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CHOOSING HOPE (Hebrews 11:8-19)
- Text (Hebrews 11:11) - And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.
INTRODUCTION:
- To Choose is to Select; It means Selecting, Preferring, opting for, Picking;
- Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust; expectation; confidence
As the year is about to end you might have somethings that you had put down as your goals. Some were fulfilled, but some were not. Because of the pandemic some might be looking very far and not possible. Some have already quit chasing their hope and some are still. For those that have already quitted; you are disappointed, frustrated and not feeling good.
In life there are many challenges. Ecclesiastes says there are times for mourning or celebrating, a time to fight or rejoice, a time to question or trust, but there is one thing we always hold onto, Hope. Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
When you lose hope more often you become frustrated. You see there is no meaning to everything, but when there is hope, you are encouraged and can overcome so many things and upcoming challenges in life.
It does not matter if your heart is broken or you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, I want you to Choose hope today. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Body
We are in a season that we all need to choose hope, instead of despair. From the reading, we have heard about two people who were husband and wife, they had no children up to an old age when there was no expectation, but the Lord changed everything. They waited for 25 years for the fulfilment of the promise. Waiting is the most difficult discipline of life. Yet faith is able to wait in tough times for fulfilment of God’s promise in God’s time. As Abraham was now 99 years old, the Lord visited him (Genesis 17) and made covenant between Himself and Abraham. Abraham thought all scores had been settled. Ishmael was already born by that time through Sarah maid (bond woman) Hagar, but he was not heir. Sarah was 90 years old when she became pregnant. She had passed the season of fruitfulness. Her productive system was no longer functional, but when the supernatural intervenes everything that has lost hope will regain strength. When God spoke to Abraham, Sarah laughed because of doubt. Facts and her age was not in line with what God was saying. God superseded all human facts that were present in their lives in Jesus name. May the Lord do that to you. It is important to note that, they obeyed but they did not know how God will fulfill it. Whilst we are waiting, we must also be obeying. Some times we are pressed down and we you have no voice; like what David says in Psalms 42:5,11 & Psalms 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
I want someone that is listening to me here, to hope in the Lord and trust in him. God always fulfills his promises to his believing people either immediately or ultimately. Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Yes we might hope but let me tell you something, without Christ there is no hope, 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Let me tell you something that is very simple that we do everyday which shows our hope: Every night we go to bed, we have no assurance to get up alive in the next morning but still you have plans for the coming day; that’s Hope! That’s what we call hope!!! Believing in the unseen and living in it. Always be positive in life, there is a season of everything on earth. Without hope, you have no purpose.
Where there is life there is hope, always stay focused, there is a better future ahead. Abraham lived in future tense. For example, ending of the year is not the ending of your life. Live in future tense. No matter how many times you fall, you must always be determined to succeed. Rise up and try again and again. You must not lose hope. Abraham had failed and had a son with another woman, but he rose up and focused again. When you stop dreaming your life ends, when you stop believing, your hope ends. Hope and dream, to move forward in life. No one said life is easy, there are challenges every day, and we must never give up in the middle of the challenge. Always have hope you will see it through. Don’t let the challenges in your life dictate your destiny, get up and shape your path. Abraham knew that
No one could get him out into something that he got himself into. You have to admit your mistakes and face the reality. Start with yours inner self. Don’t think about the negative things that other people say if you don’t want your hopes to be killed. A person who aspires to succeed does not look at how many times they fall, but hopes to accomplish something at the end. There may be so many obstacles on your path, don’t lose hope. Your path will soon be clear and you will accomplish all your dreams. Be positive in life, for there you will find hope and encouragement. HOPE and END are always there for everyone! Depends on us how we deal with them. A HOPELESS END! or An ENDLESS HOPE! Days might be filled with sadness, the sky can be full of dark clouds, but the little ray of hope inside your heart will never die. Even if you are walking alone on a road full of thorns, believe that there is an end to the road. Sorrow always end in happiness! Life can toss you down and make you fall out of the blue, but the hope inside you will pick you up again and again! Do not lose heart when you fail in life, as it is only the start of your journey. In the end, you will be the one to achieve your goals!
When one door shuts, another one opens, but we usually get distracted looking out the window and tripping over the doormat. Don’t lose hope. When you are down to nothing, God is up to something. Smooth roads never make Good drivers! Clear sky never makes Good pilots! Problem-free life never makes a Good person! Life is a Challenge, but you are a winner. Some of you were think that it right at the END but End is not the end, in fact E.N.D is “Effort Never Dies”! Some of you tried opportunities and you received a No. If you get NO in answer then remember NO is “Next Opportunity”! So always be positive.
CONCLUSION:
They (Abraham and Sarah) thought they were finished but that was the beginning hope. May the Lord give you hope that never dies and opportunities that never end. “You cannot change anyone but yourself. Choose hope today and not despair. Always hope for the best but keep living your life no matter what.” Have faith when you feel you have nothing else, because every setback is a setup for an even greater comeback in Jesus! Sometimes in life, One feels that all doors are now closed! When that happens in your life, remember these words “A closed door isn’t always locked”! Do not dwell in your past mistakes, rather think of positive things and dream of bigger goals! If you are hopeful, you will succeed for sure! Every day comes with chances, every sun rises with new promises. Do not let those slip away from you. Hope for the best and keep moving forward!
- Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord
- Lamentations 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
- We have got “everlasting consolation and good hope through grace” 2 Thessalonians 2: 12
- Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
- Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
- Genesis 17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
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