02-01-2022 How Blessed Is He Whose Hope Is in God!

Title: How Blessed Is He Whose Hope Is in God!

By the grace of God, we are given Year 2022 which is an unknown world and unknown time. However, if we believe in Immanuel God that God is with us and that He will be with us throughout the year, we shouldn’t regard it as a year of unknown but a year of hope because God can make anything happen.

The Bible tells us that hope is the base of faith. Without hope, there is no faith (Heb 11:1). If we hope for our salvation, through faith we get salvation. If we hope to see the second coming, through faith we will meet and see Him (Luk 2:25).

Simeon was looking for (hoping for) the consolation of Israel. Thus, he was granted to meet and see Jesus Christ. His faith was being fulfilled (Luk 2:27-29). Simeon had faith therefore he met baby Jesus. However, if he hadn’t had hope, would he keep on waiting? So, hope is a starter for faith. In other word, in order to have fulfillment of faith, we must have hope (Rom 8:24-25).

David went through so many troubles that is unbearable and inexpressible. However, he kept on asking God that his hope may not be ashamed (Psa 119:49; 116).

1. God is our hope

There is no other person or things that can be our hope (Rom 15:13; Psa 39:7; Psa 71:5). When we face God, we will have hope but when we turn around from God, we will lose hope and faith.

In Year 2022, there could be many things happening around us. Waves and storms could come to our lives. However, if we focus on Jesus, if we fix our eyes on God, we will still be able to have hope, therefore the fulfillment of faith will be there in our life (Mat 14:26-31).

When Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus, he was able to walk on the stormy water. However, when he turned his eyes and look at the circumstances, he started drowning into the water. It teaches us that to turn our eyes from Jesus is to doubt (not believing). To look around the circumstances is to lose faith. In Year 2022, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and God of hope, so that we may abound in hope.

• The Word of God is our hope (Heb 6:18; Isa 55:11)

There are many to read every day. There are good news and disappointing news. However, even if there comes good news like ‘finally the cure of Covid-19 is found’, it doesn’t become our hope because things can change. However, God is faithful (unchanging) and He cannot tell a lie. Therefore, His Word only can be only hope (Rom 15:4; Col 1:5).

To listen to the sermon, to read the Bible, to read the sermon notes, and to read the History of Redemption series. If we come close to the Word of God, through the Word of God, He will give us hope.

• Eternal life is our hope

God has promised us Eternal life (Jhn 3:16). The founding pastor always emphasized according to Tit 1:2 that God had promised mankind only one thing from the beginning: that is Eternal life.

Eternal life doesn’t only mean to live forever physically but it means to overcome the power of death, to be released from the power of death, to solve the sin issue, to reconcile with God face to face. Therefore, the Bible says that Eternal life is our hope (Tit 3:7; 1 Pet 1:3-4).

Then, how vivid, accurate, tangible is eternal life to us? Is it something we may or may not receive after the time of death?

Eternal life being our hope means we must believe it certainly and accurately. God cannot lie and all the Words He spoke came true. Therefore, eternal life is not a vague hope but is the certain future we will have.

In this world, we may have weak body, health issue and so on. But, when we receive the eternal life, we will all be transfigured to a spiritual body. A spiritual body like the resurrected Jesus that is perfect body and not limited to time and space.

Conclusion:

To have a hope is God’s plan

Jer 29:11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you’, declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Even if the time of Babylon comes, God said that this is to give you a future and a hope.

To have a hope, therefore, is God’s plan for us. Then, according to His Word, let’s start Year 2022 full of hope. And when we encounter the moment of difficulty, let’s not worry but pray to God to guide us.

Phil 4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.