July 31, 2022 - Hope
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REVIEW: -WE DON’T TOLERATE, IGNORE OR NEGOTIATE WITH FEAR → A WICKED VANDALIZER
Psalms 97:10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
-WE TRUST A PERSON, NOT GOOD DOCTRINE
John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
HE COMES TO CARRY US (NOT JUST SEND US GOOD ADVICE) -TRANSFER COMPLETE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR LIFE TO GOD!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 You are not your own. 20. You were bought at a price.
WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S PROPERTY [ HANDOUTS- WHILE SUPPLIES LAST]
WHEN FEAR IS EVICTED TIME FOR HOPE TO ARISE LOOK THEY CAN’T LIVE WITH EACH OTHER
Matthew 12:43-45 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. (44) Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. (45) Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
LET FEAR FIND A HOUSE OCCUPIED BY HOPE (DON’T BE CONTENT WITH “NO FEAR”)
LIVING IN HOPE
→ HOPE IS WHAT TAKES YOU INTO THE SECRET PLACE
Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It [HOPE] enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
WHEN HOPE LEADS YOU INTO THE SECRET PLACE LIFE BECOMES COMPLETELY DIFFERENT Psalms 91:1,4,14-16 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (4) He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; (14) "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. (15) He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. (16) With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."
THE RULES ARE DIFFERENT IN HERE
→ WHEN WE BUILD HOPE IN OUR HEARTS, IT’S A PART OF OUR LIVES FOR ETERNITY
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
BOB JONES: GOD ASKED “DID YOU LEARN TO LOVE?” THAT’S WHY HE CAME BACK IN 1976
LIKEWISE HOPE IS ONE OF OUR ETERNAL TREASURES “DID YOU LEARN TO HOPE?”
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
WE CAN’T JUST LEARN HOPE WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN
BECAUSE HOPE IS PRODUCED IN THESE CURRENT TRIALS
Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (4) perseverance, character; and character, hope.
WHAT, SUFFERING? WHY SUFFERING?
WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THE WORLD’S TRUE NATURE: IT’S GOD’S ENEMY (& OURS)
James 4:4 friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
TO ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THIS ENGRAVES AN ATTITUDE INTO US
1 Peter 4:1-2 since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. (2) As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
TRIALS FIX OUR PRIORITIES
Psalms 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
PROGRESSION: SUFFERING→ PERSEVERANCE→ CHARACTER→ HOPE “JUST SHOW ME HOPE” SOMETIMES WE DON’T HAVE THE CHARACTER TO HANDLE HOPE
HUNGRY TODDLER: GROCERY STORE (LOOK CHICKEN NUGGETS) MISERABLE & ANGRY
HUNGRY TEENAGER (PIZZAS, BURRITOS) EXCITED → 45 MIN OF PURE HOPE WE MAY NOT HAVE PATIENCE AND CHARACTER TO DO THIS
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
DON’T BE DISCOURAGED YOU CAN AND WILL GROW
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
→ WE ARE GIVEN WRITTEN DETAILS ON EXACTLY HOW WE SHOULD HOPE
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
GOD SPECIFICALLY WANTS US TO EXPECT THESE BIBLE THINGS TO HAPPEN TO US!
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
THE BIBLE FULLY ENDORSES NOT JUST US HAVING HOPE BUT → UNREASONABLE HOPE Romans 4:18a Against all hope, [WITH NO REASON FOR HOPE] Abraham in hope believed
THIS “UNREASONABLE HOPE” makes Abraham OUR GREATEST EXAMPLE OF FAITH
Romans 4:18b and so Abraham became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
IF WE NEVER HAVE UNREASONABLE HOPE WE ARE NOT HIS KIDS QUESTION: WHAT UNREASONABLE HOPE IS GOD CALLING YOU TO RIGHT NOW?
THIS HOPE & EXPECTATION IS WHAT PREOCCUPIES THE PERSON WHO SEES MIRACLES
John 11:40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
BUT THE WORLD SHOWS CONTRARY EVIDENCE! THAT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE’S THE FACTS
Romans 4:19, 21 Without weakening in his faith, Abraham faced the fact that his body was as good as dead (21) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
BUT I’M AFRAID HOPE WILL DISAPPOINT ME
Romans 5:5 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.
HOPE DOESN’T FAIL BECAUSE IT’S ALL SUPPORTED BY LOVE
WHEN WE HAVE HOPE BUT ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE PRIZE LOVE MAKES IT EASY
Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
LOVE MAKES EVERYTHING WORK (FAITH AND HOPE)