Hoping Pt.4

Hoping When it Seems Hopeless
Part 4

Hope is made for situations that seem hopeless. We started this series with a choice to make related to the type of life we want to live: a) live in a religious box, or b) live an abundant, relevant life full of power, faith and freshness. God wants to do things that have never been seen before. Christ came for the purpose of drawing people to Himself not just for this time, but for all eternity.

You can have anything with God as long as you understand three principles that must be personally appropriated:
1. You must be fully persuaded (convinced);
2. Realize that every promise of God is accessed and received by faith;
3. You will only be filled to the level of your hunger and thirst. You can increase your hunger and thirst through exposure, fixation, and remembering and reflection. Why the comparisons to food? Because every physical principle comes from the spiritual side. Get your hopes up!
We left off last week with the knowledge that you can increase your capacity to hope.

Joshua 1:8 – God’s instructions to Joshua on bringing the Israelites into the fulfillment of His promise. God had a plan, and He allowed Joshua to see it. “Meditate” translates to the word “imagine.” The only way you can keep up with God is to imagine! Children are masters at imagination. Every promise of God is guaranteed, the only doubt lies with a person. Those of you observing to “do all” must push aside those that doubt! If you’re hoping for something you can see, then you’re way off course.

Mark 9:23 -- You have the ability or power to increase your hope. God makes the way known, but it won’t happen automatically. If you can believe, all things are possible for you. The key and subject is you, and He wants to know if you can. “Can” has to do with ability. There is a hundredfold return out there for you if you focus your ability to believe.

Do not allow the experience of others to define your hope. Experience is the number one criteria for the source of hope. Most of you have allowed others to define your hope in the life you live, including the job you have, the type of car you drive, how you eat, and even who your friends are. Let your hope be a beast!

John 14:12 – Jesus said the very things He did, we could do also. If you don’t, He can! God wants to do exceedingly, abundantly above all. So don’t do it your way. How can you have a righteous expectation if you aren’t obedient? People have called convenience obedience and haven’t seen a hundredfold return.