Hope & Joy Part I: Hope

 1.     Hopelessness affects us all in different ways. What are some things that cause you to lose hope?

a.      Hopelessness in a personal level, things within yourself. Believing that we are worthless

                                      i.            Believing that no one cares about us

                                    ii.            Believing that there is nothing we can do to better our situation

b.     Hopelessness based on our surroundings and influences.

                                      i.            Difficult family life

                                    ii.            Not having friends (or good friends)

                                  iii.            Conflict with others like being bullied at school.

c.      Hopelessness based on your world view

                                      i.            Our world is broken and terrible things are happening all the time.

                                    ii.            It seems like the world just keeps getting worse and worse

2.     It is easy to be overwhelmed by all the bad things and to let them steal our hope away.

3.     Maybe you feel hopeless today. Maybe you are in a dark place and are overwhelmed by the situations you are facing and wondering if it will ever get better. You can have hope now, today. You don't have to wait to find hope. All you have to do is seek Jesus and find hope in his promises to us in the bible.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:

1.     We have already been given hope!

a.      1 Peter 1:3  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

                                      i.            He has already given us hope when he died in our place so that we could go to heaven and have hope that we will one day be with him.

b.     2 Peter 1:3-4 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

                                      i.            We can be a part of God's plan for us.

                                    ii.            Escape all the horrible things that steal our hope away.

c.      Jeremiah 29:11  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

                                      i.            God's desire is to see you filled with hope and have a life filled with joy and a bright future.

d.     Isaiah 40:29-31  29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

                                      i.            God give us strength and power to overcome the things that steal away our hope.

                                    ii.            We do not have the strength on our own to do this.

2.     How do we accept the gift of hope?

a.      John 3: 16 We have to accept God into our hearts.

b.     Psalm 33 16-22 We have to put our faith in God and not other people or things because they will always fail us.

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;

    no warrior escapes by his great strength.

17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

    despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death

    and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the Lord;

    he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,

    for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

    even as we put our hope in you.

c.      Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

                                      i.      2 Peter 1:3-4 Told us that we achieve a godly life through knowledge of God. We have to read the bible to gain that knowledge.

                                    ii.      Romans 12:12 tells us to be patient during the hard times and pray always. Take your hopeless to him so he can fill that emptiness with his love and joy.

Apply

1.     Have you accepted Jesus? Would you like to?

2.     Do you believe that God has already given us hope?

a.      You need to realize it is a free gift and we don’t have to try and earn it.

3.     In what ways can you accept that gift of hope?

a.      Believe that God will never fail us even when people do.

b.     Be patient and know that God is in control.

c.      Read the bible and pray and give our hopelessness to God

d.     Not rely on our own strength because we will also fail. Instead, rely on God to give us strength.

e.     KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED! GOD IS ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU AND SO ARE WE!