I just returned from Haiti. While there, God tought me alot about hope.
Rom 5:3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
Rom 5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Rom 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
The people of Haiti have amazing character. These are people who endure things on a daily basis that would put us into therapy. Yet when you speak with them and live with them they have no complaints. They look for the smallest good and focus on that. They look for God in everything around them and they find Him in the worst places. The head pastur of the church I was attending came to me one day and asked if I would teach a sermon while I was there. I told him I had never done anything like that before. He said "perfect! Your the right one for the job." These are the notes I took while God showed me what to preach on. I hope they have as much help for people on this site as they did for me and the people of that church in Haiti.
Hope
What does hope look like?
Examples-
1- A father promises to buy his child a toy
The child now has hope in receiving a toy. First he thanks his Dad. Second he rejoices. Third he tells his friends that his Dad is going to get the toy for him. Now he begins to imagine playing with it.
2- A man promises you a job
First you thank him for the opportunity. Second you become happy and rejoice that you will be working again. Third you tell your family that your about to start a new job. Then you begin to plan out what you will do with the money you are about to make.
3- A doctor says he can cure your sickness.
First you thank him. Second you rejoice. Third you tell everyone that you will be well soon. Then you begin to think about what you will be able to do once you are well again.
Hope looks like 1- Thanksgiving 2- rejoicing 3- confession 4- planning
Question- Why is it so easy to display our hope in the promises of men yet we dont do the same in the promises of God?
1- Dad gets laid off and cant buy the toy
2- Forman hires someone else
3- Doctor misdiagnoses your illness
God is good all the time. He does what He says He will do. He is the same then, now, and forever. He is omniscient and never makes mistakes. There is only one thing God will not do. He wont lie.
When we find a promise God has made to us in His Word what do we do? We ask Him for it like the child asked his Dad for the toy. We do what the Word says we must to receive the promise. Then we hope with all our might.
1- We thank Him for it
2- We rejoice knowing He will do what He said He would
3- We confess our hope (to God in prayer and to others in conversation)
4- We plan what we will do with or imagine what it will be like when we receive the promise
· Philippians 4:6 in everything let your requests be made known to God with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving
· Romans 5:2 Rejoice in hope of the Glory of God
· Hebrews 10:23 Hold fast to your confession of hope for He who promised is faithful
· Isaiah 14:24 The Lord of Hosts has sworn as I have planned so shall it be
I encourage you to read your Bibles and seek out Gods promises. Listen to the promises that others have attained through their faith and use the same hope that you misplace in mans promises for what God has promised.
Rom 5:3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
Rom 5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Rom 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
The people of Haiti have amazing character. These are people who endure things on a daily basis that would put us into therapy. Yet when you speak with them and live with them they have no complaints. They look for the smallest good and focus on that. They look for God in everything around them and they find Him in the worst places. The head pastur of the church I was attending came to me one day and asked if I would teach a sermon while I was there. I told him I had never done anything like that before. He said "perfect! Your the right one for the job." These are the notes I took while God showed me what to preach on. I hope they have as much help for people on this site as they did for me and the people of that church in Haiti.
Hope
- Romans 8:24- Hope that is seen is not hope. Who hopes for what they see.
What does hope look like?
Examples-
1- A father promises to buy his child a toy
The child now has hope in receiving a toy. First he thanks his Dad. Second he rejoices. Third he tells his friends that his Dad is going to get the toy for him. Now he begins to imagine playing with it.
2- A man promises you a job
First you thank him for the opportunity. Second you become happy and rejoice that you will be working again. Third you tell your family that your about to start a new job. Then you begin to plan out what you will do with the money you are about to make.
3- A doctor says he can cure your sickness.
First you thank him. Second you rejoice. Third you tell everyone that you will be well soon. Then you begin to think about what you will be able to do once you are well again.
Hope looks like 1- Thanksgiving 2- rejoicing 3- confession 4- planning
Question- Why is it so easy to display our hope in the promises of men yet we dont do the same in the promises of God?
- Numbers 23:19 God is not a man that He should lie not son of man that He should change His mind. If He said it He will do it, if He spoke it He will fulfill it.
- Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare but whomever trusts in the Lord is safe.
1- Dad gets laid off and cant buy the toy
2- Forman hires someone else
3- Doctor misdiagnoses your illness
God is good all the time. He does what He says He will do. He is the same then, now, and forever. He is omniscient and never makes mistakes. There is only one thing God will not do. He wont lie.
When we find a promise God has made to us in His Word what do we do? We ask Him for it like the child asked his Dad for the toy. We do what the Word says we must to receive the promise. Then we hope with all our might.
1- We thank Him for it
2- We rejoice knowing He will do what He said He would
3- We confess our hope (to God in prayer and to others in conversation)
4- We plan what we will do with or imagine what it will be like when we receive the promise
· Philippians 4:6 in everything let your requests be made known to God with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving
· Romans 5:2 Rejoice in hope of the Glory of God
· Hebrews 10:23 Hold fast to your confession of hope for He who promised is faithful
· Isaiah 14:24 The Lord of Hosts has sworn as I have planned so shall it be
I encourage you to read your Bibles and seek out Gods promises. Listen to the promises that others have attained through their faith and use the same hope that you misplace in mans promises for what God has promised.
- Romans 5:5 Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us
