#2 Light The Lamp Of Hope! Series

#2 LIGHT THE LAMP OF HOPE!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

I. HOPE IS LIKE A MATCH, A GREAT FIRE CAN BE KINDLED BY ONE SMALL MATCH.

A. I HAVE A KEROSENE LAMP, I PRETEND THE ELECTRICITY IS OFF, I NEED LIGHT. I HAVE A KEROSENE LAMP FULL OF KEROSENE --- BUT I NEED A MATCH TO LIGHT THE LIGHT.

B. I STRIKE THE MATCH, LIGHT THE LAMP, AND SEE WE HAVE LIGHT.

THE DARKER THE NIGHT --- THE GREATER THE LIGHT.

C. THE MEMORY OF HOPE AND GOD’S DELIVERANCE WILL BRING GREAT HOPE!

I CALL THE MATCH: HOPE! HOPE AGAINST HOPE!

James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course

of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

D. The Bible warns us about the power of the tongue. Seems the tongue has a great ability to be so small. HOPE HAS POWER!

E. Can we picture what the potential ability of one match MIGHT BE?

Sure the match might light a lamp, or burn many thousand acres of land.

F. Sure the tongue is a little thing with great potential, BUT THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF WHAT HOPE COULD ACCOMPLISH IN CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS!

II. TO STAND FAITHFUL TO THE CROSS ONE MUST DEVELOP THREE FUNDAMENTAL ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS.

1 Cor. 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

A. And now abides FAITH --- HOPE --- AND LOVE!

B. JESUS IS THE OBJECT OF OUR HOPE.

We hope to daily walk in the presence of our Lord and Savior. In the presence of the Almighty we find great hope.

C. We also have a GREAT AND BLESSED HOPE IN THE IMMINENT RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST.

III. WE MUST GROW PERENNIAL HOPE, a lively hope, a living hope:

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

A. Perennial:

Present at all seasons of the year.

Growing and persisting for years.

Persistent, enduring.

Continuing without interruption, constant ---

B. In our gardens in Kentucky we have a term called VOLUNTEER. A plant that grows volunteer means that it was a seed left from last year that grew on it’s own.

Might I add, you can grow this years garden based on VOLUNTEER SEED

from last year. You might starve to death if you depend on VOLUNTEER SEED?

C. You must plow the ground, till the ground, fertilize the soil, plant the seed, water, and hoe out the weeds.

D. You will never GROW HOPE BY VOLUNTEER SEED, you must plan and apply effort to develop Godly hope.

E. SICKLY OAKS FROM SICKLY ACORNS GROW.

Hope must not ever be weak, perishable, fainting, and frail.

Matthew 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

F. Our hope must not be wavering.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;(for he is faithful that promised;)

G. OUR HOPE MUST BE IN GOD ---

OUR HOPE MUST BE ON GOD ---

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

IV. GOD CREATED MAN. THE CREATION TELLS US SOMETHINGS.

GOD NEVER PLACED AN EYE IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.

GOD DESIGNED MAN TO BE FOWARD LOOKING.

HOPE KEEPS A MAN LOOKING FORWARD.

A. Hope says: Impossible --- difficult --- hope and faith --- DONE!

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

B. QUIT LOOKING BACKWARDS, REACH FORWARD!