Jesus: The Living Hope of the World (Part 3 of 3)

Hope and Joy

It all comes back to the beginning in making sure we represent Him well and not living in our BC but our AD of our old and spiritually perishing man. Not in the life we had that reflected the world, without Jesus, but a life that reflects we have Him, the greatest gift the world has ever received. Not in the life without a hope perishing in darkness but a life with hope in our savior Jesus Christ, the light of the world. 

The light of the world came so that we shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life (John 8:12). He called us out of the darkness in His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9) and it’s through our words and deeds we shall show others and guide them to that same Light.

The true Light which gives light to every man was coming into the world and to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:9, 12 

I want to ask you to think about where you have put your hope. Before the Lord guided me to write about this topic, I found myself feeling despondent and my hope not being as strong. I then realized I was placing it on the wrong things being distracted by work and things going on in this world, my focus was not fully on Him and that’s why God showed me to do this post on hope. 

We cannot place our hope, in things or other people or even ourselves, the government, our job or business, all those things will disappoint and fade away, they’re fickle and are perishing. 

Psalm 119:114 says I have put my hope in your word. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), Jesus was the word incarnate therefore make the decision and put your hope in Jesus, the solid rock in which we stand, our salvation and fortress our firm foundation and you will never be shaken (Psalm 62:2).

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
Will gain new strength and renew their power;
They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];
They will run and not become weary,
They will walk and not grow tired.
Isaiah 40:31

In this fast-paced world it’s difficult to wait but hoping and waiting go hand in hand and Isaiah says we are to also expect and look for and hope in our waiting. It’s easy when you’re waiting for a promise from God to lose control of your heart and put your hope in the wrong things, but the bible says above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).
 
We should be more like Micah in Micah 7:7 and say, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me”. Micah waited well, he had the right attitude, he expected, looked for and confidently hoped God will act. When you wait well God promises to renew your strength and power and lift you up close to God never becoming weary.
 
 
In the Amplified Classic translation of 2 Corinthians 1:7 hope is our joyful and confident expectation of good.  Therefore, the response of hope is always joy and rejoicing it’s not despair. Pay attention to how you wait, your attitude in the waiting, because a bad attitude is not going to get you what you’re praying for any faster, it actually may take longer. See Paul’s attitude in all his persecutions he still said in 2 Corinthians 7:4, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation”.

Paul just as James knew that when you count it all joy when you fall into various trials, the testing of your faith produces patience and once you allow patience to have its perfect work, you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).
 
Joy and happiness are different, happiness is fickle, always up and down and is connected to your circumstances. Joy on the other hand, is connected to the character of God, joy says I know in whom I trust and I know the promise of my future is secured by the integrity of the almighty God himself and I’ll rejoice in that,
I may not feel happy and my circumstances may not be good, but I choose to be joyful in the Lord because the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). 

True strength comes from God’s unshakable joy not fleeting happiness or circumstances providing endurance through trials and peace in the midst of storms that rage against us.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states that in Christ Jesus, it is God’s will for us in every situation no matter the circumstances to continually give thanks to God, rejoicing always and delighting in our faith, being unceasing and persistent in prayer. The key here is through Christ Jesus, not in our own strength.

How do we maintain our hope and joy in the waiting?  Consistent exposure to the word of God is essential to maintain and grow spiritually. We must keep filling our cups. Intentionally incline your ear to God and listen for His voice when He speaks. John 10:27 shows us, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”.

The more you spend time with Him and His word, you get to know Him better, your relationship with Him grows and you are able to hear Him more clearly and walk in stronger fellowship with Him. Another strong way to build and maintain our hope and joy is through praise, worship and thanksgiving.

Worship, praise and thanksgiving are strong spiritual warfare. When the devil is trying to make you despondent and bring on that spirit of heaviness lift up your hands and worship Him. Put on the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3). 

With all that Jesus came and accomplished for us, praise and worship is one special gift we can gift to Him for His birthday this Christmas. Remember God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), it goes up like incense, a sweet perfume to Him (Psalm 141:2). 

In difficult circumstances, fight against that flesh and just do it anyways. It’s in those times we experience God’s power even more to a point where you will experience Jesus like you’ve never had before and He will transform, heal, comfort and strengthen you and wrap His loving arms around you with His love and peace that surpasses all understanding.
 
Romans 12:12 gave us instructions of what we should do in our circumstances at default, we should be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. The Amplified version states we should be constantly rejoicing in hope (because of our confidence in Christ), steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer (continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength). 

It is according to God’s great mercy that we are born again not to a dead hope but to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3). Whatever you focus most on will be more, focus on Jesus, our living hope and press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

Let us give thanks to Him this Christmas for coming to give us a hope for not only the present but for our future- eternal life, the hope of heaven. Thank the Light for coming to shine in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5). 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 says). 
 
Are you truly trusting God today? If you do, His hope will fill you overflowing with all joy and peace, the key part here is not in our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray and ask the Lord, the God of hope, that by the power of the Holy Spirit to fill us with this precious hope.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am sorry if I haven’t been putting my hope in you and I’ve put my hope in other things. I repent of all my sins, and I rededicate and surrender my life and my will to you Jesus. You are my Lord and Savior, I fully commit myself to you. Help me be a better person to best serve and represent you well on this earth. Put the right words in my mouth being always ready to proclaim your gospel upon the earth. We have Christmas because we needed a savior. From the very foundations of the earth, you had already planned how you were going to redeem us and reconcile us with you. You sacrificed your only begotten son, and Jesus came as a willing sacrifice so that no one should perish but have everlasting life, the hope of heaven. Thank you, Jesus, for coming, you are our rock, our firm foundation, I choose Jesus to put my hope in you and only you. I seize and hold tightly the confession of my hope without wavering, for You who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful to your word (Hebrews 10:23). Help me to joyfully focus, confidently expect good and keep my hope and faith in you and not on other people or things. It is not by might nor by power but by your spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Holy Spirit help, guard and guide me in the right direction. When the enemy attacks, strengthen me and help me to keep my trust in you and as I do so overflow me with the hope that is in Christ Jesus and fill me with your joy and peace. Father, I humble myself under your mighty hand and set aside all self-righteous pride, so that you may exalt me to a place of honor in your service at the appropriate time (1 Peter 5:6). Grant me the desires of my heart according to your will and plan (Psalm 37:4) and I choose to wait on you, I rejoice in you, I delight in you, my God. Help me to have a better, more positive attitude in the waiting knowing fully well, you are faithful and true to your word. Your name, your blood and your word oh Lord is truth, and you are more than worthy. Father I now pray for others who have lost or diminished hope. I pray that you help me to encourage, show and lead them away from the hopeless darkness to the light of world, our living hope, Jesus Christ our Messiah. I pray all this in Jesus’ matchless and mighty name, Amen.

Thank you for journeying with us this Christmas through Jesus: The Living Hope of the World. It’s been an honor to explore the depth of hope, light, and joy found in Christ alongside you. May the truths you’ve discovered continue to illuminate your path and strengthen your faith. I’m grateful you took the time to read, reflect, and grow with me. Be Blessed!