June 10-11, 2006, Jeremiah 29:11, Selected

INSTANT MESSAGES!
AAS - A WORD OF HOPE!

*** Job 17:15 "Where, then, is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?"[New Century Version]
*** Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." [New International Version]

WE USE THE WORD "HOPE" TODAY TO MEAN A WISH!
THE BIBLE USES THE WORD "HOPE" TO MEAN A FACT!
CONCLUSION: SOME SAY AS LONG AS THERE IS LIFE, THERE IS HOPE BUT THIS PROVES THAT AS LONG AS THERE IS HOPE, THERE IS LIFE!

***Heb. 6:19 "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong." [NCV]

HOW CAN I HOLD ON TO GOD’S IM OF HOPE?

1. BY KEEPING MY HOPE CORRECTLY FOCUSED!
A. FOCUS MY HOPE ON GOD!
*** Psalm 42:11 "Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God..." [God’s Word to the Nations]
*** Proverbs 11:7 "When an evil man dies, his hopes all perish, for they are based upon this earthly life." [Living Bible]
*** Psalm 31:24 "So be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope in the Lord!" [New Living Translation]
***Psalm 39:7 "And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you." [NLT]

B. FOCUS MY HOPE ON GLORY!
*****Titus 2:13 "...While we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..." [New International Version]
***1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In God's great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.” [NCV]

WHAT IS THIS BLESSED, LIVING HOPE? HEAVEN!

***John 14:1-3 "Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together, forever." [Contemporary English Version]
***2 Cor. 5:1 "Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever." [CEV]

- WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF PAIN BUT HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF COMFORT!

***Rev. 21:4 "He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever." [CEV]

- WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CONFLICT BUT HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF PEACE!
- WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CHAOS BUT HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF PERFECTION!
- WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS TEMPORARY BUT HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF
ETERNITY!

***2 Cor. 4:17 "For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!" [NLT]

C. FOCUS MY HOPE ON THE GOOD NEWS!
***Col. 1:22-23 "So God made peace with you.... But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news." [CEV]

WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS? JESUS CHRIST!

Col. 1:27 "...Christ in your hearts is your only hope of glory." [Living]

OTHER MEN SEE ONLY A HOPELESS END,
BUT THE CHRISTIAN SEES AN ENDLESS HOPE!

2. BY SPENDING TIME IN THE BOOK OF HOPE!
***Romans 15:4 "Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope." [NCV]
***Psalm 119:81 "I long for you to rescue me! Your word is my only hope." [CEV]

3. BY LIVING THE LIFESTYLE OF HOPE!
***1 John 3:2-3 "We know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him, because we will see him as he really is. Christ is pure, and all who have this hope in Christ keep themselves pure like Christ." [NCV]

4. BY PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE HOPE!
***Romans 5:3-5 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us..." [Living]
***Hebrews 10:23 "Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." [New Living Translation]

***Romans 12:12 "Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times." [NCV]

GOD'S IM TO ME: HAVE HOPE!
MY IM TO OTHERS: ALIVE AND SMILING!