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00:00:01 You know, our text today 00:00:02 and the comments that we just heard 00:00:04 center our attention on our Christian hope. 00:00:08 Very soon, our loving Father, Jehovah, 00:00:10 is going to eliminate pain, suffering, death, 00:00:15 and indeed, as has been commented on, 00:00:18 the happy memories will just push out all the bad memories. 00:00:22 “The former things [will indeed] have passed away.” 00:00:25 Now, when I thought about Revelation 21:3, 4, 00:00:29 I thought to myself, ‘I’ve heard those words hundreds of times, 00:00:34 ‘and I’ve probably shared those words 00:00:36 hundreds of times in our ministry.’ 00:00:39 And while most of us through repetition 00:00:42 have probably memorized those sacred thoughts, 00:00:46 a good question I thought would be helpful to think about is, 00:00:51 Are these basic Scriptural truths 00:00:54 still strengthening me now? 00:00:56 Are they, as Brother Cotton just mentioned, 00:00:59 still serving “as an anchor for [my] soul?” 00:01:03 With that thought in mind, let’s consider three questions: 00:01:07 What is the hope as described in the Scriptures? 00:01:11 Second, why do we need hope? 00:01:14 And third, how can we strengthen our hope? 00:01:19 First, how would you define hope? 00:01:23 Back in 1993, The Watchtower quoted a writer who said this: 00:01:28 “Most people seem to think that hope 00:01:31 is just a dopy form of denying the truth.” 00:01:35 Others today would equate hope 00:01:38 with optimism or wishful thinking. 00:01:41 And, of course, the Scriptures encourage positive thinking, 00:01:45 and there are benefits —emotionally and perhaps even physically. 00:01:49 But what do we call a desire or a wish 00:01:53 that’s not based on truth? 00:01:55 What is a desire or a wish that does not take Jehovah into account? 00:02:00 Well, that’s a dream; that’s an unreality. 00:02:04 And, of course, none of us as true Christians 00:02:07 want to live in La-La land, or in a dreamworld, do we? 00:02:12 Of course, the Bible does not use the word “optimism,” 00:02:15 but it does encourage us to strengthen our hope. 00:02:21 What is hope according to the Scriptures? 00:02:24 The original language words used in the Bible that are translated “hope” 00:02:29 mean “to wait eagerly” and “to expect good.” 00:02:34 In the Scriptures, hope involves not only the desire for something good 00:02:38 but it includes the basis for believing that good will come. 00:02:44 That’s much more meaningful than optimism. 00:02:47 Hope, like our faith, is based on evidence 00:02:51 —convincing facts. 00:02:54 And though hope involves our eager desire for something good, 00:02:58 it does not start with our desires —what we want or what we wish for. 00:03:03 It’s first rooted in what God wants 00:03:07 with regard to his purpose and what God wants for us individually. 00:03:12 Romans 5:5 tells us 00:03:14 that such “hope does not lead to disappointment.” 00:03:18 So in a brief definition, we could say that Scriptural hope 00:03:23 is eager expectation based on future realities, 00:03:28 rooted in what Jehovah has taught us. 00:03:32 Our second question: 00:03:34 Why is hope essential for all Christians? 00:03:38 Please open your Bible with me to Hebrews 11:1, 00:03:44 and notice our well-known definition of faith, 00:03:48 but then notice how hope is associated. 00:03:51 Hebrews 11:1 says: 00:03:55 “Faith is the assured expectation 00:03:58 “of what is hoped for, 00:04:01 “the evident demonstration 00:04:04 of realities that are not seen.” 00:04:08 So just as faith is a requirement 00:04:11 for us to serve Jehovah acceptably 00:04:14 and for our worship not to be in vain, 00:04:16 hope, as an essential element of faith, 00:04:19 is also necessary for all Christians. 00:04:23 To see the connection between faith and hope a little better, 00:04:27 we might think about the example of Abraham. 00:04:31 Now, from a human standpoint, 00:04:33 Abraham and Sarah were way past childbearing age 00:04:37 when Jehovah promised them a son. 00:04:40 It’s interesting that in the Scriptures 00:04:42 both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the angelic announcement. 00:04:46 It was an amazing and tickling prospect to them 00:04:49 to think that they would have a baby in their older years. 00:04:53 But how did Abraham respond to the promise? 00:04:58 Notice, please, in Romans 4:18 00:05:02 what the Bible says, 00:05:04 linked to this discussion of the need for hope. 00:05:09 Romans 4:18 says: 00:05:12 “Although beyond hope, yet based on hope, 00:05:16 “he had faith that he would become the father of many nations 00:05:19 “according to what had been said: 00:05:21 ‘So your offspring will be.’” 00:05:25 Faith “based on hope” 00:05:28 —we see the connection better, don’t we? 00:05:31 You see, Abraham’s God-given hope 00:05:34 gave his faith that he would have a son 00:05:36 a firm foundation. 00:05:38 His faith, in turn, brightened and strengthened his hope. 00:05:43 So it was not only this conviction in his heart 00:05:46 but it was the eager anticipation of seeing 00:05:49 what Jehovah had promised come to fulfillment. 00:05:54 Another reason that we need hope 00:05:58 has to do with the storms that you and I are undoubtedly facing now 00:06:02 or will face before the end of the system comes. 00:06:06 In Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, he illustrated hope 00:06:10 “as an anchor for the soul, both sure and firm.” 00:06:14 So when confronting storms, 00:06:16 what do sailors, both in ancient times and today, often do? 00:06:21 They lower the ship’s anchor. 00:06:23 Why? 00:06:24 Well, if the anchor takes hold of the firm seabed, 00:06:28 it helps the ship ride out the storm. 00:06:31 It keeps that ship away from dangerous reefs or the shoreline. 00:06:35 Interestingly, when the apostle Paul was on that ship 00:06:38 en route to Rome in the year 58 C.E., 00:06:41 the ship was in danger of running aground. 00:06:44 The Bible tells us that the sailors cast out four anchors 00:06:49 —not just one, four— from the stern, 00:06:53 and as a result, the ship safely rode out the storm. 00:06:56 Well, it’s not hard to see the connection 00:06:58 with hope and our stormy times today, is it? 00:07:02 Our “sure and firm” hope, 00:07:04 our setting our mind with eager expectation of what Jehovah has promised, 00:07:08 keeps us emotionally, mentally, and spiritually balanced 00:07:12 no matter what is raging around us in our life 00:07:16 —in full-time service, with our family, 00:07:19 with our finances, with our health. 00:07:21 We can weather the storms 00:07:24 because of our eager expectation of what Jehovah has promised. 00:07:27 Really, few things could be more stabilizing in our life 00:07:32 than this eager expectation of what Jehovah, 00:07:34 the God who does not lie, has promised to us. 00:07:38 Well, that leads to a third question: 00:07:41 How can we strengthen our hope? 00:07:44 Well, as has been commented on beautifully by our four commenters, 00:07:48 we need to think specifically 00:07:51 about how Jehovah’s promises apply to us 00:07:56 and what they will mean for us and our family 00:07:59 in the near future. 00:08:02 Though we serve Jehovah out of love 00:08:04 —and that’s our principal motivation— 00:08:06 Jehovah wants us to think about the rewards 00:08:09 that he has outlined for us in the Scriptures. 00:08:11 He wants us to visualize 00:08:13 and meditate on such blessings. 00:08:17 One sister, in referring to the beautiful artwork 00:08:20 that’s in our magazines, said this: 00:08:22 “When I see pictures of the coming Paradise . . . , 00:08:25 “I examine them closely, as one would a travel brochure. 00:08:29 “I endeavor to see myself there 00:08:32 “because this is where I truly hope to be 00:08:35 in God’s due time.” 00:08:38 Daydreaming? 00:08:39 No. 00:08:40 Meditation on truths 00:08:43 and on precious promises that will not lie? 00:08:47 Yes. 00:08:49 Notice, please, with me at 2 Peter 3:11, 12 00:08:54 how the inspired counsel encourages us 00:08:57 to strengthen and build up our hope in view of what’s coming. 00:09:01 Second Peter chapter 3, let’s read together verses 11 and 12: 00:09:06 “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way 00:09:10 “[with regard to what we’re expecting in the near future 00:09:13 “with the great tribulation leading into Armageddon], 00:09:16 “consider what sort of people you ought to be 00:09:19 “in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, 00:09:22 “as you await and keep close in mind 00:09:27 “the presence of the day of Jehovah, 00:09:29 “through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames 00:09:32 and the elements will melt in the intense heat!” 00:09:36 Notice in verse 12 that expression, “keep close in mind” 00:09:40 —“eagerly desire,” literally, “speed up.” 00:09:44 Do you see how our positive meditation, 00:09:47 our visualizing what’s to come, will strengthen us? 00:09:51 Yes, meaningful prayer, 00:09:53 meaningful Bible study, 00:09:55 meaningful reflection 00:09:58 will help us to keep Jehovah’s day close in mind. 00:10:01 It will help us to “rejoice in the hope,” 00:10:05 and then we will experience the realization 00:10:08 of all that we’ve hoped for from the God “who cannot lie.”
00:00:01 You know, our text today 00:00:02 and the comments that we just heard 00:00:04 center our attention on our Christian hope. 00:00:08 Very soon, our loving Father, Jehovah, 00:00:10 is going to eliminate pain, suffering, death, 00:00:15 and indeed, as has been commented on, 00:00:18 the happy memories will just push out all the bad memories. 00:00:22 “The former things [will indeed] have passed away.” 00:00:25 Now, when I thought about Revelation 21:3, 4, 00:00:29 I thought to myself, ‘I’ve heard those words hundreds of times, 00:00:34 ‘and I’ve probably shared those words 00:00:36 hundreds of times in our ministry.’ 00:00:39 And while most of us through repetition 00:00:42 have probably memorized those sacred thoughts, 00:00:46 a good question I thought would be helpful to think about is, 00:00:51 Are these basic Scriptural truths 00:00:54 still strengthening me now? 00:00:56 Are they, as Brother Cotton just mentioned, 00:00:59 still serving “as an anchor for [my] soul?” 00:01:03 With that thought in mind, let’s consider three questions: 00:01:07 What is the hope as described in the Scriptures? 00:01:11 Second, why do we need hope? 00:01:14 And third, how can we strengthen our hope? 00:01:19 First, how would you define hope? 00:01:23 Back in 1993, The Watchtower quoted a writer who said this: 00:01:28 “Most people seem to think that hope 00:01:31 is just a dopy form of denying the truth.” 00:01:35 Others today would equate hope 00:01:38 with optimism or wishful thinking. 00:01:41 And, of course, the Scriptures encourage positive thinking, 00:01:45 and there are benefits —emotionally and perhaps even physically. 00:01:49 But what do we call a desire or a wish 00:01:53 that’s not based on truth? 00:01:55 What is a desire or a wish that does not take Jehovah into account? 00:02:00 Well, that’s a dream; that’s an unreality. 00:02:04 And, of course, none of us as true Christians 00:02:07 want to live in La-La land, or in a dreamworld, do we? 00:02:12 Of course, the Bible does not use the word “optimism,” 00:02:15 but it does encourage us to strengthen our hope. 00:02:21 What is hope according to the Scriptures? 00:02:24 The original language words used in the Bible that are translated “hope” 00:02:29 mean “to wait eagerly” and “to expect good.” 00:02:34 In the Scriptures, hope involves not only the desire for something good 00:02:38 but it includes the basis for believing that good will come. 00:02:44 That’s much more meaningful than optimism. 00:02:47 Hope, like our faith, is based on evidence 00:02:51 —convincing facts. 00:02:54 And though hope involves our eager desire for something good, 00:02:58 it does not start with our desires —what we want or what we wish for. 00:03:03 It’s first rooted in what God wants 00:03:07 with regard to his purpose and what God wants for us individually. 00:03:12 Romans 5:5 tells us 00:03:14 that such “hope does not lead to disappointment.” 00:03:18 So in a brief definition, we could say that Scriptural hope 00:03:23 is eager expectation based on future realities, 00:03:28 rooted in what Jehovah has taught us. 00:03:32 Our second question: 00:03:34 Why is hope essential for all Christians? 00:03:38 Please open your Bible with me to Hebrews 11:1, 00:03:44 and notice our well-known definition of faith, 00:03:48 but then notice how hope is associated. 00:03:51 Hebrews 11:1 says: 00:03:55 “Faith is the assured expectation 00:03:58 “of what is hoped for, 00:04:01 “the evident demonstration 00:04:04 of realities that are not seen.” 00:04:08 So just as faith is a requirement 00:04:11 for us to serve Jehovah acceptably 00:04:14 and for our worship not to be in vain, 00:04:16 hope, as an essential element of faith, 00:04:19 is also necessary for all Christians. 00:04:23 To see the connection between faith and hope a little better, 00:04:27 we might think about the example of Abraham. 00:04:31 Now, from a human standpoint, 00:04:33 Abraham and Sarah were way past childbearing age 00:04:37 when Jehovah promised them a son. 00:04:40 It’s interesting that in the Scriptures 00:04:42 both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the angelic announcement. 00:04:46 It was an amazing and tickling prospect to them 00:04:49 to think that they would have a baby in their older years. 00:04:53 But how did Abraham respond to the promise? 00:04:58 Notice, please, in Romans 4:18 00:05:02 what the Bible says, 00:05:04 linked to this discussion of the need for hope. 00:05:09 Romans 4:18 says: 00:05:12 “Although beyond hope, yet based on hope, 00:05:16 “he had faith that he would become the father of many nations 00:05:19 “according to what had been said: 00:05:21 ‘So your offspring will be.’” 00:05:25 Faith “based on hope” 00:05:28 —we see the connection better, don’t we? 00:05:31 You see, Abraham’s God-given hope 00:05:34 gave his faith that he would have a son 00:05:36 a firm foundation. 00:05:38 His faith, in turn, brightened and strengthened his hope. 00:05:43 So it was not only this conviction in his heart 00:05:46 but it was the eager anticipation of seeing 00:05:49 what Jehovah had promised come to fulfillment. 00:05:54 Another reason that we need hope 00:05:58 has to do with the storms that you and I are undoubtedly facing now 00:06:02 or will face before the end of the system comes. 00:06:06 In Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, he illustrated hope 00:06:10 “as an anchor for the soul, both sure and firm.” 00:06:14 So when confronting storms, 00:06:16 what do sailors, both in ancient times and today, often do? 00:06:21 They lower the ship’s anchor. 00:06:23 Why? 00:06:24 Well, if the anchor takes hold of the firm seabed, 00:06:28 it helps the ship ride out the storm. 00:06:31 It keeps that ship away from dangerous reefs or the shoreline. 00:06:35 Interestingly, when the apostle Paul was on that ship 00:06:38 en route to Rome in the year 58 C.E., 00:06:41 the ship was in danger of running aground. 00:06:44 The Bible tells us that the sailors cast out four anchors 00:06:49 —not just one, four— from the stern, 00:06:53 and as a result, the ship safely rode out the storm. 00:06:56 Well, it’s not hard to see the connection 00:06:58 with hope and our stormy times today, is it? 00:07:02 Our “sure and firm” hope, 00:07:04 our setting our mind with eager expectation of what Jehovah has promised, 00:07:08 keeps us emotionally, mentally, and spiritually balanced 00:07:12 no matter what is raging around us in our life 00:07:16 —in full-time service, with our family, 00:07:19 with our finances, with our health. 00:07:21 We can weather the storms 00:07:24 because of our eager expectation of what Jehovah has promised. 00:07:27 Really, few things could be more stabilizing in our life 00:07:32 than this eager expectation of what Jehovah, 00:07:34 the God who does not lie, has promised to us. 00:07:38 Well, that leads to a third question: 00:07:41 How can we strengthen our hope? 00:07:44 Well, as has been commented on beautifully by our four commenters, 00:07:48 we need to think specifically 00:07:51 about how Jehovah’s promises apply to us 00:07:56 and what they will mean for us and our family 00:07:59 in the near future. 00:08:02 Though we serve Jehovah out of love 00:08:04 —and that’s our principal motivation— 00:08:06 Jehovah wants us to think about the rewards 00:08:09 that he has outlined for us in the Scriptures. 00:08:11 He wants us to visualize 00:08:13 and meditate on such blessings. 00:08:17 One sister, in referring to the beautiful artwork 00:08:20 that’s in our magazines, said this: 00:08:22 “When I see pictures of the coming Paradise . . . , 00:08:25 “I examine them closely, as one would a travel brochure. 00:08:29 “I endeavor to see myself there 00:08:32 “because this is where I truly hope to be 00:08:35 in God’s due time.” 00:08:38 Daydreaming? 00:08:39 No. 00:08:40 Meditation on truths 00:08:43 and on precious promises that will not lie? 00:08:47 Yes. 00:08:49 Notice, please, with me at 2 Peter 3:11, 12 00:08:54 how the inspired counsel encourages us 00:08:57 to strengthen and build up our hope in view of what’s coming. 00:09:01 Second Peter chapter 3, let’s read together verses 11 and 12: 00:09:06 “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way 00:09:10 “[with regard to what we’re expecting in the near future 00:09:13 “with the great tribulation leading into Armageddon], 00:09:16 “consider what sort of people you ought to be 00:09:19 “in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, 00:09:22 “as you await and keep close in mind 00:09:27 “the presence of the day of Jehovah, 00:09:29 “through which the heavens will be destroyed in flames 00:09:32 and the elements will melt in the intense heat!” 00:09:36 Notice in verse 12 that expression, “keep close in mind” 00:09:40 —“eagerly desire,” literally, “speed up.” 00:09:44 Do you see how our positive meditation, 00:09:47 our visualizing what’s to come, will strengthen us? 00:09:51 Yes, meaningful prayer, 00:09:53 meaningful Bible study, 00:09:55 meaningful reflection 00:09:58 will help us to keep Jehovah’s day close in mind. 00:10:01 It will help us to “rejoice in the hope,” 00:10:05 and then we will experience the realization 00:10:08 of all that we’ve hoped for from the God “who cannot lie.”
