YET I WILL DARE TO HAVE HOPE! HOPE IS NEW EVERY DAY!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube Wade Hughes)
LAMENTATIONS IS THE 25th BOOK OF THE BIBLE. It has 5 chapters, 154 verses, 3,415 words, 13 questions, 3 commands. (Dake)
LAMENTATIONS: a passionate expression of grief and sorrow, pain and suffering. JEREMIAH TAKES PEN IN HAND TO TELL THE HEART BREAK OF GOD’S PEOPLE MAKING THE CHOICE OF SIN AND REBELLION. We know Jeremiah as “THE WEEPING PROPHET.” The book of LAMENTATIONS records 5 poems.
The book of LAMENTATIONS is a sad book about the poor choices that tells of the destruction of Jerusalem as a result of making the choice of sin. Judgment is sure. SIN BRINGS JUDGMENT AND BROKENESS. In the midst of all the poor choices, GOD HAS A PLAN. ALL SEEMS LOST. There is no human solution --- MY FRIEND THERE IS GREAT HOPE THAT COMES FROM THE SUFFERING OF THE CROSS. Jeremiah has some great words of HOPE BY TRUSTING IN THE LORD and seeking an attitude change and forgiveness. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF AS A DELIVERER.
JEREMIAH WAS VERY REAL AND HONEST SEEMS ALL HOPE IS GONE… CHOICES HAVE BEEN MADE. HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE YOU HAVE HIT THE VERY BOTTOM? SEEMS LIFE HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE SWALLOWED BITTER POISON…
Lamentations 3:18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Please forgive my ignorance but we can find deeper truth by studying several different translations or versions of the Bible.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN I GET TO THE END OF MY ROPE? THE END! WHEN WE SEEM TO HIT BOTTOM THAT ALL CAN SEE I’M AT THE END. THE END! WE MUST REMEMBER … NEVER FORGET… WE MIGHT BE AT THE END OF OUR ROPE… BUT WHEN PROBLEMS ARE OVER OUR HEADS, THIS SITUATION, THIS CIRCUMSTANCE IS UNDER GOD’S FEET.
Lamentations 3:18 (MSG) I said to myself, "This is it. I'm finished. GOD is a lost cause." 19 I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. 20 I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom. 21 But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: 22 GOD's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. 23 They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! 24 I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. 25 GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. 26 It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from GOD.
YET I WILL DARE TO HOPE! THERE IS THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD’S LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE THAT FLOWS FROM THE ALTAR… ANKLE DEEP? KNEE DEEP? WAIST DEEP? SWIMMING DEEP? YOUR CHOICE! I MAKE THE CHOICE TO HAVE HOPE IN GOD THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE SON AND THE SWEET HOLY SPIRIT.
Lamentations 3:18 (NLT2) I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost!” 19 The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. 20 I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. 21 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. 26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.
EACH DAY BRINGS NEW HOPE.
GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF HIS CHILDREN… OUR GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER…DO WE UNDERSTAND OUR ROLE IN DELIVERANCE IS TO ACCEPT?…
Deliver is used 383 times in the Bible.
**Deliver: to be good at your word, to give birth, set free, rescue, to provide the promise, something expected, to save, to deliver is much deeper than just physical --- GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER FROM HEALTH ISSUES AND TO DELIVER SPIRITUALLY.
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
WHEN WE WALK AWAY FROM THE FATHER’S PLANS AND PURPOSE WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE MAKE POOR CHOICES.
OF COURSE SIN SEEMS TO BE PLEASURABLE TO THE EYES AND EMOTIONS... We tend to think there is PLEASURE IN SIN… THE PLEASURE OF SIN IS BUT FOR A SEASON… SIN’S PLEASURE IS FLEETING AND SOON FADES into heartache. Sin will always bring MISERY, PAIN, SUFFERING --- JUDGMENT. Sin’s landing are empty and temporary..
Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
SIN WILL ALWAYS TAKE YOU FARTHER THAN YOU PLANNED ON GOING. SIN COSTS MORE THAN YOU PLANNED ON PAYING! SIN WILL TAKE YOU FURTHER THAN YOU PLANNED ON GOING.
Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
WE MUST OPEN OUR EYES ABOUT POOR CHOICES… BUT WE CAN CHANGE OUR WORDS, OUR THOUGHT PATTERNS, OUR ATTITUDES AND OUR ACTIONS… EACH DAY IS A NEW DAY… A NEW DAY CAN BRING NEW HOPE.
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
CORRECTION, SELF-DISCIPLINE, REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION --- WILL BRING RECONCILIATION --- JOY, PEACE, HOPE… COME HOME AND FIND HOPE! A NEW DAY… FRESH START… GOD’S NEW DAY BRINGS MERCY, NEW EACH DAY… GOD’S WELL OF GRACE, MERCY AND HOPE NEVER RUNS DRY. MAKING THE CHOICE TO REPENT IS NEVER ENOUGH WE MUST BE GENUINE AND CHANGE… COME TO YOURSELF…
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
• The Father was patiently waiting.
• The Father saw his son a distance away.
• He recognized the way the son walked…
• IT’S HIM SAID THE FATHER. MY SON IS COMING HOME!
• THE FATHER RAN TO MEET HIS SON.
• The Father welcomed him home.
• The Father fell on his son’s neck.
• The Father gave his son a KISS.
• The Father listened to his son as he admitted his sin.
• The Father FORGAVE HIM.
• The Father gave the son THE BEST ROBE in the house.
• The Father gave his son A RING.
• The Father put SHOES on his son’s feet.
• The Father has the fatted calf killed, prepared and cooked, they had a feast together.
• The Father informed all to BE MERRY!
CONCLUSION: Come home. The Father forgives, LET HIM. The Father is waiting in the FRONT YARD. You don’t have to run and hide. WE HAVE BRAND NEW HOPE EACH DAY. Sure, you have WASTED so much time, talent and energy. Sure you have BEEN WITH THE PIGS.
I CARRIED THE KEY TO MOM AND DAD’S HOUSE. My parents always said: NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS OR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE YOU CAN COME HOME. Mom and Dad always informed me, IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY NEED AT ALL IF YOU NEED SOMETHING TELL US… If we don’t have it, we can get it.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
KNOW THIS MY FRIEND: MY GOD CAN TURN CATERPILLARS THAT CRAWL IN THE DIRT INTO BUTTERFLIES RIDING THE WIND. MY GOD CAN TURN CARBON, COAL INTO DIAMONDS. MY GOD CAN MAKE DEBRIS, DIRT AND SAND INTO PEARLS. MY GOD CAN HANDLE OUR BROKEN, CRUSHED HEARTS AND TURN THEM INTO A NEW DAY OF PEACE AND HOPE. FRESH EVERY MORNING.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
GOD DOES NOT MAKE JUNK… God can make us new vessels. REST IF YOU MUST, DON’T QUIT.
Jeremiah 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
