#The why and what of hope

We are starting a new series. Entitled Hope, Hope and at the

at our last. Series of 2023 last Sunday, New

Year's Eve. It was just such a wonderful

service. We had Andrea, Fred and Sally

who? Prayed us out and into out of

20. Three and into 24.

And as we looked at what the Lord was doing, the Lord led me

to. Share a verse which is found in

Romans 12/12. And it says this rejoice in

hope, be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer.

And I said to you that I felt the Lord had was given us this

verse. For the start.

Of this year that there that the Lord wanted us to be anchored in

this truth. And you know, it's rather

interesting because when you read what Paul wrote in Romans.

12. Certainly.

In my translation. Which is the ESV the the start

of the of the section is entitled Marx of the True.

Christian. Which is rather.

Interesting because that rather denotes that there are false

Christians. You see, being a Christian isn't

about ritual and tradition. It isn't about inheriting it

from your parents. It's about a.

Living. Breathing.

Relationship with Jesus and the outworking of that in your

daily. Lives, and you know, he says

Here, Paul, I'm going to. Back up to verse nine.

Let. Love be genuine.

Abort. What is?

Evil hold fast to what is. Good.

Love one another with. Brotherly affection outdo.

One another in. Showing honor.

Do not be slothful. In zeal be fervent in spirit.

Serve the Lord. And then he says this.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation.

Be constant in prayer. These are the marks of what it

means to have a living relationship with Jesus.

And I don't know about you, but I believe that for many, we are

in a season. Where we need Boy, do we need a

lot of hope. I mean, with my daily intake of

news, I move very. Quickly into hopelessness.

When I see where the world is. Heading when I.

See the increasing conflicts? When I see the darkness that

pervades society, it is very easy to.

Fall into hopelessness. But as.

We've been singing Jesus is here to give us hope.

And so over the next number of weeks, as Freya said leading up

to Easter Sunday, a great celebration of our hope that

Jesus is going. To come again, because he rose.

We're. Going to have some wonderful

speakers. Join me as we unpack what the

Christian hope. Is what?

The Christian hope. Is and my.

My prayer is is. That you?

And myself will see a a marked shift in how we see ourselves.

And as we see the world around us.

And so my job this morning is to.

Lay a foundation, if you will. For this rest.

Of the series. And I'm going.

To be looking at the. Why and the what of hope?

Why is hope? Important And what is the

Christian hope that we speak? Of I was.

I was here at a talk recently and the person quoted A

gentleman called Hal Lindsay. Now some of you may recall.

His name from a very. Famous book.

That he wrote in the 80s, called the The Late Great Planet Earth.

Some of you may. Know him and he said this about

hope man can live about 40 days without food about 3 days

without. Water about. 8 minutes without

air, but only. For one second without.

Hope I like that. Now it's it's.

It's probably not technically. Accurate.

Everything else before is but the hope bit, but.

You might say, Hey, Mark. I've been.

Living out. Without hope for a year.

And I'm still here. I hear you.

But I think it rather makes the point quite starkly that just as

we need air and we need. Food.

And we need. Water.

In order for us to. Live our lives.

We need hope and I think he does a good job of of saying.

That and as I was, as I. Was researching and studying.

For this series I came across this Fantastic.

Article in the Christian Chronicle.

And it's entitled Hope, The Greatest Story of All Time, and

this was written in October 2. 1007.

And I want to read some extracts from this because they do a.

Much better job of me doing so. So let me read this.

It says this. Hope itself is the biggest story

of all time, and yet the creator of the world already has

written. The ultimate account.

Suffice it to say that a sufficient headline size does

not exist to declare the enormity of the Son of God

dying. On a cross to save us.

From our sins, hope cannot be counted defined.

Or photographed? You can't buy it, yet nobody

lives well without it. It's close to the core of what

it means to be a Christian and a key component of the church

community. Many struggle to define it, but

it may be. One of the Bible's.

Easiest. Doctrines to identify.

Enduring hope pervades Biblical. Teaching.

From the. Rainbow over Noah to all of us.

Under the reign of Christ, from the promised land to the promise

of heaven, from offering up a sacrifice in the Tabernacle to

offering up praise in church, hope is the core.

Thread and the common bond. Hope is absolutely critical,

entirely indispensable, centrally biblical.

And eternally available. Hope is.

Remarkably relevant to both the modern and postmodern, the

people of. Every race.

The Christians of all generations.

Isn't that a good summary? Maybe as I'm speaking those

words that's resonating with you.

Maybe in this moment there's something new that's saying, oh

man, I I've been living. In a season, I feel like without

any hope. I feel desperate.

For this Mark. I want this type of hope.

I want a type of hope that I can rejoice in.

Do I get an Amen in the house? I want to rejoice in hope.

I tell you something. This talk comes.

This series comes at a good time for me in my life.

You know Steph and I in the family and.

Many of you know Steph's sister. Sam.

Her son, who's 8 years old, Luke, has been suffering.

With a brain tumor in a battle. For two years now.

He has the first one, praise God disappeared the 2nd.

One came back and. And now?

He's the doctor say end of life and in in in all respects he's

in a vegetative state. But we are.

Holding on with hope that God is working behind the scenes.

And so I share this not as some academic theological exercise.

I share it with you as. Something that I and Steph and

the family are holding on to and making a decision to rejoice.

Because who knows? Life ain't easy.

You know, Adam and Eve didn't need.

Hope before they ate the apple. And when we see Christ again, we

will not need hope, boy, we need hope now.

And you see, God hasn't left us on our.

Own now it's kind of interesting because as I continued on my

research and my. Study of this subject as I.

Look to lay out a foundation for the next.

Few weeks I found it. Interesting to discover that

science is. Discovering that physically, we

need hope. I'd like to quote to you from a

paper from Trinity College Dublin.

It says this. We know that hope works for the

brain. And in the.

Brain If you experience hope in the face of adversity, your

brain performs better and you are more likely to make

positive, positive decisions regarding your health, such as

adhering to medication and adopting A healthier lifestyle

in the. Face of chronic diseases.

Experiencing hope dampers the anxiety circuits in the brain

and when you feel less anxious. Your brain function.

Improves Harvard Health Lest you think I haven't done enough

study, but hope is also beginning to reveal its value.

This was written in 2020. One In scientific studies among

young adults with chronic illnesses, greater degrees of

hope are associated with improved coping well-being and

engagement. In healthy behaviours it also

protects against. Depression and suicide among

teens. Hope is linked with health,

quality of life. Self esteem and a sense of

purpose. It is an essential factor.

For developing both maturity and resilience.

Now you've heard me use this phrase before, but I will use it

again. I love it when science catches

up with the Bible, because we only have to.

Read in Proverbs 13 verse 12 to see what the scientists are

Proverbs 13:12

discovering. Hope deferred makes the heart

sick. The desire fulfilled is a tree

of life. All that science.

Eventually does is discovers the truth of this I was speaking.

To a brother only this morning and he quoted this exact verse.

I said, brother, I'm preaching on that this morning and he.

Himself was in a position where he was holding on to.

Hope now what does it mean? Hope deferred makes the heart

sick? Well, deferred.

We know what deferred means. It means.

To put off to drag out, you know Steph and I last.

Night started watching. A new series on Paramount plus

called the. Castaway Has anyone seen that no

one's seen? That well, it's very good.

It's got Sheridan, Smith, Smith in it.

Right blank face faces. Of Gavin and Stacey fame.

Although that was only a small part, she's done some.

She's a fantastic. Actress.

Anyway, there is a point to this story we started.

Watching and to be honest with you, almost finished watching.

We we're not. Prone to binge watch watching,

but it. Was that good?

But I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's in the.

Title they are. Castaway and it was amazing to

see they're Castaway and and they start with hope.

Right. This is what we're going to do.

We're going to get a fire. We're going.

To do this, someone will fire and then you watch this

progression from hope where the the hope of being saved and

rescued. Is deferred and at one point

well, I don't want to spoil it for you, you'll have to watch

it. But that was a visual

representation of what? Happens when hope is deferred

our heart. Becomes sick, and the heart here

references, not just your. It means.

The seat of your being. It means how your your emotions

and your soul, your spirit. There is an impact, and you see,

God knows that that is the case in our fallen nature in this.

Fallen world. He knows that we need hope.

We get to the good news in a minute, by the way.

Hope deferred makes the heart. Grow.

Sick. Oh, it printed on the other

side. It doesn't normally do that.

I was like I'm missing a. Page.

Here it is. But a longing for field is a.

Tree of life. You know.

In Proverbs 1319 it says a long and fulfilled is sweet to the

soul. Isn't there a sweetness?

When you're hoping for something, you're.

Hoping and it happens. Boy, how do you feel?

Oh, that's so good. I.

Remember. Many years.

When I say many years ago, I want to say 6-7 years ago and we

were I founded. A company in 2000.

And 10 and we were looking to sell that and we were going

through a process and I was hoping Lord, we need because at

that point you know we needed to sell this company and we.

Had a potential buyer and. My hope was there and all of a

sudden they pulled out on like literally the final hour.

I mean for those of you that know these things we had agreed

the heads of terms and all this kind and all of a sudden and

boy. Wow.

I took a big dive all of a sudden, that, that.

Hope that was. Imminent was deferred, but all

of a sudden there was another buyer that came and the hope

grew and then. When it happened.

Boy, when we sold the company, it was sweet to the soul and my

prayer for. Each one of.

You guys this morning is that? This year, your testimony will

be my. Longing was fulfilled and it was

sweet to my soul. I'm going to pray on that point.

Lord that. Is our prayer.

As a people. That the.

Testimony of this year would be that as we join the writer of

Proverbs to say my longing. Fulfilled was sweetness.

To my soul. Lord, you know our hearts, you

know. Those things that we are longing

for, those promises that you've. Laid on our hearts those hopes

that we have in you, and I pray, Lord, that this would be a.

Year of. Breakthrough and longing

fulfilled. And I declare that, and I decree

that that I speak this over you, that this would be a year of

victory in those areas. That you are.

Hoping for that, you would experience that longing that you

have desired for so long. And I pray for those of you who

can identify that hope deferred. I pray for healing.

Of your heart. And a restoration of hope as you

wait. For those desires to be

fulfilled. The lies of the enemy that have

been spoken over. You that has said it's never.

Going to be so I break that those lies off you in Jesus

name, and I speak the truth over you, that you will rejoice in

hope that may while you may have come in this place in sickness

of heart, you will leave this place rejoicing in hope.

Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Amen. So what is the Christian hope

then? Well, I'll tell you what it

isn't. It isn't this.

I hope I win the lottery. If you would like to have a

separate talk about whether you should play the.

Lottery or not? Then I'll schedule that for this

evening. Hope is not I hope it doesn't

rain this afternoon because. We've got a party.

Hoping is not a wishful thought when we're.

Talking about Biblical hope. Let's look at Romans. 82425

it'll be on the screen and if you're at.

Home on your. Device or wherever you are,

it'll be on your device for in. Hope in hope we have been saved,

but hope is not is that is seen, is not hope.

For why does one also hope for what he sees?

But if we hope for what we do? Not see with.

Perseverance. We wait eagerly.

For it. I want to sum it up with this.

A hope is a future, invisible and confident expectation of the

fulfilment of the promises of God.

That's the. Best I can do as a summary, it's

a little bit long. A future invisible and a

confident expectation of the fulfilment of the.

Promises of God. Why?

Because our hope is in. God is based on His promises.

It isn't A wish upon a star. It's a.

Hope upon the sun. I mean, wish upon a star.

That's a phrase that we sing and we hear.

Well, maybe you don't be. Certainly children do.

But it's a hope upon the sun. Why?

Because he died on the cross. So.

That we can walk in the. Promises of God.

That's what's happened. And you can't disconnect the

hope that we have in Christ from being saved by him, for in hope

we have been. Saved you see?

You can't see the inner working of the Holy Spirit in you.

That regenerates you when you. Say yes to Christ you.

Can't see necessarily the inward work of.

Sanctification, that means becoming.

More like Christ, but we hope in that work of Christ, of the Holy

Spirit in. Us.

That is what hope is, because his word says that that is what

he will do. Hebrews 11/1 as I.

Continue to lay this foundation. Now faith is confidence.

In what? We hope for.

An assurance about what we do not see.

It is also why one of the weapons of the enemy is to

attack our hope. How did he do that?

Well, what's the opposite of hope?

Fear. Despair.

Doubts. Uncertainty.

Anxiety. These tactics are designed to

remove you out of that place of hope in the.

Promises of God. God has given you hope that you

will have a new job. God has given you a a hope of

restored rest relationship. God has given you a hope of

whatever it may be. And then all of a sudden the

enemy says, but God, did God really say that?

Maybe God says that for everyone else, but not for you surely.

Look how bad you've been. I mean really?

Is there really, you know, a God?

I mean really. I mean, does he really?

Love you. I mean, maybe there's a God, but

he's just set this word in motion.

And he's left it to do what it wants to do.

You see, these are lies of the enemy to pull you out of a place

of rejoicing in hope. Essentially what it is, it is

the the lie of the of any enemy that says.

God really say that? Recognize that lie.

It God really say you can't eat? We've got to exercise our

spiritual muscles and it says in the scriptures that we had to

hold every thought captive that is contrary to the word of God.

And so when those thoughts come and say I'm not going to, I

don't. Accept that lie.

I rebuke that lie in the name of Jesus.

And then you. Get into the word and says God

says and. Then you list out his promises

this. Is how we are to live our lives

as Christians not passive, but active.

And I'm preaching to myself right now.

I mean just, hey Mark, stop being so passive in your faith.

Stop being so passive when the lies get into your head.

You know, it says in the scriptures Mark that you're more

than a conquering Christ Jesus. It says in the scriptures, Mark

that greater is he that is in you than he that is in the

world. It says in the word mark that if

you stand and resist the enemy, you'll flee.

Wow, that's cool. So what I'm saying to us is this

is that we we have to make a decision to rejoice in hope as

we hold every thought captive that is contrary to the truth.

Of God, that's what I'm saying. Now I want to zone in on this.

Point now. Is that the reason we can have

hope in the promises? Of God is because of the promise

keeper himself. We have our hope.

In God. And that's, I want to give you

just three. Things about hope as I aim to

end this talk. Three things about hope, true

hope. Comes from God.

Paul in Romans 15 in the. In the in the next chapters, as

he writes, he says may the. God of Hope.

You see, Hope has a name. His name is Jehovah.

Hope is not a wishful thought. It is a God who loves us and it

says in scriptures God is not a man that should he should lie.

In Psalm 39 seven the Psalmist says this.

And so, Lord, where do I? Put my hope maybe you're asking

that question. Where do I put my hope then Mark

because I tried it in that and I tried it in this.

And it didn't work. I tried.

Putting my hope in my bank balance, I tried putting my hope

in in in in my. Friendships.

I tried putting hope in the the natural giftings that I.

Have I tried putting my hope in this and the other and it didn't

work. So, Mark, where do I put my

hope? The Psalmist says this.

My only hope is in you. My only hope is in you.

Is your only hope in God. That is the question this

morning. Is your hope in God this

morning? #2 hope is a gift.

Can't. Earn it.

You can't work for it. It's not based on how good you

are or how bad you are. It is a free gift.

Given by God through the. Power.

Of the holy. Spirit, you know, as when Paul.

Was writing in Romans 1513. It went on to say May The God of

Hope. Fill.

You with all. Joy and peace as you trust in

him. As we trust in him, our hope

comes. So that you may overflow with

hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And so my prayer is, Lord God, I make a choice to rejoice in

hope. I stand firm on your promises,

but I am weak and I need your help.

So, Holy Spirit, would you come now and fill me with that hope?

That's a prayer you can pray. When you feel battered and

bruised and hopelessness, you just call upon the name of God

and say Lord, I can't manufacture this hope.

I can't make it up. I can't.

Change the way I feel. And so, Holy Spirit, would you

come now and fill me with that hope that you have promised that

revelation of God and his love for me as I make a decision to

trust in Him. That's a prayer for you.

That's a prayer for myself. Because our hope is in a person.

It is God Jehovah. And #3 as I bring.

This plane. Into a land hope.

Endures Proverbs 2318 There is surely a future hope for you,

and your hope will not be cut off.

Biblical hope isn't. Because.

Life we can. Get our circumstances lined up

and everything's rosy. Biblical hope is rooted.

In the truth that we are saved and that nothing can separate us

from the love of God. You know, when I look at this

world. And I reference how I started

this talk and and I have my daily dose of news and my

hopelessness levels start increasing.

I just remember that I've read the end of the book and I know

what happens. I know that Christ will be

victorious. I know that I'll spend eternity

with him. I know that every knee will bow

and every tongue will confess that Christ Jesus is Lord.

I know that God will put all Christ's enemies under his feet.

I know how it ends. That's the hope I have.

The economic indicators, poor though they are, don't change

the fact that my hope is in. Jehovah Jireh, my God of

provision. And as we live our lives and as.

We think about 2024 and as I end this.

Talk my question. For you is this is.

Your hope in. God, God is your hoping.

I'd like us all to stand as I pray.