ARTICLES ON HOPE
DATE: 2 February 2003
SPEAKER: Pastor Tayo Adeyemi
TITLE: The incredible power of hope.
TEXT: Romans 5:1-5
It is a reality of life that in our journey through life and indeed in our christian walk, we will have problems. Any believer who expects to float through life on a bed of roses simply isn't being realistic. Jesus already told us that there would be difficulties in life - it comes with the territory. John 16:33 "In the world you will have tribulation"
But it doesn't end there. He adds "…….. but be of good cheer I have overcome the world". In Romans 5:1-2, Paul tells us that we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, because we have been justified by faith - and now have peace with God.
But he goes further in verse 3 and tells us that we can also rejoice in tribulations. Why? Because our problems also ultimately lead us to a place of hope. So, in essence, as a child of God, you can rejoice in every situation - good or bad. The key is to find your way through whatever you're going through and arrive at the place of hope - why? Because HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT - Romans 5:5
As believers, we know the power of love, we know the power of faith, we know the power of prayer, we know the power of God's word. But many of us have never really been introduced to the incredible power of hope. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul presents three virtues, faith, hope and love - and he speaks of their power to abide.
Let us talk about the power of hope In the darkest days of the nation of Israel God unveils His plan for them; and before He promises anything else, He promises them a future full of hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Why did God bring a message of hope right in the middle of the people's gloom? Because God knew that hope would empower them to keep going.
"Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present" - John Maxwell
People stop trying when they have lost hope. People give up the fight when all they see is the fight - when there is no prize, there is no prospect of winning No wonder the bible says, Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame - Hebrews 12:2.
Florence Chadwick was the first woman ever to attempt swimming the English Channel. On her first attempt, she gave up just a few yards before she reached the shore - because she could not see the finishing line. The second time round, she finished victoriously because, this time, she had mastered and memorised every detail of the English coastline.
How clearly do you see your future? The clearer it is to you, the more energy you can have today. This is the reason why children wake up excited on Christmas day or on a fay that they're going shopping or on an outing.
An experiment was conducted where a rat was placed in a dark slippery tank half filled with water. When the inside of the tank was pitch black, the rat survived 12 hours. When a small hole was punched in the side of the tank to let a ray of light in, the rat survived 9 days. Hope is one of the greatest commodities we are called to sell as the church of Jesus Christ. We live in a world that has lost hope.
The number one cause of teenage deaths in America today is suicide. Why? They are more afraid of the future than they are of death. What prompted the prodigal son to get up out of the pigpen of life and return to his father? Hope. What prompted four ostracized lepers to head for the Syrian camp as a last resort? Hope. What gave a blind beggar - Bartimaeus - the impetus to shout louder when Jesus passed by? Hope.
What propelled the woman with the issue of blood forward through he pressing crowd, until she touched the hem of Jesus' garment? Hope. What will pull you out of your pigpen, propel you through the greatest obstacles, and make you lift your head, when you should hang it in shame? Hope.
"Hope is the foundational quality of change" - Alfred Adler
What is hope? Hope is more than mere wishful thinking or an attempt to express a very uncertain desire. Scriptural hope is confident expectancy based on solid certainty. It is a firm assurance about things yet unseen, things yet in the future. Romans 8:24,25, Hebrews 11:1
Now, even though it is in the future, our confidence is as if it was in the past. God is so certain of the future he has planned for us that many times he speaks of it as if it was in the past. Ephesians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 2:9 From the original Hebrew, the word hope means safety, security, trust, refuge, shelter.
Hope is such a powerful thing that having no hope is almost synonymous with having no God. Ephesians 2:11-12. Let's examine a few scriptures that describe the power of hope.
Psalm 31:24; 33:18-22; 43:5; Jeremiah 17:7; Lamentations 3:21-24,26 As believers, we have hope because we have a God - Psalm 39:7. Hebrews 10:35
How do you unleash the power of hope?•Look up - Psalm 121:1,2
When Peter walked on the water, he only began to sink when he took his eyes of Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2
But it doesn't end there. He adds "…….. but be of good cheer I have overcome the world". In Romans 5:1-2, Paul tells us that we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, because we have been justified by faith - and now have peace with God.
But he goes further in verse 3 and tells us that we can also rejoice in tribulations. Why? Because our problems also ultimately lead us to a place of hope. So, in essence, as a child of God, you can rejoice in every situation - good or bad. The key is to find your way through whatever you're going through and arrive at the place of hope - why? Because HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT - Romans 5:5
As believers, we know the power of love, we know the power of faith, we know the power of prayer, we know the power of God's word. But many of us have never really been introduced to the incredible power of hope. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul presents three virtues, faith, hope and love - and he speaks of their power to abide.
Let us talk about the power of hope In the darkest days of the nation of Israel God unveils His plan for them; and before He promises anything else, He promises them a future full of hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Why did God bring a message of hope right in the middle of the people's gloom? Because God knew that hope would empower them to keep going.
"Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present" - John Maxwell
People stop trying when they have lost hope. People give up the fight when all they see is the fight - when there is no prize, there is no prospect of winning No wonder the bible says, Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame - Hebrews 12:2.
Florence Chadwick was the first woman ever to attempt swimming the English Channel. On her first attempt, she gave up just a few yards before she reached the shore - because she could not see the finishing line. The second time round, she finished victoriously because, this time, she had mastered and memorised every detail of the English coastline.
How clearly do you see your future? The clearer it is to you, the more energy you can have today. This is the reason why children wake up excited on Christmas day or on a fay that they're going shopping or on an outing.
An experiment was conducted where a rat was placed in a dark slippery tank half filled with water. When the inside of the tank was pitch black, the rat survived 12 hours. When a small hole was punched in the side of the tank to let a ray of light in, the rat survived 9 days. Hope is one of the greatest commodities we are called to sell as the church of Jesus Christ. We live in a world that has lost hope.
The number one cause of teenage deaths in America today is suicide. Why? They are more afraid of the future than they are of death. What prompted the prodigal son to get up out of the pigpen of life and return to his father? Hope. What prompted four ostracized lepers to head for the Syrian camp as a last resort? Hope. What gave a blind beggar - Bartimaeus - the impetus to shout louder when Jesus passed by? Hope.
What propelled the woman with the issue of blood forward through he pressing crowd, until she touched the hem of Jesus' garment? Hope. What will pull you out of your pigpen, propel you through the greatest obstacles, and make you lift your head, when you should hang it in shame? Hope.
"Hope is the foundational quality of change" - Alfred Adler
What is hope? Hope is more than mere wishful thinking or an attempt to express a very uncertain desire. Scriptural hope is confident expectancy based on solid certainty. It is a firm assurance about things yet unseen, things yet in the future. Romans 8:24,25, Hebrews 11:1
Now, even though it is in the future, our confidence is as if it was in the past. God is so certain of the future he has planned for us that many times he speaks of it as if it was in the past. Ephesians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 2:9 From the original Hebrew, the word hope means safety, security, trust, refuge, shelter.
Hope is such a powerful thing that having no hope is almost synonymous with having no God. Ephesians 2:11-12. Let's examine a few scriptures that describe the power of hope.
Psalm 31:24; 33:18-22; 43:5; Jeremiah 17:7; Lamentations 3:21-24,26 As believers, we have hope because we have a God - Psalm 39:7. Hebrews 10:35
How do you unleash the power of hope?•Look up - Psalm 121:1,2
When Peter walked on the water, he only began to sink when he took his eyes of Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2
•Look inwards - Colossians 1:27, 1 Peter 3:15
There is a witness of hope in your heart. You simply need to quiet your spirit long enough to hear it. The Holy Spirit is bearing witness in you.
•Look outwards - Romans 12:15
When you rejoice at what God had done for others, you celebrate twice. First you celebrate their victory. Secondly you celebrate your own victory in advance.
•Look backward
When you think of the victories of the past, it encourages you to believe God for greater things in the future. David's confidence was strengthened by what God had done for him in the past.
•Look forward - Jeremiah 29:11
God's word is true; He never fails. Tomorrow will be better.
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