Hope In The New Year
Notes
Transcript
Message
Message
Turn to 1 Corinthians 13:13.
It was late in my high school years that I first began paying attention to something called “March Madness.” Yes, I discovered the famous college basketball tournament and began learning about one particular team, Duke University.
I had never been into sports very much growing up. Sometimes my family would find a Penn State Football game on TV and watch Joe Paterno rant against players and referees alike. Well when I was introduced to college basketball, I began noticing this guy called Coach K, the long-time coach of the Duke University men’s basketball team.
I couldn’t help but notice some similarities between Joe Paterno and Coach K. Whether it was a bad call by a referee or a poorly executed play by his players, Joe Pa would be visibly furious when things didn’t go his way in a football game. When his players did everything right and they won the game, he might crack a smile. Coach K was very similar. He was hot when his team played poorly and he was just mild when they did well.
For both men, their style of leadership had some of the same defining qualities.
Well this morning I’d like to bring your attention to a verse that identifies the defining qualities of Christianity. As Paul writes this letter to the carnal, needy church at Corinth, he has been addressing sin that was in the church. He has been teaching them about how the local church functions. He’s been teaching them about spiritual gifts. He’s been teaching them about sacrificial love, but then as he closes out this chapter on love, Paul names three timeless qualities that define our faith in Christ.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:13.
In the context of this verse, Paul is telling the Corinthians that God had given them spiritual gifts. Some gifts are to edify one another, others, such as tongues and prophecy, were temporary and were to confirm the Word of God. But while some gifts would cease, faith, hope, and charity would endure - they would abide - as defining characteristics of the Christian faith.
There’s one word in this verse that I want you to notice: the word, “hope.”
Hope.
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity...”
This hope that we have because of Christ is one of the three defining qualities of our faith. This hope stands in stark contrast to the hopelessness found in the religions of this world!
When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, he reminded them of their hopelessness before they met Christ. Oh, they were devout worshippers of Diana! In Acts chapter nineteen, when they heard Paul’s preaching in Ephesus, they were full of anger and cried out, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” The townclerk, when he tried to calm down the mob, said, “everyone in the whole world knows that the city of the Ephesus worships the goddess Diana!” They were religious, but they were hopeless!
Ephesians 2:12 - “That at that time ye were without Christ...having no hope, and without God in the world.”
I confess, I haven’t exhaustively studied all of the world religions, but I don’t think you can name a single one that truly offers hope to the seeking soul. You have to do something and maybe you will make it into paradise. You have to work hard, but you can’t have hope!!! You can’t find one that offers the hope found in Jesus Christ!
In Christ, I know and I have hope!
Hope is mentioned 67 different times in the New Testament. Don’t worry, we aren’t going to look at all of those references, but we will turn to some of them.
Let’s define our term:
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Hope in the Bible is...
Anticipation with assurance
Confident expectation
It is not just a wishful desire for something to be true - “I hope we have ice cream in the freezer.”
It is anticipating and expecting that what God has promised will happen. It allows you to see the present as God sees it.
In the time remaining this morning, I want to answer this question: What Gives Us Hope? Maybe for some reason, you are tempted to feel hopeless this morning. Maybe as we enter a new year, you are tempted to think that this next year is hopeless. Christian, I want you to know that no matter how you may feel, you are never hopeless in Christ.
Here’s three reasons to be hopeful in 2024…
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The past gives us hope
As we look back in Scripture, we find two ways that the past give us hope:
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Through the Word of God - Romans 15:4, Acts 26:6-7
If we look back through the Scriptures, we find promises made to us concerning God’s character, His love, His presence, His care, His grace, His peace, His forgiveness, His wisdom, and His strength.
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For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
If we look back through the Scriptures, God’s character is revealed to us through His works that were forever recorded for our benefit! Yes! Through the Word of God, you will realize that you have much to hope in. The Scriptures will remind you of God’s character and of His mighty works and they will give you reason to have hope today.
The second way that the past gives us hope is…
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Through the resurrection of Christ - 1 Corinthians 15:19-20, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 13, 21.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Turn to and read 1 Peter 1:3-4, 13, 21.
Application: We have a living hope because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! Mark it down, despite sickness, despite turmoil, despite economic uncertainty, and despite your personal worries, you can have hope today, Christian, because Jesus Christ is alive and presently sitting on His throne in Heaven!
Yes, the past gives us hope. Read the Scriptures! Read about the Old Testament heroes of faith! You’ll find so much to give you hope and confidence as a believer!
Not only does the past give us hope, but secondly...
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The present gives us hope
As we enter a new year, our world vainly tries to find hope in the present. They somehow think that a new year will bring a new turn of events and somehow things will just get better in our world. I tell you, I am not at all a pessimistic individual, but that’s not much of a reason to hope right now in our world.
But the Christian finds hope in the present first of all…
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Through the person of Jesus Christ - 1 Timothy 1:1, Col 1:27, Acts 28:20
One songwriter put this hope into words:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
My hope is Jesus--the anchor of my soul,
The Ruler of this universe, the One Who's in control.
He saved me, and He will keep me till the end.
The rock of my salvation--on Christ I will depend.
My hope is Jesus. - Ron Hamilton
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
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To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Application: Christian, the personal presence, the reality of the person of Jesus Christ is a reason for you to hope today! Through the Holy Spirit that dwells within you, Jesus goes with you where you go. He is always near! You can have a confident assurance today that no matter what you face, He is ever near.
A second reason the Christian can hope in the present is…
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Because of eternal life - 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Titus 1:2, 3:7; Colossians 1:23.
Turn to and read 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Titus 1:2, 3:7.
Application: If you are a Christian, you have been given eternal life! What a gift! What a reason to hope!
A third reason the Christian can hope in the present is…
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Because of God’s grace - 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
God is supernaturally working in your life to give you hope for today!
Application: Take comfort in all that you have in Christ right now! As a child of God, you get to enjoy a personal relationship with the Creator! You have received the gift of eternal life, which means that you will never perish and be separated from God! You will know Him forever! Meanwhile, He offers you all the grace that you need to live the victorious Christian life! Our Savior said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Here in the middle of our busy and sometimes chaotic lives, there is so much in the present that gives us hope! There is so much in Scripture that allows us to see the present like God sees it. Thirdly, I want you to see…
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The future gives us hope
The future gives us hope…
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Because of the Rapture and the resurrection of the dead - 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-17, Titus 2:13, Acts 24:15.
Unless the Rapture happens first, I’m going to participate in that resurrection! That gives me hope! It doesn’t matter if you are looking death square in the eye, if you are in Christ, you can have hope because your place in the first resurrection of the dead is guaranteed! Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection and He surely won’t forget you!
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Because of deliverance from sin - Romans 8:20-23, Galatians 5:5.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
One day, we will battle our sin nature no more! Spiritual warfare will cease, and we will be forever delivered from our sin-cursed bodies. I’m excited for that day!
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Because of our rewards and heavenly home - Colossians 1:3-5, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20.
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Application: There is so much for us to anticipate with assurance, knowing that these things will happen just as God has said!
Conclusion
Conclusion
1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV 1900)
And now abideth faith, hope, charity…
Hope. So long as our Savior lives, it’s not going to pass away. It will abide forever.
Do you have hope this morning? Our society tries to offer you hope. There’s plenty of politicians that try to offer you hope. You can find writers who emphasize positive thinking that will try to offer you hope. But I tell you, they don’t know what hope is. The only one who can give us hope is Jesus!
Take heart! Be encouraged! And continually remind yourself of these three reasons why you as a Christian can have hope in the new year.
Invitation
Invitation
Unsaved - If you don’t know Jesus, you are without hope. You need to be saved. Come during the invitation and we’ll have someone show you from the Bible how you can meet the God of hope.
Kids - I want you to know today that Jesus can give you hope. “What do you mean, Pastor Tim?” What I mean is that the only way you can have peace in your heart and confidence in life is by knowing Jesus. Get to know Him, and your life will be filled with hope. Get to know Him, and nothing else in your life will satisfy you like He can. If you are sad or discouraged about something, Jesus can give you hope. If you have questions or would like some help, take your parent by the hand and we’ll find someone who can show you how Jesus can be your hope.
Teens and adults - You are living in a hopeless world. A lucrative career won’t buy hope. A steady income won’t secure hope. If your life feels hopeless right now and if your plans for your future are falling apart, it’s time you run to the God of hope and dwell on all the hope that He offers. In Him is all the hope that you need. If your friends forsake you, if your employer fails you, if your parent or child disappoints you, or if you fail your own expectations, you can still find hope in Jesus and in the life that He offers. So I challenge you: put on the helmet of the hope of salvation! Remember all that you have in Christ!