Stand with me and hold your Bible and repeat after me.
This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I can do what it says I can do.
I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.
Today I will learn more of the word of God.
The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.
I will never be the same.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus Name
Amen?
Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.
HOPE: Hanging On Patiently Everyday with Encouragement
Turn with me in your Bible to Romans chapter 15 and say, "Amen" when you are there.
Let's read verse 13.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
The Power of Hope
Today, let’s talk about hope. Not the kind of hope that depends on chance or circumstance, but a biblical hope—a hope that stands firm, rooted in the unchanging promises of God.
Hope is not wishful thinking; it’s a powerful force. It’s a decision to believe in God’s faithfulness even when the road gets rough.
Hope is the anchor of our soul, the reason we can keep going when the world tells us to quit.
But how do we live out this hope?
What does it look like when our lives are marked by hope?
It looks like Hanging On Patiently Everyday—with encouragement from God and one another.
1. HOPE Means Hanging On: Trusting God When the Storm Rages
Sometimes life feels like a storm, and it’s easy to feel like letting go. But hope in God is what keeps us grounded.
Isaiah 40:31 reminds us: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”
Hanging on is an act of faith. It’s holding tight to the promises of God when your situation says otherwise.
Maybe your finances are stretched thin.
Maybe your family is facing trials.
Maybe your health feels uncertain.
Whatever the storm, God’s promises are your lifeline.
Hanging on is what the woman with the issue of blood did in Mark 5:25–34.
After years of suffering and disappointment, she reached out and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. Her hope wasn’t in her strength or the crowd’s opinion; it was in the power of the Savior.
Are you willing to reach out today, believing that God is enough?
2. HOPE Requires Patience: Trusting God’s Timing
Patience is one of the hardest parts of hope.
We want answers now, but God often asks us to wait.
Romans 8:24-25 says: “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Patience isn’t passive. It’s active trust in God’s perfect timing.
Abraham and Sarah had to wait 25 years for God’s promise of a son to be fulfilled.
Joseph waited over a decade for his dreams to come true, enduring betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment along the way.
What are you waiting for today? Healing? Restoration? A breakthrough?
God sees you in the waiting, and His timing is always perfect.
Don’t let impatience rob you of the joy of what He’s preparing for you.
3. HOPE Is Renewed Everyday: Encouragement Through God and His People
Hope isn’t a one-time event; it’s a daily commitment. Each morning, we must choose to let God fill our hearts with His promises.
Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us: “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
But here’s the beauty of God’s design: He never intended us to walk this journey alone.
Hebrews 10:24-25 challenges us: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another.”
Sometimes hope looks like a friend who prays with you, a word of encouragement from a brother or sister, or even just knowing that someone is standing in faith with you. Let’s be a church that lifts each other up, reminding one another of the God who never fails.
4. HOPE Is Found in Jesus: A Living Hope
Above all, our hope is in Christ. 1 Peter 1:3 says: “In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Jesus is our ultimate source of hope. He defeated death so that we could have eternal life. He carried our sin so
that we could walk in freedom.
And He promises to be with us in every trial, every victory, and every moment in between.
Whatever you’re facing today, let this truth settle in your heart: Hope is alive because Jesus is alive.
The Altar Call: Responding to Hope
Today, God is calling you to embrace hope like never before.
If you’ve been struggling to hold on, bring your burdens to the altar. Let God renew your strength.
If you’re weary from waiting, let Him remind you that His timing is perfect.
If you’ve been walking this journey alone, step forward and let the body of Christ surround you with love and encouragement.
And if you’ve never experienced this living hope through a personal relationship with Jesus, today is the day to say, “Yes, Lord. I surrender my life to You.”
As the worship team begins to play, the altar is open.
Don’t let fear, pride, or hesitation hold you back.
This is your moment to receive the hope that only God can give.
Come and let the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.
Leave this place overflowing with hope, empowered by His Spirit.
Let’s pray.
