HOPE BEYOND BROKENNESS!
Thesis: Hope beyond brokenness only comes to us when we receive by faith our "Higher Power" who for me personally is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction:
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.
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.
- We hear the cry of the depletion of the Ozone layer.
- We hear the effects of what could happen in a
nuclear war.
- We hear that suicide is at an all time high.
- We hear about A.I.D.S. and its deadly effect on lives.
- We hear that our country is on the brink of
collapse.
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 at this term "Hope".
I. Who is our Higher Power? Do we place our hope in our Higher Power?
A. The 12 step program of recovery speaks to us about the role of our higher power the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. In step one, we admitted that our lives are out of control and we ourselves recognize our powerlessness to change it.
2. Romans 7:17, which speaks directly to this life predicament, "I know nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."
B. Step one speaks to us about our brokenness and inability to fix ourselves. Step two which centers us in on our "Higher Power" the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. He is the one with the power to restore my life and repair my broken condition.
2. I have to come to the conclusion here, that I cannot repair myself. Christ is the one who is able to put me back together.
C. This scenario reminds me of the Old Nursery Rhyme, "Humpty Dumpty". (See Overhead) Read it.
1. Let’s make the rhyme more personal!
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
(Using drugs and alcohol.)
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
(because of the drugs and alcohol.)
All the Kings horses, and
all the kings men
Cannot put Humpty Dumpty
together again.
(All the world’s ways and my ways cannot put me together again.)
2. But when the natural ways, and my ways fail, I’m promised through the Words of Christ that He can put me back together again if I place my faith in Him.
Phil. 2:12 "God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey Him."
D. This progresses us to step 3 which involves the decision to let God be in charge of our lives.
1. Romans 12:1,2 speaks to us here
"Dear Friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him." (CEV)
2. But we must make this decision to turn our will to God!
3. Through our brokenness, pain, disappointments and our suffering, there is a promise to all those who suffer.
4. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
5. The invitation is still for us today. But the decision is up to each one of you to accept it!
6. But if you accept His invitation you will receive Hope! Strength! and Peace!
II. Hope is not something we have naturally. It’s something supernatural!
- Material from "A Future and a Hope", Ogilivie
A. Hope cannot be humanly induced on demand. I cannot give myself hope.
1. To better understand what "Authentic Hope is we need to see what it is not!"
a.) Hope is not wishful thinking,
- 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.
1.) 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)
2.) The sad fact here is we usually end up with disappointments because our expectations are not met.
c.) Hope is not simply cheery optimism.
1.) "Hope certainly can produce and optimistic attitude, but an optimistic attitude is not a substitute for true hope." (48)
2.) Optimism that is not based on God’s promises, power, and faithfulness fades under the pressure of disappointments.
2. Hope 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.
3. Romans 5:15
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.
Altar Call:
Do you desire Hope beyond brokenness, a hope that will never leave you or forsake you, a hope, that will put you back together, a true unfailing hope? Then today yield your life to Jesus Christ and you will see the pieces of your broken life slowly put back together.
Thought on miracles - Most miracles happen in increments over time, but the 1st key step to beginning to see your miracle is to accept Christ into your life!
