Pastor Francois van Niekerk - Hope in Stormy Times
•Descargar como PPTX, PDF•
0 recomendaciones•447 vistas
Storms are part of life and can leave us with a sense of hopelessness. God speaks into such situations to assure us that He knows how great our need for hope is and that He will supply it!
Recomendados
Más contenido relacionado
La actualidad más candente
La actualidad más candente (20)
Destacado
Destacado (13)
Más de Hatfield Christian Church
Más de Hatfield Christian Church (20)
Último
Último (20)
Pastor Francois van Niekerk - Hope in Stormy Times
- 1. Pastor Francois van Niekerk
- 7. ACTS 27:20 NLT The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
- 10. JAMES 1:2 NKJV
- 12. GOD KNOWS OUR HOPE NEEDS
- 14. You need to hear today that God says: ‘Hope is on the way!’
- 15. PSALM 46:1 NIV
- 16. HOPE IN THE VALLEY
- 17. HOSEA 2:15 NLT
Notas del editor
- Date: 16 November 2014 – morning service Preacher: Pastor Francois van Niekerk
- Theme: Strong hope
- Sermon: The need for hope Introduction There is a huge need for hope in this world! All people need hope – not only in times of trouble, but also for the future and eternity. This need forms part of that which defines us as human. Our need for hope varies during different seasons and at specific times. Sometimes the need may be great, other times less urgent. We are all familiar with being in a position where we need hope more than the next breath! The New Testament describes such a situation of desperate need for hope.
- The Apostle Paul was on his way to Rome as a prisoner and found himself on board a ship caught in a storm on the Mediterranean Sea.
- Can you picture yourself being caught in a relentless storm …
- … on the open sea in a sailboat? Not seeing the sun for days, being tossed around on the rough sea? Not only were they helpless against the power of the storm, but they were also without direction as seaman in those days depended on the stars for navigation. The need for hope was great!
- Text: Acts 27:20 (NLT) ‘The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.’ (Emphasis added) Storms are part of life and its harsh realities. They can leave us with a sense of hopelessness, feelings of despair and the nagging questions, ‘Is this worth it all? Will I make it through?’ This is when the need for hope is great. I strongly believe God speaks into such situations to assure us that He knows the great need we have for hope, and that He will supply it. In the midst of the storm God sent an angel to Paul with a word of hope and they were saved!
- Main points Everyone needs hope The future is unknown and at some or other point everyone needs hope. The fact that we may be doing well and are feeling strong today does not mean it will be that way tomorrow. I am not a negative person, but I do know that life’s journey will take all of us through mountaintop …
- … and valley experiences. It would be naïve to embrace a philosophy that says you can always live on the mountaintop. It is best to be prepared for all kinds of seasons. The Bible points to the fact that trouble and difficulty finds us all.
- In James 1:2 (NKJV) the Apostle writes to the early church to say, ‘ …when you fall into various trials …” Jesus also said that the wind and floods will come:
- “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV) It is not a matter of if, but rather when. Whether you find yourself on the mountaintop or in the valley, you can remain in victory and faith inside your heart and spirit. What keeps us positive, no matter where we find ourselves, is the presence of God’s living hope.
- 2. God knows our hope needs Since we’ve already established that we all need hope, let’s focus on the next important fact – God knows that people need hope as much as they need oxygen. He also knows how to give us that living hope. It is important to clarify to what kind of hope we are referring. The hope we are speaking of is living hope. It is the hope of the heart …
- … oxygen for the spirit! It is not just a pat on the back or empty phrases such as, ‘Don’t worry, everything will be ok.’ The hope we need is a real sense that God is present, that positive change is possible. It is the knowledge that although things are bad, they can and will get better with God’s help. Hope is encased in the promise of God’s help and intervention.
- When all seems lost in that stormy sea, we need to hear God say that help is on the way! He will intervene. Just cry out to Him and don’t lose trust. Above the roar of the storm, become aware of His presence. He is Immanuel – God with us. Immanuel is one of the names of Jesus. He was sent to this world to be present with us and always give us hope by His Name and His presence. God’s presence and His promises (His Word) are our lifelines in stormy seasons when our need for hope is the greatest. I remind you of Jesus’ words, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you. I will be with you always.’ He is our ever-present help in trouble.
- ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’ Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
- 3. Hope in the valley Life is a journey that includes mountaintops, monotonous plains and valleys. It is mostly in the valley of trouble that we experience the greatest need for living hope from the hand of God. The prophet Hosea captured a life-giving word of hope from God for the valley times:
- ‘I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.’ Hosea 2:15 (NLT) Use your time in the valley to draw close to God. Many are tempted to question God in the valley and then shun Him or drift away. Please don’t allow this to happen in your life. Your hope is in the Lord! Don’t allow the enemy to translate valleys of trouble into thinking that God has forgotten you or is against you. Don’t listen to the voices of doubt and fear. You will find the Lord to be very present in the valley. Turn to Him when you’re in the valley, seek His face and focus on Him. You will find Him to be tender during your time in the valley (Hosea 2:14). Make it the place where you move from a formal and religious relationship to an intimate one with Him. This is where living hope from His loving presence will flood your soul and strengthen your faith. If we continually pour our love on Him, we will find that the valley is no longer a place of despair and darkness but a place of transformation. He specialises in turning the valleys …
- … into doorways and gateways of hope for those who choose to focus on loving Him and trusting in His faithfulness. Application I trust you will find your need for hope abundantly met by God! But I also remind you to partner with God in being a carrier of hope to others who may find themselves in the valley of trouble and in need of His hope. At the end of Paul’s story, he was given hope – and not only was he saved, but all 275 people with him received hope through him. May God do the same through us!