Hope Revived

Hope Revived

PPT 1

Tonight my topic is hope I have a lot to cover so let me briefly outline for you how this is going to go.

First I will define hope from the worlds perspective

Then we will look at 5 kinds of hope in the scriptures

Then we will look one scripture in particular that talks about hope deferred.

I will discuss 2 areas in a Christians life where hope can be deferred.

I will also talk about the 3 dangers of deferred hope

I will try to wrap up with some encouragement.

Here we go

PPT 2

Definition of hope: The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out well.

Worldy hope is a combination of wanting and expecting. It is a little bit more than wishful thinking. There is an inkling that you will get what you are wanting.

Biblical hope is very different than worldly hope, and that is why I am taking the time to show you a little of the difference.. Here are the 5 types of biblical hope:

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1. Experential hope.

Experiential hope is optimism in my current circumstance, because of what I have experienced God do in my other circumstances.

Ro 5:3 And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Ro 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Ro 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

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2. Unshakeable hope. A reservoir of strength in life's storms.

Unshakeable hope is hope that provides a solid anchor, securely fastened for the strongest storms of life. "When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand". (The Solid Rock by Edward Mote)

Heb 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a [hope] both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

Heb 6:20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Your hope is fastened someplace the devil can't get his grubby little hands on it.

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3. The Blessed Hope. The absolute guarantee that Jesus will come again and things will be wonderful.

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

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4. Hope that is a permanent work of the Spirit

This type of hope is a fruit of the Spirit, that all believers can always expect.

1Co 13:13 But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In chapter 13 Paul is contrasting gifts of the Spirit with love. In effect he says the gifts will ultimately pass away. But that 3 things would always be availabe from God, faith, hope and love.

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5. Hope that reflects personal desires.

The bible would call this type of hope the desires of your heart.

Pr 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but [when] the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life.

There it is in a nutshell, the 5 types of hope, now I want to shift gears and talk more at length of the 5th type of hope personal desires, and what can happen when they are deferred.

Two areas where a Christian is likely to encounter hope being deferred.

Personal desires. For example Abraham and a Child. Or perhaps someone seeking a spouse. Or a desire to travel. Any kind of personal thing someone wants has the potential if deferred to, as the text says, make the heart sick.

Spiritual desires. David wanted to build God a temple, God said no. Daniel wanted to see the people of Israel back in their home land, they did get to go, but he never saw it in this life. Sometimes people want to do something for the Lord, or see a child come to Christ, this type of spiritual desires when deferred can also lead to a sick heart.

PPT 8 text

Isa 49:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

The interesting part of this text is the fact that a person had been prepared for (public?) speaking, had been made into a finely crafted arrow through a season of polishing, but then had been stuck in the quiver, and seemingly shelved.

The word translated Hid in the text is the Hebrew word kawbaw and one of its definitions is - to be forced into hiding.