Have hope!

What is hope from a Christian perspective?

Christian hope is more than wishful thinking and optimism; it is a confidence in God and His character!

“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.” Isaiah 40:31

We will be in 1 Peter 1 for this post!

1. hope is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus!

   1. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

   2. Nothing could take away Peter’s hope because he had been born again in Christ - he has living hope! Hope is not about you getting tougher, but it is about trusting God.

      1. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

   3. God gives you hope because He is good! If there was no resurrection, then our faith is worthless. Since there is a resurrection, our faith is sovereign. There is nothing God can’t do. Nothing is impossible for Him!

2. hope is a confident outlook for the future!

   1. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5

   2. What you expect in the end influences your experience in the present — I have faith that God will come back again one day and deliver us, so I model my life after Christ. If I didn’t believe in any of this, I would live my life filled and overtaken with sin. We have an incredible future ahead of us as followers of Jesus! Our inheritance is protected.

      1. “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Psalm 34:7

      2. “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16

   3. Have hope throughout all moments in your faith journey!

      1. I was saved - justification

      2. I’m being saved - sanctification

      3. I will be saved - glorification

3. hope transforms my suffering in the present!

   1. “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” 1 Peter 1:6

   2. Your suffering is limited by the sovereign grace of God!

      “These have come so that the proven genuineness of you faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls".” 1 Peter 1:7-9

   3. All of the suffering you experience is purposeful — God tries to make you stronger. A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted. Build a God confidence in yourself.

      1. “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

   4. The deeper the suffering, the greater God plans to use it for good!

      1. “Not only so, but we also glory in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

   5. You have to be completely trusting of God!

      1. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving us for an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

      2. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

      3. “Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:9-11

   6. God will see you through all our suffering, and He will see you home in heaven!

      1. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:4-6 (NIV)

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Have hope in the Lord! He may not deliver us from our situations, but I can promise you that He will deliver you THROUGH your situations. His perfect plan cannot be messed up, so have hope in every moment. Fix your eyes upon the Lord and praise His name!

Then through the darkness, Your loving kindness tore through the shadows of my soul. The work is finished, the end is written. Jesus Christ, my living hope.

“Living Hope” - Phil Wickham