{"id":737,"date":"2012-11-04T00:05:39","date_gmt":"2012-11-04T00:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=737"},"modified":"2012-12-10T01:52:44","modified_gmt":"2012-12-10T01:52:44","slug":"grace-immersion-grace-gives-hope-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=737","title":{"rendered":"Grace Immersion: Grace Gives Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"

rec1104-113213<\/a><\/p>\n

A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope!<\/p>\n

Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If hope holds such power for unthinking rodents, how much greater should is effect be on our lives.<\/p>\n

Mark Twain<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord save us all from… a hope tree that has lost the faculty of putting out blossoms.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hope is the physician of each misery.\u00a0 ~Irish Proverb<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn contrast to a freaked-out world, [we can] be people of joyful hope!\u201d (Rene Schlaepfer).<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

How has your level of hope been this week?\u00a0 It\u201d\u2122s been a tough week for many of us\u201d\u00a6a lot of upheaval in our community, tons of uncertainty bear down on many of you.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

But remember\u201d\u00a6<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you’re slamming the door in the face of God.\u00a0 ~Charles L. Allen<\/p>\n

Jeremiah 29:11\u00a0(NLT)<\/p>\n

11<\/sup><\/strong> For I know the plans I have for you,\u201d says the Lord. \u201cThey are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.<\/p>\n

You may be thinking, \u201cYeah, yeah\u201d\u201dI\u201d\u2122ve heard that verse before.\u00a0 But honestly, Chad, I\u201d\u2122m not sure I buy it!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe you\u201d\u2122re thinking,<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHOW<\/span> can God say that?\u00a0 Does He not see my life right now?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

This morning we\u201d\u2122re going to find God\u201d\u2122s answer to our question!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grace Gives Hope<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ephesians 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Grace changes who I am and gives me hope for the future.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ephesians 1:15-23\u00a0(NLT)<\/p>\n

15<\/sup><\/strong> Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God\u201d\u2122s people everywhere, 16<\/sup><\/strong> I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17<\/sup><\/strong> asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom<\/em><\/strong> and insight<\/em> <\/strong>so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18<\/sup><\/strong> I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand<\/em><\/strong> the confident hope he has given to those he called\u201d\u201dhis holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.<\/p>\n

19<\/sup><\/strong> I also pray that you will understand<\/em><\/strong> the incredible greatness of God\u201d\u2122s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20<\/sup><\/strong> that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God\u201d\u2122s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21<\/sup><\/strong> Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else\u201d\u201dnot only in this world but also in the world to come. 22<\/sup><\/strong> God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23<\/sup><\/strong> And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.<\/p>\n

Grace changes who I am and gives me hope for the future.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

So now you\u201d\u2122re thinking\u201d\u00a6 \u201cOk, Chad\u201d\u201dI\u201d\u2122d love for God to answer this prayer and help me understand my hope\u201d\u00a6but my circumstances are SO hard right now, I just can\u201d\u2122t seem to see through them!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I understand\u201d\u00a6and so does God!\u00a0 That\u201d\u2122s why He\u201d\u2122s given us the Bible.<\/p>\n

Hosea 2:14-16\u00a0(NLT)<\/p>\n

14<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cBut then I will win her back once again.
\nI will lead her into the desert
\nand speak tenderly to her there.
\n15<\/sup><\/strong> I will return her vineyards to her
\nand transform the Valley of Trouble (Achor) into a gateway of hope<\/span>.
\nShe will give herself to me there,
\nas she did long ago when she was young,
\nwhen I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.
\n16<\/sup><\/strong> When that day comes,\u201d says the Lord,
\n\u201cyou will call me \u201d\u02dcmy husband\u201d\u2122
\ninstead of \u201d\u02dcmy master.\u201d\u2122<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That phrase in verse 15\u201d\u201d\u201ctransform the Valley of Trouble (Achor) into a gateway of hope\u201d<\/span>\u201d\u201dis what I want to focus on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This actual valley had huge historic significance to the people of Israel.\u00a0 In fact, when it was spoken of, as it is here, the Israelites had come to understand it as a figure of speech that reached back into their past to illustrate something in their present.\u00a0 In Joshua 7 the story of Achan\u201d\u2122s sin is recorded.\u00a0 God was giving His people the promised land, city by city.\u00a0 But He gave different directions for different situations.\u00a0 In this case, they were to take the city of Ai and NOT take any spoils.\u00a0 Well, Achan disobeyed God, looted some stuff and hid it under his tent.\u00a0 God saw and God caused the battle to go bad for Israel and many died.\u00a0 Then God pointed out to the whole nation what Achan had done.\u00a0 As a result, Achan\u201d\u2122s entire family died\u201d\u201dGod commanded that they be stoned in the Valley of Achor.\u00a0 And thus, this valley became a place of great tragedy, unspeakable trouble.\u00a0 After that event, it became a figure of speech to refer to awful times and circumstances of sin or brokenness or tragedy or hopelessness!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That\u201d\u2122s exactly how it\u201d\u2122s being used here in Hosea 2.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Through the story of Hosea and his adultress wife, Gomer, God is telling Israel that, though they have been in the valley of trouble, He is graciously going to transform their trouble into hope!\u00a0 Hosea did that for Gomer, when she reaped the consequences of her sin.\u00a0 And God is saying that He was going to do that for His people, Israel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And guess what?\u00a0 Today, God will do that for YOU!\u00a0 Are you in the Valley of Trouble?\u00a0 Do you need of HOPE?\u00a0 God is still at work transforming trouble into hope!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Grace changes who I am and gives me hope for the future.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u201d\u2122s walk through Ephesians 1:3-14 and see just how God DOES see us as followers of Jesus:<\/p>\n

Ephesians 1:3-14 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

3<\/sup> All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms<\/span> because we are united with Christ. 4<\/sup> Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes<\/span>. 5<\/sup> God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ<\/span>. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure<\/span>. 6<\/sup> So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son<\/span>. 7<\/sup> He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins<\/span>. 8<\/sup> He has showered his kindness on us<\/span>, along with all wisdom and understanding.<\/p>\n

9<\/sup> God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10<\/sup> And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ\u201d\u201deverything in heaven and on earth. 11<\/sup> Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan<\/span>.<\/p>\n

12<\/sup> God\u201d\u2122s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13<\/sup> And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14<\/sup> The Spirit is God\u201d\u2122s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people<\/span>. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I am Blessed<\/strong> (3)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3<\/sup> All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms<\/span> because we are united with Christ.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>All the good that God has to give, He has given to YOU in Jesus!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I am Chosen<\/strong> (4-6, 11)<\/p>\n

4<\/sup> Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes<\/span>. 5<\/sup> God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ<\/span>. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure<\/span>. 6<\/sup> So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son<\/span>.\u00a0 11<\/sup> Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan<\/span>.<\/p>\n

God picked YOU!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I am Holy\/Pure in HIS Sight <\/strong>(4)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

4<\/sup> Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes<\/span>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

God sees you as holy and righteous as Jesus Himself!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I am Adopted by God <\/strong>(5)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

5<\/sup> God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ<\/span>. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure<\/span>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

God takes pleasure in loving YOU as His child!\u00a0 He sought YOU out to adopt YOU as His own!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I am Forgiven<\/strong> (7)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

7<\/sup> He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins<\/span>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Steve Brown:\u00a0 \u201cSome people in the family of God will require things of you that God never required, will tell you that God is angry when he isn\u201d\u2122t, and will make you feel ashamed and guilty when you shouldn\u201d\u2122t feel ashamed and guilty.\u201d (17)<\/p>\n

God holds NONE of your sins against you any more!\u00a0 God forgave YOU because Jesus paid it all!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I am God\u201d\u2122s Guaranteed Heir <\/strong>(11-14)<\/p>\n

11<\/sup> Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. 12<\/sup> God\u201d\u2122s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13<\/sup> And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14<\/sup> The Spirit is God\u201d\u2122s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people<\/span>. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.<\/p>\n

God will give YOU an eternal inheritance of His own presence for eternity in Heaven!<\/em><\/p>\n

I am God\u201d\u2122s Masterpiece with a Destiny<\/strong> (2:10)<\/p>\n

Ephesians 2:10\u00a0(NLT)<\/p>\n

10<\/sup><\/strong> For we are God\u201d\u2122s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.<\/p>\n

God calls YOU His masterpiece and has amazing stuff for YOU to do for His glory!<\/em><\/p>\n

Grace changes who I am and gives me hope for the future.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The school system in a large city had a program to help children keep up with their school work during stays in the city’s hospitals. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child’s name and room number and talked briefly with the child’s regular class teacher. “We’re studying nouns and adverbs in his class now,” the regular teacher said, “and I’d be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn’t fall too far behind.”<\/p>\n

The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, “I’ve been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs.” When she left she felt she hadn’t accomplished much.<\/p>\n

But the next day, a nurse asked her, “What did you do to that boy?” The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. “No, no,” said the nurse. “You don’t know what I mean. We’ve been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He’s fighting back, responding to treatment. It’s as though he’s decided to live.”<\/p>\n

Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: “They wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?”<\/p>\n

Grace changes who I am and gives me hope for the future.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

rec1104-113213 A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-messages"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=737"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":753,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions\/753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}