How Hope Works
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
Col. 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Strong faith begins with strong hope. If faith is like a roadmap, then hope is the brochure of your intended destination. Sometimes we struggle in our faith walk because we are struggling in our hope-walk.
Every one has dreams, aspirations and expectations for his or her life. The Word of God sums up all of these desires in a single word - HOPE. Hope is at the beginning of every great exploit carried out for God. Hope is the foundation for a life that is lived by faith, peace, joy and encouragement.
Hope defined: noun - confident expectation, the happy anticipation of good, a belief that something is obtainable. verb - to trust, to have confidence
Hope does not disappoint because of God’s love empowered by the Holy Spirit:
Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Hope does not disappoint us because we are able to construct our hopes, our expectations on God's word and from the desires of our hearts.
How to build hope and make it strong.
1. Based your hope on things eternal such as the word of God
Psalm 119:49 “Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope”
2. Based your hope on deeply held convictions and desires of your heart, not a passing fads.
3. Don’t base your hopes on a strict timetable. Operate on Kairos, not Chronos. Look for the “set time” of God.
If we construct hopes that are far-fetched or unreasonable, the result can be "hope sickness"
Proverbs 13:12, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
Abraham and Sarah experienced this when their first son didn’t come quickly.
Job displayed "hope sickness" when his friends tried to encourage him:
Job 4:5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled. 6 Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?7 “ Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?
4. Hope is not based on circumstances, but our interpretation of the outcome of circumstances. Like the 12 spies: Either you interpret the giants and stronger than you, or you interpret that you are "well able" with God's help to overcome the giants.
5. Hope gives you insight on God's plans and purposes in the earth:
Ephesians 1:18, the eyes of your understanding[a] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
6. Hope gives you insight on your calling and the power of unity.
“Eph. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling”
This is the full manifestation and realization of that life which is already the believer's possession.
7. Hope is the engine that drives your motivation to serve God against all obstacles.
J.B. Phillips translation of Colossians 1:27: “...Christ in you, the hope of all glorious things to come”. Every hope that God has put in our heart will have a glorious manifestation. Nothing in God is mediocre or insignificant.
The key to realizing the “hope of glory” is to know that Jesus lives on the inside of us and desires to express Himself in fulfillment of every hope.
Listen to the Message, "How Hope Works" by Pastor Bryan Hudson
