1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:07,520 We are starting a new series. Entitled Hope, Hope and at the 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,720 at our last. Series of 2023 last Sunday, New 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:13,320 Year's Eve. It was just such a wonderful 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,640 service. We had Andrea, Fred and Sally 5 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,480 who? Prayed us out and into out of 6 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:21,120 20. Three and into 24. 7 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:27,360 And as we looked at what the Lord was doing, the Lord led me 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,440 to. Share a verse which is found in 9 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:34,000 Romans 12/12. And it says this rejoice in 10 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:41,120 hope, be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. 11 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,960 And I said to you that I felt the Lord had was given us this 12 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:45,920 verse. For the start. 13 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:50,600 Of this year that there that the Lord wanted us to be anchored in 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,280 this truth. And you know, it's rather 15 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,960 interesting because when you read what Paul wrote in Romans. 16 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:58,280 12. Certainly. 17 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,520 In my translation. Which is the ESV the the start 18 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,400 of the of the section is entitled Marx of the True. 19 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,000 Christian. Which is rather. 20 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,640 Interesting because that rather denotes that there are false 21 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,320 Christians. You see, being a Christian isn't 22 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:16,320 about ritual and tradition. It isn't about inheriting it 23 00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:18,640 from your parents. It's about a. 24 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:19,440 Living. Breathing. 25 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,640 Relationship with Jesus and the outworking of that in your 26 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,120 daily. Lives, and you know, he says 27 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:26,920 Here, Paul, I'm going to. Back up to verse nine. 28 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:28,400 Let. Love be genuine. 29 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:29,560 Abort. What is? 30 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,840 Evil hold fast to what is. Good. 31 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,720 Love one another with. Brotherly affection outdo. 32 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,520 One another in. Showing honor. 33 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,560 Do not be slothful. In zeal be fervent in spirit. 34 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:45,840 Serve the Lord. And then he says this. 35 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,320 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation. 36 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:54,000 Be constant in prayer. These are the marks of what it 37 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,760 means to have a living relationship with Jesus. 38 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:06,520 And I don't know about you, but I believe that for many, we are 39 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,039 in a season. Where we need Boy, do we need a 40 00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:13,400 lot of hope. I mean, with my daily intake of 41 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,600 news, I move very. Quickly into hopelessness. 42 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,880 When I see where the world is. Heading when I. 43 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,320 See the increasing conflicts? When I see the darkness that 44 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:30,160 pervades society, it is very easy to. 45 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,280 Fall into hopelessness. But as. 46 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:38,560 We've been singing Jesus is here to give us hope. 47 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,120 And so over the next number of weeks, as Freya said leading up 48 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:48,600 to Easter Sunday, a great celebration of our hope that 49 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,480 Jesus is going. To come again, because he rose. 50 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,520 We're. Going to have some wonderful 51 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,840 speakers. Join me as we unpack what the 52 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,280 Christian hope. Is what? 53 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:01,920 The Christian hope. Is and my. 54 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:03,640 My prayer is is. That you? 55 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:09,120 And myself will see a a marked shift in how we see ourselves. 56 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,280 And as we see the world around us. 57 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,240 And so my job this morning is to. 58 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,360 Lay a foundation, if you will. For this rest. 59 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,360 Of the series. And I'm going. 60 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,680 To be looking at the. Why and the what of hope? 61 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:28,880 Why is hope? Important And what is the 62 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,480 Christian hope that we speak? Of I was. 63 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,640 I was here at a talk recently and the person quoted A 64 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,680 gentleman called Hal Lindsay. Now some of you may recall. 65 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,320 His name from a very. Famous book. 66 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:47,400 That he wrote in the 80s, called the The Late Great Planet Earth. 67 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,040 Some of you may. Know him and he said this about 68 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:56,040 hope man can live about 40 days without food about 3 days 69 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,400 without. Water about. 8 minutes without 70 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,800 air, but only. For one second without. 71 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,000 Hope I like that. Now it's it's. 72 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,080 It's probably not technically. Accurate. 73 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:10,480 Everything else before is but the hope bit, but. 74 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:11,760 You might say, Hey, Mark. I've been. 75 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,160 Living out. Without hope for a year. 76 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:14,600 And I'm still here. I hear you. 77 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:20,240 But I think it rather makes the point quite starkly that just as 78 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,080 we need air and we need. Food. 79 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:24,400 And we need. Water. 80 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,240 In order for us to. Live our lives. 81 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:32,920 We need hope and I think he does a good job of of saying. 82 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,880 That and as I was, as I. Was researching and studying. 83 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,040 For this series I came across this Fantastic. 84 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,160 Article in the Christian Chronicle. 85 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:47,080 And it's entitled Hope, The Greatest Story of All Time, and 86 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,280 this was written in October 2. 1007. 87 00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:53,280 And I want to read some extracts from this because they do a. 88 00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:57,440 Much better job of me doing so. So let me read this. 89 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:04,560 It says this. Hope itself is the biggest story 90 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:09,040 of all time, and yet the creator of the world already has 91 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,840 written. The ultimate account. 92 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,240 Suffice it to say that a sufficient headline size does 93 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:22,360 not exist to declare the enormity of the Son of God 94 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,400 dying. On a cross to save us. 95 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:31,960 From our sins, hope cannot be counted defined. 96 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:37,200 Or photographed? You can't buy it, yet nobody 97 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:42,520 lives well without it. It's close to the core of what 98 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:47,400 it means to be a Christian and a key component of the church 99 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,840 community. Many struggle to define it, but 100 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:53,480 it may be. One of the Bible's. 101 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:57,160 Easiest. Doctrines to identify. 102 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,680 Enduring hope pervades Biblical. Teaching. 103 00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:06,280 From the. Rainbow over Noah to all of us. 104 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:11,720 Under the reign of Christ, from the promised land to the promise 105 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:17,120 of heaven, from offering up a sacrifice in the Tabernacle to 106 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:22,160 offering up praise in church, hope is the core. 107 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:28,800 Thread and the common bond. Hope is absolutely critical, 108 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:33,920 entirely indispensable, centrally biblical. 109 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:38,040 And eternally available. Hope is. 110 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:44,200 Remarkably relevant to both the modern and postmodern, the 111 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:45,680 people of. Every race. 112 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,720 The Christians of all generations. 113 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,840 Isn't that a good summary? Maybe as I'm speaking those 114 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:54,200 words that's resonating with you. 115 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,880 Maybe in this moment there's something new that's saying, oh 116 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:01,000 man, I I've been living. In a season, I feel like without 117 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:05,560 any hope. I feel desperate. 118 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,240 For this Mark. I want this type of hope. 119 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,400 I want a type of hope that I can rejoice in. 120 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:18,240 Do I get an Amen in the house? I want to rejoice in hope. 121 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,560 I tell you something. This talk comes. 122 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,280 This series comes at a good time for me in my life. 123 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:26,840 You know Steph and I in the family and. 124 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,160 Many of you know Steph's sister. Sam. 125 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,760 Her son, who's 8 years old, Luke, has been suffering. 126 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,160 With a brain tumor in a battle. For two years now. 127 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,120 He has the first one, praise God disappeared the 2nd. 128 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:41,920 One came back and. And now? 129 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:48,000 He's the doctor say end of life and in in in all respects he's 130 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,480 in a vegetative state. But we are. 131 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,480 Holding on with hope that God is working behind the scenes. 132 00:07:55,880 --> 00:08:01,240 And so I share this not as some academic theological exercise. 133 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,480 I share it with you as. Something that I and Steph and 134 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,400 the family are holding on to and making a decision to rejoice. 135 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:13,320 Because who knows? Life ain't easy. 136 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:16,120 You know, Adam and Eve didn't need. 137 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:24,520 Hope before they ate the apple. And when we see Christ again, we 138 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,040 will not need hope, boy, we need hope now. 139 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:30,840 And you see, God hasn't left us on our. 140 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:38,520 Own now it's kind of interesting because as I continued on my 141 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,320 research and my. Study of this subject as I. 142 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,360 Look to lay out a foundation for the next. 143 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,560 Few weeks I found it. Interesting to discover that 144 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:50,640 science is. Discovering that physically, we 145 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,520 need hope. I'd like to quote to you from a 146 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,360 paper from Trinity College Dublin. 147 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:57,400 It says this. We know that hope works for the 148 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:58,840 brain. And in the. 149 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,720 Brain If you experience hope in the face of adversity, your 150 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:07,040 brain performs better and you are more likely to make 151 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:11,280 positive, positive decisions regarding your health, such as 152 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,280 adhering to medication and adopting A healthier lifestyle 153 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,000 in the. Face of chronic diseases. 154 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:23,680 Experiencing hope dampers the anxiety circuits in the brain 155 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:28,160 and when you feel less anxious. Your brain function. 156 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:34,320 Improves Harvard Health Lest you think I haven't done enough 157 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:41,840 study, but hope is also beginning to reveal its value. 158 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:46,560 This was written in 2020. One In scientific studies among 159 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:49,080 young adults with chronic illnesses, greater degrees of 160 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:53,920 hope are associated with improved coping well-being and 161 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,760 engagement. In healthy behaviours it also 162 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,880 protects against. Depression and suicide among 163 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:01,760 teens. Hope is linked with health, 164 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,360 quality of life. Self esteem and a sense of 165 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,960 purpose. It is an essential factor. 166 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,440 For developing both maturity and resilience. 167 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,760 Now you've heard me use this phrase before, but I will use it 168 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,120 again. I love it when science catches 169 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,000 up with the Bible, because we only have to. 170 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:24,240 Read in Proverbs 13 verse 12 to see what the scientists are 171 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:28,600 discovering. Hope deferred makes the heart 172 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:33,080 sick. The desire fulfilled is a tree 173 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:38,120 of life. All that science. 174 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:46,000 Eventually does is discovers the truth of this I was speaking. 175 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,040 To a brother only this morning and he quoted this exact verse. 176 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,520 I said, brother, I'm preaching on that this morning and he. 177 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,400 Himself was in a position where he was holding on to. 178 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,520 Hope now what does it mean? Hope deferred makes the heart 179 00:10:58,520 --> 00:10:59,800 sick? Well, deferred. 180 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:01,440 We know what deferred means. It means. 181 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:06,400 To put off to drag out, you know Steph and I last. 182 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:10,760 Night started watching. A new series on Paramount plus 183 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,800 called the. Castaway Has anyone seen that no 184 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:15,120 one's seen? That well, it's very good. 185 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,040 It's got Sheridan, Smith, Smith in it. 186 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,520 Right blank face faces. Of Gavin and Stacey fame. 187 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,240 Although that was only a small part, she's done some. 188 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:25,400 She's a fantastic. Actress. 189 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,360 Anyway, there is a point to this story we started. 190 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,320 Watching and to be honest with you, almost finished watching. 191 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,400 We we're not. Prone to binge watch watching, 192 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:34,480 but it. Was that good? 193 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,120 But I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's in the. 194 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:42,440 Title they are. Castaway and it was amazing to 195 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,360 see they're Castaway and and they start with hope. 196 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:47,280 Right. This is what we're going to do. 197 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:48,560 We're going to get a fire. We're going. 198 00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:51,120 To do this, someone will fire and then you watch this 199 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:58,680 progression from hope where the the hope of being saved and 200 00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:01,760 rescued. Is deferred and at one point 201 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:03,840 well, I don't want to spoil it for you, you'll have to watch 202 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,720 it. But that was a visual 203 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:11,040 representation of what? Happens when hope is deferred 204 00:12:11,680 --> 00:12:13,840 our heart. Becomes sick, and the heart here 205 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,320 references, not just your. It means. 206 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,600 The seat of your being. It means how your your emotions 207 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,920 and your soul, your spirit. There is an impact, and you see, 208 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,400 God knows that that is the case in our fallen nature in this. 209 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,920 Fallen world. He knows that we need hope. 210 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:34,360 We get to the good news in a minute, by the way. 211 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,600 Hope deferred makes the heart. Grow. 212 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:45,400 Sick. Oh, it printed on the other 213 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:46,640 side. It doesn't normally do that. 214 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,640 I was like I'm missing a. Page. 215 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:55,640 Here it is. But a longing for field is a. 216 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,960 Tree of life. You know. 217 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:03,520 In Proverbs 1319 it says a long and fulfilled is sweet to the 218 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:05,800 soul. Isn't there a sweetness? 219 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,400 When you're hoping for something, you're. 220 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,800 Hoping and it happens. Boy, how do you feel? 221 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:13,680 Oh, that's so good. I. 222 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:16,200 Remember. Many years. 223 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:19,880 When I say many years ago, I want to say 6-7 years ago and we 224 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,400 were I founded. A company in 2000. 225 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,160 And 10 and we were looking to sell that and we were going 226 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:28,400 through a process and I was hoping Lord, we need because at 227 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:32,520 that point you know we needed to sell this company and we. 228 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,760 Had a potential buyer and. My hope was there and all of a 229 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,280 sudden they pulled out on like literally the final hour. 230 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,880 I mean for those of you that know these things we had agreed 231 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,520 the heads of terms and all this kind and all of a sudden and 232 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:46,400 boy. Wow. 233 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,080 I took a big dive all of a sudden, that, that. 234 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:55,520 Hope that was. Imminent was deferred, but all 235 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,600 of a sudden there was another buyer that came and the hope 236 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,200 grew and then. When it happened. 237 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:05,320 Boy, when we sold the company, it was sweet to the soul and my 238 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:06,400 prayer for. Each one of. 239 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:11,360 You guys this morning is that? This year, your testimony will 240 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,600 be my. Longing was fulfilled and it was 241 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:22,880 sweet to my soul. I'm going to pray on that point. 242 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:24,840 Lord that. Is our prayer. 243 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,760 As a people. That the. 244 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:30,880 Testimony of this year would be that as we join the writer of 245 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,680 Proverbs to say my longing. Fulfilled was sweetness. 246 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,200 To my soul. Lord, you know our hearts, you 247 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,000 know. Those things that we are longing 248 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,840 for, those promises that you've. Laid on our hearts those hopes 249 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,640 that we have in you, and I pray, Lord, that this would be a. 250 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:48,960 Year of. Breakthrough and longing 251 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,600 fulfilled. And I declare that, and I decree 252 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,200 that that I speak this over you, that this would be a year of 253 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,040 victory in those areas. That you are. 254 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:02,120 Hoping for that, you would experience that longing that you 255 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:05,680 have desired for so long. And I pray for those of you who 256 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,320 can identify that hope deferred. I pray for healing. 257 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,400 Of your heart. And a restoration of hope as you 258 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,520 wait. For those desires to be 259 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,680 fulfilled. The lies of the enemy that have 260 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,000 been spoken over. You that has said it's never. 261 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,400 Going to be so I break that those lies off you in Jesus 262 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:30,240 name, and I speak the truth over you, that you will rejoice in 263 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:35,080 hope that may while you may have come in this place in sickness 264 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:39,040 of heart, you will leave this place rejoicing in hope. 265 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,480 Thank you Jesus. Amen. 266 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:48,600 Amen. So what is the Christian hope 267 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:49,640 then? Well, I'll tell you what it 268 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:50,720 isn't. It isn't this. 269 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:55,160 I hope I win the lottery. If you would like to have a 270 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:56,960 separate talk about whether you should play the. 271 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,920 Lottery or not? Then I'll schedule that for this 272 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:04,240 evening. Hope is not I hope it doesn't 273 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,680 rain this afternoon because. We've got a party. 274 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:12,080 Hoping is not a wishful thought when we're. 275 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:17,640 Talking about Biblical hope. Let's look at Romans. 82425 276 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:18,960 it'll be on the screen and if you're at. 277 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,200 Home on your. Device or wherever you are, 278 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:25,920 it'll be on your device for in. Hope in hope we have been saved, 279 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,920 but hope is not is that is seen, is not hope. 280 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,920 For why does one also hope for what he sees? 281 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:39,040 But if we hope for what we do? Not see with. 282 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,480 Perseverance. We wait eagerly. 283 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:48,040 For it. I want to sum it up with this. 284 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:53,920 A hope is a future, invisible and confident expectation of the 285 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,120 fulfilment of the promises of God. 286 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:58,840 That's the. Best I can do as a summary, it's 287 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,640 a little bit long. A future invisible and a 288 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:06,040 confident expectation of the fulfilment of the. 289 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:07,359 Promises of God. Why? 290 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:12,280 Because our hope is in. God is based on His promises. 291 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,640 It isn't A wish upon a star. It's a. 292 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:25,839 Hope upon the sun. I mean, wish upon a star. 293 00:17:25,839 --> 00:17:28,920 That's a phrase that we sing and we hear. 294 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,160 Well, maybe you don't be. Certainly children do. 295 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:35,520 But it's a hope upon the sun. Why? 296 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,440 Because he died on the cross. So. 297 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,040 That we can walk in the. Promises of God. 298 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:48,840 That's what's happened. And you can't disconnect the 299 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:55,320 hope that we have in Christ from being saved by him, for in hope 300 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,000 we have been. Saved you see? 301 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,000 You can't see the inner working of the Holy Spirit in you. 302 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,920 That regenerates you when you. Say yes to Christ you. 303 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,720 Can't see necessarily the inward work of. 304 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:10,920 Sanctification, that means becoming. 305 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:15,560 More like Christ, but we hope in that work of Christ, of the Holy 306 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:16,400 Spirit in. Us. 307 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,280 That is what hope is, because his word says that that is what 308 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:26,440 he will do. Hebrews 11/1 as I. 309 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,720 Continue to lay this foundation. Now faith is confidence. 310 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,000 In what? We hope for. 311 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:34,960 An assurance about what we do not see. 312 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,760 It is also why one of the weapons of the enemy is to 313 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,320 attack our hope. How did he do that? 314 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:46,520 Well, what's the opposite of hope? 315 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,480 Fear. Despair. 316 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:50,960 Doubts. Uncertainty. 317 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:54,960 Anxiety. These tactics are designed to 318 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:59,160 remove you out of that place of hope in the. 319 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:05,360 Promises of God. God has given you hope that you 320 00:19:05,360 --> 00:19:07,920 will have a new job. God has given you a a hope of 321 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,800 restored rest relationship. God has given you a hope of 322 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,720 whatever it may be. And then all of a sudden the 323 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:14,600 enemy says, but God, did God really say that? 324 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:20,600 Maybe God says that for everyone else, but not for you surely. 325 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:27,280 Look how bad you've been. I mean really? 326 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,040 Is there really, you know, a God? 327 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:33,720 I mean really. I mean, does he really? 328 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,720 Love you. I mean, maybe there's a God, but 329 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,200 he's just set this word in motion. 330 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,920 And he's left it to do what it wants to do. 331 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:46,800 You see, these are lies of the enemy to pull you out of a place 332 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:51,240 of rejoicing in hope. Essentially what it is, it is 333 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,800 the the lie of the of any enemy that says. 334 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,560 God really say that? Recognize that lie. 335 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:06,160 It God really say you can't eat? We've got to exercise our 336 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:08,840 spiritual muscles and it says in the scriptures that we had to 337 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,080 hold every thought captive that is contrary to the word of God. 338 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:14,760 And so when those thoughts come and say I'm not going to, I 339 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:15,760 don't. Accept that lie. 340 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:18,360 I rebuke that lie in the name of Jesus. 341 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:20,520 And then you. Get into the word and says God 342 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,200 says and. Then you list out his promises 343 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:25,680 this. Is how we are to live our lives 344 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,600 as Christians not passive, but active. 345 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:30,960 And I'm preaching to myself right now. 346 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,840 I mean just, hey Mark, stop being so passive in your faith. 347 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,360 Stop being so passive when the lies get into your head. 348 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:40,560 You know, it says in the scriptures Mark that you're more 349 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,920 than a conquering Christ Jesus. It says in the scriptures, Mark 350 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,440 that greater is he that is in you than he that is in the 351 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,320 world. It says in the word mark that if 352 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,520 you stand and resist the enemy, you'll flee. 353 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:58,600 Wow, that's cool. So what I'm saying to us is this 354 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:03,280 is that we we have to make a decision to rejoice in hope as 355 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,760 we hold every thought captive that is contrary to the truth. 356 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:12,440 Of God, that's what I'm saying. Now I want to zone in on this. 357 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:16,600 Point now. Is that the reason we can have 358 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:19,000 hope in the promises? Of God is because of the promise 359 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,920 keeper himself. We have our hope. 360 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,680 In God. And that's, I want to give you 361 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,120 just three. Things about hope as I aim to 362 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:33,320 end this talk. Three things about hope, true 363 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:34,440 hope. Comes from God. 364 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,880 Paul in Romans 15 in the. In the in the next chapters, as 365 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,400 he writes, he says may the. God of Hope. 366 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,440 You see, Hope has a name. His name is Jehovah. 367 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:57,000 Hope is not a wishful thought. It is a God who loves us and it 368 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,480 says in scriptures God is not a man that should he should lie. 369 00:22:05,330 --> 00:22:07,890 In Psalm 39 seven the Psalmist says this. 370 00:22:07,890 --> 00:22:10,890 And so, Lord, where do I? Put my hope maybe you're asking 371 00:22:10,890 --> 00:22:13,370 that question. Where do I put my hope then Mark 372 00:22:13,570 --> 00:22:15,690 because I tried it in that and I tried it in this. 373 00:22:15,690 --> 00:22:17,320 And it didn't work. I tried. 374 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,720 Putting my hope in my bank balance, I tried putting my hope 375 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,000 in in in in my. Friendships. 376 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,440 I tried putting hope in the the natural giftings that I. 377 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,120 Have I tried putting my hope in this and the other and it didn't 378 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:28,320 work. So, Mark, where do I put my 379 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:30,160 hope? The Psalmist says this. 380 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:35,680 My only hope is in you. My only hope is in you. 381 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:39,840 Is your only hope in God. That is the question this 382 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,840 morning. Is your hope in God this 383 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:47,320 morning? #2 hope is a gift. 384 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:50,960 Can't. Earn it. 385 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,640 You can't work for it. It's not based on how good you 386 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,840 are or how bad you are. It is a free gift. 387 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,320 Given by God through the. Power. 388 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:05,080 Of the holy. Spirit, you know, as when Paul. 389 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,760 Was writing in Romans 1513. It went on to say May The God of 390 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:09,200 Hope. Fill. 391 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,240 You with all. Joy and peace as you trust in 392 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,880 him. As we trust in him, our hope 393 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,560 comes. So that you may overflow with 394 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:20,800 hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 395 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,920 And so my prayer is, Lord God, I make a choice to rejoice in 396 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,480 hope. I stand firm on your promises, 397 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,920 but I am weak and I need your help. 398 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,880 So, Holy Spirit, would you come now and fill me with that hope? 399 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:39,440 That's a prayer you can pray. When you feel battered and 400 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,880 bruised and hopelessness, you just call upon the name of God 401 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,240 and say Lord, I can't manufacture this hope. 402 00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:46,960 I can't make it up. I can't. 403 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,320 Change the way I feel. And so, Holy Spirit, would you 404 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:53,560 come now and fill me with that hope that you have promised that 405 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:57,400 revelation of God and his love for me as I make a decision to 406 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,400 trust in Him. That's a prayer for you. 407 00:23:59,920 --> 00:24:03,920 That's a prayer for myself. Because our hope is in a person. 408 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:09,120 It is God Jehovah. And #3 as I bring. 409 00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:11,600 This plane. Into a land hope. 410 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:18,600 Endures Proverbs 2318 There is surely a future hope for you, 411 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,160 and your hope will not be cut off. 412 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:24,120 Biblical hope isn't. Because. 413 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:26,840 Life we can. Get our circumstances lined up 414 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:30,200 and everything's rosy. Biblical hope is rooted. 415 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,280 In the truth that we are saved and that nothing can separate us 416 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,960 from the love of God. You know, when I look at this 417 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:38,800 world. And I reference how I started 418 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,520 this talk and and I have my daily dose of news and my 419 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,560 hopelessness levels start increasing. 420 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,800 I just remember that I've read the end of the book and I know 421 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,760 what happens. I know that Christ will be 422 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:56,520 victorious. I know that I'll spend eternity 423 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,040 with him. I know that every knee will bow 424 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,480 and every tongue will confess that Christ Jesus is Lord. 425 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,720 I know that God will put all Christ's enemies under his feet. 426 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,520 I know how it ends. That's the hope I have. 427 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:17,040 The economic indicators, poor though they are, don't change 428 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:20,840 the fact that my hope is in. Jehovah Jireh, my God of 429 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:28,440 provision. And as we live our lives and as. 430 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:30,840 We think about 2024 and as I end this. 431 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,120 Talk my question. For you is this is. 432 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:38,320 Your hope in. God, God is your hoping. 433 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,160 I'd like us all to stand as I pray.