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Hope.

What is the Biblical definition of faith?

Hebrews 11:1.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Your faith can be defined by what you hope for, with that in mind ask yourself these questions:

What am I hoping for?

Do I have a desire to be holy?

What is my vision for the future?

Is my hope in man?

Is my hope focussed on God and His ability and resources?

Do I believe that God knows what is best for me?

Is what I have put my hope in worth sharing with others?

1. What are you hoping for?

Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

There is no such thing as blind faith, hope is the eye of faith.

Faith is believing that the vision you have, what you have set your sights on, will become a reality.

Proverbs 29:18. Where there is no vision, the people perish;

Hebrews 11:6-7. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.

What are you doing in holy fear? ( working out your Salvation ??)

2. Do you have a desire to be holy?

Are you happy with being lukewarm and carnal or do you have a desire to be Christ-like?

1 John 3:1-3.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Hebrews 12:14.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

How much effort are you putting into living a life of separation from the world and it’s influences and beating your body down, as Paul said he did to make it his slave?

2. Do you have a desire to be holy?

The hope that is required of us and that is a result of genuine repentance, changes us from a self-centred person following one’s carnal desires to a Christ-centred follower of Christ.

1 John 3:2,3.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

2 Corinthians 7:9-11.

For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.

2. Do you have a desire to be holy?

Holiness means being set apart, it does not mean sinless perfection.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18.

Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you and, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

1 Peter 1:13-17

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.

3. What is your vision for the future?

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.

John 9:39-41.

Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.

Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, What? Are we blind too? Jesus said, If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

3. What is your vision for the future?

It is interesting to note that when the Lord opened (Saul’s) Paul’s spiritual eyes he made him physically blind for 3 days.

The seen often hinders us from seeing the unseen.

Acts 9:3-7.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

3. What is your vision for the future?

Acts 9:8-12.

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias! Yes, Lord, he answered. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.

3. What is your vision for the future?

Once we have spiritual sight we then have the choice of what to set our eyes on.

Hebrews 12:1-2.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame.

2 Corinthians 4:18.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

3. What is your vision for the future?

Paul’s vision.

Acts 26:19.

So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.

Acts 20:22-24.

And now compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardship are facing me.

However I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

What a vision, hardship/ suffering….

Does your vision compel you?

3. What is your vision for the future?

1 Corinthians 2:9-12.

However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them?

In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

4. Is your hope in man.

Psalm 146:3-5.

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God.

Psalm 147:10-11.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

4. Is your hope in man.

Jeremiah 17:5-10. Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.

5. Is your hope in God and His ability and resources

Psalm 33:13-22.

From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

5. Is your hope in God and His ability and resources .

Psalm 3:2-6.

But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side

2 Kings 6:15-17.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. Oh no, my lord! What shall we do? the servant asked. Don’t be afraid, the prophet answered. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. And Elisha prayed, Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see. Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

6. Do you believe that God knows what is best for you?

David Wilkerson devotional: God’s best is not something to fear; He not only knows what is best for you, He wants you to have His best! If we truly believed this it would produce such rest, peace and joy in us! We would not grieve over letting go of things; we would know we’ve been set free from all bondage! We would say, “Lord, if You are taking this from me, it must mean You have something much better for me. So take it—You can have it! Beloved, we need to rest in the loving hand of our Father! We need to come to the point of trust where we say, “I have a loving Father who wants the very best for me. He knows it all!” How did Job finally come to a place of rest? He persuaded himself that God knew what He was doing and that everything was under control! Job said “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Many Christians see God at work in their lives yet they still wonder, “What if I blow it? If your heart is right before God, if you keep returning to Him and seeking Him with all your heart, nothing will change His plans for you!

6. Do you believe that God knows what is best for you?

Romans 8:28-39.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose….

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

6. Do you believe that God knows what is best for you?

Romans 8:28-39. (continued)

As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

7. Is what you hope in worth sharing with others.

Ephesians 2:12-13.

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

1 Peter 3:14-16.

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Being prepared is not just having the confidence to speak or knowing what to say, but having a life that is a good testimony.

How is hope produced?

By God’s Word.

Romans 15:4.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

By having the right attitude during times of testing and suffering.

Romans 5:1-5.

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.

Hope.

Hebrews 6:9-12.

Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case, the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Hope.

1 Corinthians 13:13.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

However hope produces faith and love.

Colossians 1:3-5.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.

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THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB:

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (http://www.lockman.org)