HOPE AGAIN

1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

When hope dies

Psalms 43:5
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

• Hopelessness sets in.
• There are things that destroy hope:
-Overwhelming circumstances
-Disappointed expectations
-Deafening negativism

How can we have hope?

Romans 5:2
. . . and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. . . 5 And hope maketh not ashamed

• Prophetic Promises
Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken . . .

• Past Performance
Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

• Proven Love
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Hope brings . . .

Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

• A Positive Outlook
-“I know my redeemer lives . . .”

• Preparation for the Future
-“I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. . . “

• Expectant Prayer
-2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray . . . will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Undeniable hope

Lamentations 3:21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 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.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.“ NIV