The Rhythms of Endurance – Hope
Recap
1. The Elements of Endurance
a. 1 Corinthians 13:13 – Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, HOPE and love.
2. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) Faith shows the reality of what we HOPE for: it is the evidence of thing’s we cannot see.
Hope and Faith are closely related. You cannot have one without the other!
Our hope is in the promise (what you can’t see) and faith activates the unseen to bring our hopes (the promise) into reality!
What Is Hope?
Hope is a joyful expectation. A feeling of trust or being confident in God’s promise and faithfulness.
Did you know that you could have hope for disaster? Imagining things going wrong. The ‘What if’s’ in life! When you are going through “troubles” do not pull back.
Romans 12:12 (TPT) – Let this HOPE burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble (be patient), but commune with God at all times!
You commune with God at all times so that your imagination doesn’t run wild!
Hope is the product of a healthy imagination!
Hope is the reason you can have joy in times of trouble!
Romans 5:3-5 (TPT) Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!
Putting your hope in the wrong things can steal your joy and ultimately rob you of your identity.
How can hope be stolen?
Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NLT) The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
Time and chance happen to everything and everyone. When you bet all your chips on those things and lose then what do you have left?
What you’ll find is that HOPE always points to who you are (your identity) and it’s all because of what Christ has accomplished! That’s what our HOPE must always remain in Him!
When you lose hope it’s because you forget who you are! You allow life, distractions and even lies of the enemy to steal hope from you!
Isaiah 61:1 (NLT) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
There are two types of bondage
1. Captive – You didn’t choose to be here
2. Prisoner – You deserve to be here
Romans 8:18-21 (TPT) 18 I am convinced that any suffering we endure is less than nothing compared to the magnitude of glory that is about to be unveiled within us. 19 The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters! 20 For against its will the universe itself has had to endure the empty futility resulting from the consequences of human sin. But now, with eager expectation, 21 all creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience with us the wonderful freedom coming to God’s children.
Even the universe that became a captive due to the decisions of man has HOPE!
The universe did not choose to be “here.” But it is waiting patiently and with great joy to be set free!
I do not know how you got “here.” But there is hope for you! Jesus said he came to bring freedom to both captives and prisoners!
How do you protect Hope?
1. Renew your mind -Romans 12:2
2. Commune with God – Romans 12:12
3. Walk in Love – Ephesians 5:1-2
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Walk It Out
1. Who is one person I can extend hope to. Give them a call, text or invite them out to lunch!
2. What is one song I listen to that gives me hope? Put it on repeat and share it with someone else!
3. Where do I need hope right now? Find a scripture and meditate on it!
4. I need to stop putting my hope in _______ and put my hope in Jesus!