Faith and the Anchor of Hope

Faith and Hope

Faith and hope are not identical, but are intertwined,,,

Faith is a belief or trust in something unseen or a promise, while hope is an expectation or desire for something to happen in the future, often based on that faith

They are intertwined, with hope often coming from faith

The Bible says, “We walk by…

Faith comes by…

Whatever the foundation you have your life built on, will determine if and how you get through the storm (Lk.6:46-49)

No one can survive without hope…

God may be opening a door of hope right in front of you to make a way that never seemed possible…

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance (realization or the giving substance to) of things hoped for (expected), the evidence (confidence) of things not seen.

Faith

We will not focus on faith today,,,we will give the definition of faith and some references,,,but we will focus on hope,,,

Here me! If ever we live in a time,,,its right now!!

What kind of hope,,,Christ in you,,,this hope we have,,,faith is the substance,,,

The word "faith, believes, believing", denotes the act and process of faith.

It comes from the Greek verb pisteuo (GSN-<G4100>) which occurs 248 times in the New Testament.

This use of the present tense indicates that faith must be continued in to receive its benefits (Acts 14:21-22; Eph. 6:16; Col. 1:23; 2:5-7; 1Th. 5:8; 1Tim. 2:15; 3:9; 6:12; 2Tim. 3:8; 4:7; Tit. 1:13; Heb. 10:23-38; 2Pet. 1:5-10).

It can be lost (Lk. 8:13; 1Tim. 1:19; 4:1; 5:8, 12; 6:10,21; 2Tim. 2:18; 3:8; Jude 1:3; Rev. 2:13).

Faith means:

1. To be persuaded of (Rom. 4:17-22; 8:38-39; 2Tim. 1:12)
2. Place confidence in (Eph. 3:12; Php. 1:6; Heb. 3:6,12-14; 10:35; 1Jn. 3:21; 5:14)
3. The substance or conviction of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen (Heb. 10:19-38; 11:1,6; Rom. 4:17; 8:24)
4. Absolute dependence upon and reliance in the Word of God and of Christ (Mt. 8:8-10; 15:28; Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:1 -- Heb. 12:3)
5. Full surrender, yieldedness, and obedience to all known truth (Rom. 1:5; 16:26; 6:11-23; Jas. 2:14-26; 2Cor. 10:4-7; Heb. 11:6)
6. Trust wholly and unreservedly in the faithfulness of God (Mt. 6:25-34; 12:21; Lk. 12:28-31; Eph. 1:13; 1Tim. 4:11; 6:17; 1Cor. 10:13)
7. Give one's self over to a new way of life (Rom. 1:17; 6:11-23; 8:1-16; 2Cor. 10:4-7; Gal. 5:16-26; Col. 3:5-10; Heb. 12:1-15; Tit. 2:11-14; 1Jn. 1:7; 2:6; 3:8-10; 4:17; 5:1-5,18)
8. The attribute of God and restored faculty of man whereby both can bring into existence things that are unseen (Rom. 4:17; Gal. 5:22; Mt. 17:20; 21:22; Mk. 9:23; 11:22-24; Lk. 17:6; Heb. 11)
9. The whole body of revealed truth, religious beliefs and doctrines of Christians (Lk. 18:8; Jude 1:3; Rom. 10:17; 1Tim. 4:1,6; 6:10; 2Tim. 3:16-17)
10. Joyful faith in, and acceptance of Christ as the substitute for sin and our Savior whereby one receives salvation (Mk. 16:16; Acts 4:12; 10:43; Rom. 1:16; 3:24-31; Eph. 2:8-9); access into grace (Rom. 5:2); fulfillment of the promises (Heb. 6:12); the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:14); righteousness (Rom. 4; 9:30,32; 10:6; Php. 3:9); sonship (Gal. 3:26); healing (Jas. 5:14-16; 1Pet. 2:24); eternal life (Jn. 3:15-18,36; 5:24; 6:47); and answers to every prayer (Mt. 7:7-11; 21:21; Mk. 11:22-24; Lk. 18:1-8; Jn. 14:12-15; 15:7,16).

FAITH CAN “grow” (2 Thess. 1:3); “lead to utterance” (2 Cor. 4:13); “work through love” (Gal. 5:6); “clothe the naked” (Mt. 6:30); “heal the sick” (Mt. 8:1-17; 9:2, 22, 29; Jas. 5:14-16); “dispel fear” (Mt. 8:26); “make whole” (Mk. 10:52); “save from sin” (Lk. 7:36-50; Eph. 2:8-9); “fill believers” (Acts 6:5-8); “purify the heart” (Acts 15:9); “sanctify” (Acts 26:18); “impart revelations” (Rom. 1:17); “justify” (Rom. 3:28-31; Gal. 3:24); “give access into grace” (Rom. 5:2); “produce righteousness” (Rom. 9:30-32; 10:6-10; Phil. 3:9); “give security” (Rom. 11:20; 2 Cor. 1:24); “bring blessings” (Gal. 3:9); “impart the Holy Spirit” (Gal. 3:14); “make men children of God” (Gal. 3:26); “bring hope and salvation” (Gal. 5:5; Eph. 2:8-9); “make conscious of Christ” (Eph. 3:17); “quench fiery darts of Satan” (Eph. 6:16); “produce works” (Phil. 1:17; Jas. 2; 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:11); “edify” (1 Tim. 1:4); “produce inheritance” (Heb. 6:12); and “keep one true to God” (1 Pet. 1:5).

FAITH CAN BE “seen” (Mt. 9:2; Mk. 2:5); “obeyed” (Acts 6:7; Rom. 1:5); “turned away” (Acts 13:8); and “continued in” (Acts 14:22; Col. 1:23). Faith can be “made without effect” (Rom. 3:3); it can be “increased” (2 Cor. 10:15); “examined” (2 Cor. 13:5); “destroyed” (Gal. 1:23); “perfected” (1 Thess. 3:10); “shipwrecked” (1 Tim. 1:19); “departed from” (1 Tim. 4:1); “denied” (1 Tim. 5:8; Rev. 2:13); “cast off” (1 Tim. 5:12); “erred from” (1 Tim. 6:10, 21); “overthrown” (2 Tim. 2:18); “followed” (2 Tim. 2:22); “rejected” (2 Tim. 3:8); “made sound” (Titus 1:13; 2:2); “kept” (2 Tim. 4:7); and “tried” (Jas. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:7; 5:9).

“of things hoped for (expected)”

Strong's G1679

1. to hope
2. in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence
1. hopefully to trust in

Hope gives an expected end!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have (or am planning) for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope (or an expected end).

Faith gives us the substance of what we expect!

Heb.6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…

Here Paul changes the allusion from safety in the cities of refuge to a ship reaching harbor after a tempestuous voyage, knowing that her anchor is sure and steadfast.

So it is with the believer who has the hope of eternal life anchored safe in heaven

Hope Strong's G1680

1. expectation of good, hope
1. in the Christian sense
1. joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation
1. on hope, in hope, having hope
1. the author of hope, or he who is its foundation
2. the thing hoped for

(to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:—faith, hope.

Consider that the anchor of a ship is made for the coming storm…

Life has its storms,,,and without an anchor you will not survive the storms,,,

The design of the anchor is that it will hold the ship when the raging winds arise and the ship is being blown and tossed out of control toward the rocks

And when waves are 30 feet high pounding the ship to destroy it…the anchor is worth…

When the water is like glass the ship doesn’t need an anchor

But when a gale force wind comes and the ship is driven toward the rocks…

In that moment, the anchor is worth its weight in gold

Faith is the radar that sees through the fog!

(Airplane)

Faith sees

Faith has eyes

What eyes!?,,,the eyes of your heart,,,your understanding,,,

Eph.1:18

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

The faculty of receiving knowledge -- the spirit of man (1Cor. 2:11).

What the eye is to the body, the spirit is to the inner man.

It is through these eyes that we get to know:

1. The hope of His calling (Eph. 1:18)
2. The riches of the glory (Eph. 1:18)
3. The greatness of His power (Eph. 1:19)

Again,,,Faith and hope are not identical, but are intertwined,,,

They are intertwined, with hope often coming from faith

Heb.12:1

Heb 11:13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

From a distance,,,that is hope!

They had not received the promises, but they saw them!

They saw the future!

Lets look at faith and hope in regard to the Word of God

Rom10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Rom.15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

You see, faith comes by hearing,,,and hope comes through the encouragement,,,,they both come from the same source

Ps.119:81 My soul longs for Your deliverance, but I hope in Your word.

Ps.119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.

Ps.119:147 I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word.

Your Word,,,Your Word,,,Your Word

Hope

1. to wait, hope, expect
1. (Niphal) to wait
2. (Piel)
1. to wait, await, tarry
2. to wait for, hope for
3. (Hiphil) to wait, tarry, wait for, hope for

To wait; by implication, to be patient, hope:—(cause to, have, make to) hope, stay, tarry, trust, wait.

When you have hope you have trust! Trust is a definition of faith!

Rom.5:1-14

Word of God,,,

Hallelujah!!! This hope we have,,,

Let us drop anchor in the Words of the living God!

Who’s Word is never changing

Who’s Word is true

Who’s Word is sharper…

This is the living water

This is the Bread of life

I am what this Book says I am

I can do what this Book says I can do

I can have what this Book says I can have

This book is the pillow upon which the saints of God have rested their head for time and eternity..

The Bible is not a book it is the Book

*It is above other books as the vast Rocky Mountains…

*It is above other books as the Pacific ocean…

*It is above other books as the blazing sun…

The anchor of hope digs down into the bedrock of the Word of God!

The anchor holds until your financial crisis…

The anchor holds until your sick body is…

The anchor holds until the howling winds subside…

The anchor holds in the darkest of nights…Weeping may…

Until you hear the Master’s voice in the middle of the night say, “Peace be still…

The anchor holds until the storm passes by, until the thunder sounds no more…

Hang your anchor in this Word and you will never be confounded…the solid Rock of the Word of God!

Hallelujah, This hope…!

1Tim.1:1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

Eternal life

Col.1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

He is the hope of glory! HE IS GOD…!

1Cor.13:13 Now abides faith, hope and love

Now when you’re walking through the valley

Now….when you need a way…

Now….when you’re in a desert and dry land… with no water…

Now…when you’re walking through the firey…

Now…when you’re in the lions den…

Now…when your enemies rise up against…

Now…when you don’t have two dimes…

Now…when you’re rejected by people you love…

Now… when your family has forsaken you…

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
    And why are you disquieted in me?
Hope in God,
    for I will yet thank Him
    for the help of His presence.

Hallelujah This hope…!

We are saved by,,,but did you know we are saved by hope?

Romans 8:24-25 says,  For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Here, Paul was saying that hope is for something that isn't seen, something that isn't present.

In essence, through faith we see what we hope for!

Hope is a helmet

1 Thess.5:8 But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

Hope is a Rope.

Theodore Roosevelt once said,

“When you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.”

That’s good advice.

I don’t know about you, but I grew up believing that hope is a feeling.

But this is far from Biblical truth.

God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 NIV, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

In this verse, the Hebrew word we translate as “hope” is “tiqvah.”

One of its definitions is “hope,” but when this word, “tiqvah,” first appears in the Bible in Joshua 2:18, it has another translation: “a rope.”

Yes, a literal rope.

Joshua 2:18 NLT, “8 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope (tiqvah) hanging from the window through which you let us down.”

So another way to read Jeremiah 29:11 is “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you A ROPE (tiqvah) and a future.'”

This means that God has plans to prosper us, and knowing this truth ties us, ropes us, anchors us to our future.

Hope is not a feeling but a rope held by our God.

Hope isn’t a feeling but a choice to hold on to what the Bible says is true.

Hope is the lifeline rope that we hold on to when we are stuck in the pit of despair.

We can’t see out of the pit, but God will lift us out if we hold on to the truth.

So, whether we feel it or not, we proclaim this truth — that God has a good plan for our lives, regardless of the moment’s circumstances.

What Do You Put Your Hope in? That is Your Rope.

So how do you know if you have put your hope in God or something else?

By looking at what you have tied yourself to in life as your primary security source.

How do you react when the rope gets cut to that source?

That reveals how much hope you placed in that versus in God.

Let me explain more. If my security is tied to anything in this world — my job,  house,  health, money, political party, economy, whatever — then I have secured my hope to this world rather than to God.

Then, when I lose my job, can’t pay my rent, get sick, lose my money, the wrong person gets in the White House, the economy tanks, a loved one dies, I will lose all hope for this life!

This is why God says, do not hope in money, people, politics, or your abilities, because all of it could fail and falter.

True hope is when we tie ourselves to God as our primary security source.

It is ok to have money, a house, friendships, and deep relationships as a gift in your life.

The issue is when they control you and your hope.

God says His plans are supposed to be our rope to our future. Nothing else!

Hope is an Eager Expectation.

Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope (qavah) in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

The ancient Hebrew word hope in this famous verse is the word, “qavah”.

It means hope, but a more accurate translation of this word is “to wait with expectancy. To look for,” and “to lie in wait for.”

Another way to read this verse is, “those who eagerly look for, expect, serve, and lie in wait for the Lord will renew their strength.”

Qavah-type hope is like a bride and groom waiting for their wedding day.

They don’t hope maybe one day they will get married. They don’t say, “Maybe one-day people will happen to meet us at the venue. Hopefully, a pastor will be there, and if it’s God’s will, then everything will align, and we will get married.”

No way! They prepare for months for this single day! They choose a venue. They ask the pastor to prepare. They carefully select their bridal party. They count down the time left: “In 152 days, 15 hours and 3 minutes, we will get married.”

There’s nothing passive about it. On the contrary, their waiting is very active, preparative, and pregnant, with growing expectations for that day.

Qavah hope is a pregnant mom who doesn’t wait for the baby to come passively but prepares for their arrival actively.

Often we don’t feel like the Lord will come into our situation, but we must still prepare as though he is coming.

So we do everything to get ready for the big moment when we know that we know that God will walk down the aisle and save us.

Qavah hope is like a child who hides from dad coming around the corner.

This child is lying in wait, ready to jump out and scare him the second he appears.

This is what the word hope means. We eagerly lie in wait for God to come around the corner! We do not wait half asleep, but rather on full alert, looking for the slightest move of God, ready to jump out the second we see him!

Those kinds of people with that attitude will find renewed strength and soar! Because even though a storm is around them, they know that God is on the move, and like the child waiting for dad, they are so excited to see how God will breakthrough!

Hope is never a victim; it is always the victor. Hope always expects,,,

Hope is not feelings,,,

You know you should “hope in the Lord,” but do we have any idea what that means?

You are trying to feel hopeful, but let’s face it, that is hard.

So you go to church and hear people say, “Put your hope in God,” and that if you hope, you will, “Renew your strength and soar on wings like eagles!”

Plans? Eagles? What does this have to do with you feeling hopeful about your life?

And practically, even if you did feel hopeful, how does a feeling get you out of whatever circumstance you are in?

Hope in God!

The wonderful thing is that God has the power to make hope come true when you seek Him with all your heart

He has the power to make plans and those dreams come true

Maybe you need to dream a new dream

Maybe you need to do a new thing

And that is hope in God…

hope in God In spite of the storm

hope in God In spite of the rejection

hope in God In spite of the trial

hope in God In spite of the heartache

Believe that God can bring you a better tomorrow

Rejoice and be exceedingly…

Because His hope is greater than the storm

What satan has taken from you God can give…

He will restore

He will reconcile

He will rebuild

Hope produces joy

Hope produces a song

Hope is faith reaching out in the darkness

Knowing that from the other side, the nail pierced hand of the Son of God is reaching

Hallelujah This hope…!

Rom.5:2 through whom also we have had the access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and let us rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Acts 27:9-44 is the story of a storm tossed ship where all hope of being saved was lost…

Paul gave a warning…“Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”

11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

The centurion ignored Paul’s warning…So they kept sailing…

18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.

19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.

20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

Many times when the storm comes, people lose all hope…

So, you have to lighten the ship…

You have to throw over the things that hinder…Heb.12:1-4

Some of you have attached yourselves to sinking things…

Its going down and so are you!...so throw off the things that hinder and say, “If it’s going down, I’m getting rid of this!

22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,

24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me (or exactly as I have been told).

Therefore take heart….Paul is a prisoner in the ship; nevertheless, he is a free man in Christ, living free from fear in God’s presence, while those who sail with him are paralyzed with terror because of this danger at sea!

The Bible says, For God has not…

Perfect love…

Fear not…

In this life, only the sincere and faithful believer experiencing God’s nearness can face life’s dangers and temptations with courage and assurance in Christ, and they can confidently say I believe God that it will be exactly as I have been told!

Hallelujah, This hope…!

…indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you…

v.37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.

The ship finally ran aground on the rocks…

The soldiers plan was to kill all the prisoners before it ran aground…

But the centurion who wanted to save Paul let them swim ashore…Why?

Because an angel of the God to whom Paul belonged and whom he served, said ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you!

Listen to me, people around you may have lost all hope, but there’s more than one angle with you,

no matter what you’re going through,

no matter what the storm of life is,

no matter how strong the temptation is,

In the life of every believer there is hope…

There is hope for tomorrow

There is hope for a supernatural break through

There is hope that your shattered dream can be restored!

if you hold on and hold out, your faith can save all those around you because you believe God that it will be exactly as you have been told!

In our ministry, we keep holding on and holding out and pushing through because there’s souls that are sinking in the sea of sin and we’re here to rescue them!

Hallelujah, This hope…!

He said, Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden…

To the weary he is wonderful

To the confused he is the mighty counselor

To the weak he is the mighty God of strength

To the orphan he is the everlasting father

To the troubled he is the prince of peace

To the hopeless he is the God of all hope Rom.15:13

To the sick he is the great physician…

To those searching for direction he is the great shepherd of the sheep

To the world lost in darkness he is the light of the world…

He’s the one who says peace be still to the storms of life!

Hallelujah, This hope…!

Do you have this hope as an anchor of your soul today?

Is your soul anchored in Christ and His Word today?

No one can survive without hope…

A group of scientists conducted an experiment in which lab-rats were put into a tub of water (but the top of the tub was too high to reach).

The rats tread water for 17 minutes and then drowned.

They conducted the experiment again...except this time, after 17 minutes had elapsed and the rats were just beginning to drown, they reached in and saved them, dried them off, fed them well, let them rest, then play for several days.

They did the same thing again with the same set of rats and miraculously the rats held on for 34 HOURS!!

In their report, the scientists deduced that there was only one explanation to describe the huge difference between the 17 minutes and the 34 hours:

they reported that the rats must have had a sense of hope that they would be rescued again as they were the first time, and this is the only factor that they could find that would cause them to hold on for that long.

Brother or Sister, how much more precious are we than a rat? I think you get the picture.

Gal. 6:9 says, "Let us not lose heart" and according to Prov. 13:12, hope is found in the heart.

Hope is a very powerful thing.

Faith is present tense, and hope is future tense.

A much overlooked verse found in Romans 8:24 says, "For we are saved by hope."

Listen, there’s only one way you have no hope…when you’re without God…

1Thess.4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.