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9 Jun 98
"Suffering and Hope"
Objective: To understand the relationship between suffering and hope, and why
Christians can rejoice in the midst of trials.
- What does the word "hope" mean?
- Dictionary definition: "To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment;
To have confidence; trust; To look forward to with confidence or expectation."
- "Hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our
participation in what God will do in the future" [Bert Dominy, Holman BD].
- What is the difference between "everyday" hope and hope in Jesus Christ?
- In "everyday" hope, there always exists an uncertain element: There is always
a chance that it just may not happen. In the Living Hope, we put our trust in something
that is certain to happen.
- Our basis of this kind of hope rests entirely on God Himself and His promises. If he is
found unreliable, then we have no reason or basis to hope at all.
- One of the Christian’s greatest mistakes is to include the Living Hope among the
"everyday" dead hope that actually has a chance of not becoming fulfilled.
- How does our anxiety, doubts, and uncertainty demonstrate our unbelief in God?
- Important Concept: "If the Bible is true, and all God’s promises will actually
happen, then I am completely safe in His arms. I have no good reason to be afraid or
anxious. Therefore, if I am afraid or anxious (in a sinful way), I am demonstrating some
measure of unbelief in God’s promises."
- Trip through 1 Peter 1
- Read 1 Pet 1:3-9.
- What is the basis of our living hope? In other words, why should I have hope?
- Because Jesus Christ was resurrected by God (1:3). More generally, my basis for hoping in
the future is entirely on what God has already done in the past.
- What does Jesus’ resurrection have to do with me?
- Read 1 Cor 15:12-19.
- If Jesus wasn’t resurrected, then my faith is futile and meaningless (15:14), I
remain in my sins (15:17), I will perish when I die (15:18), and my basis of hope is
demolished (15:19).
- What is the object of our hope? In other words, what is it that we are hoping for?
- An inheritance that will never fade or be destroyed (1:4).
- Where should our emphasis be: hope, or the object of hope? We hope because the
object of our hope is trustworthy and reliable (1:23-25). Does it matter how much hope I
have?
- Who is this inheritance reserved for?
- You who are saved by the power of God through faith (1:4,5).
- Can I expect to endure trials now, even though I have eternal life reserved for me?
- How long can I expect to have to endure trials?
- For a little while (1:6). Compared to eternity, our lives here on earth is a
"little while."
- In the midst of these trials, what exactly is it that I should be rejoicing in?
- I should be rejoicing the fact that we have obtained an imperishable inheritance from
the God who protects us in this life and in His power, saves us through faith (1:4-6).
- Should I rejoice in suffering in and of itself? What is it about suffering that
is good?
- Suppose I have a heart attack and require an immediate quadruple by-pass surgery where
the surgeons have to open up my chest to get to my heart. What is it that makes the
cutting of my skin, muscles and tissue, and the cracking of my bones good in this
situation? Is it the actual surgery, or the outcome of the surgery?
- The good of difficulties is measured by what it produces (Heb 12:11, Js 1:2-4).
- The reason I can rejoice that I participate in the sufferings of Christ at the
present time is that it intensifies my hope in Jesus Christ in the future.
- What causes me to give God praise and glory and honor and rejoice with joy in
expressible (1:7,8)?
- The fact that my faith is proven by all kinds of trials (1:7).
- The fact that I will be obtaining the outcome of my faith: The salvation of my soul
(1:9).
- Read Phil 3:7-11. Suffering allowed Paul to see what really matters: Christ alone.
- Read Rom 5:1-5. Suffering drives us to an undisappointing hope.
- Read Rom 8:31-39. In Christ, we overwhelmingly conquer and have every reason to hope.
- Conclusion
- The Past. Remembering God will give us hope. To nourish and strengthen my living
hope, I should study and meditate on the things that God has already done. Then I
can study and meditate on the future promises of God with a sense of certainty and
expectancy.
- A Lens. Suffering is the lens through which we see and hope for a better place.
Don’t focus on the lens! Suffering will do you no good unless it drives you to hope
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your present sufferings fuel your future hope!
- Securities. Suffering keeps our securities in the right place. In my suffering, I
realize that which is perishable. This causes me to "lay up my treasures" in
heaven, where nothing will be taken away or destroyed!
- Applications
- We sometimes think heaven is "far off," but heaven is merely a breath away.
Let this knowledge give you hope, knowing how close you are to being in the presence of
God.
- Examine yourself for unbelief. Let your hope drive your prayer life. The richness of
your prayer life is an indication of your hope in God’s promises.
- Study the things that God has already done. Study the Old Testament and how Israel
"forgot" what God had done to save them from Pharoah.
- Imagine yourself losing everything, one by one. This exercise may show you where
you are putting your securities. It will also help you be more thankful for what you do
have.
- Use these truths to inspire you to have a passion for the lost, knowing that they have
no lasting hope; that their purpose in life is built upon a weak foundation. Show them the
Living Hope that will not disappoint.
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