05.18.11 - The Power Of Hope

Matt 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. KJV

The Power of Hope

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

9:07 AM

1. 1. Looking Ahead

1. a. In the New Testament, the word "hope," as used in 1 Corinthians 13:13 literally means expectation or confidence. Scriptural hope is expecting  and having confidence, not in ourselves, but in the Almighty. The Bible teaches us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12)  We begin to lose hope when we try to handle situations in our own power (flesh and blood), might and strength that cannot possibly be overcome in human strength and wisdom. Battles sometimes are fought and lost because the Lord has not been asked, or worse, allowed, to fight them for us. We tend to lean on experiences we have had in the past to determine how things are going to go in our future (Discuss this point).  After a few failed attempts at fighting a "losing battle" we then begin to lose confidence that things can get better or that we can ultimately gain the victory in certain situations. We must retrain ourselves to think differently. If God be for us, then who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?  The God of the universe has our best interest at heart.  Instead of looking at the way things have always been (fighting the battles, temptations, obstacles, flesh ourselves), we must look ahead at what Christ has prepared for us.  God has made a way for us to have victory. Failure and doubt should not rule our daily lives but hope should lead us past our past!

1. i. Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus KJV

1. 1. Can you remember a time where you tried to handle on your own what only God alone could take care of?

1. 2. The Way I See It

1. a. Can you list some situations that some might consider hopeless, without hope?

1. b. Have you personally ever been in a situation that seemed hopeless?

1. c. There are many, many instances in the Scripture that as we are reading through it would seem that there is no hope; that things are as bad as they could possibly get. Then as we read a few more verses things do in fact get worse. Circumstances arise, seemingly out of nowhere that seem intent to ensure that all hope is completely crushed. 

1. i. Time and again Moses went before Pharaoh.  Time and again things just got worse.  Notice that Moses was looking at each experience, adding them up, thus determining what the next encounter would be like.  He was not "reaching forth" to what God had already promised.  Hope was there, hope was available, he just chose to not have it!

1. ii. Servant after servant came and each with bad news worse than the one before.  A wife that hurt so badly her advice was just to curse God and die, friends that were convinced of wrongdoing and sin.  Thus the day goes for Job. Hope abideth in Job! (1 Cor 13:13)

1. 1. Job 13:15 Though he slay me , yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.KJV

1. a. Job did not pretend that all was well, but he did not lose sight of his Salvation either.  He looked forward.  Hope looks forward, looking past the past, looking past the present, looking to a better day.  Having a full confidence in better things ahead.

1. d. The way I see it, there are just very few situations that are truly hopeless.  Those would be the ones that Christ has been shoved out of entirely and is not allowed to minister and move. Where Christ is, there is HOPE. 

1. e. Whatever situations you are facing, whatever obstacles have been put in your path, choose to expect something better than yesterday left you with  If you think things cannot get any better, change your mind!  Be transformed and renewed (Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV) and set out to PROVE that God's will for your life is a better tomorrow by having hope.

1. 3. A Mighty Big Word

1. a. IF & I WILL 

1. i. In Matthew 8:2, the leper had thought this out.  He had seen his healing in his mind, in his heart.  He knew the One to which he came could heal him, but was without full assurance that He wanted to.  You and I have his account for a reason, to show us that God's answer to our ifs is I WILL.  Two words took the hope and faith of the leper and healing came! I WILL was what Jesus said.  We MUST surrender our "ifs" to His "I WILL." too many times we come to the Lord with the whole "if" factor, which can just chew up our hope.  If it's His will. If I've been good enough. If, if, if! Child of God His answer is I WILL!!!!

1. 1. Have you ever taken a request to the Lord with the if factor?

1. 2. How does knowing the Word and Will of God according to the Bible help us to deal with the if factor?