08/11/2022 - Part 1 - Unselfish Love (Hope - Sweet Relief)

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Elder Jonathan Lonon Sermon Notes September 11, 2022 Hope - Sweet Relief Part 1 of 2 of Unselfish Love Song: My Hope is Built Recognitions: Pastor and First Lady, church family, guest, wife, bereaved and traveling, other… Prayer: (remember 9/11 and pray for healing and power of God to destroy yoke of recent violence spikes in America) Play Video Clip: “Sent us hope” clip from Star Wars Story Rogue One movie… Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB): Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love— but the greatest of these is love. In a previous lesson titled, “Unselfish Love”, which I taught in May of this same year, I described this verse as the Oreo Cookie of the Bible. That day I only dipped the ends (Faith and Love, or Charity) in the milk of the Word. I said that one day I might get to creme in the middle. That time has come. You can go back and view that lesson for the details, but just as the verse declares, I explained that the love of God is great and everlasting because it is proven in the Son of God. The verse shows that we start with faith (a gift, so nothing we can boast about) and that love takes up the never- ending rear (another gift, remember that He first loved us)! But there is something in the middle that is important - it would not be there if it was not. Filling in the gap between the Oreo Cookie ends, which I have classified as Faith and Love, sits Hope - the sweet relief that cements it all together. Well, that is, until love has had her perfect work! Instead of Oreo, our brand will be FHL (or FHC if you prefer). What is hope? *Secular Definitions (online dictionary): According to Merriam-Webster Online, Hope can be defined as either a transitive or intransitive verb, or even a noun, depending upon how it is used in writing and speech. Intransitive simply means there is no direct object in the use of the word. Transitive would then, of course, mean that a direct object is being referred to when using the word. Hope as an intransitive verb means “to cherish a desire with anticipation : to want something to happen or be true”. Now as a baby boomer, the first thing that came to mind when I saw the word anticipation was the old Heinz advertisement that “made us wait”! Boy did we really desire that red sauce to hit that plate or those fries! Wanting something to happen or be true is usually summed up in hope-filled phrases like: hopes for a promotion; hoping for the best; or I just hope so. As a transitive verb, hope is a desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment, such as to say: I hope he or she remembers; or hopes to be invited. It can also mean to expect with a certain confidence, such as to say: your mother is doing well, I hope. A humorous example of the confidence often characterized as “hope against hope”: In a popular movie Jim Carry has been definitively turned down by the beautiful women who is most certain that she has stopped any further advancements toward her. In his signature comedic style, he interprets her rejection as a new stepping stone of hope by then asking, “…so you are saying there IS a chance!” LOL As a noun, hope is the desire of expectation of or belief in fulfillment (I came in hopes of seeing, no hope for a cure, when they were young and full of hope); the center attraction of the person or thing desired (our only hope for victory); or simply the thing desired (great hopes for the coming year). Not great with English language nuances? No worries, you will still be able to enjoy this cookie! A more serious example of hope as a noun in a well-known phrase was started by Reverend Jessie Jackson as he encouraged a race and a country to “Keep Hope Alive!” Whether transitive or intransitive, verb or noun, hope can usually be associated with a factor of trust or reliance in or about something or someone. How does the Bible define hope and guide us in its application as either a verb or a noun? We will attempt to skirt the English sentence structures going forward because we are really aiming for biblical truth and understanding with regard to hope. To that end, we must approach the term from Greek or Hebrew exegetical stances to establish context that first brings hope to life for the believer. Afterward, we will have a spiritual roadmap for “keeping it alive” (at least for as long as needed - which we’ll explain in a bit). Although there are many scriptures that contain the word Hope, some which we will hopefully highlight, a section of scripture that gives great foundational understanding to hope is Romans 8:18-25: Romans 8:18–25 (CSB): For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly awaits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the first-fruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. Did you see that?! Hope is center of our faith and God’s love! Hope is necessary because our faith will take us through some struggles. You are not the only one groaning and in need of hope - the entire creation knows that something is off! Even after exercising our faith to believe in Christ and receive His gift, we know it is only “first fruit”. Faith and the rewards that follow are only part of the cookie. It’s good and tasty, but there is still a bitterness that we must endure because of man’s fall. The hope for that other edge of the cookie (the everlasting edge) is smack dab in the middle. It is all those things we described in the secular definitions like desired expectations, confidence, and unwavering trust that there will be fulfillment of a promise to be eternally changed. A promise to forever dwell with the lover of our souls! Go ahead, scrape that hope with those bottom teeth! Lick that cream, baby! Yeah, things may not be all you want, but you’re saved. It may not look good right now, but His promises are Yes and Amen! Wallow in the middle. Make the devil mad. He thought you were going to walk away because all your praying seemed like a ball bouncing back off the wall. But like Paul, we keep praying, we keep pressing, we keep seeking, we keep knocking, because hope breeds patience, and we will wait till our change comes. We’re building our hope so that the end will be that much more enjoyable!