August 28, 2005
"Got Hope?"
A Call to Faithfulness—Part 11
Titus 3:3-7 and selected
My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago—and He doesn't break promises!
—Titus 1:2 (Mess)
A call to faithfulness includes hope!
Hope deferred makes the heart sick...
—Proverbs 13:12a
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
—Romans 15:4
As believers we have H.O.P.E because...
1. ...we are Heirs.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs...
—Titus 3:6-7
"We are kids of the King."
You are his (Christ's) heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you.
—Galatians 3:29B (NLT)
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.
—Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)
2. ...we can be Optimistic about the future!
We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
—Titus 3:13 (CEV)
"When hope is gone, people fall apart emotionally, physically and spiritually."
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
—Romans 15:13
"I've read to the end of the Book and God wins!"
3. of His Presence.
"Don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you. I will support you..."
—Isaiah 41:10 (NCV)
"Wherever we are God is here."
"I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
—Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
I have hope when I think of this: The Lord's love never ends; His mercies never stop. They are new every morning.
—Lamentations 3:21-23 (NCV)
4. ...of Eternal Life.
...we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
—Titus 3:7b
...a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.
—Titus 1:2
He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.
—Revelation 21:4
...we will be with the Lord forever.
—1 Thessalonians 4:17b
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
—1 Corinthians 13:12
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
—1 Corinthians 2:9
"We only see the cover and the title page. We have yet to see the whole story."
Lifework
In God's great mercy He has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
—1 Peter 1:3 (NCV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
—Romans 15:13
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
—Isaiah 40:31
Digging Deeper
- How can we live in a constant state of hope with the trials and pain of this world? Read Romans 8:18-25
- Read Titus 3:8. Because "we have the hope of eternal life," what does Paul want us to devote ourselves to?
- Read Hebrews 6:19-20 and name two more objects of our hope as Christians.