"How Well Do You Hope...?”
a. From the Greek, elpis,
which means "favorable and confident
expectation"
b. A popular
definition: desire plus expectation of
the unseen
“For we are saved by
hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet
hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for
it.”
[Hope is an important
aspect of what it means to be a Christian
“And now abideth faith,
hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
The degree of hope one has reveals much about
the
state of their spiritual
wellness...]
I. DEGREES OF HOPE
A. THOSE WITH NO HOPE...
1. Such as the Gentiles
without God
“That at that time ye
were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
2. Who sorrow greatly
over the loss of loved ones
“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.”
-- Which describes many
in the world today
B. THOSE WITH LIVING
HOPE...
1. Such as those in
Christ
“Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
2. Who have been given
good hope by grace
“Now our Lord Jesus
Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given
us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,”
3. Enabling them to
rejoice in hope
“And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
-- Which ought to
describe every Christian today
C. THOSE WITH LITTLE
HOPE...
1. Who may actually have
reason to hope
2. But rarely think
about their hope
3. Because they are
weighed down with worldliness and worldly
cares
“And take heed to
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”
-- Which sadly describes
many Christians today
[Yet just as faith and
love are critical to our spiritual well-being, so
also is our hope...]
II. IMPORTANCE OF
HOPE
A. FOR MOTIVATION...
1. We have the hope of
one day being like Jesus
“Beloved, now are we the
sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that,
when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
2. This hope serves to motivate
one to purify oneself
“And every man that hath
this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
-- Without a vibrant
hope, we have little or no motivation to grow
spiritually
B. FOR STRENGTH...
1. Hope produces
patience (endurance)
“Remembering without
ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”
2. Hope leads to eagerly
waiting for that which is come
-- Without a vibrant
hope, we have little or no strength to
persevere to the end
C. FOR JOY...
1. We rejoice in hope of
the glory of God
“By whom also we have
access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God.”
2. Such joyful hope
leads to patience in tribulation
“Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
-- Without a vibrant
hope, our Christian lives are joyless,
sometimes filled with
despair
[Since hope is so
important to our spiritual well-being, what can we do
to increase our
hope...?]
III. INCREASING OUR
HOPE
A. BY READING THE
SCRIPTURES...
1. The Scriptures are
intended to produce hope
“For whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience
and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
-- Just as faith comes
by the Word of God, so hope comes by the
Word of God!
B. BY FOCUSING ON THE
GRACE TO COME...
1. Resting our hope
fully on the grace to come when Jesus returns
“Wherefore gird up the
loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be
brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
2. What is the grace to
be brought to us when He comes?
a. The resurrection from
the dead
“Now
this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for
the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and
this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord.”
b. The revealing of our
glory together with Christ
“When Christ, who is our
life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
c. The heavenly city
whose builder is God
“For he looked for a
city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Hebrews 11:16
“But now they desire a
better country, that is, an heavenly: wherewith God is not ashamed to be called
their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
d. Which includes a new
heavens and new earth
“Nevertheless we,
according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such
things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless.”
e. With access to the
water of life and tree of life in the
presence of God
“And he shewed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God
and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either
side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded
her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for
the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne
of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in
their foreheads. 5And there shall be no night there; and they need
no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and
they shall reign for ever and ever.”
-- Rest our hope fully
on the grace to come by contemplating it
often!
**If you would like to give your heart to Jesus today, repeat these words below:
'Dear Heavenly Father,i come to in the name of Jesus; Forgive me a sinner and wash me in your precious blood. Make this heart of stone to be made flesh, so that your word may be sown in it. Any addictions that i may have, remove them now in Jesus name! I've accepted Jesus Christ as my savior and believe that He died and rose from the dead! And from this day forward, i commit my life to you and seek for guidance and understanding in your word, as i walk in your path of righteousness, In Jesus name i pray, AMEN!!!'
If you have recited these words and meant them in your heart, you are saved and if the Lord would come today, you will be ready to go to Heaven!! I will keep you all in prayer, to continue to walk in the ways of Jesus Christ our Lord. READ, PRAY, SEEK and TRUST in Him and you will overcome this wicked world! **
I have also provided a link to the Full Gospel Holiness Church below, where you will find sermons from the word of God (no comprising to sin) but the Full truth to the Word of God! You can also view our contact information to email us or call us for prayer. May God bless you!
http://www.fghconline.com/
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