Hope I “Living Hope”
Hope I - Living hope
Life is very difficult. Can you imagine what it must be like for people who do not know Jesus and have no hope? Worry anxiety fear.
Denying the power of God in our lives increases the power of fear in our lives.
*1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,*
Life is hard, ministry is hard and sometimes you don’t see a way out
Lam 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
Lam 3:22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
Lam 3:23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
- Living hope never stops
*1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance-*
We have ownership of this hope it does not depend on circumstances
We need to operate with understanding of this ownership
It will change the way we view people considered to be lost causes
People may say there is no hope. But that is not the case for me.
t*hat is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept-*
*in heaven for you,*
Imperishable- It doesn’t fade like others forms of hope
Undefiled- It is for your good- Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Kept by God
*1Pe 1:5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith-*
*for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.*
The hope is guarded by faith
Faith in Christ
It is ok if the answer is not revealed to us in our time
*Life Group-*
* Why does giving up seem to be a viable option for Christians?
* How does “living” hope change our way of seeing a negative situation?
* Give an example of how certain circumstances in our lives present a “no way out” situation. Is there truly no way out?
* How does our faith affect our hope?
* What is something the devil tries to convince you is without hope?
*Podcast:*
* Explain the new series?
* What have you seen in people whose hope is lacking?
* Is there ever a point when you give up?
* What do you do when it seems hopeless?
Hope I - "Living Hope"
10/13/19
October 13, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope X: "Hope Killers"
December 8, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope IV “Hope Killers” Suffering causes severe things in our life (weakness, faltering and isolation) *1Pe 5:8* Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The adversary (Against what is right) is the one is coming against you The devil-author of confusion, deception and fear —a beautiful angel of light, Prowling or roaming in his world (greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world) Like a lion- - Away from the herd - Weak and sick - Young *1Pe 5:9* Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. Resist him -Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. firm in your faith- *intervention vs. prevention* Intervention faith is faith born out of crisis (foxhole faith) Prevention faith is faith born out of discipline and intentional, planned growth (faith before the foxhole) *Conclusion:* Satan is coming. When he gets here is not the time to grow faith your faith. Grow your faith before. How is your faith at this moment? Are you planning your faith or hoping your faith? First step is repentance, second is obedience and the third is victory. Connect, Grow and Repent (turn away from sin) _*Questions:*_ 1. How do you picture Satan when you see him in your head? What does he look like? Is this reality? 2. How has connecting, growing and repenting protecting you from Satan? (specific instances) 3. How does your faith measure up? Is it an intervention faith or prevention faith? 4. What are some ways to get prevention faith not intervention?
Hope VII "The Decisive Moment
November 24, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope VIII “The Decisive Moment” 1. 1Pe 4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 1Pe 4:2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. * The more you go through the more you should have a “don’t quit now” * “Whoever has suffered for doing right, and has still gone on obeying God in spite of the suffering it involved, has made a clear break with sin.” (Grudem) 2. 1Pe 4:3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. MSG * Suffering always leads to a decisive moment * Your decisive moment can be your defining moment 3. 1Pe 4:4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 1Pe 4:5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. * There are people all around that do not make it through the suffering and will encourage you to give in as well. * Once again, the tension rises and a decisive moment is born. * Example- Marriage suffering and the bad advice from other sufferers. Conclusion: You have a choice. Live for you or Jesus. Live for them or Jesus. Live for it or Jesus. Its time to make your decisive moment your defining moment *Life Group Questions:* 1. How does suffering cause you to be stronger in your fight against sin? 2. Have you had to decide to move forward in a time of struggle when you did not want to? What caused you to move forward? 3. Explain how your decisive moments can be you defining moments in your peronsal life. 4. How have people treated you when you abstained from sin? Negative? Positive? 5. What could Jesus have done to end His sfuffering on the cross? Did He? Should You?