Wish verse Hope!
Series: 4 letter words
Opening Video Illustration: Bluefishtv.com - “Making a wish for an orphanage.”
The girl in the story shares how he she came down with cancer twice and the second time she got cancer “Make a Wish Foundation” asked her what she wanted in life – a wish – her wish was her hope – her God given dream to build an orphanage in Africa. Make a wish gave her $2,600 toward her dream and God brought in the rest of the money needed and it totaled $60,000. Her Hope in the Lord brought her vision into a reality.
Thesis: In your life do you make wishes or do you place your hope in someone else? One leads to fairytales the other leads to Jesus Christ.
Introduction:
Tonight I want to explore the four letter words Wish verse Hope and help us see the difference between these two terms tonight. One is rooted in fairytales and kids stories and the other is rooted and taken from the life, death and resurrection of a real life person.
One brings a flood light into the midst of darkness while the other is just a small flickering match in the midst of darkness.
One brings encouragement in the midst of discouragement while the other only brings a glimpse of encouragement.
One brings a positive view of problems, trials, and tribulations while the other only lifts our burden for a brief moment in time.
One brings peace in the midst of pain and suffering while the other only brings a mindset of looking for a fairytale ending from pain.
One brings us through the pain to healing while the other teaches us to live in story land.
T.S. - So let’s explore the difference between a wish and genuine authentic hope.
I. What does it mean to make a wish?
a. Webster’s Dictionary describes wish this way: transitive verb
i. 1 : to have a desire for (as something unattainable)
2 : to give expression to as a wish : BID
3 a : to give form to (a wish) b : to express a wish for c : to request in the form of a wish : ORDER d : to desire (a person or thing) to be as specified
4 : to confer (something unwanted) on someone :
b. From wikpedia.com - A wish is a hope or desire for something. Fictionally, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.
i. In fiction a wish is a supernatural demand placed on the recipient's unlimited request. When it is the center of a tale, the wish is usually a template for a morality tale, "be careful what you wish for"; it can also be a small part of a tale, in which case it is often used as a plot device.
ii. A template for fictional wishes could be The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, specifically the tale of Aladdin, although in the tale of Aladdin the actual wishes were only part of the tale. Also, Aladdin's demands, while outrageous, were mainly variations on wealth (which is still often taken as the most common request).
iii. Classically the wish provider is often a spirit, Genie or similar entity, bound or constrained within a commonplace object (Aladdin's oil lamp for example) or a container closed with Solomon's seal. Releasing the entity from its constraint, usually by some simple action, allows the object's possessor to make a wish.
c. Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs and making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to evidence or rationality.
i. Studies have consistently shown that holding all else equal, subjects will predict positive outcomes to be more likely than negative outcomes
d. A wishing well is a term from European folklore to describe wells where it was thought that any spoken wish would be granted. The idea that a wish would be granted came from the idea that water housed deities or had been placed there as a gift from the gods, since water was a source of life and often a scarce commodity.
i. The Germanic and Celtic peoples considered springs and wells sacred places.[1] Sometimes the places were marked with wooden statues possibly of the god associated with the pool. Germanic peoples were known to throw the armour and weapons of defeated enemies into bogs and other pools of water as offerings to their gods.[2] [3]
ii. Water was seen to have healing powers and therefore wells became popular with many people drinking, bathing or just simply wishing over it. People believe that the guardians or dwellers of the well would grant them their wish if they paid a price. After uttering the wish, one would generally drop coins in the well. That wish would then be granted by the guardian or dweller, based upon how the coin would land at the bottom of the well. Traditionally coins were made of copper or silver and had biocidal properties which kept the water from going sour (bacteria produces various acidic compounds which affect the taste, notably Hydrogen sulfide). It was thus lucky to throw coins in the well.
iii. The tradition of dropping pennies in ponds and fountains stems from this. Coins would be placed there as gifts for the deity to show appreciation.
iv. In November 2006 the "Fountain Money Mountain" reported that tourists throw just under 3 million pounds per year into wishing wells[1].
1. This may be a left over from ancient mythology such as Mímir's Well from Nordic myths, also known as the ¨Well of Wisdom¨, a Well that could grant you infinite wisdom provided you sacrificed something you held dear. Odin was asked to sacrifice his right eye which he threw into the well to receive not only the wisdom of seeing the future but the understanding of why things must be. Mímir is the Nordic god of wisdom, and his well sits at the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree which draws its water from the well
e. "When You Wish upon a Star" is a popular song written by Ned Washington and Leigh Harline and introduced in the 1940 Walt Disney movie Pinocchio, where it is sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket, over the opening credits and again in the final scene of the film. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year.
i. The song has – like Mickey Mouse – become an icon of The Walt Disney Company, used in the opening sequences of Walt Disney anthology television series and in multiple versions of Walt Disney Pictures' opening logos. The ships of the Disney Cruise Line, the Disney Wonder, the Disney Magic, and soon the Disney Dream, use the iconic first seven notes of the song's melody as their horn signals. Additionally, many productions at Disney theme parks – particularly fireworks shows and parades – employ the song. Beginning with 2006's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the opening that precedes all theatrically-released Disney films uses the melody of the song.
ii. The American Film Institute ranked "When You Wish Upon A Star" seventh in their 100 Greatest Songs in Film History, the highest ranked Disney song.
iii. The song reached the top five in Billboard's Record Buying Guide, a predecessor of the retail sales chart. Popular versions included Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, Horace Heidt and of course, Cliff Edwards.
f. I looked in the Bible for the word wish and never found this word in my New International Bible.
i. I did a search with my Bible Software Quick Verse and it came back 0 matches?
ii. The term wish is not found in the Bible?
1. But in the Bible we have a different word called HOPE!
T.S. - So what is the difference between a wish and a hope? Let’s explore hope more to see the difference.
II. Hope is not something we have naturally. It's something supernatural!
a. Someone has wisely stated that if you could convince a man that there is no hope, he would curse the day he was born and then give up.
i. The question of "Is there any hope?" is common in our world today. We hear this question being asked by young, middle aged, and older people.
1. We hear the cry of the depletion of the Ozone layer and global warming.
2. We hear the effects of what could happen in a nuclear war or if terrorists get ahold of a nuclear warhead.
3. We hear about A.I.D.S. or Swine flu and its deadly effect on lives.
4. We hear that our country is on the brink of financial collapse and our government is broken.
a. The list could go on and on and we ask, "Is there any hope?" And the answer to this question is, "Yes, there is!" But to clarify this "yes", let's first look at this term "Hope"
b. The following material is from "A Future and a Hope", Ogilivie:
i. Hope cannot be humanly induced on demand. I cannot give myself hope.
ii. To better understand what "Authentic Hope is we need to see what it is not!"
1. Hope is not wishful thinking.
a. We try to wish our dreams into reality and we try to wish away the hurts of life but it never works.
2. Hope is not yearning.
a. Ogilivie states, "We often incorrectly use the word, "hope" to express our yearning. "Oh, I hope so!" We say, expressing a longing for something to be true or to happen. "Here's hoping," we say in response to a possibility." (47)
b. The sad fact here is we usually end up with disappointments because our expectations are not met.
3. Hope is not simply cheery optimism.
a. "Hope certainly can produce and optimistic attitude, but an optimistic attitude is not a substitute for true hope." (48)
b. Optimism that is not based on God's promises, power, and faithfulness fades under the pressure of disappointments.
c. Hope is centered in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ's life, message, atonement for the sins of the world and resurrection are now the basis of hope.
i. Jesus Christ is the object of Hope, but also He is the one and only who enables us to truly have lasting hope.
ii. Hope comes to us by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It comes from knowing God on a personal level.
iii. Romans 5:1-5:
1. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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.
T.S. – We have defined the difference between a wish and hope now let’s see what we should be placing our hope in.
III. So as Christians what do we put our hope in?
a. Do we place our hope in the following:
i. In the world system?
ii. In the US Government?
iii. In the military?
iv. In the State?
v. In the church?
vi. In the church service?
vii. In money?
viii. In people?
ix. In preachers?
x. In parents?
xi. In family?
b. I have run many 12 step programs as a Pastor, Social worker and a Christian Counselor:
i. The 12 step program of recovery speaks to us about the role of our higher power the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. In step one, we admitted that our lives are out of control and we ourselves recognize our powerlessness to change it.
a. Romans 7:17, which speaks directly to this life predicament, "I know nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."
b. Step one speaks to us about our brokenness and inability to fix ourselves.
2. Step two which centers us in on our "Higher Power" the Lord Jesus Christ.
a. He is the one with the power to restore my life and repair my broken condition.
i. I have to come to the conclusion here, that I cannot repair myself. Christ is the one who is able to put me back together.
b. This scenario reminds me of the Old Nursery Rhyme, "Humpty Dumpty". (See Overhead) Read it. Let's make the rhyme more personal!
i. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. (Using drugs and alcohol.)
ii. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; (because of the drugs and alcohol.)
iii. All the Kings horses, and all the kings men Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again. (All the world's ways and my ways cannot put me together again.)
c. But when the natural ways, and my ways fail, I'm promised through the Words of Christ that He can put me back together again if I place my faith in Him.
i. Phil. 2:12: "God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey Him."
3. This progresses us to step 3 which involves the decision to let God be in charge of our lives.
a. Romans 12:1, 2 speaks to us here: "Dear Friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him." (CEV)
i. But we must make this decision to turn our will to God!
1. Through our brokenness, pain, disappointments and our suffering, there is a promise to all those who suffer.
ii. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
1. The invitation is still for us today. But the decision is up to each one of you to accept it!
Conclusion:
Ogilvie states, “I’m no poet, but here are some lines that bring it together for me:
Knowing you are the Lord’s treasure.
Vibrant hope will grow without measure.
When you make the Lord your treasure.
Lasting hope will replace all conjecture.
(page 206)
Altar Call: Do you desire Hope beyond brokenness, a hope that will never leave you or forsake you, a hope, that will put you back together, a true unfailing hope? Then today yield your life to Jesus Christ and you will see the pieces of your broken life slowly put back together.
