Your Hopes Mindset Matters

okay um when i come back up on the screen again well even if i don't come back on here i go here

i go uh i'm going to read the bible now and then we'll we'll spend a few minutes just um thinking

about one peter chapter one and i just can't help thinking that at this time it's just lovely to

hear about jesus total commitment to us and our salvation secure there's nothing else much secure

in this world at least it feels like nothing else much secure in the world this week but our

salvation is just as secure as it was last week last year last century and we can never hear enough

of that especially that time so this time so thanks alex now i'm going to read from one peter chapter

one uh the first nine verses and then we'll spend a few minutes just uh thinking through some of those

things so hopefully um you've got your bibles open uh maybe you can they said yesterday there might be

some complication with having um electronic devices and zoom open so you might have to go back and use

an old-fashioned uh word bible like like i do anyway here we go so verse one of chapter one of one peter

peter an apostle of jesus christ to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in pontus galatia

capadocca peter anna cappadocia asia and bithynia according to the foreknowledge of god the father

in the sanctification of the spirit for obedience to jesus christ and for sprinkling with his blood

may grace and peace be multiplied to you

blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ according to his great mercy he has caused us

to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead to an

inheritance that is imperishable undefiled unfading kept in heaven for you who by god's power are being

guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time in this you rejoice

though now for a little while if necessary you have been grieved by various trials so the tested

genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of jesus christ

though you have not seen him you love him though you do not see him now you believe him and rejoice

with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory obtaining the outcome of your faith the salvation of

your souls well rob's already said uh summed it all up hasn't he what a week what a week it's been

just imagine something as microscopically small as a virus totally disrupting interrupting our life

if not changing it forever that great thing that we've all talked about over the years that australian

way of life that socially we've moved from being party central as a nation to being a nation in nervous

isolation economic talk of economic growth has moved to talk of economic recession and even depression

pretty bleak our health system that a week ago most of us would have thought would have been able to

deal with any eventuality is now threatened with being overwhelmed the aussie spirit so-called aussie

spirit of looking after your mate well that's fast becoming a look after yourself type attitude isn't it

hoarding panic buying and then as rob's already mentioned our church family now for the first time ever

being forced to meet online trying to be together while being separate now it's already been mentioned

a few times that as always change creates fear we've heard a few of them this morning and it's fear of the

unfamiliar fear of loss of relationships and growing aloneness fear of losing your job fear of ability to

provide for your family fear of losing your retirement nest egg as you see the stock market collapse

fears even of contracting covered 19 fear of death i mean the fears the list of fears goes on and on and on

but you know what my biggest fear has been this week doing what i'm doing now speaking online i'm not so much

worried about covered 19 i thought actually come friday night that might have been a really good option

rather than preaching online but here i am so fears they're very real fears they'll be very specific

to each of us but regardless of what they are each of them impacts on our faith in the present

and impact on our hope for the future and you see that one up in the the quotation up in the screen

uh so one i saw this week if we view ourselves as besieged victims who need to go into hiding

then we will cultivate fear and hoarding if we view ourselves as a community working hard to protect

the most vulnerable among us then that will have its own outcome so our hope mindset really impacts the

way we act and think everybody needs some sort of hope for the future we're shaped by our hopes mindset

which drives us to list the things we believe we need to be secure and that happens from when we wake

in the morning we express our hopes mindsets so let me ask you there's a hopes mindset up on the screen

happy new year that's a that's a form of hope let me ask you this morning what was the first thing you

hoped for when you woke up this morning now perhaps like me you just hoped that all this would go away

and we'd get back to life as normal as as life as we know it or perhaps it was that my me and my loved

ones would be healthy that my home and possessions and wealth might survive that i might still be able to

get that lifestyle that i've worked for all my life and which now seems to be perhaps slipping away

our hopes mindset will shape the way we speak and it will shape the what we invest our time and energy

and resources in put simply we throw ourselves into doing things that we believe will make our hope a

reality and coming up in the script at the moment there's a couple of more quotations about that

we're hearing these sort of hopes on the tv news every day at one extreme there's a form of despair

hopelessness driving panic pushing people to get what they want regardless of others

at the other extreme then there's the bland optimism of positive thinking

we've heard it so many times you know we will get through this crisis we will come out the other

side stronger and better than ever and there are numerous options in between those two extremes

but whatever option you go for we need hope wherever you sit on that spectrum we need hope

and here's the really important thing the object of our hope is the thing that's really critical

if the person or thing we invest our hopes into fails to deliver then we're going to crash and burn

big time we'll be consumed with fear we'll be consumed with disappointment we'll be consumed with

frustration because our hopes are tantalizing they're there but we can't quite get a hold of them

we can't make them secure so let's turn to peter's letter and say

that real hope is inseparably tied to relationship with jesus so i'm going to read the first few

verses when they come up on the screen here here we go peter an apostle of jesus christ to those who

are elect exiles of the dispersion in pontus calesia cappadocia asia and bithynia according to the

foreknowledge of god the father in the sanctification of the spirit for obedience to jesus christ and

for sprinkling with his blood may grace and peace be multiplied to you now that's the context in

which peter's going to tell us about our living hope and it's a really important context to remember

he's writing to christians that are scattered all over the roman empire they're living like refugees or

exiles in days of severe persecution incredible insecurity for them these are christians who have

been marginalized isolated or even cut off from their families and cut off from local village life

simply because they've become christians we can feel their fear fear for themselves fear for their

families we can feel their sense of isolation their sense of dislocation their pain their suffering

they become refugees in their own land things look familiar and yet they're so unfamiliar

not unlike i think i've been feeling this week

everything that's comfortable and familiar is there but it's not there

we sense their longing longing like refugees to know that somebody cares that they're valued as people

they want to have a home they want to have security they want to know that a better life is ahead

given the awfulness of their current predicament

it's that context that peter reminds the christians that we have a living hope

not just wishful thinking

not just positive thinking

it's a hope which is ours by right of birth it is our inheritance

it cannot be stripped away from us

as as alex said in his children's talks as christians we're united with christ

not only in his death but in his resurrection because he is raised to a new secure life

with the father in heaven we can be absolutely certain that we also

will be raised to this secure life in heaven we haven't actually got there to experience it in

in its fullness yet but we are tied into it now by virtue of being tied into christ

because christ is living we have living hope it's that simple

in and through relationship with him now peter goes on then to spell out the twin truths

that underpin that that real living hope that security for the future

the first is in verse 4

so we'll get that up on the screen in a sec

our inheritance is kept in heaven for us

blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ

according to his great mercy he has caused us to be born again

to a living hope through the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead

to an inheritance that is imperishable undefiled unfading and

kept in heaven for you

now i've used this illustration before but children

when children leave home parents often present them things that they've collected over the years

things that the parents have kept because they know jolly well if they give them to the kids

uh they would have been lost they would have mutilated

so the parents keep them

the kids can't get their hands on them and so they're there to be presented at the right moment

well in the same way our heavenly father

has our security

our salvation our future stored up in heaven for us

we can't get our hands on it

therefore we can't mess it up

and that's surely what we'd do if it was down to us

but it's kept for us ready to go

and able to do everything that christ promised

it's tamper proof

the second truth then is

we are kept by the father so you see the twin truth

our salvation is kept for us

and then the other side of the coin is we are kept by the father

so that we will might eventually enjoy our inheritance

verse 5

continuing on the sentence

who by god's power are being guarded through

for a salvation ready to be revealed

thank you

in the last time

why can i be confident

why can you be confident as a christian

you will persevere and you will ultimately make it home to heaven

answer

because god preserves you

god will preserve you

he's promised to preserve you

for the inheritance that he's already set aside for you

he's already storing for you

and he's going to bring the two of them together

in at some point in time in the future

we can't see the full security we have now

and so we sometimes doubt it

we can't see the the beauty of what we have in its fullness

and so we sometimes doubt it

but one day

jesus will come back

he will take us to be with him in heaven

where we will experience in full

what he has stored up for us

and which we can only now appreciate through faith

now friends

that means our hopes mindset

as christians

is not in how we can mold our lives

by our own resources

it is not wishful thinking

it is not bland optimism of positive thinking

our confidence now and into the future

is based on christ's death

and resurrection in the past

there's not a chance

we will miss out

on what god intends us to have

because both sides

are in god's hands

however

there's another wonderful truth

that's that's brilliant

so far

but there's another wonderful truth

in these verses

and that is

living hope

massively transformed

our perspective on suffering

now

peter doesn't just present this truth

the twin truths

of hope

in a vacuum

he means us to connect them into real life

and here's the connection into real life

that these twin truths

massively transformed

our perspective on suffering

let me just read these verses again to you

they're up in your screen now

in this you rejoice

that is in this truth

twin truths of salvation

though now for a little while

if necessary

you have been grieved by various trials

so the tested genuineness of your faith

more precious than gold

that perishes though is tested by fire

may be found to result in praise

and glory and honor

at the revelation of jesus christ

though you have not seen him

you love him

though you do not see him now

you believe in him

and rejoice with joy

that is inexpressible

and filled with glory

obtaining the outcome of your faith

the salvation of your souls

notice that in verse 6

it is in living

in this living hope

you rejoice

the same thing again

in verse 8

you rejoice

get this

you rejoice with inexpressible joy

filled with glory

now what does that mean

well

it's

I think it's probably too big

for me to actually

completely expand

and exhaust

but let me

let me just try this on you

because I think this is

this is really helpful

what it means is this

when I live confidently

in the light of those

twin truths

that my salvation

is kept for me

and I'm kept for my salvation

when I live confidently

in light of this

then I reflect

Christ's glory

how do I do that?

both as I display

how Christ himself

has changed me

from the inside out

it's not normal

to hope

in somebody outside yourself

but also

as I happily walk

the path of suffering

which Jesus also walked

those two things

are a form of inexpressible joy

I know

in whatever situation

the Lord makes me walk into

and leads me into

the truth

of my salvation

remains unshaken

and as I walk

into the path of suffering

to my ultimate glory

in heaven

then I'm simply following

the path that Jesus

has walked before me

and as his disciple

has asked me to follow

there's the source

of inexpressible joy

things might be falling apart

all around us

there might be

incredible

physical taxation

but that pathway

cannot be broken

we will not slip off

the pathway

we will not be barged

off the pathway

we will be led home

to that inexpressible

joy and beauty

of being with Jesus forever

so suffering therefore

moves from something

that we need to fear

as the text tells us

to something

which is an opportunity

for us

imagine that

that's a big call

to say that suffering

is an opportunity

for God's people

what's it the opportunity

for?

it's an opportunity

to trust Jesus more

to grow more like him

to be more joyful

to be more thankful

to the Lord

for his goodness

to us and Jesus

now this is a really

really important one

to think through

especially where we are

at the minute

as a church

and where we are

as a society

where we are globally

see most people

including many

many Christians

think that suffering

in and of itself

is bad

and that it should

be avoided

they would say

things like

suffering

and happiness

or joy

are incompatible

and that God

wants us to be happy

therefore we should

minimize

or do everything

we can to avoid

any sort of suffering

others have a more

stoic

a stiff upper lip

mentality towards

suffering

they think suffering

is just an opportunity

for the likes of me

to prove my mettle

to prove my character

to show people

what I'm made of

and so

the idea there

is that you just

tough it out

you have a stiff upper lip

and you just put your head

down and shoulder it

and you just say

well okay

people will see

what I'm made of

I'll come out

on the side of this

you know

that thing I said

about Australians

we will get through this

we will come out

the other side

we'll be better for it

well that's a form

of approach

to suffering

but it's not a gospel

shaped approach

to suffering

the hope there

is in strength

of my own character

to deal with

whatever life

throws at me

it might be

a real hope

but it's not

a gospel hope

Peter speaks

of the reality

of suffering

in a very positive way

which trusts

increasingly

in who we are

and what we can do

in Jesus

and not

who we are

and what we can do

in ourselves

rejoice

with joy

inexpressible

filled with glory

means moving

into

and through

our suffering

knowing that

Jesus is ahead of us

shaping us through

and leading us home

so my friends

this inheritance

this new and living hope

is not just a theory

to live by

I would say to you

it's a truth

to die by

if that becomes necessary

over the last few years

I myself have been

trying to

learn to crave

this

inexpressible joy

suffering

by trying

to find

a gospel place

in suffering

that is

by a gospel place

I mean

recognizing

in whatever

suffering

I'm experiencing

at that moment

that I can say

to myself

this is where

Jesus wants me

to be

this is the best

place for me

to develop

my trust

in Jesus

to be exposed

to my own

sinful life trust

and therefore

this is the place

where I can be

even in the midst

of suffering

free

to learn

the lessons

he wants me

to learn

and free

still to have

a mind

to others

before myself

so here's

the big question

that I wrap up

this morning

the big question

is

do we

do you

have a living

hope

in the face

of COVID-19

because

if your

living hope

doesn't

help you

address

COVID-19

with confidence

I'm not talking

about being

foolhardy

I'm talking

about being

confident

then you

don't have

the living

hope

that is

rightfully

yours

to be

understood

and lived

out

as a

Christian

and the

answer

to your

question

as you

answer me

do you

have a

hope

a living

hope

for COVID-19

the answer

whether it's

yes or

no

will be

very clear

and obvious

as you

daily

express

your

hope's

mindset

so here's

how it

works

if all

we have

is this

world

and the

things of

this world

health

wealth

comfort

then

there's no

alternative

you will

become

increasingly

fearful

you'll

become

increasingly

self

interested

and

self

protective

you'll

become

increasingly

angry

frustrated

that the

good

things

of this

life

that you

worked

so hard

for

are now

being

stripped

away by

some

microscopic

virus

that's

random

but if

on the

other

hand

our

real

hope

our

real

security

our

real

home

is in

heaven

and if

our joy

is to

be like

Jesus

and follow

his pathway

of suffering

to heaven

then we

like him

will be

free to

be selfless

in times

of danger

and will

actually grow

in this

time of

uncertainty

and fear

will

actually

mature

in this

tough

time

whether it

be three

weeks

three months

or indeed

three years

and you

know what

throughout

history

that's what

Christians have

been known

for

they've had

such a

hope

a living

hope in

Christ

that they've

been the

ones who've

run into

danger

to care

for other

people

even to the

point of

sacrificing

their own

lives

and countless

thousands

have done

that

wouldn't it

be great

no matter

what happens

here in

Newcastle

if we

as believers

of this

church

became known

as people

who were

running into

danger

keen to

help others

not foolhardy

not ignoring

those basic

things of

hygiene that we

can do to

protect ourselves

but nevertheless

not being

driven by

fear

not being

driven by

self-protection

not being

driven by

self-interest

but moving

towards people

and showing

people

in practical

ways that we

have a hope

that's far

beyond health

and wealth

and prosperity

in this life

but there's

another line

and I'll

finish on

this then

we can also

perhaps begin

to think

this morning

that this

pandemic

is already

starting to

expose the

roots

we find

so easy

to put down

into this

world

when there's

nothing to

challenge us

when there's

nothing to

expose our

true securities

and that

happens

it happens

to us all

every day

those roots

go deeper

and deeper

and deeper

and sometimes

we're not even

aware of them

until they're

exposed and

challenged

you see

that's what

Satan's job

is

he'll trick

us into

believing

that we

have here

in this

that what

we have

here in

this world

is better

than having

God

and so the

roots go

down

and he'll

show us

all the

shiny things

the world

offers

for security

and as we

salivate over

them

the roots

get deeper

we choose

the bigger

house

the luxury

holiday

the career

getting married

having children

pursuing my

dream and

whatever form

that comes

in and it

comes in

myriad forms

and the roots

get deeper

and deeper

my friends

as we

start this

stage of

our church

life

online

can I

encourage you

can I

encourage you

to encourage

one another

not to put

down roots

not to

accept

substitute

hope in

this world

because if

you invest

your hope

in this world

you'll be

mightily

disappointed

let's help

one another

expose these

roots where

they exist

this past

week

Alice and

I have

just been

talking about

the impact

of the

stock market

collapse

on our

superannuation

now as we

come towards

the age of

retirement

I don't like

the word

and I'm

going to

redeploy

but nevertheless

you understand

what I'm

saying

and it's

really been a

challenge to

us to say

well where

is our

security

what impact

is it going

to have

to read

those figures

and say

upwards of

40% of

our

superannuation

that we

were looking

forward to

enjoying

last week

40% of

it's now

gone

and perhaps

more to

go

with no

perspective

of it

coming back

in less

than 8,

10,

12 years

these sort

of thoughts

expose our

securities

don't they

expose the

roots that

we need to

dig up

and we need

to cut

off

so our

connection

to Jesus

might be

the true

root

the true

sense of

abiding

that takes

us forward

well this

has been a

big thing

for me

I'm only

starting to

relax a

little bit

now if

it's been a

bit wooden

and artificial

I will try

and improve

over the

weeks

thank you

very much

for listening

and may

God go

with you

this week