Rev. D. Joseph
May 4, 2007
Text: Jer. 17:7; Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Topic: Keep Hope Alive
INTRODUCTION
Contrary to popular belief, Jesse Jackson did not coined the saying: ‘keep hope alive.’ The Bible has been admonishing and encouraging humanity to keep hope alive since the creation of Adam and Eve. In fact, one of the central themes of the whole story of Abraham’s relationship with God is that of hope. Indeed the theme of hope is woven throughout the tapestry of the journey of the Israelites from slavery to the promised land.
The central role of hope for the viability and fruitfulness of Christian living is unquestioned. Sadly however, while there are countless sermons written and preached about faith, there are not enough sermons on hope. Perhaps it is because believers don’t really understand or appreciate the relationship between hope and faith. But I believe the more we know about hope the more we will appreciate its usefulness in the battle against powers and principalities, spiritual wickedness in high places.
Let us then begin our homiletical odyssey on the theme of hope with a proper definition of the word itself. What is hope? “Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. Hope implies a certain amount of perseverance — i.e., believing that a positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary.”
One of the worst things that can happen to a person-especially, a believer- is the lost of hope. “Hope is often the result of faith in that while hope is an emotion, faith carries a divinely inspired and informed form of positive belief.”
The writer of Hebrews declare; faith is the substance of things hoped for (Heb. 11:1). Notice if you will, the relationship between hope and faith. It is impossible to have one without the other. And yet there are a lot of believers who claim to have faith while living a life of despair and hopelessness.
The English word hope is from the Greek elpis {el-pece’}: to anticipate, usually with pleasure. In the New Testament hope occurs 129 times in 121 verses. In the Old Testament it is the word yachal {yaw-chal’} 1) to wait, await, tarry 2) to wait for.
We all need to live our lives with a healthy sense of anticipation (hope). This sense of anticipation is what motivates us to tarry in the midst of hardships and to wait on God for our breakthroughs. It is only when we are hopeless that living becomes a chore instead of a blessing. It is only when we lose our hope that our faith loses its potency.
The challenge before us all is to keep hope alive in spite of… That means “hoping when things are hopeless. As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.” Paul says it this way in Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
We have to learn to keep hope alive when the enemy comes against us. We can’t live life without hope. We can’t walk around with a bleak outlook on our condition. For as long as God is alive we have a reason to keep hope alive. That’s why Lamentation 3:26 says; “[It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”
The absence of hope is despair and depression. Indeed, hopelessness leads to a sense of meaninglessness which can be fatal. We have to fight ourselves if we must, in order not to lose hope. For it is a lot harder to regain hope after it is lost, then it is to keep hope alive.
There are three things we can do to keep hope alive
1. Practice Spiritual Optimism
2. Position Yourself around hopeful people
3. Pray with an expectant spirit
PRACTICE SPIRITUAL OPTIMISM
Spiritual optimism has to do with looking at our situation with a hopeful outlook no matter how bad things maybe. It is seeing the providential hands of God working for our good even when things aren’t looking good. It is living with spiritual 20/20 vision. It is trusting that God will make a way out of nowhere.
There are plenty of verses in the Bible to help us practice spiritual optimism. I can do all things..(Phil. 4:13). They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength(Isa. 40:31).. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: Phil. 1:6
A spiritual optimist believe that weeping may endure but for one night but joy will come in the morning (Ps. 30:5). He or she looks at every situation as a learning opportunity. And when keeping hope alive becomes harder and harder, the spiritual optimist position himself around hopeful people.
POSITION YOURSELF AROUND HOPEFUL PEOPLE
One of the worst things that can happen to a believer when they are going through is to be surrounded with nay sayers and pessimistic people. You see, the last thing you need to hear when things are upside down in your life is that you won’t make it. The last thing you want to do is to sit around with a group of negative people who are always up for a pity party.
Beloved in Christ, when you are trying to keep your hope alive you need to stay away from depressed folks. Stay away from people who don’t think that life is worth living. Stay away from people who are battling low self esteem. Stay away from those who don’t think they deserve the best that life has to offer.
You have to be careful who you hang out with. Don’t hang out with someone with no vision and no sense of purpose. Don’t hang around someone who always sees the glass half empty. If you are single, don’t date a guy or a girl with a negative spirit, because negativity is contagious. Instead be with someone with the mindset that all things are possible.
PRAY WITH AN EXPECTANT SPIRIT
You should always expect an answer to your prayer when you pray. You should always expect a breakthrough in times of trouble. You should always expect healing when you pray for such.
To pray without hope is to waste time. Effectual prayer comes from the reservoir of hope and trust in God. Praying with an expectant spirit is to acknowledge the miracle working power of God and its unlimited potential. Indeed, one of the best ways to keep our hope alive is to pray with an expectant spirit. That is faith at its best-substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
The very act of praying is meaningless if the person who prays doesn’t expect something to happen as a result of the prayer. No matter the nature of our need and the difficulty of our situation, we must pray with an expectant spirit thereby keeping hope alive.
Truly, the fervent and effectual prayers of the righteous availeth much. That is, prayer where the person who prays hope for a change in their situation because of that act of talking to God.
CONCLUSION
The Psalmist says The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy (Ps. 147:11).
Are you struggling to keep hope alive? Are you battling despair and depression? I want to encourage you to keep hope alive. Remember, life is worth the living because Jesus lives.
Keep hope alive when things look dark and dreary
Keep hope alive when your weakness is greater than your strength
Keep hope alive when your enemies are more numerous than your friends
Keep hope alive when your sorrow is more potent than your joy
Keep hope alive when your blessings are delayed
Keep hope alive when your setback is not turning into a comeback soon enough
And when you feel that you can’t keep hope alive, remember that most favorite hymn by Edward Mote, 1797-1874
"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"
1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
2. 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.
3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (Rom. 15:13;).” Remember, “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy (Ps. 147:11).” KEEP HOPE ALIE!
