The Hope That Comes From Encouragement Series

Series: 3:16- Numbers That Bring Hope [#39]

THE HOPE THAT COMES FROM ENCOURAGEMENT

Hebrews 3:16

Introduction:

I cannot speak for everyone; but many of us have had a tough week. As I have been preparing for this sermon, the direction of this sermon has changed many times. I originally did not plan on using verse 1; but it has been great advice for me this week. This morning, I want to encourage each of you.

Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)

“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Christians, be encouraged…

1. You have a heavenly calling.

Regardless of what happens, fix your thoughts on Jesus. You have been called by Almighty God to honor Him in all that you do. The world can take much away from you; but no one can take Jesus away from you. When you are discouraged, think about Jesus.

Hebrews 3:2-6 (NIV)

“He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.”

Christians, be encouraged…

2. You are God’s house.

Christians, not only do we belong to God; but we are His Church, His house. Through knowing that you belong to God, you should have courage and hope. The Church is built upon the Rock of Jesus. The enemy cannot destroy God’s house. The Holy Spirit of God resides in each of God’s children.

Hebrews 3:7-19 (NIV)

“So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, `Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, `They shall never enter my rest.'" See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”

Christians, be encouraged…

3. By one another.

We are supposed to encourage one another everyday to continue serving the Lord and living in a way that pleases God. We are to encourage one another to not harden our hearts. We are to encourage one another to have the same confidence in Christ as we did when we were first saved.

Conclusion:

As a child of God, you have a hope that makes no sense to many people. We are to hold firm until the end for the glory of God.