THE GOD OF HOPE: Hope and Peace 4-3-22

THE GOD OF HOPE: Hope and Peace 4-3-22

 

INTRODUCTION

 

In Kurt Vonnegut’s novel, Cat’s Cradle, an important book comes to light. It is titled, "What Can a Thoughtful Man Hope for Mankind on Earth, Given the Experience of the Past Million Years?" The chief character is anxious to read it. But when he does, he finds that it doesn’t take long. The whole book consists of one word: "Nothing."

 

Hope was not a characteristic of the secular world in the first century either. The word was seldom used. Only occasionally do you find it in writings of that time period. When it was employed, it was almost always used in a context that refers to something illusory or even wishful thinking. Secular burial inscriptions reveal no content suggesting hope of an afterlife. In fact, one secular burial epitaph from Paul’s day says:

 

I was not

I became

I am not

I care not.

 

Paul was right in suggesting the world was "without hope and without God" (Eph. 2:12ff; 1 Thess. 4:13).

                            {Warren Wiersbe, "Be Ready," p. 83}

 

We know the God of hope

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

                            Romans 15:13 NIV

 

"The Christian hope is the hope which has seen everything and endured everything, and has still not despaired, because it believes in God. The Christian hope is not hope in the human spirit, in human goodness, in human endurance, in human achievement; the Christian hope is hope in the power of God."

                            William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans

 

I.  HOPE AND PEACE

 

              A.  Peace is a gift from God.

 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

                            John 14:27 NIV

 

              B.  Peace with God means peace in this world.

 

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

                            Romans 5:1-8 NIV

 

Russell Davis was a 10-year-old boy who knew a hope that went beyond this life. He had fought cancer for 4 years when he wrote this note to his best friend.

 

Dear Brian,

 

How are you doing? I’m alright in the hospital but a little sleepy. I know that you worry about me some but don't worry too much. Also if it will help you feel better you can come see me if you have time. When I die, if I do soon, don’t worry 'cause I'll be somewhere special in Heaven. And sooner than I know it you’ll be up in Heaven with me, 'cause a thousand years on earth is a minute in Heaven. I know you'll miss me when I’m gone, but just accept it like you did with your uncle. My mom will give you something of mine so you can remember me always. So don't worry too much.

 

Love, Russell.

 

Three days later, Russell asked for a sip of water and said, “I love you, Mom. I love you, Dad” And he went home to be with the Lord.

 

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,”

                            Romans 14:17 NIV

 

              C.  Peace calls us to be thankful

 

 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

                            Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

 

II.  HOPE, PEACE, AND CERTAINTY

 

              A.  Our hope and peace come from the work of Jesus Christ.

 

“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

                            Isaiah 53:1-12 NIV

 

Our use of the word "hope" is usually based on uncertainty. Suppose an engaged couple says, "We have an outdoor wedding planned for Saturday; we hope it doesn't rain." In saying this, they are saying that the possibility of rain is there, but their preference is for no rain.

 

But when the New Testament uses the word "hope", it is based on certainty. It's stating an absolute fact, but that fact hasn't occurred just yet. Let's go back to that engaged couple. Suppose it's Friday night, and one of them "I hope tomorrow is going to be Saturday," we'd think that a little strange. Of course tomorrow's going to be Saturday! It might rain, it might not. It could be cold, it could be hot. But no matter what, the day after Friday is Saturday, and nothing can change that. When Paul uses the word hope, he is doing something like that. He is stating a certainty that has not yet occurred.

 

              B.  Our certainty comes from the Lord

 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

                            Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

 

The best acronym I have ever seen is H-O-P-E:

 

Hold

On

Pain

Ends!!

 

III.  HOPE, PEACE, AND CONTENTMENT

 

              A.  “We have not because we ask not.”

 

“You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

                            James 4:2b-3 NIV

 

In the town of Port Hope in Ontario, there is a monument erected, not for a politician or a war hero, but for a poor, unselfish working man who gave most of his life and energy to help those who could not repay him.

 

Joseph Scriven was born in Dublin 1820. In his younger days, he had the potential of becoming a great citizen with high ideals and great aspirations. At the time, he was engaged to a beautiful young woman who had promised to share in his dreams, but on the eve of their wedding her body was pulled from a pond into which she had accidentally fallen and drowned.

 

Joseph never overcame the shock. Although he was already a college graduate and ready embark on a brilliant career, he began to wander to try to forget his sorrow. His wanderings eventually brought him to Canada where he spent the last forty-one of his sixty-years. It was during this time that he became a devoted Christian. One of the results of his new-found faith was that he did a lot of work to help poor widows and sick people. In fact, a lot of times he worked for free.

 

He had a secret ability, though. You see, he was a bit of a poet. Nobody knew about it because he kept it a secret. But a short time before his death, a friend was sitting with him while he was ill. And while visiting, this friend discovered a poem Joseph had written to his mother during a time of sadness.

 

This poem was later set to music and has become a favourite hymn. From what I understand, it’s actually the first song that many missionaries teach in their works. In the polls and surveys taken to determine the popularity of hymns and Gospel songs, Joseph’s poem is always near the top. Some of you probably know this hymn. It’s actually one of my favourites. It says:

 

"What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear.

What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer.

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear;

All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer."

 

              B.  Contentment comes from godliness, not circumstances.

 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

                            1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV

 

CONCLUSION

 

When 18 year old Heidi was thrown from a car and suffered a head injury it was a real miracle that she recovered and was soon in rehab at Crystus Santa Rosa. She was learning to walk again through rehab and therapy and a young 16 year old girl named Ashley was brought to Crystus for rehab. She had suffered a similar injury in an accident and she wasn't talking or walking.

When Heidi heard about Ashley she asked her mother to wheel her in to Ashley's room. At her bedside she stood up with every ounce of her own strength and then said to Ashley, "When I came here I wasn't talking or walking either."

 

Ashley's parents looking on, and Ashley had been given "hope!" Heidi planted a seed of hope into their lives! Before long, Heidi and Ashley were making laps around the hallway together!

 

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

                            2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV

 

We must plant seeds of hope in the lives of those around us.  Peace on earth can only be found in Him.

 

CHALLENGE

 

What will you do with what you have just heard?  How will you respond to the Holy Spirit working within you?  The Challenge is intended to give us an opportunity to contemplate what God is calling us to do in our lives.  Consider these questions and write down your answers. 

 

              1.  Do you have peace

              2.  How would you define peace?

              3.  Are you content?

              4.  What is the source of peace?

              5.  How does peace demonstrate faith in God? 

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.