A Blessed Hope
Hebrews 6:13-20
September
Morning Service
Missionary and story of Don’t Despair
Hope brings power to people. Hope comforts people in times of pain and uplifts them in times praise.
Defining hope
How we define hope often shapes how we perceive hope. Hope is defined as the expectation of good and is often something that we must wait for.
Earthly Hope Eternal Hope
Personal strengths God’s strength
Personal glory God’s glory
Self centered Christ centered
Temporal Focus Heavenly Focus
Unrealistic God’s ability
Hope word study Research
The Greek word for hope is elipis which means to have an eagerness or expectation for something. The understanding of biblical hope is always focused on the work and Word of God. Hope gives a confidence that the good expected will happen. Biblical hope is focused on the prior works of God with anticipation for how God will fulfill His promises in the future. Hope offers a genuine confidence that impacts daily living because we are moving closer to seeing God’s promises fulfilled day by day.
The New Testament makes a direct connection between hope and the manner in which we live. Hope is seen in the character of our lives. Hope brings a sense of incredible and inexpressible joy. Hope is part of the progressive work of God in our lives. The closer we walk with Christ, the deeper and stronger our hope becomes.
New Testament hope is focused on the good that God has yet to finish. Hope flows from the expectation that Jesus has greater works to complete in the future. Hope is empowered by the promises of Christ that are yet to come. Think about what all of this entails.
• The promise of a place in Heaven
• The promise of the Second Coming
• The resurrection from the dead
• The restoration of the world and reign of Christ
Biblical hope is not some pipe dream or pie in the sky thinking. Biblical hope finds its foundation in the promises of God. Biblical hope is centered on the work and person of Jesus Christ. He is the source and support of genuine hope. The basis of true hope comes out of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hope flows from His shed blood on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. Hope is revealed in the working of God by rolling the stone away to show an empty tomb. Hope is seen in the fact that Jesus paid the price for our sin and that He lives today. Hope is based in the fact that we will live forever with Him.
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:13-20
Hope is a by-product of faithful living
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Hebrews 11:6
When we make the choice to follow Christ on a daily basis we can see our hope progress. The writer of Hebrews communicates the impact of diligence to our hope. When we surrender our lives over to the purpose and plan of God, we exchange our earthly hope for eternal hope. Hope progressively grows when we dedicate our lives to pursuing a deeper commitment with Christ. Hope increases when we make Christ the chief interest of our lives.
Why do so many who claim to be Christian lack hope? Many have lost Christ as their focus for living. The moment we shift from an eternal focus to an earthly focus, we lose the power of Biblical hope.
Biblical hope is sure. The meaning is that this hope has a solid foundation. Biblical hope is filled with an overflowing confidence that propels us toward the fulfillment of God’s promises. Our hope is as solid as the promises of God. God has never broken a promise and never will. We can have assurance with the hope we have in God. The same Word that promised hope in the past, still speaks to those living today. The timeless nature of God’s Word allows us to grasp the hope that Christ has for us.
Hope is offered by Christ
The hope that Christ offers to us is beyond our ability to comprehend because it will never change. Change seems to be a part of the fabric of life and nothing constantly remains the same. The hope that we have from Christ is eternal in nature. This means that our hope existed before time started and will be in existence when time comes to an end. There is a timeless nature to hope because it encompasses all of history.
Hope is an extension of God’s goodness
Hope is an expectation of something good. The goodness of God should impact our lives in a manner that inspires us to be like Him.
God is good in His Character
Good first describes the very character of God. The truth is that God is good as part of who He is. God cannot be anything but good. God is the standard of goodness. We have hope because God is good.
God is good in His Conduct
Because God is good, all that He does must also be good. We have hope because God’s actions toward us are always good and for our benefit.
God is good in His care
The fact that God cares for us is amazing. He cares for us so much that he cannot leave us as we were when He found us. The desire of God is to make us like His Son, Jesus.
We cannot make ourselves good, but God’s grace can change our hearts, causing goodness to grow in us. We can’t but He can. Hope comes to us through the compassion of God.
God desires for us to be good, because He is good and wants us to be like Him.
Hope is a refuge and an encouragement
The hope we have in Jesus is rock solid. The great hymn The Solid Rock says it best: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Hope becomes a place of refuge from the onslaught of the world around us. Hope brings an encouragement that allows us to live above disappointment. Hope acts as a shelter to give protection to our spirit.
Our world is filled with things that might cause us distress.
• Unexpected events that create chaos: hurricanes, earthquakes, economical meltdowns and attacks like 9/11
• The impact and destructive nature of sin: How many lives have been wrecked by sin? How many people have been destroyed by it’s downward spiral?
• The enemy we face: Satan is enemy of Christ and the church. His desire is to create as much havoc as possible.
Disruption Division Dissention Distress Distrust
Hope acts as an anchor
Anchors were used to keep large ships in place. Anchors basically eliminate drifting and were useful tools during the ancient times. Anchor were used as protective tools to keep ships from crashing against rocks or landing on forbidden shores. The anchor helped keep the ship and its crew safe.
Hope is like an anchor because helps prevent spiritual drifting. The moment a person begins to lose their hope for the future, they begin to drift spiritually. Hope anchors us to the promise of eternity. It will not slip. It will not break. It will not fail.
Sure: Anchors give confidence
Steadast: Anchors were dependable
Hope is our entrance
The writer of Hebrews speaks of the inner sanctuary that is behind the curtain. The Temple was divided into several sections. The Temple was composed of the outer courts, inner courts and the temple proper. The temple contained the temple and the holy of Holies.
The holy of holies was considered the most holy place. The area was the resting place for the Ark of the Covenant and the place where God’s presence dwelled. Access to the most holy place was forbidden except for once per year. The High Priest would enter to seek God’s forgiveness for the entire nation.
We are given access to the presence of God through Christ Jesus. Jesus tore the Temple veil in two and offers us access to God. Jesus has secured the Promised Land of heaven for those who believe. Our place in heaven is prepared by Christ and he has secured us a place to dwell in the presence of God for eternity. Our hope flows from the fact that we have a place with forever.
One night at dinner a man, who had spent many summers in Maine, fascinated his companions by telling of his experiences in a little town named Flagstaff. The town was to be flooded, as part of a large lake for which a dam was being built. In the months before it was to be flooded, all improvements and repairs in the whole town were stopped. What was the use of painting a house if it were to be covered with water in six months? Why repair anything when the whole village was to be wiped out? So, week by week, the whole town became more and more bedraggled, more gone to seed, more woebegone. Then he added by way of explanation: "Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present." Halford E. Luccock, Unfinished Business.
Three key reasons for this happy hope
• Christ’s personal presence: There will come a day when we will be face to face with Christ and dwell in His presence
• Redemption from our sinful nature: When Christ returns the battle with sin will be completely won. There will be no more sin.
• Restoration of creation: The promise of God is that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. This means that God will make all things new and the entire world will be redeemed.
Our hope is completed through the return of Jesus
God will redeem this lost world completely when Christ returns. Nothing will be left undone. This is the final work of Christ Notice also that Paul gives proper divinity to Jesus: “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Paul is clearly qualifying the reality of our hope with the fact that Jesus is God.
Conclusion
What Does Hope Do For Mankind?
Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest.
Hope motivates when discouragement comes.
Hope energizes when the body is tired.
Hope sweetens while bitterness bites.
Hope sings when all melodies are gone.
Hope believes when evidence is eliminated.
Hope listens for answers when no one is talking.
Hope climbs over obstacles when no one is helping.
Hope endures hardship when no on is caring.
Hope smiles confidently when no one is laughing.
Hope reaches for answers when no one is asking.
Hope presses toward victory when no one is encouraging.
Hope dares to give when no one is sharing.
Hope brings the victory when no one is winning.
- John Maxwell from Think on These Things –
