Monday, April 1, 2013

The God of Hope



1 Peter 3:15-16a   Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience.

 

I received a call this last week from a couple dear Christian friends, who where forming a six-week topical Bible Study on the word “HOPE”. Tonight starts this teaching and discussion around the meaning in our hearts and application of Christian Hope in our life. We discussion what hope meant to each of us and agreed that we understood meaning based upon whether speaking physically or spiritually. Meaning, phases like: “I hope that I have a nice day”, “I hope I win the Lottery”, and “I hope that I go to Heaven” are very different. Webster’s Dictionary defines “hope” as: (1) to cherish a desire with anticipation and expectation of obtainment. Or (2) to expect with confidence: trust. What does “Hope” mean to you?

Romans 8:23-25 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

My wife’s recent Bible Study focused on God being the author and source of Hope. That hope, a gift of the Holy Spirit which abides, an essential characteristic of the Christian. Not merely expectation and desire, but includes trust, confidence, and refuge in the God of Hope. As we dive into this study and discussion, the many facets of this gem are hoped to be uncovered and revealed the luster of the God of Hope. Stay tuned for more.
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ, Brian

4 comments:

Ken said...

Hi Brian,

I love the verse, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil" Hebrews 6:19

In Christ Jesus, we always have hope. This is an excellent topic of a Bible study. May the Lord bless you through this study.
Ken

Brian Ray Todd said...

That is a great verse Ken, on many levels. I hear so much these days about people lacking and not felling or experiencing the "presence" of God in their life and worship. The blessed hope is an anchor of the soul for sure. Where is our hope foundation? I'm anxious to see where this study leads. Thank you for writing.

child of God said...

Hi Brian,
Hope is a great topic to study. I'm looking forward to learning from what you will share.

I have many favourite Bible verse for what hope means to me so I will just share two of the ones that I think sum a lot of the meaning up.

Lamentations 3:22-24
The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"

Romans 5:2-5
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Blessings brother,
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Brian Ray Todd said...

Child of God, By reading and thinking about these two great verses on the topic of godly "hope", I cannot help but see that there are more than one type of hope (as there is more than one type of love), based on the known or the unknown, based on truth or wishes, based on promises of a loving and merciful Almighty Maker & His sovereign grace and providence or self & others. I am looking forward to exploring this topic of godly & Divine "Hope: in the following weeks. Thank you for the wonderful Scripture verses and the continual support. Blessings.