A Hope-filled Life in
Christ
Hope
If we’re going to discuss a life filled with hope, we
need to first know what hope is.
How would you define hope?
Dictionary definition:
“To look forward to with confidence or
expectation.”
“To expect and desire.”
“A wish or desire accompanied by confident
expectation of its fulfillment.”
Hope
If we’re going to discuss a life filled with hope, we
need to first know what hope is.
How would you define hope?
Dictionary definition: “Confident expectation.”
Is that how we really view hope? Is that how we
use the word in day-to-day usage?
Our secular use of the word tends more toward a
meaning of “wishful thinking”, and this carries over
into our spiritual use of the word.
Biblical hope is not “wishful thinking”!
Hope
If we’re going to discuss a life filled with hope, we
need to first know what hope is.
How would you define hope?
Dictionary definition: “Confident expectation.”
“But as for me, I will always have hope; I will
praise you more and more.” (Psalm 71:14 NIV)
Is “our hope” the same as “our salvation”?
The Spirit
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace as you trust in Him, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
“But by faith we eagerly await through the
Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.”
(Galatians 5:5)
The Spirit
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace as you trust in Him, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
“But by faith we eagerly await through the
Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.”
(Galatians 5:5)
What is the role of the Spirit in our hope?
How is hope reflected in
life?
How should your Christian hope affect your attitude
toward your current circumstances or goals?
Why is it difficult to fix our attention and hope on
God?
The best answer to this question is one that
Paul wrote to the Corinthians – in a chapter
that doesn’t even use the word hope!
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this
ministry, we do not lose heart.
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this
ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have
renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use
deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the
contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we
commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the
sight of God.
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this
ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have
renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use
deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the
contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we
commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the
sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is
veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age
has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, Who is the image of God. For we do not
preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and
ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this
ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have
renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use
deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the
contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we
commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the
sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is
veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age
has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, Who is the image of God. For we do not
preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and
ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God,
who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His
light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ . . .
“ . . . But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show
that this all-surpassing power is from God and not
from us
“ . . . But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show
that this all-surpassing power is from God and not
from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
“ . . . But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show
that this all-surpassing power is from God and not
from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
“ . . . But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show
that this all-surpassing power is from God and not
from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed
in our body.
“ . . . But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show
that this all-surpassing power is from God and not
from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed
in our body. For we who are alive are always being
given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life
may be revealed in our mortal body.
“ . . . But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show
that this all-surpassing power is from God and not
from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed
in our body. For we who are alive are always being
given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life
may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is
at work in us, but life is at work in you…
“ . . . It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’
With that same spirit of faith we also believe and
therefore speak,
“ . . . It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’
With that same spirit of faith we also believe and
therefore speak, because we know that the One Who
raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us
with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
“ . . . It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’
With that same spirit of faith we also believe and
therefore speak, because we know that the One Who
raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us
with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is
reaching more and more people may cause
thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
“ . . . It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’
With that same spirit of faith we also believe and
therefore speak, because we know that the One Who
raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us
with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is
reaching more and more people may cause
thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we
are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed
day by day.
“ . . . It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’
With that same spirit of faith we also believe and
therefore speak, because we know that the One Who
raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us
with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is
reaching more and more people may cause
thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we
are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed
day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but
on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but
what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-18)
“ . . . It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’
With that same spirit of faith we also believe and
therefore speak, because we know that the One Who
raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us
with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is
reaching more and more people may cause
thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we
are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed
day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but
on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but
what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-18)
So, back to our
question . . .
How is hope reflected
in life?
How should your Christian hope affect your
attitude toward your current circumstances or
goals?
Why is it difficult to fix our attention and
hope on God?
It’s difficult because it’s easier to do the opposite of
what Paul said: “ . . . fix our eyes not on what is
seen, but on what is unseen.”
