There Is Hope

While swimming in the ocean with the waves bigger than expected, Isaac and I braved the sea. I was holding onto his hand lifting him from being buried by the crashing waves. After a few waves had passed and we successfully traversed past them, Isaac exclaimed, “I’m going to do it by myself!” A wave came and he exclaimed, “It’s easier with you.”

We don’t know all of the story of Peter going out on the water, but I tend to think it might have gone like the experience I had with Isaac.

Peter was spiritually hand and hand with Jesus as he stepped out of the boat onto the water. In a split second, he thought he might be able to do it on his own and the waves came. Then he realized, “It’s better with you, Jesus! Help me, Lord!” And he reached out his hand for the Savior.

Consequently, this may be how we treat the waves and seas of our lives. We go with Jesus through the days and it seems ok, even easy. Then we think we can traverse the days without clinging to Him. We soon realize we were wrong and exclaim, “It’s easier with you, Jesus!”

Mark 10:46–52 ESV

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Bartimaeus heard Jesus was coming. We aren’t hearing Jesus coming to us, if you believe in Jesus, He is already here. We just have to cry out like Bartimaeus.

Do you need to cry out to him today? Let’s enter into a time of worship through song.

I want to encourage you, do whatever you can to cry out to Him during this time; whether it’s singing or praying or reading Scripture or kneeling or just staying silent and listening.

There Is Hope

There are a few verses and themes in the Bible that, when all else fails, when you can’t find a specific verse to answer if you should wear a mask or not, you lean on these precepts. One is love. When all else fails and you can’t find the answer... love; because when you love you are literally putting God into the situation because “God is love.” God equals love, you love with true love and you are inserting God. That is why, in Scripture, specifically within Paul’s letters, almost anytime it mentions “in Jesus” you can substitute “in Love”, and vice versa, and the verse does not loose context or meaning.

The same is true with this verse. When the words can’t come because of such heartache. When there is no answer to the horror that surrounds, this is the verse that gives hope.

Romans 8:28 ESV

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.

Before we break this verse down, let’s read a little around it.

Romans 8:12–30 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 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. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Let’s break down this verse.

“We” - Paul, the author, and the 1st Christians

“know” - oida - a cognitive knowing

This is not an experiential or discerning knowing; not based on feeling. This is a cognitive knowing. This engages the mind to tell the rest of the person to submit to a knowledge of what’s coming next...

“that” - hoti - “for the purpose of”

this word indicates purpose

…for the purpose of all those who “love”

“love” - agapaō - love for a person and their good

to love (Christian) v. — to have a strong, non-sexual affection and love for a person and their good as understood by God’s moral character; especially characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or privileges in another person’s behalf.

Matthew 20:28 ESV

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This is the “forfeiting of rights or privileges in another person’s behalf.” The other person in this equation is God.

We are putting ourselves aside, our rights, our privileges, on behalf of God!…this is the God of the Universe we’re talking about.

“all” - pas - ALL, EVERY

NOW we get to “all”…now all means a lot in Greek. It means…ALL! There is no sub-text or syntax or situational context that changes the meaning of the word all.

“work together” - synergeō - things working together for a greater something

synergy means the accumulation of things working together for a greater something…in this case GOOD

“good” - agathos - good, serviceable

Isn’t that interesting that, pertaining to things, as opposed to persons for moral good, it includes serviceable.

We forfeit our rights and serve God with agapao love and He services all our stuff.

This good, and it’s service, is not defined by us but by God.

“those” - ho - the

“called” - klētos - called to follow God

Romans 1:7 ESV

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“according to” - kata - according to

Not much there other than it connecting and leading to the next...

purpose - prothesis - purpose; plan; setting forth

It all leads to this…His purpose. And His purpose again helps frame “good”. Remember, this good purpose is not defined by us but by God.

His purpose…to lead us to Jesus. The OT points to Jesus. Jesus comes on the scene and saves us. The rest of the NT continues to reveal who Jesus is and how we can grow closer to Him.

There Is Hope

Let’s read a few more that will give you HOPE:

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Matthew 24:35 ESV

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Psalm 42:11 ESV

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Love never ceases…mercies never end...

His mercies are new every morning…take that in. It’s like the slate’s been clean and you get to begin again every morning but your slate’s not clean. You still get to retain the knowledge you learned from yesterday and apply to today.

Great is HIS faithfulness...

In light of His miracles of grace and mercy should we not react like Bartimaeus...

It's always amazing to be aware of God's movement within His Kingdom and witness His miracles of life transformation

There Is Hope

Questions? - Jesus truly is the answer!

Jesus is the central figure in Scripture; there would be no Scripture if it weren't for Jesus. So, every question we have must center around Jesus.

When we question why this is happening or that is happening, we must start with a question…how is this drawing me closer to Jesus? And then pray, through His Spirit, God please reveal Jesus to me in this situation. Jesus is continually revealing Himself to us through ALL things.

We just need to cry out to Him IN all things.

There Is Hope

Related Media

Related Sermons