Series: Finding Joy in The Journey
Series: We need to find joy in the journey!
Thesis of series: Joy needs to be experienced in the journey of life! But Joy, like any other attitude, can come and go. It is not guaranteed simply because we are born again believers because storms will blow in and out of our lives. We must put ourselves in the places where experiencing joy is a possibility. We need to go after and find joy in our journey of life even in times of grief, illness, financial crisis, hardship and even persecution.
Introduction:
Studying about joy in Scripture, looking at verses which speak of joy, helps build an understanding of how to put ourselves in places where it is possible to find and maintain an attitude of joy in our journey of life. We need to position ourselves in 2019 to seek after and find joy in the journey of life. God desires to help us find that joy!
• We can find Joy through laughter and humor.
• We can find joy in God’s love.
• We can find joy in the journey through praise and worship.
• We can also find joy in the journey through hope.
Sermon 1: Finding Joy in the journey through Hope! Pt 1
Thesis: Hope is a significant key to finding in the journey of life because it is a wonderful gift from God and it will become a source of strength and courage in the face of life’s severest trials. Hope will bring you joy when you think there is no joy! Hope will help you see the light in the darkness!
Introduction:
Chuck Swindoll from his book Hope Again states this about hope:
Hope is a wonderful gift from God, a source of strength and courage in the face of life’s harshest trails.
• When we are trapped in a tunnel of misery, hope points to the light at the end of the tunnel.
• When we are overworked and exhausted, hope gives us a fresh energy.
• When we are discouraged, hope lifts our spirits.
• When we are tempted to quit, hope keeps us going.
• When we lose our way and confusion blurs the destination, hope dulls the edge of panic.
• When we struggle with a crippling disease or a lingering illness, hope helps us persevere beyond the pain.
• When we fear the worst, hope brings reminders that God is Still in control.
• When we must endure the consequences of bad decisions hope fuels our recovery.
• When we find ourselves unemployed, hope tells us we still have a future.
• When we are forced to sit back and wait, hope gives us the patience to trust.
• When we feel rejected and abandoned, hope reminds us we’re not alone …we’ll make it.
• When we say our final farewell to someone we love, hope in the life beyond gets us through grief.
Put simply, when life hurts and dreams fade, nothing helps like hope! (Swindoll page xi and xii).
Hope isn’t merely a nice option that helps us in a tough moment but it is essential to our survival and for Joy in the journey of life.
T.S. - So let’s explore the meaning of hope and learn the difference between a wish and genuine authentic biblical hope.
I. Is hope and wishing the same thing? Not according to the Bible!
a. What does it mean to make a wish and what does it mean to have true biblical hope – are they the same thing?
i. Hope by the way is not a wish and it is not wishful thinking. Hope and wishing are two different attitudes to life and death.
ii. Let me illustrate the difference and see if you can figure out which one of these two you embrace wish or hope.
1. One brings a flood light into the midst of darkness while the other is just a small flickering match in the midst of darkness.
2. One brings encouragement in the midst of discouragement while the other only brings a glimpse of encouragement.
3. One brings a positive view of problems, trials, and tribulations while the other only lifts our burden for a brief moment in time.
4. One brings peace in the midst of pain and suffering while the other only brings a mindset of looking for a fairytale ending from pain.
5. One brings us through the pain to healing while the other teaches us to live in story land.
a. Paul reminded the Corinthians and us what real biblical hope does – it causes us not to lose heart! 2 Corinthians 4:1-18:
i. 1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
b. Biblical hope found in Jesus causes us to see the hope when everything else around us is wasting away. It helps us see beyond this world into the spiritual world.
i. This hope is ability to see beyond our failures, our crises, death, suffering, temptation, sin, battles, hurt, depression and lost culture.
ii. A wish cannot do this because a wish is what we do but hope is what God does!
iii. So, let’s define the act of wishing for a moment: What does it mean to wish for something?
1. From wikpedia.com - A wish is a hope or desire for something. Fictionally, wishes can be used as a plot. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.
c. When we explore the idea of making a wish we discover that wish and hope are very different.
i. Some wish they will win the lottery so they go out and buy a ticket or more tickets but soon they discover they did not win and their wish was not granted.
1. But oh how they imagined what they would do if they won.
a. The paying off of bills.
b. The new car.
c. The new home
d. The world traveling
e. Quitting their job
i. I have even had people say to me. “I played the lottery and if I win - I will give a large sum of money to the church.” But the money never comes. The wish is just that a wishful thought.
ii. If the truth be told if you don’t give now when you have little you won’t give when you have more. Because it’s a matter of the heart and of really trusting in God.
iii. Do you want to experience hope now – give to God what is rightfully God’s.
1. We all actually need help with our budget do you want to be blessed and filled with hope give to God now!
2. Also, God is not into “let’s make a deal” with you on winning the lottery.
3. The truth is 99% of the people who wish and try to win the lottery never see it manifested and therefore they do become discouraged.
ii. Some make a wish for their birthday and then blow out the candles.
1. The myth here is to not tell anyone what you wish is or it will not come true.
2. My wife recently celebrated a birthday and she had to blow out a lot of candles! But if the truth be told a wish is not true biblical hope. I don’t know what she wished for but I think it was more time alone with me.
iii. Some wish upon a star.
1. You see a shooting star so you make wish.
iv. Some have heard about getting three wishes from rubbing a Jeany lamp.
1. But remember that is a fairytale not a reality.
a. A template for this type of 3 fictional wishes comes from The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, specifically the tale of Aladdin, although in the tale of Aladdin the actual wishes were only part of the tale. Also if you recall, Aladdin's demands, while outrageous, were mainly variations on wealth (which is still often taken as the most common request).
b. Thought – this is why people wish to win the lottery for a dollar or two.
v. Some make a wish and throw money in a fountain.
1. Movies have been written with this thought in mind.
2. Actually, this custom emerged as a way to worship the gods of the water and to ask their help with a problem.
a. A wishing well is a term from European folklore to describe wells where it was thought that any spoken wish would be granted. The idea that a wish would be granted came from the idea that water housed deities or had been placed there as a gift from the gods, since water was a source of life and often a scarce commodity. If you through money in a sacrifice the gods would grant you request or wish.
b. So we all know about making wishes but once again I want you to know this is not true biblical hope.
d. I made an interesting discovery about the word “wish” when I looked it up in the Bible. I never found this word in my New International Bible.
i. I did a search with my Bible Software “Quick Verse” and it came back 0 matches? The term wish is not found in the Bible? Some of you are saying “Really – yeah really!”
ii. In the Bible we have a different word called HOPE which is not a wish!
1. So, what is the difference between a wish and a hope? Let’s explore the biblical word hope more to see the difference.
a. Hope is not something we have naturally. It's something supernatural!
2. Someone has wisely stated that if you could convince a man that there is no hope, he would curse the day he was born and then give up.
a. Swindoll states, “How vital is (hope)…Without it, prisoners of war languish and die. Without it, athletic teams fall into a slump and continue to lose…fledgling writers, longing to be published, run out of determination …addicts return to their habits…marriage partners decide to divorce…inventors, artists, entertainers, entrepreneurs, even preachers, lose their creativity (and quit – some even commit suicide!)
b. Hope plays a vital role in the journey of life.
e. The question of "Is there any hope?" is common in our world today. We hear this question being asked by young, middle aged, and older people.
i. We hear the cry of the depletion of the Ozone layer and Climate Change.
ii. We hear the effects of what could happen in a nuclear war or if terrorists get a hold of a nuclear warhead.
iii. We hear that our country is on the brink of financial collapse, moral collapse, societal breakdown is showing all over the nation and our government is broken.
iv. We see our children drifting into lies and deceptions stealing them of their lives and future!
v. We see public schools promoting lies and deception setting our kids up for heartbreak, failure, hopelessness, lostness and absence of joy in the journey of life.
f. The list could go on and on and we ask, "Is there any hope?" And the answer to this question is, "Yes, there is!" But to clarify this "yes", let's first look to understand this term "Hope"
i. The following thoughts are from "A Future and a Hope", Ogilivie:
1. Hope cannot be humanly induced on demand. I cannot give myself hope.
2. To better understand what "Authentic Hope is we need to see what it is not!"
a. Hope is not wishful thinking.
i. We try to wish our dreams into reality and we try to wish away the hurts of life but it never works.
b. Hope is not yearning.
i. Ogilivie states, "We often incorrectly use the word, "hope" to express our yearning. "Oh, I hope so!" We say, expressing a longing for something to be true or to happen. "Here's hoping," we say in response to a possibility." (47)
ii. The sad fact here is we usually end up with disappointments because our expectations are not met our wish is not granted.
c. Hope is not simply cheery optimism.
i. "Hope certainly can produce and optimistic attitude, but an optimistic attitude is not a substitute for true hope." (48)
ii. Optimism that is not based on God's promises, power, and faithfulness fades under the pressure of disappointments.
3. The truth about Hope is that it is centered in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ's life, message, atonement for the sins of the world and resurrection are now the basis of hope.
a. Jesus Christ is the object of Hope, but also He is the one and only who enables us to truly have lasting hope.
b. Hope comes to us by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It comes from knowing God on a personal level.
c. Hope comes from pinnacle moments with the Lord in our times or distress.
i. Romans 5:1-5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
4. True Biblical Hope will not disappoint us – making wish’s will!
a. Hope is based on what God does for us while a wish is based on what we want done.
b. Case in point Story: True stories of hope: A boy was dying of cancer and needed an expensive brain surgery, but his family, broke and desperate, couldn't afford it. His 8 year old sister Tess took her piggy bank savings to a pharmacist in order to buy a 'miracle'. It just so happens that the right man witnessed the little girl's tears at the pharmacy counter: a neurosurgeon. He performed the surgery for free. http://www.givesmehope.com/Inspiring+Feats/A-boy-was-dying-of-cancer-and-needed-an/2300
T.S. - We have defined the difference between a wish and true biblical hope so let’s see how hope comes when we fail from an old fisherman’s story.
II. A fisherman’s story of hope beyond failure.
a. My fisherman’s story opens up talking about 7 frustrated, frenzied, fainthearted fishermen who had lost hope we find this scenario in John chapter 21.
i. The setting of our fisherman’s tale takes us to the Sea of Galilee and a boat on the water around dusk: Our story focuses on 7 men – a dead man who came back to life - a whole net of fish – to be exact 153 LARGE fish and a long night of fishing with a miracle twist in the morning.
ii. The story tells us about a catch of a lifetime and about how this event changed their lives for eternity.
iii. To all the fisherman out there – how many of you guys or gals have wished for the big fish?
1. My fisherman story and the storm in Canada.
iv. This seemingly fishy tale freed these 7 men from their frustration and hopelessness and it pointed them to their eternal purpose in life. To a true biblical hope!
1. It was a fishing adventure that these seven men would never forget because in the midst of hopelessness they found real hope!
2. These 7 adventurers had left their nets and careers 3 ½ years earlier to follow a Great Fisher of Men- his name was Jesus but things had not turned out as they had wished.
a. He had called them to follow him in Luke 5 and they did it after he had helped them bring in a great catch of fish after having no luck all night.
b. This miracle event helped them to decide to leave their jobs and to follow this amazing fabulous fisherman.
c. They had watched him heal the sick, deliver people from the bondages of life, they saw him do miracles and listen to Him teach with unbelievable wisdom and insight. They listened to his teachings and insightful thoughts which implanted footprints of eternity into their minds and their hearts.
d. They learned about the meaning of life - purpose in life - faith in something greater than fishing – foolishness of religion without God - freedom in the Spirit and friendship with God. It was an adventure of a lifetime and it all started with a great catch of fish.
e. Jesus’ – and His fisher man’s words of fire were etched into their lives. His fearless teaching astonished all who followed and his fervent love of the Father captured their hearts. They were fastened to this miracle worker for 3 ½ years, but it all changed as He said it would. The three and half years of miracles and unveiled mysteries seemed like a blur in light of their current situation. He had been arrested-tried-condemned. They had watched in horror at His horrible death and they were frantic and frazzled that they could not do anything to stop it. He had risen from the dead but where was He now? And why was He not spending time with them again? What was He doing?
f. They were alone and afraid and people wanted them dead.
g. They are drifting on the water the sun is coming up and the boat is quiet as each ponders the events of the last few years. So here they are distraught, frantic, frustrated, and their faith is fading in an out like a Yo - Yo.
3. Jesus had appeared to them and revealed that He was alive but what now. He still only popped in and out of their lives. So, they decided to go back to fishing – not for men- but for real fishy fish and they choose to forsake the fish which were finicky and ferocious this being men.
b. Whose idea was it to go fishing? Why go fishing – if you have never been fishing you will not understand how on the water in nature there is always time to think, to ponder to mediate.
i. Peter came up with the idea to the others!
1. Peter comes up with the fishing idea after reflecting on his long hard night of seeing his beloved Savior and teacher killed, tortured and murdered.
2. He also comes up with the fishing escape idea after suffering from the agony of deceit and fear which had gripped him the night he had denied Jesus.
3. He is still replaying the incident in his mind – it’s like an old movie set in the scene of a nightmare and it plays over and over.
4. He sees himself from the outside looking in as he denies Jesus over and over and he hears the crows cry. It’s still ripping at his heart and his mind and the others are as fried and frenzied as he is and they all decide to go fishing. Peter thinks am I forgiven or not?
a. Reflection Question: Let’s pause for a moment in time and let me ask you a couple questions: “Is fishing a means of escape for you? Does it help you to deal with hurt, rejection, disappointment, dissension, marriage issues, frustration at life, hopelessness, depression, and the lack of purpose in your life? It did for these 7 ordinary guys.
c. The scenario before casting off:
i. I am sure as they were getting their gear ready and shoving off from shore the mood was eerie – depressed and loudly quiet. Jesus had appeared to them, but He was gone again and they had no idea where He went. No jokes-no laughter-no joy-no we are going to catch the catch of a lifetime boasting. There was no slapping each other on the back and kidding of one another. I believe it was solemn and even funeral like because the Great Fisherman was dead-risen and gone again. Who knows were?
1. The man who had helped them catch the miracle catches of fish earlier was frozen stiff and the air was frosty and frigid with His death and disappearance. Yes, he had appeared a few times and revealed himself to them but he had disappeared again and no one knew where He was or what He was doing. So they shove off in the dampness of the night air for a fishing adventure hoping for a catch of fresh fish.
ii. Looking for hope in fish or in fishing? Remember: Fishing gave these fishermen time to think and reflect on the last 3 1/2 years and about Jesus death and Jesus amazing appearances.
iii. Turn with me to John 21:1-14 to hear his fishing tale (We will first be looking at verses 1-6):
1. 1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
2. It’s been a hard night with so many memories and regrets racing in and out of their minds. They are frustrated and feeling foolish about their fading faith. They are back where they were 3 1/2 years earlier.
a. Their hopes have been crushed and they are dazed.
b. They have returned to fishing and they are unable to catch a thing.
c. Maybe they are thinking to themselves, “I have been out of this for too long and I am no good at it anymore!” Fear is gripping at their tattered egos and their failures are eating at their minds like cancer.
d. Maybe Jesus’ teachings and words are echoing through the films in their minds. They saw him feed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. They saw him send one of them to the sea to catch a fish and pay their taxes as they find money in the belly of a fish just like He said they would. So morning is rising above the lake, the sun is coming up and the warmth of the sun hits them because they are chilled to the bone from the long frigid night.
e. Maybe they think without Jesus I don’t have any hope!
d. The voice from the shore: In the midst of the sun rising up there is a voice calling from shore, “Friends, have you caught any fish?” The Message words it this way, “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”
i. In their unison answer, the 7 frustrated fishermen say, “No!” It echoes across the water and toward shore filled with the tone of frustration and even some hint of depression.
ii. Jesus then calls back out, “Throw your net on the other side of the boat!” I am sure the 7 fisherman said, “This sounds way too familiar – De-ja-voo! Words of Hope? So they do it and the catch is another catch of a lifetime!” So John helps with the catch and He has a flashback and says, “There is only one person who can do miracles like this – it’s Jesus - He’s back!”
1. Hope floods through the boat – the smiles return – joy leaps into boat not because of the fish but the words of Jesus.
2. Seven frustrated fisherman receive a catch of a lifetime from Jesus who is back again from the dead. I wonder if they thought. “Man whenever Jesus is around we always get the catches of a lifetime!”
3. He is back! – Jesus – and He brings another catch of a lifetime with Him!
4. Let’s read on in our Fisherman’s tale - John 21: 7- 14: 7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
a. Hope returns – Joy takes over and Peter dives in to the water.
b. Our section opens with Peter being filled with fervor as he dresses and dives into the water to go meet with Jesus. The solemn mood changes from eerie dull drum to exuberance and joy. He’s back – He’s doing miracles again. Peter’s thinking, I want to go be with Him right now- no waiting! Splash!
c. Peter still suffering from his nightmare of denial heads for the voice he knows can set Him free. He swims to the voice of hope!
d. They all arrive at shore Peter swimming-the others rowing and they come racing in. They arrive on shore to see breakfast cooking - fresh fish – and bread. The Savior of the world back from the dead has cooked them breakfast. Jesus tells them bring more fish over here! Peter still charged by the adrenalin rushing through his veins and his heart. He Grabs the large catch and drags it over toward his Lord and Savior. The Apostle John even tells us there were 153 LARGE fish in the net and it did not tear! So they sit down for a feast with their Lord.
e. It’s time to reminisce and catch up on what’s been happening between them and Jesus. Hope surges in the conversation with Jesus.
iii. The questions: “So where have you been? What happened? How come you left us again?”
1. The fishermen have experienced another catch of a lifetime and they sit down to enjoy a meal made by the Great Fisherman. They are most likely laughing eating and looking at all the fish in the net. They finish the meal and then after breakfast Jesus addresses Peter with some after meal thoughts and questions.
2. Then comes Jesus’ after breakfast thoughts and questions to Peter (a fisher of men not of fishy fish).
a. Let’s get back to our fisherman’s tale in John 21:15-19: 15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” (Do you love me more than these 153 LARGE FISH?) “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” (Don’t fish instead feed my followers the Bread of Life!) 16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” (Peter care for the church not the fish!) 17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (Peter follow after my call and go fishing for men and forget these fishy fish!)
3. The disciples and Jesus eat breakfast –prepared by the King of Kings, by the Alpha and the Omega, by the Creator of the Universe, by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Yes, He made them breakfast.
e. By the way do you need hope today – Jesus will make you breakfast if you ask and spend time with you.
i. Do not miss this point my friend it tells us how the Lord desires to have breakfast with us each morning. We need to eat with Him and then dialogue with Him after we eat about our purpose for the day and what really matters in life.
1. It’s not about the fishy fish it’s about people!
2. It’s not about a career but His will.
3. It’s not about money but His blessings.
f. Here is the Spiritual lesson to give you true Biblical hope:
i. The main lesson I learn from this true story is the disciples had returned to their old trade of fishing maybe signifying they no longer wanted to fish for men.
ii. Remember what Jesus told them in the beginning of their journey – “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus meant that and He was not about to let them give up on the call that was on their lives. Their failures would not keep them down but help them to learn and rise up. He called them and they needed to know that He would see to it that they fished for men!
1. I need to hear this sometimes myself how about you!
a. This is why Jesus – addresses Peter – The man who denied him three times. He asks Him Do you love me? He asks three times and each time Peter says. “Yes” and each time the Lord tells Him to fulfill his call “Feed my lambs” – “Shepherd my sheep” and “Feed my sheep”
b. In essence He is saying, “You are called to do what I have called you to do and that is to be a fisher of men not fish!” ‘Your fishing days for fish are over Peter!” “You are forgiven and I will enable you to go where I send you! You will have to follow me with your whole heart, mind and soul.”
c. He even told Peter, “You will die for my name and the next time you will not deny me but suffer for the Kingdom.” “Peter you will not fail because I will be with you and I will empower you to be my witness to the ends of the earth.” And so the Fisherman’s tale is verified and played out in the History of the Church.
g. The rest of the Story: Peter becomes transformed on the Day of Pentecost and he becomes a great fisherman for the Kingdom of God. So do all the other disciples in the story.
i. The Key Point: The truth is the greatest catch of their lifetime was not the 153 large fish but was their relationship with Jesus and their willingness to fulfill the call and purpose God had for their lives. It’s was the discovery of true biblical hope!
ii. Have you found it? Have you embraced it? It’s a gift from God!
Conclusion:
So as Christians what do we put our hope in wishes or false things? We do not place our hope in the following:
• In the world system?
• In our talents or gifts?
• In our jobs or money?
• In the US Government?
• In the military?
• In the State?
• In education?
• In people?
• In preachers?
• In parents?
• In family?
No! We put our hope in Jesus and his ability to supernaturally strengthen us through the hard times of life!
How do you receive true biblical hope?
• It comes from faith – you have to believe!
• It comes from believing, seeing and then receiving Jesus
• It comes from the Holy Spirit
• It comes from trusting in truth and rejecting the lies
• It comes by forsaking sin
• It comes through having a vision of your divine destiny
• It comes from throne of Heaven
• It comes through and from Jesus!
Communion: Why we celebrate communion! (borrowed from True Church)
“Do this in remembrance of Me.” You’ve probably heard this before in church, but have you ever stopped to think of the depth and hope of that statement? Let me explain…
In 1 Corinthians 11, we find the most extensive teaching in the Bible on the Lord’s Supper, commonly referred to as Communion or the Eucharist. In this passage, Paul not only gives practical instruction to the Church as to how Communion should look, but also speaks of the purposes of Communion. Paul, referring to Luke 22 and other gospel accounts, establishes the gathering of the Church for the purpose of being reminded and celebrating our relationship with Christ.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER CHRIST’S SACRIFICE
Our entire story and history is that we are a people who quickly forget the grace and goodness of God in our lives. When was the last time you stopped and really thought about who you are in Christ? That your identity is found only in the person of Christ and what He has done in your life. The claims and offer of grace are outstanding, unnatural, and difficult to accept. Jesus understood that we are prone to forget, so He provided once again! He gave us a sacrament (Communion) so that when we gather we can be reminded that Jesus is for us! His body was broken for us. His blood was shed for us. We can remember that in His death our sins died also and in His resurrection the power to live was imparted to us through His Holy Spirit! We can boldly proclaim Christ has paid our bill in full.
WE NEED TO RESIDE IN HIS PRESENCE
Not only are we a people prone to forget, we often become so busy that we fail to realize God desires our presence more than our actions. The world we live in is constantly in motion and screams for our attention. When was the last time you stopped and enjoyed the presence of God? Not doing something for Him, but just being with Him. In Communion we are provided an opportunity to stop and just reside in the presence of God, to reflect on who He is and what he is doing in our lives.
WE NEED TO REALIGN OUR HOPE
The third thing that we see in the institution of Communion is an opportunity to realign our hopes in the future that Christ brings! We all crave hope; hope is the fuel that makes life worth living. As we observe the sacrament of Communion an incredible opportunity unveils itself. Jesus states that He won’t drink this cup or break this bread until He returns with His kingdom. There is a day coming when we will no longer walk by faith, that day where all things are made new and we stand face-to-face with our Savior, Jesus Christ! The day is coming when our faith will be rewarded by Christ Himself, and the cares and troubles of this life are gone!
So Let us refuel our hope today – let us take communion with the intent to meet with God and let us remember and honor Jesus for His great sacrifice and love for us all.
