HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Highlights from Pastor Richard’s message on Sunday, Nov 10, 2024

You have to be encouraged to have HOPE. When I was young my Mom would pray with me and encourage me: “You can be anything you want to be with God’s help believe in yourself.” 

God’s Word gives us encouragement – it gives us HOPE!  The more we read the Word the more God lifts us up, through Jesus!  There is power in God’s Word to change our lives.  Sometimes it happens quickly; sometimes it takes time. 

Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the [a]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have HOPE.”

Psalm 37:7 says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Spend time alone with God; go into your “prayer closet” - be still and wait patiently for God to speak to you.  (Like when you go deer hunting you sit in your and wait patiently in confident expectation that a deer will come along.)

Psalm 23 tells us, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…” He can provide us with everything we need in life.

Philippians 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Everything is done through Jesus.  Sometimes He allows challenging things to happen. When in a dark valley, the devil plays on your mind.  JESUS IS WALKING WITH YOU!  He will bring you through.  Jesus is the reason we are here today!  He is our Lord, our God, our Savior, our Brother, our Friend…

When you have troubles Church is what you need. Leave your troubles outside.  God wants all of us – 100% - 24/7! Whatever the problem, God has the answer.  Don’t be like Abraham and Sarah and take things into your own hands. Look what  a mess they got!  God gave them a promise and they tried to speed it up. (Genesis 15-17) The world is still suffering today because of it!

King David encouraged himself in the Lord when the enemy attacked and took all he had. He waited for God to give him the answer, “Pursue and you will recover all!” (1 Samuel 30:8).

Wait on God for HOPE for the future!  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a HOPE. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).