“Songs In The Night” (part 3) “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by” (Ps. 57:1)

Previously Lesson 2 The contrast between the Psalmist (42, 43) and Paul – How Paul dealt with his trials Hope anchored in the unmovable Christ Thoughts transcends the circumstances to others Forgets what is behind and reaches toward the goal What “Hope In God” Does For The Christian – Defining hope – Observing stages of Bible hope – How hope is made and bolstered

Something More About Our Hope “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5) “And this hope makes not ashamed…” (LO) – Disappointed: when deceived and do not receive what was expected – T/F hope contrasted (Eph. 2:12; Prov. 10:28; 11:4, 7, 18, etc.)

How Is the Christian’s Hope Different? “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5) The veracity of “Hope in God” is seen in two fundamentals

How Is The Christian’s Hope Different? “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5) 1.On evidence, a substance of things hoped for (Heb. 11:1) – A substance of what God has done when He raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 1:4; 2 Cor. 4:14) – Result: a living hope (1 Pet. 1:3)

How Is The Christian’s Hope Different? “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5) 2.In love – He died for us through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:6- 11) – Giving not only a living hope, but a loving hope (1 Jn. 4:19)

Today: Practical Help For Hope What are some practical helps for hope? This lesson is devoted to faith-facts which help hope lift us out of trials Such ought to recalibrate our mind: – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10) – “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength…” (Is. 40:31) – “and be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph. 4:23)

Mental Recalibration When suffering 1.Pray about everything (Phil. 4:6, 7) 2.Try to turn your mind away from the pain and onto what is true, lovely, etc. (Phil. 4:8) Are there any lessons that can be taken from the trial? Do we have the courage to face those lessons? 3.Look steadfastly unto Jesus (Heb. 12:1-3) 4.Look outwardly to others (Phil. 4:9, 10, 14)

Mental Recalibration When suffering 5.Recognized that suffering in this life is only for a finite amount of time; it cannot compare to future glory –“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18)

Mental Recalibration When suffering 6.Think of how it may have been worse (Jer. 12:1-5) 7.Remember that God suffers as well (Jer. 12:7-11; 13:1-11) Imagine how much grief God has endured when He hears and sees everything that has gone on since the beginning of the creation

Mental Recalibration When suffering 8.Know the departed (in Christ) are truly blessed! –“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21) When “death” is “gain!” –“For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1:23) There is a closer relationship with the Lord that is experienced after death

Mental Recalibration When suffering 8.Know the departed (in Christ) are truly blessed! –“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8) Hope again emanates from Paul as he views death in confidence and is well pleased

How are they “truly” blessed? 1.They are nearer to the Lord (Phil. 1:21, 23; 2 Cor. 5:8) 2.They are in a place of paradise (Lk. 23:43) 3.They are called blessed (Rev. 14:13) 4.They are given a place of rest (Rev. 14:13) 5.They retain their works (Rev. 14:13) – Memory of their lives remains

How are they “truly” blessed? 6.Because they are comforted (Lk. 16:22, 25) – Where angels comfort! – The 5 th seal (Rev. 6:9-11) Christians had been violently put to death for holding to what was right—a brotherhood of martyrs! Cried to the Lord—could communicate to the Lord! Were able to receive an answer “and it was said to them” (6:11) Memory: recalled the unjust and murderous actions on earth Should “rest” a while longer (Rev. 14:13, Matt. 11:28; Mk. 6:31; Lk. 12:19, “ease;” 1 Cor. 16:17, 18; Phm. 1:7) Were expecting more of their brethren to join them

What About God’s Hope For You? We’ve spoken a lot about “hope in God,” but what about “God’s hope in you?” –“–“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26, 27)

Jeremiah 29:13 “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Jesus Suffered And Died Unjustly For You! “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:3-5)

Jesus Suffered And Died To Give You An Example “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Heb. 12: 2, 3)

Jesus Suffered And Died To Save You “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:7-9)

Jesus Came To Save You From Wrath “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 5:9, 10) – Jesus deemed it worthwhile to suffer in order to save you from a future place of indignation!

Your Choice: Your Choice: Condemnation or Salvation “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:15, 16)