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Hope-5

Hope:
Part 5
Hope of God's Love

John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 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”

3 things about this hope that we have in God’s love.

1. God loves me even if I do wrong

Romans 8:1 “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Romans 6:1 “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!”

Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”

I John 4:18 NLT “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

2. God loves me even when others do wrong


Romans 8:31-34 “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us”

3. God loves me even when things go wrong

Romans 8:35-37 NLT
“Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? …37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

John 16:33 “In this world you will have troubles, but take heart for I have overcome the world”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together[m] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Romans 12:1 NCV “ So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship”

Hope-4

Hope
Part 4
Hope of Gods power

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Ephesians 3:20 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV “Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
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 be faint.

1. The evidence of his power.

verse 28 “The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the earth.”

verse 26 “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.”

Psalm 19:1-2 “The heavens are telling the glory of God, they are a marvelous display of His craftsmanship, night and day they keep telling about God.”

2. The expanse of his power.

verse 28 “He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 “His power is made perfect in our weakness.”

  1. His power is better than my best.

verse 30 “Even youths grow tired and weary…”

b. His power is better than my worst.

verse 30 “ “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall”

3. The exchange of His power.

verse 29
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.’

verse 30-31 “Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
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 be faint.”

1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”

How do I live out God’s power in my life?

1. Time in God’s presence.

verse 31
“those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength …”

2. Trust in his promise.

verse 31
“those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength …”

Hope-3

Hope: Part 2
The Hope of God’s Favor

Hope = A strong and confident expectation

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.”

NLT “Glory to God in highest heaven and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Favor is God doing for me what I could never do for myself.

Romans 8:31-32 “…If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”

2 questions about the favor of God.

1. What are the results of God’s favor?

  1. Supernatural Peace

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Hebrews 13:6 (NLT) “So we can say with confidence, The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear.”

b. Supernatural Protection

John 16:33 “in this world you will have troubles but take heart (be confident, have hope) for I have overcome the world.”

Even in unfavorable circumstances God can still work in my favor.

c. Supernatural Promotion

Proverbs 19:12 NLT “A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.”

d. Supernatural provision

Exodus 33:14 and 17
“The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”verse 17 “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”

2. How do I receive Gods favor?

You cannot achieve God’s favor, but you can receive it. 


Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

  1. Be open to God’s whatever.

Luke 1:28 ““Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

verse 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him

b. Be obedient to God’s ways.

Genesis 4:4-7 “ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Proverbs 8:33-35
“Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. 34 Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home 35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.”



Hope-2

Hope
Part 3
Hope of Gods presence

Hope = a strong and confident expectation.

Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[a] (which means “God with us&rdquoWinking.
Christmas is not about presents it’s about presence.

Because God is with us we can have…

  1. A help when I’m in trouble.

Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,”

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

2. A friend when I am lonely.

2 Timothy 4:16-17 “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me…

verse 17 “the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength”

Hebrews 13:5-6 “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

3. A guide when I am lost.

Isaiah 30:21 “ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Joshua 3:4 “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”

How do we make sure we are experiencing the presence of God on a daily basis?

1. Be aware.


Genesis 28:17 “Surely the presence of the Lord was in the place and I did not know it.”

2. Be alone

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”

Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

3. Be aligned

Matthew 18:19:20 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

James 4:8
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Hope

Hope: part 1
One Day of Hope

Hope = a strong and confident expectation.

Romans 15:12 “The heir to David’s throne[a] will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.”

Lamentations 3:1-9 “I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath. 2 He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light;3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long. 4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones. 5 He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. 6 He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead. 7  He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains. 8 Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer. 9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked.”

Verse 16 “He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.
17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”

4 Hope Killers
  1. Delay

Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

2. Denial

3. Disappointment

verse 18 “So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”

4. Difficulty of Life

Key thought: One day of hope can change everything.

Lamentations 3:19-20 “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22  Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24  I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

How do we keep hope in hopeless times?

  1. Rely on the Lord’s Love.

Verse 19-22 “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21  Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope: 22 
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.”

Romans 8:35-39 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?… No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[p] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

2. Recall the Lord’s faithfulness.

verse 21 “This I call to mind and therefore I have hope.”

Psalm 103:1-5 “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

3. Rest in the Lord’s goodness.

verse 25 “the Lord is good to those whose hope is in him.”
verse 26 “it is good to wait quietly on him”

Isaiah 40:30 “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength…”

Verse 31-32 “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”

Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.”