalms 20:7 – Some trust in chariots and some horses, but we hope in the name of our God
Where does hope comes from? What is the source of hope?
Hope comes from God: If you are without Christ, you are without God and without hope.
Psalm 62:5... Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
Psalm 42:5… Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Ephesians 2:12 …remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
1 Timothy 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope; 2 to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 1:2… in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
Psalm 39:7… “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
Psalms 146:5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
That our hope should always be directly in God the Father and Jesus Christ and the eternal life that God is promising all of us up in heaven, not in ourselves or in any of our temporary current situations, as they are all for a very brief moment in the big-picture, eternal scheme of things.
Song: My hope is built on nothing less. Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean in Jesus’ Name. 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. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. 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
Hope comes from the word of God:
Hope depends on knowing the Word of God.
Romans 15:4… For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Psalms 119:49-50… 49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Psalms 119:74… May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
Hope comes through suffering and persevering
Romans 5:3-5… 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Trials in you life is not an indication that God plans to destroy you, rather it shows that God wants to build us up
James 1:2-5… 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:12… Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
The future glory far outweighes our present pains and troubles.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18… 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
We survive by learning that despair is not the opposite of hope, but an element within hope.
Hope come in knowing His unfailing Love
Psalm 147:11… the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Our Hope is in His unfailing Love: As long as his love continues we have a basis in hoping in Him
Psalms 33:17-22… 17. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19. to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Romans 8:37-39… 37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39. neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hope comes when we rest in God’s Grace.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,
And not only must we learn how to have hope in the Lord, but we must also learn how to relax, rejoice and become steadfast in that hope, allowing it to become an actual anchor of the soul, since it is such a pure and sure thing from the Lord. If God is on our side and working with us, then we can have full assurance and full confidence that He will eventually work out and solve any trials that we may have to go through in this life.
Calmness is the way we show that we are trusting in God.
Hope depends on the Spirit Filled life.
Romans 15:13… May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:4-5… 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Trust depends on our past experiences:
When David was the hunted one, he reflected on the past
Psalm 22:4… In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
When Jesus was in this world, He did many miracles, turned water into wine, healed the leper, healed the sick, the blind, delivered the demon possessed. We have several examples from the bible that serves as witness that we have enough evidence about the faithfulness of God. If he has done it in the past, he will do it again.
Israel did not trust God and doubted and so perished in the wilderness
Hope is closely associated therefore with knowledge: knowledge of God, His nature, His reliability, His history with men.
Confident Trust, Faith & Hope leads to Expectations: Expectation – to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of
1 John 5:14-15 à 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
It has RESULTS
It changes how we see ourselves.
- It changes us into pilgrim persons, people who see this life as temporary sojourn.
2 Peter 1:13 And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
It changes what we value.
Hope, if biblical, makes us heavenly minded rather than earthly minded. Our Lord’s words here blast our deception away.
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
It affects what we do with our lives—our talents, time, treasures.
Titus 2:1-13 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored. 6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. 9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;
1 John 3:1-3 See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
The Christian life, if it is grasped according to God’s truth, is a magnificent obsession with an eternal hope, a hope that does not lead to an escapist attitude, but to the pursuit of life on a whole new dimension. It makes you bullish, as we might say today, on the potentials of this life as stewards of God. It gives us power to live courageously, to be all God has called us to be in Christ.
So then, why are we so quick to opt for earthly treasure and so slow to be obsessed with the heavenly? Perhaps it is because we do not believe in heavenly realities. They represent a celestial cliche in our minds, but no more.1 You see, it is the person who believes in this heavenly hope and who is so fixed on it, in the words of Peter, that he or she is able to have such a light grip on the things of this world that he or she is able to put first things first.
In other words, a biblical hope is never an escape from reality or from problems. It doesn’t leave us idle, drifting or just rocking on the front porch. If our hope is biblical and not just a heavenly cliche or like the sign, “in case of emergency, break glass,” it will put us in gear.
But, being dynamic, hope also has something else:
It has Rewards and Blessings
It gives us joy and peace.
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
It gives us protection and security.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
Job 11:18 — You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
It gives us strength, courage, boldness.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.
It gives us endurance, comfort, confidence in the face of death.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.
It gives us confidence in ministry.
1 Timothy 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
Types and Purpose of Hope
Living Hope
1 Peter 1:3-8 –> 3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
Blessed Hope: Titus 2:13
Purifying hope
1 John 3:1-3… 3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Strengthening Hope
Isaiah 40:31 – those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint
Delay and testing in life builds our Hope:
Hope delayed is not denied. But, why would God delay fulfilling that which we hope for?
One possible reason would be: so that we would gain “appreciation” for what He gives when it arrives. For example, when God created Adam, He didn’t immediately give him Eve. We’re told: “The LORD God said, ’It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” (Genesis 2:18). Then, almost inexplicably, God asks Adam to name all the animals. What? Couldn’t God figure out names for all these creatures? Sure He could. But God wanted Adam to see and review all the rest of creation BEFORE Eve was taken from his side. Thus, when Adam first sets his eyes on Eve, he declares: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, ‘for she was taken out of man” (Genesis 2:23). God delayed in creating Eve, so that Adam would fully understand and appreciate the value of what he was to receive.
Another possibility would be our need for purification and strengthening. Romans 5:1-5 tells us:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
- Eternal Hope or Hope of Glory
1 Corinthians 15:19… If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Colossians 1:27… To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Endurance inspired by Hope in Lord Jesus
1 Thessalonians 1:3… We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hope comes when we put our trust and faith in our Lord Jesus. Endurance and hope is connected. One can survive a few days without food or water, but without hope it is impossible to survive even for a moment. Those that are spiritual must endure anything that comes our way, inspired by the Hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Even when the doctors have given hope, our hope is still not over since we know our hope is inspired through Lord Jesus. Without hope we would sometimes sound as the verse below
An athlete keeps on pushing himself even when he knows he is tired. He is willing to endure it all in the hopes of gaining the glory
Hope never fails nor disappoints
A God who fullfills His purposes even in the most impossible of times
Genesis 42:6-9… Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
Genesis 45:5-7… 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.
Genesis 50:15-21 (After Jacob Died)… 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Revelation awaits an appointed time
Habakkuk 2:3.. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
All things work out for the good of those who love him
Romans 8:28… And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Conclusion
- We have hope in God’s grace and deliverance in the sufferings we undergo in our present life. We have a hope that the time will come when our sufferings on earth will be finally over
- We have a blessed hope of eternal salvation that will lead us home
- We have a hope of the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ who will return one day as the king of kings and the Lord of Lords –that we will be raptured to be with him
- We have a hope that we shall be transformed with the twinkling of an eye and we shall adorn an imperishable body. The perishable will be removed. The cursed body shall be removed. The earnings of Adam and the sins will be removed forever and ever.
- Then we shall sing – Oh death where is your victory, O death where is your sting (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
- We have a hope of a beautiful new house in the new heaven that has been built by God – whose builder and architect is God himself
- We have a hope of receiving a crown of righteousness – of glory – of life
- Finally we have a hope of living an eternal life living with our God – no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrows, no more sickness, no more financial crises, no more rebellion,
Psalms 33:17-22 à 17. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
Hebrew 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes on to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
Be joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction
Romans 12:12 — Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 — He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Psalms 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.