The Power of Hope

1 John 3:2-3

“2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

By definition, hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

What are you expecting?

The Bible says in John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

To quicken is to give or restore life to something.

When your hope lies is God, his Spirit breathes life into that thing you are hoping for. God inspires you to do all that you can to reach for, and work towards your goal. He will cause you to triumph. Because your hope is rooted in the words that God has spoken. Those words that are full of life.

Romans 5:1-5

“1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Hope is anchored in peace – the peace of God. We can celebrate in this great expectation we have of God. We don’t fear or dread facing the challenges we will meet on the way because we know that these challenges will only sharpen us. They will develop patience and experience in us. And we will need these important elements because they strengthen our hope. Our strong hope prepares us to boldly stand before all.

1 Corinthians 15:19

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

We must understand that our hope should expand beyond this life. Yes we want to have a blessed and successful life, but our ultimate hope or expectation is beyond this life. The believer’s goal is to please God, and then see his face in peace. Heaven is the ultimate expectation. As Titus 2:13 says, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

For this reason, as it says in 1 John 3:3, Everyman that has this hope IN HIM purifieth himself, because the God we serve is pure.

This requires action on our part. But it is God inspired action. There are some things we know to do, and to be (and stay) clean from. The rest – ask God to help you to clean. Because we need him to. There are somethings that only God can deliver us from.

The power of hope in God is that our expectations are rooted and grounded in Him. God breaths life into (fuels) our hope. He inspires use to reach for greatness. The unction of the Holy Ghost makes the things hoped for seem tangible even before we have it.

Hope is not a thing that people can steal or crush, because they have nothing to do with it. They cannot see it or handle it. It is something deep on the inside that drives the believer. It is a God-given tool. Use it skillfully!

What are you expecting?

Are you preparing yourself for it?

Are you excited about what God is doing?

Purify yourself and rejoice in hope. For there IS power in hope!