Thank you so much for joining me today. The more we learn about the Lord, the more we are amazed by His love and provision. Today, I trust you will find great encouragement and help with your walk with the Lord as we delve into the topic of “Hope”. Eric

Hope is a foundation of life. The foundation of our hope has been laid by Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 3:1, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” As those whose foundation is in Jesus, our hope as believers is secure.

To begin our study today, we will look at some amazing scriptures. Hebrews 6: 17 - 20a (CSB), “Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner…” God’s purposes are unchangeable. His message here is very clear in that, we believers as heirs of the promise, by His word and oath are strongly encouraged to seize the hope He has set before us. ‘Seize’ translated from the Greek word krateo means: to hold fast, not discard or let go, to keep carefully and faithfully. The phrase ‘set before us’ comes from the Greek word, prokeimai and means: to be appointed, destined, the hope open to us, offered and given. This is a wonderful revelation because the hope that we as believers have, as opposed to worldly hope, has been offered and given to us by God. The hope we have through Jesus is eternally secure. Thus, through the Holy Spirit, the author of Hebrews reveals that hope is vital for believers.

The answer for those who would question, “Why is it vital?” is found in verse 19 . Hope is an “anchor of the soul”. ‘Anchor’ translated from agkyra is a stay or safeguard. Synonyms for ‘safeguard’ are defense, shield, buffer, and guard. We also see in verse 19 that the hope the Lord wants us to seize is firm. It can be relied on, it is certain, and true. That hope is also secure (steadfast in the King James) which means stable or firm. Have you ever realized that the hope God gives us is a defense or shield for us?

It is interesting to note what some secular studies have to say about “hope”. Thehappyproject.in states, “Hope is an important part of every human being’s life and is an essential part of being human.” Psychology Today declared “ Hope allows people to approach problems with a mindset and strategy-set suitable to success, thereby increasing the chances they will actually accomplish their goals. Hope is not just a feel-good emotion, but a dynamic cognitive motivational system.” Quoting Harvard Health, “ Among young adults with chronic illnesses, those with greater degrees of hope are associated with improved coping, well-being, and engagement in healthy behaviors. It also protects against depression and suicide. Among teens, hope is linked with health, quality of life, self-esteem, and a sense of purpose.” Then, found in Daily Inspired Life by Karletta Marie, “Studies show that hope is one of the best predicators of well-being across one’s lifespan, improving health, psychological well-being, and social well being.” It is all well and good that the secular world has been able to recognize the benefits of hope - now, they need to learn who that source of hope is, which is what we are examining today.

The results of ‘having hope’ or ‘not having hope’ is the same in the lives of people all over the world, as they face huge difficulties and obstacles daily.

When hope is lost, despair is close behind, but where hope exists, victory is always within reach.

As we saw in Hebrews 6:17-20a, our hope in Jesus Christ is an anchor of life that is firm or sure and secure or steadfast.

Look at this quote by Mary Jahnke on logos.com., “When real hope seems hopelessly hidden in the world around us, it’s shining out from the Scriptures. When all other hope fails, our eternal hope - Christ - remains, inviting us to come to Him. Matthew 11:28 and 29, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Word Wealth in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible gives us the meaning of ‘hope’ from the Greek word, elpis. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance defines elpis when applied to believers as: “Hope not in the sense of an optimistic outlook or wishful thinking without any foundation; but in the sense of confident expectation based on solid certainty. Biblical hope rests on God’s promises, particularly those pertaining to Christ’s return.”

Billy Graham said, “For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven. by His death and resurrection.”

Our hope in God is our greatest source of spiritual strength. Isaiah 40:31 (Amplified Bible), “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary. They will walk and not grow tired.”

Psalm 33:18-20 (NIV), “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.”

Psalm 62:5, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”

Through Jesus we have a “living hope”. We read in 1 Peter 1: 3 and 4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,“ ‘Living’ from the Greek word zao means: having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul. Our inheritance through salvation in Jesus is a living hope, kept for us in heaven where it cannot be ruined or fade away.

In this life on the planet, we have the hope that God has a plan and purpose for us and will never leave us. 2 Timothy 1:9, “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”

Philippians 1:6 (NLT), “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT), “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

God does have a purpose and plan for His people! He has a purpose and plan for you!

Praise God! The hope that He gives us is not fleeting. It is not just an optimistic outlook or wishful thinking without any foundation. The hope He gives is living hope!

The hope He offers is built on the foundation of Christ, the rock upon which our house and/or hope will stand when the storms of life crash down upon us!

“We can live in this living hope. It isn’t just a future hope, it is a hope that we experience right now.” (Kristin Schmucker)

Keep on keeping on with your eyes focused on Jesus Christ, our living Hope!

Unless noted otherwise, all scripture is taken from the English Standard Version.

CSB Christian Standard Bible

NLT New Living Translation

NIV New International Version