Each day it seems the world gets worse. Crime, wars, and calamity start each newscast. The world needs hope and the Church has hope, in Jesus. Today we want to talk about finding hope.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Table of contents
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Watch the video of this message at https://www.celllifechurch.tv/we-have-hope/ or on our YouTube channel.
Introduction
Today we want to encourage you by talking about finding hope. The world needs hope and we have all the hope the world needs, and it is found in Jesus.
We have noticed many people are lacking hope right now. We are being asked by Christians and non-Christians alike what the Bible says about the events taking place in the world. People are scared, feel helpless, and feel hopeless.
Most of the people who do not seem to feel hopeless are Christians. Most of the people that are not fearful are Christians. This is an opportunity for us to let our light shine and encourage people around us. Let’s share why we are not fearful and the hope we have in Christ with the hopeless. Let’s encourage people to look to Jesus and follow Him.
Today we are sharing some verses with you about hope. These are verses you can put in your toolkit when you are listening and encouraging others. These are verses you can stand on as promises from God when you are praying for others and can reassure yourself with as you face all the troubles of living life in this world.
Finding Hope in God’s Plan
The first verse we want to read and commit to our heart is Jeremiah 29:11.
Jeremiah 29:11
(11) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
This is a popular verse and most have heard it. If you read it in its full context you will see this is the Lord speaking to the prophet Jeremiah toward the end of the Babylonian captivity. He is about to release his people after 70 years of occupation. God is encouraging his people.
We believe this message is every bit as much for us today as it was for God’s people who were being released from captivity thousands of years ago. God only has good plans for you. You may not know why you are going through what you are facing, but God does. From the beginning, God has only had good plans for you. As we face the terrible things of this world we can be sure that God’s plans and purposes for us have not changed at all.
God wants us to prosper and have hope and a future. This is in His nature. He loves us. If you ever doubt God’s love, just remember he sacrificed his own son, Jesus, just so we could be reconciled back to Him.
Sometimes we lose hope when we are facing something so much bigger than us. We are doing everything we are supposed to, yet trouble and uncertainties continue to surround us. It is easy to feel discouraged when we are doing all we can do and we see no results.
Trust God. God sees what you are doing and he knows your intentions. Do not give up hope for the future that God has planned for you. You can find hope in God’s plan for you and your life.
Finding Hope by Standing Firm
Looking at our next verse we encourage you to continue to do what God has prompted you to do. Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:58.
1 Corinthians 15:58
(58) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
It is very easy to get discouraged and lose hope when we see our efforts not produce any fruit. We wonder if we are making a difference or having any positive impact on others or the world.
As we continue to move forward in what God has asked us to do, don’t falter. Don’t allow anything to stop you. Even when you do not see results, keep doing what He has asked you to do, fully. Nothing we do sincerely for the Lord is done in vain.
Whatever you are doing, do it for the Lord, not for man. Have the hope that the God who commissioned you is faithful to carry out His will in your life. Nothing can change that except you. Others will find hope in seeing you continue on in the plans God has for you.
Finding Hope as God is Our Shield
The next verse we want to give you is found in Psalms 3:3-4
Psalms 3:3-4
(3) But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (4) I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
We must know and believe that God is our shield. He is the one who protects us. He gives us wisdom and forethought so we can make smart decisions and He protects us from what the devil would intend to harm us with.
God answers prayer. Plain and simple, when we sincerely seek the Lord in prayer, He hears our prayers and He answers. Yes, He answers. If you are not hearing his answer, spend more time in prayer. Spend more time on your knees. Humble yourself and sincerely approach God in Jesus’ name.
He hears our prayers and He sees our tears. We read that the Lord knows every hair on our heads. We read in Matthew how he notices when even one sparrow falls from the sky. How much more does he care about us? He sees you and hears you. Jesus laments with you. Cling to the hope God has promised us and pray. We find hope in God’s protection.
Our Hope is From God
Something else to consider about our hope is that it is not sourced in this world, therefore it cannot fade or perish. Listen to what Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:3-4
1 Peter 1:3-4
(3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
As Christians, God has given us new life into a new living hope. This is for every single Christian. Everyone who believes Jesus died for them, was buried, rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven and follows him has access to this hope.
In God’s great mercy, we have this new life and living hope that can never perish, spoil, or fade. We have hope, friends. We find hope in Jesus.
Hope in Christ Even in Death
Some will pass away from this life. Even in that, we find hope for the Christian as Psalm 16:9-10 says.
Psalms 16:9-10
(9) Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, (10) because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
No matter what takes our body, God will not abandon our soul. We have this ultimate hope that when we do pass from this life, we will be with God for eternity.
Conclusion
If you are without hope today, we pray that you find hope in Jesus Christ who took the punishment of our sins upon himself so that we can have eternal life through the forgiveness of those sins with God.
Hope is what we all need right now. Hope is medicine for the soul. It is this hope that must resonate in our hearts and then overflow onto others in the world as they face uncertainty and difficulty. The world needs hope, and we can share this hope with them.
We have hope. Let’s share it with the world.
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