There are certain words in the English language that have had their original Biblical (Greek/Hebrew) meanings so watered down that they have lost their intended power. Hope is one of those words. Hope (or the lack thereof) can change a life, a family, or a nation.
God has given us a grand recipe for success, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love.” (I Corinthians 13:13, KJV) Hope is one of the big three. It may not be as famous or glamorous as faith and love, you may not hear as many sermons or read as many books about hope, but it is an essential ingredient to living out an overcoming and successful life. God is a triune God (Father, Son, Holy Ghost). We are triune beings (Body, Soul, Spirit). We were created spiritual beings to function optimally on three ingredients (Faith, Hope, Love). Consider the following scriptures. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) “The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your all your heart, soul and mind.” (Matthew 22:37-38) “Hope deferred (removed or delayed) makes the heart sick.” (Proverbs 13:12) Take one ingredient out of this triune recipe for success and it is like making chicken soup without chicken or baking chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips.
The Greek word for hope used in the New Testament is elpis (el-pece’) and it means confident expectation or to anticipate with pleasure. Now, compare that to the current English definition from Webster’s New World Dictionary which is, “to want very much” or to basically wish for. There is a big difference in the hope in the Bible and the hope in Webster’s dictionary. There is a big difference in the hope of a believer and the hope of the world. One is based on the promises of God while the other is based on what we see and feel in the natural. One is based on the invisible while the other is based on the visible.
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 5:24-25)
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
Let’s look at one specific example in the Bible. Abraham was an old man. His wife was an old woman. They were way past the age of making love and having children but God told Abraham he would have a son. There was no hope according to the world and according to what he saw in the natural.
“Who (Abraham) against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:18-21, KJV)
“When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, “You’re going to have a big family, Abraham”! (Romans 4:18-21, The Message)
Hopelessness is a killer! We see it every day result in depression and even suicide. People have been convinced in their minds that there is no hope. If you listen to the television news very much you could very well become convinced there is no hope. If you listen to many of the doomsday prophets and preachers today you could very well become convinced there is no hope. If you listen to the enemy (Satan), who is the accuser of the brethren and is constantly trying to tell you there is no hope, you could very well come to that same conclusion. THEY ARE ALL WRONG!!! THERE IS HOPE!!! HIS NAME IS JESUS!!!!!!!!!
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;” (Timothy 1:1, KJV)
When Jesus is allowed to come on the scene, things change. When God’s Word (which is Jesus) is planted in your heart, things change. God’s Word brings life and hope, not death and despair. “I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, and not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, CEB); “Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed” (Isaiah 49:23, NIV); “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 1:2, KJV); and there are hundreds more scriptures just like these. These type scriptures activate hope in a believer. A non-believer has no real hope.
“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12, KJV)
We encourage you today to look to the Lord for your hope. If you have never asked Jesus into your heart, now would be a great time. If you are in a place that appears hopeless, we encourage you to read the Bible. Seek out the promises of God for your life and your family. He will not disappoint you. He will speak hope to you in every situation!
“And hope maketh not ashamed (will not disappoint); because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5, KJV)
We speak HOPE to you, to your family, and to your business today. May the peace and hope of God rule in your hearts and in your household during this Holiday season.
In His Service,
Rev. Ed & Cheryl Henderson, New Life Network, Inc.
www.newlifenetwork-org-staging.smwnm894-liquidwebsites.com
