IHOPE #1
November 30, 2008
Introduction
Saw IHOP sign. Add an E and you get HOPE.
Had Cina make a powerpoint. Henriann thought it would make people hungry for pancakes.
Sorry, no pancakes.
We need to talk about hope
Especially relevant in this time of the year leading up to Christmas and understanding the real meaning of his birth
Also relevant now because a lot of us are struggling with some degree of lost hope as we have seen our savings diminish
Remind you – Christianity is about having hope
Hope is one of the Big Three
Faith, Hope, and Love
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor. 13:13
We continually recall before God our Father the things you have done because of your faith and the work you have done because of your love. And we thank him that you continue to be strong because of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
(NCV)
1 Thess 1:3
Let’s define hope
Hope is an alert expectation that God will do what he said he will do.
Let’s make three observations about biblical hope:
Hope is indispensible to Christianity
As Paul teaches about the resurrection he affirms that hope is essential for Christianity
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 15:19
If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot.
MSG
Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Hope
Without hope you become either
A cynic, skeptic, a doubter
Melancholic, sad or miserable
Suicidal, despaired of life
Hope changes everything
Hope keeps us going – we’ll talk more next week about the power of hope
If Satan can take away our hope he as just about succeeded in fully deceiving us.
Man was given a tour of the Devil’s workshop. Had all his tools he used to deceive Christians. There was hatred, jealously, deceit, lying, and pride--all well worn. But over to the side of the yard on display was a tool more obviously worn than any of the other tools. The tool was labeled DISCOURAGEMENT. When questioned, the Devil said, "It’s more useful to me than any other tool. When I can’t bring down my victims with any of the rest of these tools, I use discouragement, because so few people realize that it belongs to me." Satan is never happier than when he sees people giving in and giving up to despair and becoming lost in hopelessness.
Hope is indispensible to live a powerful Christian life
Hope = waiting and watching
Romans 8:18-25
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:19, 25
Another reason we need to be reminded of hope is because hope involves the future and waiting and many of us aren’t real good at that.
Millennial Generation
Positives
are exceptionally tech-savvy,
adaptable
multi-task
Negatives
Even Many Gen Y Think They Feel Entitled
Gen Y lacks willingness to pay their dues
Gen Y Wants Instant Gratification
Grew up eating fast food
Movies on demand
Internet – research much easier
Text messaging – communication revolution
This is no doubt affecting our thinking of Christianity
We want it all, we want now
These may be more descriptive of Gene3ration Y but there’s a little in every one of us.
We must acknowledge that Christianity is a forward looking faith
Romans 8: 24 We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have.25 But we are hoping for something we do not have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently.
NCV
1,0000 days is like a day
1,000,000 is like a penny
Can I have a penny
Wait just a second
Hope keeps us from drifting
Without hope we will continually find our faith subject to the whims and haphazard circumstances of this fallen world
One day we will believe, the next day we may not
One day we will be faithful, the next we will not
One day we’ll thank God, the next we will curse Him
Hope keeps us stable
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:19
Hope keeps us on course regardless of the circumstances
With hope…
When things are good we need to remember that this is not as good as it gets.
Some of you are having a real good life
Especially this time of year
Kids are enjoying Christmas
Parents are well
Kids are well
Warnings against being rich
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17
We need to beware that we don’t forget that God’s blessings here are just a taste of the glory to come
When things are bad we need to be reassured that better days are coming.
Some are really struggling
Especially during this time of year
You’ve lost a loved one or perhaps several
There’s illness in your family
Financially hard times – can’t buy what you used to buy
Job 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.
We need to reassured that better days are to come
A certain style of Christian music is dedicated to this concept
Negro spirituals
SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT
Lead: Swing low, sweet chariot
Chorus: Coming for to carry me home
Lead: Swing low, sweet chariot
Chorus: Coming for to carry me home
Lead: If you get there before I do
Chorus: Coming for to carry me home
Lead: Tell all my friends, I’m coming too
Chorus: Coming for to carry me home
NOBODY KNOWS DE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN
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Nobody knows de trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows de trouble but Jesus
Nobody knows de trouble I’ve seen
Glory Hallelujah!
Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down
Oh, yes, Lord
Sometimes I’m almost to de groun’
Oh, yes, Lord
Although you see me goin’ ‘long so
Oh, yes, Lord
I have my trials here below
Oh, yes, Lord
If you get there before I do
Oh, yes, Lord
Tell all-a my friends I’m coming too
Oh, yes, Lord
SOON-A WILL BE DONE (First version)
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Soon-a will be done a-with the troubles of the world
Troubles of the world, troubles of the world
Soon-a will be done a-with the troubles of the world
Goin’ home to live with God
No more weeping and a-wailing
No more weeping and a-wailing
No more weeping and a-wailing
I’m goin’ to live with God
I want t’ to meet my mother
I want t’ to meet my mother
I want t’ to meet my mother
I’m goin’ to live with God
I want t’ meet my Jesus
I want t’ meet my Jesus
I want t’ meet my Jesus
I’m goin’ to live with God
We reserve judgment until the very end.
This world isn’t everything that God intended it to be
Sin has cast a terrible curse on this world
Sometimes it may seem as if God is losing, He’s lost control
Hope reminds us that the score is not yet final
A man approached a little league baseball game one afternoon. He asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy responded, "Eighteen to nothing--we’re behind."
"Boy," said the spectator, "I’ll bet you’re discouraged."
"Why should I be discouraged?" replied the little boy. "We haven’t even gotten up to bat yet!"
Hope means that God has not yet had all his at bats
He’s not played all his cards
He’s not left the stadium
This hope has sustained people of faith throughout the ages. Even the OT prophets were sustained by the hope that God would do something.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7
But me, I’m not giving up. I’m sticking around to see what GOD will do. I’m waiting for God to make things right. I’m counting on God to listen to me.
MSG
I’m not giving up, because IHOPE
