Sermons

DVDs are available for viewing of all Sermons listed below. Contact the church office for more detail.

07/13/08    SUN AM    MALACHI 4 - TEST OF THE TESTIMONY

07/13/08    SUN PM    PASTOR AND PEOPLE - GOD'S DESIRES FOR BOTH - HEB

07/20/08    SUN AM    THE HIDING PLACE - PART 1 - PS. 91

07/20/08    SUN PM    THE PASTOR - A STUDY - WORDS CHART - (START)

07/27/08    SUN AM    THE HIDING PLACE - PART 2 - PS. 91

07/27/08    SUN PM    THE PASTOR - A STUDY - MEANING OF THE WORDS

08/17/08    SUN AM    A SERVANT'S GREATNESS - MARK 10:35-45

08/17/08    SUN PM    A SERVANT'S GREATNESS (PART 2) - MARK 10:35-45

08/24/08    SUN AM    FIRST THINGS FIRST (WORRY) - PART 1 - MT. 6:19-34

08/24/08    SUN PM    ARE YOU A COMPLAINER? - PHIL. 2:13-15

08/31/08    SUN AM    FIRST THINKS FIRST (WORRY) - PART 2 - MAT. 6:19-34

Think About It

What is hope?  I'm sure we've all used the term before.  As I sit here writing this, I'm looking outside my office; and I hope it doesn't rain today since I have some yard work to do.  Although my favorite NHL team is not in the Stanley Cup this year, I hope Pittsburgh wins the cup (But by the time you read this, the finals may already be over!).  As I seem to keep aging and seeing a number of my friends developing cancer, I certainly hope I will not develop it.  And, all too often, I've asked individuals if they are going to heaven only to hear them say "Well, I hope so." Even the Apostle Paul used the term hope in this more popular fashion.  Writing to the Romans he says "I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain - for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while."

      All of these illustrations share a huge measure of uncertainty.  When we use the term hope in the popular sense, it's usually just wishful thinking.  Yes, sometimes our "hope" is based on some factual evidence; for instance, one could look at the weather-man's forecast and make a somewhat educated guess at the rain possibilities for today.  Comparing Pittsburgh's and Detroit's records and all the associated stats might suggest an edge to one team or the other.  But in the end, hope as popularly used carries enormous uncertainty.

      However, when the Psalmist wrote "For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth" (71:5), it wasn't wishful thinking.  And notice that the writer included a synonym for his use of the word hope; it's the word confidence.  Ps. 146:5 says "How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God."  Here we see that hope can be "in" the Lord.  I would suggest that the writer's use in this text suggests both trust and confidence in the Lord.  In several passages, God Himself is personified as our Hope (Jer. 17:13; Col. 1:27; 1 Tim. 1:1).  The promise of salvation is called hope when Matthew quotes Isaiah's prophecy in 12:18-21.  The word hope used by Matthew would be synonymous with the word trust.  In Romans, Paul uses the term hope over a dozen times.  We see the aspect of anticipation in Romans 8:24, 25 as Paul writes "For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it."  Paul was not just hedging his bets; he was quite confident in his hope of heaven!

      Other verses suggest other aspects of Biblical hope.  Prov. 10:28 indicates hope is a peace and blessing while 1 Thess. 5:8 shows us that hope is a security and protection.  Hope can produce steadfastness (Job 13:15).  Hope brings assurance, confidence, and stability - it's "an anchor of the soul, steadfast and sure . . . ." (Heb. 6:18,19) 

      As I contemplate the Old Testament prophets preaching to the Israelites, giving them hope, I'm struck by the fact that, in most cases, the hearers never experienced the blessings the prophets proclaimed!  Yet, their messages were to bring hope to the hearers!  Let me suggest to you that Biblical hope involves much more a view to God's plan than to the needs of my person. 

      The Biblical texts seem to indicate that Biblical hope first involves a belief that God is Sovereign; He's in control and we can rest in that confidence, whether His promised blessings occur in our lifetimes or not.  Following closely to that fact, it appears that Biblical hope involves a belief that God is Sufficient; as the song writer so aptly says "He is all I need"!  And quite similar to the sufficiency of God is a third aspect of Biblical hope - God is my Satisfaction.  He completely satisfies!  Because of who He is, I can be at peace, living a stable life, and enjoying the blessings of being in Him.  And finally, and this is especially seen in the Old Testament prophets' messages, Biblical hope involves a very clear belief that my needs and wants must be Submitted to His will, to His plan, to His timing. 

      In all of life, if I have Biblical hope, I am going to be focused on His plan, His timing, His ways.  I'm not going to be focused on "me, myself, and I" as the saying goes!  Do you evidence Biblical hope?  Are you resting in Biblical hope?  Think about it!

                        Pastor