The world
has been
focused on
one man that
they expect
to give them
their
definition
of
hope.
Barack Obama
wrote a book
called the
“Audacity of
Hope” which
was based on
a fiery
sermon by
his mentor
and pastor,
Jeremiah
Wright.
Obama says
he doesn’t
remember the
harsh
rhetoric of
his pastor,
because
maybe he was
watching the
show and
didn’t hear
the words?
Who knows.
Wright’s
sermon, or
ranting,
depending on
how you look
at it, was
about the
audacity to
hope and is
where Obama
pulled his
title of his
book. So at
least he was
listening
long enough
to pull this
title for
his much
publicized
book.
I remember
reading
somewhere,
that Wright
preached
about Hannah
in the 1st
chapter of
Samuel,
praying
for what she
did not see,
and kept on
praying all
the while,
Wright is
weaving a
story of
hope by
using a
painting by
George Watts
called
“HOPE”. It’s
a painting
of a women
sitting on
top of the
world with
her strings
of her harp
broken, all
but one. She
bandaged and
wounded, but
plucks her
harp with
one string
while
praising
God. He
submits that
both are
praying for
something
that they
never knew
would be
answered in
the
affirmative.
In other
words she
had the
boldness,
the daring,
the courage,
the nerve,
even the
gall, to
pray and
keep on
praying. The
implication
is that God
had given
her no
indication
that He was
listening,
but she had
the bravery
to pray
nonetheless.
This is
taking hope
in the wrong
direction,
toward
wishing.
Hope is not
based on the
audacity to
make the
request, but
on faith
that God is
true. That
His Word
does not
change, that
scripture
cannot be
broken and
that God
keeps his
promises to
his people.
God cannot
lie.
This world’s
view of hope
is some
future thing
that they
are
uncertain of
attaining,
They want
more money,
a luxury
car, a
beautiful
home, or
whatever
else they
greatly
desire, but
they may or
may not get
it.
Webster’s
Dictionary
says that
“hope
implies
little
certainty
but suggests
confidence
or assurance
in the
possibility
that what
one desire
or longs for
will
happen.” Is
that how we
define hope?
Looking to
find the
definition
of hope in
the Old
Testament we
find these
words:
1.Tiqvah, (tik-vah)
literally a
cord, an
attachment,
expectancy,
expectation,
hope, live,
thing that I
long
for.
2. Yachal
(yaw-chal)
to wait, be
patient,
hope, to
trust.
3. Sebar
(say-bar)
expectation.
4. Kecel (keh-sel)
trusting in
folly, as
your hope is
in gold or
silver.
5. Betach
(beh-takh)
place of
refuge,
safety,
security.
Looking to
the New
Testament
for the
words used
to define
hope in
Greek:
The word is
Elpis
(el-pece) to
anticipate,
usually with
pleasure,
expectation
or
confidence.
Hope is
found 140
times in the
Bible, 80
times in the
New
Testament
alone using
the Greek
word
“Elpis”.
Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore
being
justified by
faith, we
have peace
with God
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ:
By whom
also we have
access by
faith into
this grace
wherein we
stand,
and rejoice
in hope
of the glory
of God.
And not
only so, but
we glory in
tribulations
also:
knowing that
tribulation
worketh
patience;
And
patience,
experience;
and
experience,
hope:
And
hope
maketh not
ashamed;
because the
love of God
is shed
abroad in
our hearts
by the Holy
Ghost which
is given
unto us.”
The word
“stand” is
translated
from the
Greek
‘histemi’,
and in the
context
means “to
continue,
endure, or
persist.”
Our calling,
election,
repentance,
and
justification
enables us
to stand
before God
in the sense
of being
given access
into His
presence.
After that ,
receiving
the gift of
His Holy
Spirit and
continuing
on to
salvation
itself by
means of His
grace.
Romans
8:22-27
“For we
know that
the whole
creation
groaneth and
travaileth
in pain
together
until now.
And not
only they,
but
ourselves
also, which
have the
firstfruits
of the
Spirit, even
we ourselves
groan within
ourselves,
waiting for
the
adoption, to
wit, the
redemption
of our body.
For we
are saved by
hope: but
hope that is
seen is not
hope: for
what a man
seeth, why
doth he yet
hope for?
But if we
hope for
that we see
not, then do
we with
patience
wait for it.
Likewise
the Spirit
also helpeth
our
infirmities:
for we know
not what we
should pray
for as we
ought: but
the Spirit
itself
maketh
intercession
for us with
groanings
which cannot
be uttered.
And he
that
searcheth
the hearts
knoweth what
is the mind
of the
Spirit,
because he
maketh
intercession
for the
saints
according to
the will of
God.”
We as
Christians
rely on the
eternal hope
of our Lord
and Savior,
Jesus
Christ, as
our High
Priest,
making
intercession
for His
saints. Not
some man
with a good
personality
and a
charismatic
style of
speaking.
People feign
after a good
speaker in a
cult of a
personality
and hold
them up as
their answer
to their
earthly
problems. In
troubling
times, our
hope is in
Christ, He
will see us
through.
I know
some
Christians
have anxiety
about coming
events that
might signal
persecution
or
tribulation
that could
be right
around the
bend. They
fret and
worry and
instead of
having hope
and faith in
Jesus, they
ponder the
times by
living in
fear or
denial,
because they
worry if
they can
stay
faithful
during hard
times.
I was
talking to
my wife this
morning and
she made the
comment that
we should be
praying for
our
president,
not
condemning
him. She
noted that
God could
change his
heart and
influence
his policies
and we
should pray
for the
healing of
our nation.
I would
totally
agree with
that
statement. I
don’t know
his heart,
but his
actions are
contrary to
the laws of
God, and
what this
nation was
built upon.
But whatever
may come,
I’m bound to
turn to
Psalms 91
and read the
verse. “A
thousand
shall fall
at thy side,
and ten
thousand at
they right
hand, but it
will not
some near
you. For
thou shalt
see with
thine eyes
the
punishment
of the
wicked. If
you make the
most High
your
dwelling,
even the
Lord who is
my refuge,
then no harm
will befall
you, no
disaster
will come
near your
tent.”
He is our
Blessed
Hope….God is
in charge.
We have no
need to
fret!
Now let’s
turn to
another
passage
where hope
is part of
the theme:
1st
Corinthians
13:9-13
“For we know
in part, and
we prophesy
in part.
But when
that which
is perfect
is come,
then that
which is in
part shall
be done
away.
When I was a
child, I
spake as a
child, I
understood
as a child,
I thought as
a child: but
when I
became a
man, I put
away
childish
things.
For now we
see through
a glass,
darkly; but
then face to
face: now I
know in
part; but
then shall I
know even as
also I am
known.
And now
abideth
faith, hope,
love, these
three; but
the greatest
of these is
love.”
Here Paul
lists hope
as one of
the “big
three”
virtues of
Christianity.
Whereas
faith is the
foundation
on which the
other two
stand, and
love is the
object
because it
enables us
to
communicate,
interact
properly,
and unite.
Hope is the
quality that
motivates
and provides
energy by
keeping us
in the
anticipation
of greater
and better
things to
come.
Hope, as
used in
Scripture,
is not
difficult to
define. It
appears as
both a noun
and a verb
and conveys
the absolute
certainty of
future good.
In other
words, even
in the
Kingdom of
God here on
earth and
into
eternity, we
will always
be eagerly
looking
forward to
some
blessing or
accomplishment
as age upon
age unfolds
before us.
This will
occur
because
God’s
revelation
never ends,
as He
Himself is
an
inexhaustible
resource.
Paul
makes
another
contrast by
in Galatians
5:4-6:
“Christ
is become of
no effect
unto you,
whosoever of
you are
justified by
the law; ye
are fallen
from grace.
For we
through the
Spirit wait
for the hope
of
righteousness
by faith.
For in
Jesus Christ
neither
circumcision
availeth any
thing, nor
uncircumcision;
but faith
which
worketh by
love.”
What
sanctifies a
person is
faith
through the
working of
love. These
three verses
introduce
“Spirit “
and they are
important.
They show
that faith
works
through love
and because
of love.
Meaning if
the person
has the
right faith
in the right
Person, he
will produce
love as a
fruit
because of
that faith
in that
Person. That
Person, is
Jesus
Christ.
Now what
is the
definition
of love
found in the
Bible? “For
this is the
love of God,
that we keep
His
commandments”
(1John 5:3)
That’s is
just
beautiful.
Paul is
saying if we
believe in
the right
things, and
in the right
Person, and
have faith,
it will
produce
keeping the
commandments
of God and
our Lord
Jesus
Christ.
Folks claim
that is
legalism. I
disagree.
Although
they have
nothing to
do with
salvation,
faith and
love found
in the right
Person will
cause you to
WANT to do
what is
right in the
site of God.
Turn with
me to
Ephesians
1:17-23
“That the
God of our
Lord Jesus
Christ, the
Father of
glory, may
give unto
you the
spirit of
wisdom and
revelation
in the
knowledge of
him:
The eyes
of your
understanding
being
enlightened;
that ye may
know what is
the hope of
his calling,
and what the
riches of
the glory of
his
inheritance
in the
saints,
And what
is the
exceeding
greatness of
his power to
us-ward who
believe,
according to
the working
of his
mighty
power,
Which he
wrought in
Christ, when
he raised
him from the
dead, and
set him at
his own
right hand
in the
heavenly
places,
Far above
all
principality,
and power,
and might,
and
dominion,
and every
name that is
named, not
only in this
world, but
also in that
which is to
come:
And hath
put all
things under
his feet,
and gave him
to be the
head over
all things
to the
church,
Which is
his body,
the fulness
of him that
filleth all
in all.”
What is
meant by
“enlightened”
in v. 18?
Does He not
enlighten us
so that we
turn our
lives toward
Him and the
hope of
achieving an
eternity
spent with
Him? That
faith and
hope begins
right here,
right now.
Not some
future
event. We
hope and
press for
the reward
promised us.
To attain
the
resurrection
of the dead,
or to be
changed in
the
“twinkling
of an eye”
and to join
Him in His
glory and
“so we shall
ever be with
the Lord”.
That is our
hope. Jesus
is our hope,
our only
hope. By his
grace and
his willing
sacrifice,
our
expectation
is with
eagerness,
our longing
for the next
life and to
spend
eternity
with Him.
Now turn
to a passage
any reader
familiar
with this
site should
know by
heart, but
to you first
time
visitors,
let’s read 1st
Thessalonians
4:13-18:
“But I
would not
have you to
be ignorant,
brethren,
concerning
them which
are asleep,
that ye
sorrow not,
even as
others which
have no
hope.
For if we
believe that
Jesus died
and rose
again, even
so them also
which sleep
in Jesus
will God
bring with
him.
For this
we say unto
you by the
word of the
Lord, that
we which are
alive and
remain unto
the coming
of the Lord
shall not
prevent them
which are
asleep.
For the
Lord himself
shall
descend from
heaven with
a shout,
with the
voice of the
archangel,
and with the
trump of
God: and the
dead in
Christ shall
rise first:
Then we
which are
alive and
remain shall
be caught up
together
with them in
the clouds,
to meet the
Lord in the
air: and so
shall we
ever be with
the Lord.
Wherefore
comfort one
another with
these
words.”
Probably
one of the
most beloved
passages
that has
been printed
on the
website of
Rapture
Ready. These
verses
regard the
return of
Jesus Christ
at the sound
of the last
trump.
So where
in the grand
scheme of
things in AD
50, the
possible
date of
Paul’s
writing of
this
epistle? It
is a mere
nineteen
years since
Christ was
crucified,
raised from
the dead,
and ascended
to the right
Hand of the
Father. At
this time,
they were
looking for
Christ’s
return at
any moment
and He had
not returned
yet. Some
people then,
as people as
now,
fretting
about the
return of
our Lord.
They wonder,
“why is it
taking so
long”. Their
faith and
their hope
is beginning
to fade. So
Paul exhorts
them here
and even as
you read his
words, to
exhort them
to get back
on track.
Are you
fretting
about the
economy, the
perception
of trials
and
tribulations,
a lost job,
or maybe
you’re
worried
about
loosing your
home? Get
your hope
and faith
back on
track!!
That’s what
I pray that
you will
glean from
this article
and increase
your faith,
and be
looking for
that blessed
hope. “If ye
were of the
world, the
world would
love his
own: but
because ye
are not of
the world,
but I have
chosen you
out of the
world,
therefore
the world
hateth you.”
(John 15:19)
We are in
this world,
but we are
not of it.
We are as
pilgrims
passing
through.
Sojourners
looking for
a home, not
built with
hands, but
by God.
Titus
2:11-14
“For the
grace of God
that
bringeth
salvation
hath
appeared to
all men,
Teaching
us that,
denying
ungodliness
and worldly
lusts, we
should live
soberly,
righteously,
and godly,
in this
present
world;
Looking
for that
blessed
hope, and
the glorious
appearing of
the great
God and our
Savior Jesus
Christ;
Who gave
himself for
us, that he
might redeem
us from all
iniquity,
and purify
unto himself
a peculiar
people,
zealous of
good works.”
The
thrust of
the verses
here that
Paul writes
exhorts us
to quit
looking back
and longing
for this
world, but
to live not
to our
former lives
We must be
looking
forward to
life eternal
with our
minds
focused on
the soon
return of
our Lord
Jesus
Christ. We
must be
preparing
for that
future,
glorious
event. That
should
motivate us
to change
our conduct
as we live
in this evil
world. If we
don’t have
this
glorious
hope found
in us, we’ll
just be
inclined to
drift around
in pursuit
of trivial,
useless
carnal
living. We
will fail to
use the
grace that
God bestowed
upon us, to
grow in His
image, and
to produce
the kind of
fruit He
expects of
all of His
children.
1st
Peter
1:13-16
“Wherefore
gird up the
loins of
your mind,
be sober,
and hope to
the end for
the grace
that is to
be brought
unto you at
the
revelation
of Jesus
Christ;
As
obedient
children,
not
fashioning
yourselves
according to
the former
lusts in
your
ignorance:
But as he
which hath
called you
is holy, so
be ye holy
in all
manner of
conversation;
Because
it is
written, Be
ye holy; for
I am holy.”
Now drop
down to
verse 21 of
this chapter
to verse 23:
“Who by
him do
believe in
God, that
raised him
up from the
dead, and
gave him
glory; that
your faith
and hope
might be in
God.
Seeing ye
have
purified
your souls
in obeying
the truth
through the
Spirit unto
unfeigned
love of the
brethren,
see that ye
love one
another with
a pure heart
fervently:
Being
born again,
not of
corruptible
seed, but of
incorruptible,
by the word
of God,
which liveth
and abideth
for ever.”
Paul
gives us
practical
application
of this
hope, under
girded by
faith. Hope
and faith
can go to
work for us
and produce
wonders.
God’s
calling is
definitely
wonderful,
but God does
intent for
us to go off
in a
daydream.
Peter
declares in
a call to
arms. “Pull
yourself
together.
Roll up your
sleeves.
Give hard
thought and
wrestle with
the
practical
implications
of your call
to
salvation.”
1st
John 3:1-3:
“Behold,
what manner
of love the
Father hath
bestowed
upon us,
that we
should be
called the
sons of God:
therefore
the world
knoweth us
not, because
it knew him
not.
Beloved,
now are we
the sons of
God, and it
doth not yet
appear what
we shall be:
but we know
that, when
he shall
appear, we
shall be
like him;
for we shall
see him as
he is.
And every
man that
hath this
hope in him
purifieth
himself,
even as he
is pure.”
Our hope
is to be
conformed to
the image of
our Lord and
Savior,
Jesus
Christ. We
long to see
Him as He
is. Our hope
is to enter
into His
kingdom,
beginning
when He
breaks into
the clouds
and calls
the dead in
Christ out
of their
graves and
we being
alive,
changed
instantly to
ever be with
the Lord. We
sanctify
ourselves
and live as
close to
what He
lived by the
power of
God’s Holy
Spirit
giving us
strength and
increasing
our faith
and trust in
Him. If we
do this, we
can’t help
but produce
the kind of
fruit
pleasing to
God and in
so doing so,
prepare us
for His
glorious
appearing.
Obama and
his
“Audacity to
Hope”
implies that
we really
have no
reason to
hope. No
sign has
been given
from above
that anyone
is
listening,
yet we
boldly hope
nonetheless.
This may be
true for
those in the
world and it
is
undoubtedly
true for
those
waiting for
the
government
to improve
their lives.
The world is
looking to
Obama to be
their
political
savior, but
it mustn’t
be true for
us. We are
saved by
faith and a
hope in
Christ
Jesus. This
hope is so
strong that
it carries
us and
supports us
through
whatever
trial may
present
itself.
When
studying
these
scriptures
God has laid
on my heart,
I keep being
reminded of
the an old
hymn that
sums it up:
MY HOPE
IS BUILT ON
NOTHING
LESS, THAN
JESUS BLOOD
AND
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
I DARE NOT
TRUST THE
SWEETEST
FRAME, BUT
WHOLLY LEAN
ON JESUS
NAME.
ON CHRIST
THE SOLID
ROCK I
STAND. ALL
OTHER GROUND
IS SINKING
SAND. ALL
OTHER GROUND
IS SINKING
SAND.
No,
brethren, we
do not come
out of this
world and
its politics
because of a
wish or a
dream, but
rather we
come out of
sin as a
response to
the hope,
the trust,
and the
faith that
God has
placed in
us, by His
Holy Spirit.
Do not
fret about
world
events.
Increase
your faith
and hope.
Look always
expectantly
upwards for
the reward
of your hope
and faith,
the coming
of our Lord,
as He ushers
in His soon
coming
Kingdom.
God bless
you and give
you the
faith and
hope to
believe
solely on
the name of
our Lord and
Savior Jesus
Christ and
make that
personal
commitment
for Him to
be Lord of
your life.,
Amen.