Introduction

Dear friends, it is such a joy to be in the presence of God and in the company of His people, gathered today to feast on the Word of God. We are here to celebrate the hope we have in Christ Jesus, a hope that is not a mere wishful thinking, but a confident assurance, a steadfast anchor for our souls. It is this hope that we are going to focus on today, as we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Titus, particularly chapter 2 verse 13, which reads, "Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Hope itself is like a star - not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity." Today, we will discover that star of hope, even in the midst of our hardships, as we delve into the richness of God's word.

Our first main point will be "Harnessing Hope in Hardship." We will see how our hope in Christ is not just for the good times, but also for the difficult times. Next, we will look at "Hope as a Heavenly Heritage." We will see that our hope is not something we generate within ourselves, but it is a gift from God, a part of our heavenly inheritance. Finally, we will look forward to "Hope's Horizon - The Blessed Future." We will see that our hope is not just for the here and now, but it extends into eternity, to the glorious future that God has prepared for those who love Him.

Let's pray together as we begin.

Father God, we thank You for the hope we have in Christ Jesus. We pray that as we study Your Word today, You would open our hearts and minds to understand and receive the truths You have for us. We ask that You would strengthen our hope, that it would be a light to guide us through the darkest nights, and a beacon to draw us ever closer to You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Let’s get started!

Harnessing Hope in Hardship

In the midst of life's storms, it can often feel like we're being tossed about on a relentless sea of troubles. Waves of worry crash over us, and the winds of adversity threaten to capsize our faith. Yet, it's in these very moments of hardship that our hope in Christ becomes an anchor for our souls. This hope is not a flimsy, fleeting emotion, but a robust, resilient confidence in the promises of God. It's a hope that holds us steady, even when everything around us is in turmoil.

In the face of hardship, we might be tempted to lose hope: We might feel overwhelmed by our circumstances, and it can seem like there's no way out. But the Apostle Paul reminds us in the book of Titus that our hope is not based on our circumstances, but on the character and promises of God. We are waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. This hope is not just a wishful thinking, but a confident expectation of what God has promised.

Our hope is grounded in the character of God: God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. He is faithful, even when we are faithless. Our hope is not in our ability to endure hardship, but in God's ability to fulfill His promises.

Remembering the promises of God: The Bible is filled with promises that are meant to encourage us and give us hope in the midst of our trials. Promises like, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," and "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." These promises are not just words on a page, but they are the very words of God, given to us to sustain us in our times of need.

Learning to wait on the Lord: Waiting is often seen as a passive activity, but in the Bible, waiting on the Lord is an active, expectant hope. It's a hope that looks forward to the fulfillment of God's promises, even when it seems like they are delayed. Waiting on the Lord is not a resigned acceptance of our circumstances, but a confident expectation that God will come through for us, just as He has promised.

Cultivating a heart of gratitude: It's easy to focus on our problems and forget about our blessings. But when we cultivate a heart of gratitude, we begin to see our circumstances in a new light. We begin to see that even in the midst of our trials, God is still good, and He is still working for our good. Gratitude helps us to keep our eyes on God, instead of on our problems.

Hope as a Heavenly Heritage

As we continue to navigate through the complexities of life, we find ourselves anchored by a hope that is not of this world ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO