January 15 2017 Getting A Grip On Hope

GETTING A GRIP ON HOPE

Romans 15:13 - May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you’ll overflow with hope.

Psalm 52:9 - In Your name I will hope, for Your name is good.

Jehovah Shammah=God is always there!

Three anchors of the soul

1. His presence is watching over me.

Isaiah 41:10 - Don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you. I will support you.

Psalm 32:8 - I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Lamentations 3:21-23 - I have hope when I think of this: The Lord’s love never ends; His mercies never stop. They are new every morning.

2. His purpose is working in me.

Romans 8:28 - We know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 - (God) I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.

Philippians 1:6 - God began doing a good work in you and I am sure He will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again

3. His place is waiting for me.

John 14:1-2 - Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in Me, I am going to prepare a place for you.

Revelations 21:4 - He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.

Isaiah 46:3-5 - Listen! I have upheld you since you were conceived and I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you. Can you compare Me to anyone? No one is equal to Me or like Me!

1 Peter 1:3 - In God’s great mercy He has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

Isaiah 40:31 - 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.

July 5 2015 The Antidote To Anxiety

THE ANTIDOTE TO ANXIETY

Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Three Keys to Overcoming Worry

Philippians 4:6 (LB) "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs. "

1. Ask FOR GOD’S ASSISTANCE

Give us today our daily bread.

Memory Verse: James 4:2"...You do not have because you do not ask God!"

Numbers 16:32 (GN)"God is the source of all life..."

God is my source... 

Source of Wisdom (Psalm 36:9) 
Source of Strength (Isaiah 48:5) 
Source of Happiness (Psalm 43:4) 
Source of Hope (Romans 15:13) 
Source of Peace (Romans 15:33) 
Source of Patience (Hosea 15:5) 
Source of Salvation (Hebrews 5:9) 
Source of Encouragement (Romans 15:5)

2. Remember GOD'S RESOURCES

"Give us today our daily bread.”

Philippians 4:19 (Ph)"God will supply all that you ever need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus.

(JB) "...as lavishly as only God can.

Matthew 6:32-33 (LB)"Don't worry at all about having enough food and clothing .... our heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and He will give them to you if you give him first place in your life. . . "

Romans 8:3 (LB) "Since God didn’t spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us  all, won't he also surely give us everything else?"

3. Trust GOD’S TIMING

"Give us today our daily bread.

Matthew 6:34 (LB)"Don't be anxious about tomorrow.  God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time”.  

(NIV) "Each day has enough trouble of its own!"

Psalm 68:19 "Praise the Lord... who DAILY bears our burdens”

TWO RESULTS OF TRUSTING GOD AS YOUR SOURCE

1.You become more AT PEACE. 

2.You become more GENEROUS.

Matthew 7:11 "If you were asked by your son for bread, would you give him a stone?  How much more likely is it that your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him?"

August 3 2014 Hope - The Inspiration Of The Church And Life

THE INSPIRATION OF THE CHURCH AND LIFE

Romans 15:1-13

The difference between faith and hope:

Faith: Tends to deal with the details of life.

Hope: Deals with the largeness of life itself.

Hope is a confident anticipation of good things to come with the corresponding effort to reach and attain them.

The Streams of Hope

1. The Dark Stream of Hope

Romans 15:4 – For everything was written to teach us, that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have hope.

2. The Light Stream of Hope

Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. The Bridge Between Endurance and Hope

Romans 15:4 – Through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 5:1-5

Perseverance means active endurance.

Psalm 33:18 – The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing peace.

• Hope comes from His character.

Hebrews 6:17-19 – Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath.  God did this, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope, an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

• Hope comes from His control.

2 Chronicles 16:9 – For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

The Substance of Hope

Vs. 13 – Fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.

The Supply of Hope

Vs. 13 – So that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• He gives us surviving power.
• He gives us reviving power.
• He gives us standing power.
• He gives us driving power.
• He gives us arriving power.

Are you looking for hope?  Then grab hold of the rope of Hope.  It is as strong as God’s character and as long as your faith.

October 7 2012 The Choice Of Comfort

THE CHOICE OF COMFORT
Matthew 5:4 - Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

How To Experience God’s Comfort

1.  Realize God is with you.
Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 121:2-3 - Where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over you will not slumber.

Things I need to remember:

• God is aware.
Job 13:27 - You (God) keep a close watch on all my paths.

• God is sympathetic.
Nahum 1:7 - The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.

• God let’s you talk about your discomfort.
Heb. 4:16 - Let us approach (God) with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

2. Release the hurt.

How?

I must stop focusing on what has been lost,
And start focusing on what’s left.

Options for our hurts:
•  You can repress it
•  You can rehearse it.
•  You can refuse to resent it.

Isaiah 43:18 - Do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing (says the Lord).

Romans 12:19 - Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said He will repay those who deserve it.

Psalm 10 - Victim’s Psalm

3. Rely on God’s resources for comfort.

Three Comforters:

• God’s Word.
Psalm 119:25, 52 - I am completely discouraged.  Revive me by your Word.  Your Word has been my comfort.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

• God’s people.
II Cor. 1:3-4 - The God of all comfort comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

• God’s Spirit is a comfort.
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you will all joy, that by the power of the Holy Spirit your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.

Revelation 21:4 - He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

June 24 2012 Hope When Tragedy Strikes The Home

Hope When Tragedy Strikes The Home

Romans 15:13 - May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you’ll overflow with hope.
 

Psalm 52:9 - In Your name I will hope, for Your name is good.
 

Jehovah Shammah=God is always there!

Three anchors of the soul

1. His presence is watching over me.
 

Isaiah 41:10 - Don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you. I will support you.
 

Psalm 32:8 - I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
 

Lamentations 3:21-23 - I have hope when I think of this: The Lord’s love never ends, His mercies never stop. They are new every morning.

2. His purpose is working in me.
 

Romans 8:28 - We know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
 

Jeremiah 29:11 - (God) I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.
 

Philippians 1:6 - God began doing a good work in you and I am sure He will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.

3. His place is waiting for me.
 

John 14:1-2 - Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in Me, I am going to prepare a place for you.
 

Rev. 21:4 - He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.
 

Isaiah 46:3-5 - Listen! I have upheld you since you were conceived and I have taken c are of your from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you. Can you compare Me to anyone? No one is equal to Me or like Me!
 

1 Peter:3 - In God’s great mercy He has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
 

Isaiah 40:31 - 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.