People Of Hope: Hope Is An Anchor

A People of HOPE can transform a HYPER culture.

When you add People of the Book + Way + Little Christ’s = A “People of Hope.”

 
With God, Empty is an Illusion.

Genesis 1:1-3a (NIV) In the beginning, God…

Genesis 1:1-3a (NIV) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

There are places that can feel empty and look empty but they are not empty because, as the angel answered Mary’s question, “how can this be?” the angel responds, “nothing is impossible with God!

Although “hope” is often used as a verb and an emotion, HOPE is a person and an anchor.

1 Timothy 1:1 (NIV) “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.”

Empty Can Masquerade as Full.

Acts 9:3-9 (NIV) 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 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. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Acts 9:17-19 (NIV) 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

To be full of yourself is to be empty of God. We have to be emptied of ourselves before we can be full of God.

Hebrews 6:13-20 (NIV) 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

 
Romans 4:17 (NIV) As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV) 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

·      Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

·      Stick together (either on line or in person).

·      Encourage one another.

·      Hope-filled people can transform a hyper culture into a hope-full culture.

·      A hope-full culture (critical mass of people) can transform empty systems/ways/methods of living into life giving systems/ways and methods.

·      Life giving systems will give people the opportunity to be transformed by the hope that sparked the entire process.