Have you ever felt like all hope seems lost?
The monthly bills are more than the monthly income…
Your family life is falling apart…
There are rumors at work that there will be layoffs, or they may even close the business!
Your health or the health of your family is in jeopardy…
Your friends seem to desert you one by one…
The general outlook on your life’s future looks very hard…
Someone then says, “All hope is lost!” I would like to really evaluate that statement. Is “all hope” REALLY lost? Where does your hope come from? Where do you find rejuvenation and an encouraged spirit? Where do you anchor your soul?
If my hope is anchored in my job, health, friends, possessions, or even my family – I will find myself hopeless sooner or later. It is crucial to see all hope is not gone when Jesus is near!
Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you, or forsake you.”
Psalm 37:25 – “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
Joshua 1:5 – “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” I Chron. 28:20; Deut. 31:6, 8
Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Let’s take a swift overview of the Gospel of John and see the hope we have in Jesus, through Jesus, and with Jesus.
1. John 3:2-3 – We gain hope knowing we can & will see Jesus!
2. John 4:13-19, 25-26 and John 8:4, 7-11 – There is hope for sinners! (…in Salvation & in forgiveness as Christian)
3. John 5:5-9 – There is hope for the sick!
4. John 6:9-13 – There is hope for those in need of provision!
5. John 6:16-21 – There is hope for those in trials!
6. John 10:14-15 – There is hope for the wonderers!
7. John 11:39-44 – There is hope for the hopeless!
8. John 14:16 – There is always hope when Jesus is near!
Jesus is leaving and cannot be followed. So, Jesus sends “another of the same kind!”
4 Keys to Finding Hope in Jesus
1. You must come to Jesus. This is where it all begins!
2. You must come to Jesus as you are. You will never be good enough, clean enough, righteous enough to think yourself worthy of Jesus. (II Cor. 5:21)
3. You must continue to choose Jesus. You may wander. You may believe yourself unworthy, but He is ready to forgive! Jesus loves you with an eternal love!
4. You must grow your faith in Jesus. The more you see Him answer prayer (because you are praying), the more you read the Bible (His love letter to us), or the more you obey His leading you – the more your faith will grow. You will be able to look and say, “Look! Jesus did that!”
Consider this story of self-made millionaire Eugene Lang, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? Scrapping his notes, he decided to speak to them from his heart. "Stay in school," he admonished, "and I'll help pay the college tuition for every one of you." At that moment the lives of these students changed. For the first time they had hope. Said one student, "I had something to look forward to, something waiting for me. It was a golden feeling." Nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high school. (Source: Parade Magazine)
For the church, your hope is greater than any money could ever buy! You have something waiting for you…fix your eyes on your hope, JESUS!
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
Have you been hopeless about something or someone? Turn to Jesus …our hope for all time.