Finishing Strong with Purpose



We have a strong Hope in this life

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Without hope we will find it very difficult to continue to exercise patients during times of affliction and we won’t be faithful in prayer.

Often, we don’t appreciate the important things in life until we lose them.

It is especially true when it comes to hope.

It’s when you end up in a hopeless place; you realize how much you really need hope.

If you are feeling hopeless right now don’t give up! (Hope is alive)

The bible is a book recorded with many hope filled breakthroughs.

There are also many amazing testimonies of people that were in a place of utter hopelessness that now live in the power of the fullness of God’s hope.

We not talking about the kind of hope that is often spoken of in this world.

That kind of hope is merely wishful thinking; it is nice but it won’t get you very far.

The hope we are talking about is so much more powerful than wishful thinking.

It is Christ centered!

Our hope looks back to Christ’s death and resurrection and looks forward to His coming.

A hope that 1 Corinthians 13:13 says will remain – never ends - always available.

To have this real unending hope in this life: We need a scriptural basis for that hope.

Did you know that there is ONE scriptural basis which is fully sufficient for every situation and every need? (Like a Monkey wrench one size fits all)

I want us to focus on this one scripture for persistence in hope.

Romans 8:28 (NASB) – And we know that God causes All Things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

I draw your attention to the first three words of this verse: “And we know”

The most important question to ask yourself: “Do you really know?”

This then means that there is nothing that has happened, or ever will happen, that is not covered by what is stated in this scripture.

There is no event, no situation, there is not disaster in which we need to despair. Why?

Because God causes everything even apparent disasters to work together for good to those who love Him.

He is in supreme control.

Isaiah 40:28 – Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become tired or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

Jesus said:

Matthew 28:18 – “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

Romans 8:31 (KJV) – If God be for us, who can be against us?

Did you notice the two conditions in Romans 8:28 – “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose?”

These two conditions are very important

You see God has a purpose for each life

All that He does in our lives: His gifts; His provision; His leading; His watchful care.

Everything He has done for us is for the fulfillment of that purpose.

Purpose here means: “Prothesis” in Greek meaning: Living with deliberate intention.

When I am called according to His purpose it simply means living out His life through my life. With deliberate intention

Loving God is the foundation on which we build our lasting hope.

Luke 10:27(Amp) – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.

1 John 5:3 (Amp) – For the [true] Love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts and His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey].

God’s promise to us;

Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV) – 13I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

It’s important to know this:

That our assurance of God’s love and care does not depend on everything going right.

Paul talks about tribulations, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword.

But on all that he still says:

Romans 8:37 – “No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

We have been talking having strong hope in this life

Perhaps you’re not meeting the two conditions: Loving God and walking in His purpose.

Now is a wonderful opportunity to draw close to real hope again.

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