September 10, 2022 ABOUNDING IN HOPE
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.”
Isaiah 40:31 “But 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 faint.”
1 Peter 1:3 “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.”
The only hope that endures and stands the test of time is from God. In light of all the troubles and trials of the day in which we live, genuine hope is a rare quality. Often, hope is based on circumstances; if things are going my way, I am hopeful; hope that is unwavering regardless of our circumstances is rooted in a faith in God. Biblical hope sees beyond the immediate and it is not based on what we see at the present. It is indeed a miracle and a work of the Holy Spirit in us for to have hope in adverse circumstances. “Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1. There are many books written on the subject of hope and many sermons preached on hope, but in reality, there is one basic truth that leads to the hope that is ours. Simply said, hope is a by-product of a personal relationship with our heavenly Father where we know and experience His love for us. If we truly know the God of creation, the all-knowing and all-powerful God, then what do we have to fear or fret over? I know that that may sound like ‘pie in the sky,’ or theoretical, but it is true. We tend to take on too much-things we cannot control-and turn away from the liberating truths of the gospel and the simplicity found in Jesus. God knows and He forewarned us that we would have trials in this life, but no matter how severe the trial might be, God will take us through the trial and He will use it for good. As said above, hope is related to and based on faith in God-not on what we see in the natural. If the world around us needs anything, it is hope; not a false hope, but a genuine hope. God is moving toward an awesome day when things will be made right, when things will be restored, and when His people will receive their full inheritance. Sin, strife, wars, sickness and all that is wrong will be done away with when the Lord returns. Let fix our hope on the fact that God is with us in the here and now, and on the fact that He is coming back to restore and make all things right! The only sure hope and the only sure foundation is Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Ephesians 1:18 “Having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,”
Blessings,
Buddy
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