Hope, Part1: The Anchor of The Soul

(Proverbs 13:12)  "Hope deferred makes the heart sick…" Symptoms:Disoriented.(Job 17:13)  "Where then is my hope?  Who can see any hope for me?"Drifting.(Isaiah 53:6)  "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." Despair.(2 Corinthians 1:8)  "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life."What is Hope?Hope is a confident expectation based on something solid. (Hebrews 11:1)  "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."(Psalm 71:14)  "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."Title to my message: The Anchor of the Soul  (Hebrews 6:19)  "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…""What do I have to do to get it?"1.    Hope requires trust.(Romans 4:18)  "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…" (Psalm 42:11)  "Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."2.    Hope is anchored to something unseen.(2 Corinthians 4:17-18)  "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 3.    Hope is found in a relationship with God.(Romans 15:13 GWT)  "May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him.  Then you'll overflow with hope…"(Psalm 62:5)  "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." (Isaiah 40:31)  "…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.