Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, December 9, 2018 Hope Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, December 9, 2018

So many Biblical passages about Hope Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ Ephesians 1:18-19 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, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. 

But I am drawn to Romans 5:3-5 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation bring about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So what is it? Hope and courage are closely aligned Hope is the opening of the human heart, in spite of obstacles without and within, that allows the incoming flow of God’s light and love (the path and the strength) to give the necessary courage to make seemingly irrational choices for the betterment of life for yourself and for others

Many Biblical examples . . . Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. 3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 

4 It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” 5 She said to her, “All that you say I will do” (Ruth 3:1-5)

Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth 39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 

43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord” (Luke 1:39-45)

Also many great Internet Quotes! There is nothing like a dream to create the future. Victor Hugo

Antoine de Saint-Exupery If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Only in the darkness can you see the stars . . . Carve a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment.

G.K. Chesterton Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances that we know to be desperate.

Even Internet posters . . .

But some images of Hope are very near

To round out the picture . . . Lamentations 3 20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Psalm 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.

Back to Romans 5, v.5 “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Why doesn’t it disappoint? Because it works. It gives us the courage to go after our dreams and it fills us with a sense of being loved no matter how far we get toward accomplishing them . . . Sometimes all it takes is the courage to open your heart