| "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) |
|
 |
We all need to have a sense of hope for the future. We all at times will go through periods of discouragement in life and at times great trials and challenges. At times we will also be misunderstood and rejected by others. No matter how many mistakes we have made in life, there is a God of the impossible who wants to be in a relationship with us. The gospel message is a message of hope. Jesus Christ has the power to forgive our sins, to change our lives and circumstances and to set us free indeed. Jesus Christ came into this world to seek and to save that which was lost, to heal the brokenhearted and to give us all a hope and a future. God has an incredible love for each and every person. God has a great love for you.
The greatest hope however is the promise of everlasting life to all those who we believe in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16) For Believers to die is simply to be at home with Christ in a place where there is no more tears or heartache for all eternity. (John 14:1-3) (Revelation 21:4) and (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) As believers we are also called to walk in victory with Him, here on earth. (Revelation 5:10)
The Bible makes it very clear that we can all have a hope for the future. Some of the Scriptures from the Bible that give us a future and a hope are listed at the bottom of the following short message and testimony by Pastor Conrad Fenton, the founding Director of Church of Hope. We hope that the following message and testimony by Pastor Conrad will greatly encourage you:
"We all need to have a hope for the future. Given the uncertain times that we now live in, we can all be assured from the Bible that we have a hope and a future, no matter what circumstances we may be experiencing in life. The LORD encouraged those from Judah through the prophet Jeremiah when they were in captivity in Babylon,
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
For 30 years I have found this promise from God in the Bible to be absolutely true in my own life as well. During my mid twenties I experienced much despair and depression as I lived a life apart from God. At the age of 29, at a time when I saw no hope for the future, I gave my life to Jesus Christ.
Since becoming a Christian I have seen the incredible faithfulness of God in my own life. Even though I have experienced many trials during this time, the Lord has been with me each and every step of the way. The Bible makes it clear that there are many reasons why we all have a hope and a future when we come to Jesus Christ.
1) God can make a way where there seems no way. He wants to help you in life
2) God is able to pull us out of the deepest of pits. Nothing is impossible for God
3) When we cry out to God for His help He hears our prayers
4) Jesus said that He came that we might have life and life more abundantly
5) God has a unique plan for each of our lives. Our past mistakes never stop us from having
a future with a loving God. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
6) His strength is made perfect in our weakness, and
7) When we come to Jesus with a repentant heart and surrender our lives to Him, all of our
past sins are forgiven and forgotten by God and we have a new start to life
Over the past thirty years I have experienced the fulfillment of all of these promises in my own life. Today God knows every single fear and struggle that you are wrestling with in life. He loves you and has a good plan for your life.
Jesus Christ chose to come to earth for 33 years to give us all a hope for the future. Though we all deserve to go to hell (We have all sinned), God wants all of us to have a future home in Heaven. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Acts 2:21)
When we give our life to Jesus Christ, all of our sins are totally forgiven and we have a new start to life. God has a good plan for your life which is full of purpose and meaning. Because of His great love for us, Jesus Christ chose to lay down His life as a ransom for us. He bled and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins that we may have eternal life. But death could not hold Him down. On the third day He arose triumphantly from the dead and is alive for ever more. Today Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Today will you open up your heart to Him?"
Father God today I ask that You forgive me of all my sins. Today I want to live for You. I believe that Your Son Jesus Christ died for all of my sins and arose from the dead on the third day. Today I open up my heart to You Jesus. Come into my heart and life today to be my Lord and Saviour and best friend from this day on. Amen
SCRIPTURES IN THE BIBLE THAT GIVE US A GREAT HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: 
The following Scriptures from the bible all emphasise the hope that we have when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ and give Him our cares and burdens.
BECAUSE HE (JESUS CHRIST) LIVES, WE CAN ALL HAVE AN ETERNAL HOPE AND FUTURE
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die..." (John 11:25-26)
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
WHEN WE COME TO CHRIST WE HAVE A NEW START TO LIFE. WE BECOME A PART OF GOD'S FAMILY AND ENTER INTO GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR LIFE
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12)
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
WE HAVE A GOD WHO WILL CONTINUALLY CARE FOR US (EVEN WHEN OTHERS REJECT US)
"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies are over all His works." (Psalm 145:8-9)
"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand..." (Psalm 139:17-18)
GOD CAN PULL ANYONE OUT OF THE DEEPEST OF PITS
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies." (Psalm 103:2-4)
JESUS IS THE HEALER (DIVINE HEALTH IS AVAILABLE FOR BELIEVERS)
"... and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
JESUS WILL TURN NO ONE AWAY WHO COMES TO HIM
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (John 6:37)
Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
GOD FORGIVES ALL OF OUR SINS AND OUR GUILT IS DISOLVED IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS WHEN WE SURRENDER OUR LIFE TO HIM
"Come now, and let us reason together", says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
IN OUR LIFE HERE ON EARTH WE WILL ALL EXPERIENCE TRIALS
"We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22b)
Jesus said to His disciples, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b)
AS BELIEVERS HOWEVER, WE ARE ASSURED THAT NO SITUATION IS EVER TOO HARD FOR GOD
The Apostle Paul wrote, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:20)
Jesus Himself said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23)
THIS LIFE IS FLEETING
"...For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (James 4:14)
IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO MORE SICKNESS, SORROW OR DEATH
"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)
GOD HAS THE BEST PLAN FOR OUR LIFE. SERVING THE LORD WHOLE HEARTEDLY IS THE KEY TO LEADING A FULFILLED LIFE AND RECEIVING ETERNAL REWARDS
Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
"If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour." (John 12:26)
"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." (Matthew 16:27)
JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE NOR FORSAKE US WHEN WE PUT OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN HIM (PEOPLE WILL AT TIMES LET US DOWN)
"For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrew 13:5a)
WE CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE IS ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
ALTHOUGH WE ALL DESERVE HELL, CHRIST DIED IN OUR PLACE TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS. THIS AMAZING LOVE, THAT SAW JESUS CHRIST LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US ON THE CROSS AT CAVALARY, HAS GIVEN US ALL A HOPE FOR ALL ETERNITY. (That whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved)
IT IS ONLY IF A PERSON REJECTS JESUS CHRIST AND HIS OFFER OF ETERNAL LIFE, THAT THEY HAVE NO HOPE FOR ETERNITY.
Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36)
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthian 5:21)
BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST CONQUERED THE GRAVE AND AROSE FROM THE DEAD TRIUMPHANTLY ON THE THIRD DAY WE CAN ALL HAVE AN ETERNAL HOPE. TODAY JESUS IS REACHING OUT TO YOU WITH HIS NAIL PIERCED HANDS. TODAY JESUS IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART. WILL YOU ACCEPT HIS OFFER OF ETERNAL LIFE AND OPEN YOUR HEART TO HIM?
Dear God today I confess I have sinned against you and done my own thing all my life. Today I want to turn from my sins to live for You. I believe that Your Son Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and that on the third day He arose from the dead triumphantly. Today I open up the door of my heart and I invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart today to be my Lord and Saviour and best friend from this day on. Today I confess that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. Holy Spirit fill me today and empower me to follow God's plan for my life. Amen
