1st Jan 2017
TOPIC: RENEWED HOPE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST – GRACE
TEXT: 2 Thess. 2:16-17
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Grace and peace be to all in Christ Jesus that has enabled and ushered us into this glorious year 2017. Not only does His grace make us accepted into the family of God but, it also provides the power we need to live the Christian life – the God of hope fills you with joy and peace in believing that you abound in Hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Eph 2:8-9, 1:4-6& Rom 15:13). The word Hope entails; to trust in someone, expect, or full of confidence and optimism concerning a person/ thing. Also the word renew means to refresh, revive, restore; to make like new.Therefore, Renewed Hope is a hope of a better tomorrow. It sees beyond the cloud, obstacle, hardship, weakness, failure, frustration, joblessness, or difficulty of any institution, government, person or thing. Why does hope need to be renewed? Hope that was high with the passage of time- due to life challenges can begin to wax cold in certain things or position you thought you would attain either in the family cycle, business, and office or in God’s service. You hope must not fail. Never accept the verdict of defeat, economic recession, sickness, disappointment etc. This year 2017 Jesus has come to lift, increase, elevate, promote and strengthen you from your inner mind.(Eph. 4:23).Hebrews 6:18-19 declares that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation we…. for refuge. An anchor of the soul.
Hope as an acronym means H- holiness; ideas about God’s inability or unwillingness to bless you must be discarded, while you put on the New Man… (Eph. 4:24) and Obadiah 1:17. O stands for obedience that is, submission to authority; God, man, parents and children, husband and wife etc(Acts 5:29, Eph. 6:1 Rom1:5) while P stands for Prayer. You need to be strong through prayers (Mk 11;24)and, lastly E which stands for Earnestness; to be committed to God having a serious and intense Spirit that only the Holy Spirit can confer on us and not to be slothful (Jude 1:3, 2cor 1: 21-22) Belovedare the consolations of God too small for thee? Or Isn’t God enough for you in 2017 and beyond? JESUS is behind all our needs, desires, as well as our distresses, challenges, anxieties and fears in this mixed season but, no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Christ Empty Tomb is full of HOPE (1 Cor. 15:54-57)Remain in the love of Christ all through this year, Jesus is Lord!
Meditation:Jn 20:1-8, 1 kings 19:1-end, Psalm 16:11
BIBLE STUDY – Gen. 1; Matthew 1; Ezra 1; Acts 1