Hope

1. Definition of Hope
   1. “Hope” is commonly used to mean a wish : its strength is the strength of the person’s desire. But in the Bible hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness.
2. Why Do we Need Hope?
   1. You don’t know what the future holds: Proverbs 27:1-Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
   2. You’re not even guaranteed a tomorrow: James 4:14-Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
   3. Without hope, we’d live for ourselves and what we can get here and now. We’d be like the rich farmer in Luke 12:16-20 “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

3. How did Jesus give Hope to His Disciples including us?
   1. He gave the hope of Eternal Life/Salvation: John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
   2. He will be with us always. Jesus was giving us the great commission and said this in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
   3. He gave the hope that God will provide and meet your needs: Matthew 6:31-32 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

4. How to Share Hope with Others?
   1. Let them know God loves them and wants to have a relationship with them. Share with them Jeremiah 31:3 – The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
   2. Let them know God has a plan for them: Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
   3. Share with them what God has done for you. Your testimony. Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
5. How to have Hope in God?
   1. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all you need will be provided. Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

1. Meditate on the Promises of God. They are yes and amen: 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2. Praise God and remember what He’s done for you in the past. Psalm 103:2 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: