Agents of Hope

Rev Raymond Pu

06-05-2018

World Vision is about opportunities to give hope to those without hope.

What is the Christian's hope?

Most people understand hope as wishful thinking.

1 Peter 1:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

Living Before God Our Father

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Christian hope is a confident expectation.

Hebrews 11:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 8:24-25 New King James Version (NKJV)

24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Don't be envy with others but continue to fear with the fear of the Lord because your hope will never be cut off.

We have waited for more than 2,000 years for that blessed hope. We are yearning for the day that the Lord comes back to take us home to enjoy every blessing that He has given us.

Without hope, life is meaningless.

Psalm 28:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.

Psalm 46:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

We have a God that will watch over us.

We will be free from fear and anxiety.

1 Peter 1:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV)

A Heavenly Inheritance

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Christian hope is rooted in faith in the divine salvation in Christ.

Our righteousness comes from Christ.

Galatians 5:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Hope is brought into being by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Hope is produced by endurance and suffering too.

Philippians 1:20 New King James Version (NKJV)

20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 

Hebrews 6:18-19 New King James Version (NKJV)

18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might[a] have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

We can boast in the hope that we have. The hope that we have is of God. This hope will see me through.

Ephesians 2:12 New King James Version (NKJV)

12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Along with faith and love, hope is an enduring virtue of a Christian's life. 

Colossians 1:4-5 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

Love springs from hope.

Hope produces love, joy and peace in believers through the power of the Spirit.

Hope in the return of Christ is the basis for believers to purify themselves in this life.

Titus 2:11-14 New King James Version (NKJV)

Trained by Saving Grace

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

It is this hope that keeps us to live a life that is worthy and pleasing in the eyes of God.

What is so important by Christian's hope?

If our future is not secured and satisfied by God then we are going to be excessively anxious.

Hope is the birthplace of a Christian's self-sacrificing love.

If we don't have hope that Christ is for us then we will be engaged in self-preservation and self-enhancement.

That kept us from loving others.

Start to love. Start to make that difference. That is the moment that God is made visible through you.

Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because God already promised. It is all in God's hand. God is in control of everything. That is His Word. Our hope is always in God that God will have a plan for each of us.

How do we build our hope in God?

Hope is built upon the solid rock of Christ's work.

Faith and hope are overlapping realities: hope is faith in the future tense. So most faith is hope.

Romans 10:17 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hope, just like faith, comes from knowing all the promises of God.

Romans 8:32 New King James Version (NKJV)

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

God Himself did not withhold His own Son so that we can receive from Him.

All the powers and strength comes fr God. You need it, you can have it. God will give you the strength, the ability, the self control.

It is based on what Christ has done for us.

What has Christ done for you on your sinful condition? 

Christ died for you, rose again for you. Therefore all the promises if God are yes and amen in Him.

Look away from our present circumstances and look to God.

You and I are people of hope because we have a God of hope with us. He is the one that gives us that hope. We can stand strong upon it.

What does people of hope do then?

We have experienced that hope.

People of hope bring hope to others.

God wants us to be agents of hope.

What is the difference between people of hope and agents of hope?

It is the difference between seeing and doing, the difference between recognising the problem and working to solve it.

Faith and hope work hand in hand.

Set in our hearts to be agents of hope.

Yes, God cares. He has plans for good. We are here as agents of hope to reflect God's love and burden.

Jesus Himself specialises on hopeless cases.

Jesus Himself is an agent of hope.

Matthew 12:18-21 New King James Version (NKJV)

18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.”[a]

He was primarily a man of action. He came to give hope.

Today you can be an agent of hope to make a difference in the lives of other people, especially those who have lost all hope.

We are ambassadors of Christ,  messengers and agents of hope.

World Vision is a Christian organisation. It is part of the global Christian community. It can achieve what it is able to achieve by the power and provisions of God to shine the light of God into lives.

James 2:18 New King James Version (NKJV)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[a] works, and I will show you my faith by my[b] works.

We are motivated and compelled by the love of Jesus Christ.

Seek to love and live as Jesus did.

Witness for Christ through His generous love.

Christian love is free. It is practiced through our actions.

John 13:35 New King James Version (NKJV)

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Therefore, bring hope to the people. Be agents of hope for Jesus Christ. Empower them to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their children.