God’s Word for Today: The Difference

Biblical hope is an unshakable assurance that God works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purposes. It is the belief that there is a future with and in Jesus regardless of circumstances. Hope is faith in the future tense. That means that most of faith is hope. The Bible says, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). This suggests that hope is strengthened by the Word of God much like faith. Hope comes from reading the Word of God. Hope comes from digesting the great promises of God. Hope comes by developing a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our hope is a reflection of the trust we have in God and our confidence in His Word. The biblical definition of hope in noun form is “expectation,” and it indicates what is sure or certain. In verb form, it is “expect with confidence.” It is a confident expectation of what is certain.
Certain questions must then be asked: Can you explain what your hope is? Have you determined on what you base your hope? Do you clearly understand what your hope is so that if asked you could give a concise and reasonable answer?

Discussion: *What are three reasons upon which you base your hope in Christ and eternal life?

2020-09-08T16:36:38+00:00September 12th, 2020|Categories: God's Word for Today|Tags: |0 Comments

Sept. 9, 2020: Hope in God

Read Psalm 33:18 – 22.

 

“Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee” (v. 22).

    If you have time, read this entire psalm, which is a tribute to God in His offices of Creator, Controller, Consummator, Counselor. David exalts His mighty works and calls the entire earth to His worship.

But when we step away from the Divine Superintendency of all things, the world is a bleak and empty lowland, whether in politics, religion, economics, education.  What a distressing view! And even in our personal lives, whatever we may trust in this life…good health, material comfort, a strong system of support, years of Christian living - all are false confidences unless they are buoyed up by our trust in God.

Let us, also, call out for the mercy of the Lord to be upon us as we hope in Him. (Leonard Sankey)

“My hope is renewed, my faith becomes strong,

The closer I walk to Him.”    -  Haldor Lillenas

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” but hope achieved makes the heart sing.  Proverbs 13:12

2020-09-08T16:28:16+00:00September 10th, 2020|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: |0 Comments

Sept 13, 2020: Hope

PRINTED TEXT: Romans 4:17 25; 1 Corinthians 15:12 20

CENTRAL TRUTH: Believers have a living hope in Christ for time and eternity.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this class we should be able to state at least three reasons for our hope.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Hope Believing in Hope (Romans 4:17 25)

II. Hope Rewarded (1 Corinthians 15:12 20)

2020-09-08T16:22:36+00:00September 8th, 2020|Categories: Lesson Highlights, Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: |0 Comments

The Quality of Hope

Read Romans 15:1-4
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (v. 4).
Visiting a children’s program in Indonesia, Wess Stafford was asked to say a few words. Wanting to communicate their value to God, he told the children they were special. He then picked up a little girl on the front row named Jessica. Using her as an example, he spoke tenderly of her uniqueness and that Christ loved her. Noticing tears around the room, he found out that, weeks earlier, she had been brutally raped. If anyone needed to hear that message, it was Jessica. Her healing began that day.
Some aren’t as receptive, however. Danny Velazquez was one. To many, he seemed to be on top of the world. He went about his work day wearing cashmere and sipping martinis. Living in a loft apartment, he was highly regarded by his clients. One was a Christian who frequently told him, “The day you call on the name of the Lord, He will set you free.” He politely ignored her advice. But Danny’s relationship with alcohol and drugs spiraled out of control eventually leaving him homeless.
One day, hallucinating and hearing voices, he remembered those hope-filled words. At that moment Danny cried out to God. When he later awoke in a hospital, he was a changed man. God had set him free. (Cyretha C. Horton)
You too can find new life through the hope found in God and His Word. 
2018-11-14T09:00:46+00:00November 14th, 2018|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: , , |0 Comments

The Glorious Hope

Lesson 6 - January 7, 2018
Focus Text: Isaiah 11:1-12
Central Truth: In a world of darkness, Christians must be known as people of hope.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students will be able to identify three ways they can be known as people of hope in a world of darkness.
Lesson Outline:

  1. The Glorious Hope: Righteousness (Isaiah 11:1-5)
  2. The Glorious Hope: Peace (Isaiah 11:6-10)
  3. The Glorious Hope: Victory (Isaiah 11:11-12)
2018-01-03T10:40:00+00:00January 3rd, 2018|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: |Comments Off on The Glorious Hope

The Inspiration of Hope

Monday, December 18
Read 1 John 3:1-6
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he [Christ] is pure” (v. 3).
It is easy to become discouraged when it can seem so long since Christ ascended leaving us with the promise that He would come again. Many times Christians are taunted by the world for believing in such an old promise. The fact is that we, much like Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-40), aren’t believing in an old promise but in an ever-present Promise Giver. This is the reason for the discipline and effort that the Christian must make to be made pure “even as he is pure.” We must live our lives every day with the awareness that His coming is imminent and we must be ready.
I had a close family member that suffered a major heart attack and needed a heart transplant. While waiting for that to happen, he would have some very rough days. He was unable to participate in some activities, eat some foods, and visit some places. His life style had to be altered to be a candidate for that procedure. He often commented that he could tolerate these trials because he would get a new heart someday and be able to get back to a full life.
We must be willing to change our lives now because of the hope of what is yet to come. (Tim Brubeck)
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness” (Edward Mote).

2017-12-23T09:00:37+00:00December 23rd, 2017|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: |0 Comments

Is your hope in wealth?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

One of these was Job, a respected leader in his ancient community. In Eastern poetical language, he said, “Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me . . . when I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil” (29:2-6). Job confessed that he fully expected to die in this blessed state: “Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand” (29:18). However, his story illustrates that wealth, by itself, is a lousy source of security. In chapter 28, Job wrote about the wealth of precious stones and metals hidden in the earth and the means men use to mine them. Perhaps some of his own wealth was related to this mining. However, Job went on to explain that wisdom's value is much greater than all of this earthly wealth. He understood the principle that “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (v. 28). Job's hope was not in his wealth, but in God.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 32.

2017-04-01T09:00:00+00:00April 1st, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: , |0 Comments

Uplook for the Downcast

Lesson 7 - October 16, 2016
Focus Text: Psalms 42:1-11; 43:1-5
Central Truth: Hope in God gives us victory over discouragement.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list at least three ways to express hope in God.
Lesson Outline:

  1. The Desire of the Heart (Psalm 42:1, 2)
  2. The Dilemma of the Soul (Psalm 42:3-7)
  3. The Determination of the Will (Psalm 42:8-43:5)
2016-10-10T09:00:00+00:00October 10th, 2016|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: |0 Comments

How does our hope in God overcome sorrow?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Don Englund writes:

Our choice to trust in God and His purposes is a choice that defies the verdicts of the enemy of our souls who often suggests that our condition is personal, that it extends to all areas of our lives, and that it is permanent. Health professionals and psychological remedies may not have the answers we need, but Jesus, the Author of life, does! He is alive! He is in control! He is effectively managing the affairs of this sin-cursed world at the present moment! He gave us life on earth and is the Source of the greatest human dream on earth — eternal life! No, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13), for our sorrow is not personal, not pervasive, not purposeless, and not permanent. Because He lives, you and I can face tomorrow.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 61.

2016-08-06T09:00:00+00:00August 6th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: |0 Comments
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