Theology of Hope
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Introduction
This morning I want us to take a look at true (or Biblical) hope. In doing so, I want us to ask 3 basic questions:
· What is True (Biblical) hope
· What does true hope look like in everyday life? In other words, how will I know it when I see it?
· How do I nurture hope (especially when life seems bleak)
I. True Hope versus false hope
A] True Hope is not blind optimism: True hope is not wishful thinking. It is not simply having a positive outlook on life, nor is it dictated by favorable circumstances. In fact, the hope that God gives is not first and foremost a matter of our inward disposition. That is, true hope is not based upon our feeling hopeful.
2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight (Prov 3:5-6)
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him FN#1
Instead, True hope is first and foremost an external reality. In fact, true hope defines the very cosmos in which we live and is the deciding factor in all the events we encounter. How? God’s plan and purpose govern all creation.
Isaiah 14:24 The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand,
Ephesians 1:11 We have obtained an inheritance (hope), having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, (Ps 33:10-11; Ps 135:6; Dan 2:21; Dan 4:35)
Notice the result: true hope aligns us with the governing reality behind every situation we encounter. As such, hope enables us to rightly assess and navigate the circumstances we face.
Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. 11 Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; (Ps 130:5; Jer 31:16-17; Rom 8:24-25; Eph 1:18-19a; Heb 6:18-19)
Bottom line: What is true hope? True hope is the assurance that in the midst of all you face God’s love, presence, and purpose will not fail you at any step of the way (God has you and the situation you face in His hands) FN#2
Deuteronomy 31:8 “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed.” FN#3
II. What Does True Hope Look Like In Everyday Life (how do I know it when I see it in my life) FN#4
A] First and foremost true hope is encountered as a work of God in the believer’s heart. That is, God interweaves hope and the desire to turn to Him into the very core of our new nature. Thus our prayers and our looking to Scripture are not misguided optimism nor are they merely wishful thinking. Instead, they are God prompting the believer to turn to Him in the midst of what they face because He is an ever present help in trouble.
Psalm 22:2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest. 9 Yet you are He who brought me forth from the womb; you made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
Psalm 119:49 Remember the word to your servant, in which you have made me trust
B] True Hope is active- notice then if fear withdraws and unfaithfulness seeks escape then true hope is demonstrated by faithfulness and courage. In other words, because we trust that God will respond, because we have the assurance that His purpose will not fail, we have the courage to stay the faithful course amid all we face. FN#5
1 Peter 4:19 Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator by doing what is right. (Heb 10:23)
C] True Hope is certain. God always honors your faithfulness
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
IV. How do I Nurture Hope (especially when times are hard):
A] Stay in God’s Word, stay in prayer, stay on task, and stay in God’s house (in other words, guard your quiet times, prayer life, walk, and corporate worship).
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. FN#6
Footnotes
1] Eve is a perfect example of what it means to walk by sight and according to one’s own understanding/assessment rather than God’s word. Notice then how Eve places her sight and assessment over what God has said.
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Thus, Scripture tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight; and that in all our ways we are to defer our own limited understanding to what God has said.
2] Please note: true Hope is not confused- that is, true hope does not confuse the hope that God has given with what I hope God will do (in other words, true hope does not mean everything will work out the way I want it to in the time frame or manner I have deemed best)
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
3] The picture behind the Hebrew word חָתַת translated here as “dismayed” is that of a clay pot which has been shattered. As such, it depicts one who is completely overwhelmed by a situation. Thus emotionally they have gone to pieces. Their actions are given over to panic and their thoughts are completely scattered. It is the picture of an army that has completely broken ranks and is in a scattered and panicked flight/withdrawal. As such, their disarray has put them in imminent danger of being cut down. Notice then, Scripture says that the certain hope that God is with us means that such fear and dismay are never appropriate responses to a situation. When we recognize them in our own lives, we are to regroup, turn our eyes to Jesus and trust His presence/plan for our lives
4] It should be noted that true hope does not attempt to ignore, sugar coat, or falsify a situation. Remember, our job is to say the same thing about a situation as God does (to speak faithfully and truly about it). However, you can falsify a situation by being blindly optimistic just as much as by being atheistically pessimistic (acting as if God is not the deciding factor in what you face)
Ezekiel 13:10 “They have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace.
5] One more important characteristic of true hope that is often overlooked is that:
True hope is corporate– hope never means grin and bear it. It never means you are to face your trial alone without cry or complaint (in fact Scripture teaches right the opposite). Rather, hope is hope precisely because you are not alone. God is with you and God has placed you in the midst of His people (a people spiritually endowed and called to help)
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort which we ourselves have received from God.
6] Here are some additional ways to nurture hope:
1. Stay on the path. That is, stay faithful in your walk and active in your service (if you want to see God at work, be where God is working)
Luke 2:49 And Jesus said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
2. Speak correctly about the situation (to self and others). In other words, watch for the lies that Satan will try to weave into your thoughts and attitudes
Job 42:7 “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
Amos 2:4 Their lies have led them astray, Lies which their fathers followed.
3. Don’t forget the foundation of all hope: God is with you and for you in every situation you encounter. He will not fail you or forsake you
Psalm 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, because I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.