Hope - Marriage and Family

August 23, 2020
Robert Sherrill

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. —Romans 15:13 (ESV)

Hope - A confident expectation; an assurance of the way things will be through Jesus Christ.

We are surely living in unprecedented times where our

in our living God is being tested.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. —Psalm 139: 23 (NIV)

is the underlying theme of living life during these times.

Like a bright light

Reveal Answer

into this darkness of uncertainty we are reminded in God’s Word:

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD —Psalm 31:24 (NIV)

Four biblical and practical ways to move hope off the pages of your Bible and to activate your hope in Christ within your marriage, your family and with those around you.

1)

yourself to keeping your eyes on God.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. —Hebrews 12: 1-2 (NIV)

Peter walks on water —Matthew 14:22-33

How?

-

your day with Him.

- Talk with Him

your day.

- Be a

of hope to those around you.

2) Clothe yourself with

.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. —Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

… clothe yourselves with humility toward one another… —1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

Humility begins with

you need God’s help.

Godly humility is being

with who you are in Christ and therefore putting others first.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, rather in humility value others above yourselves. —Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

How?

-

to others.

- Take an

in others.

- Be

.

- Ask for

: don’t just say, I’m sorry.

3)

encouragement

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. —I Thessalonians 5:9-11 (NLT)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today’… —Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

encouragement is:

Words that are shared with the hopes that it will lift someone’s heart toward the Lord. It points out evidences of grace in another’s life to help them see that God is using them. It points a person to God’s promises that assures them that all they face is under his control. —(Pastor, Garrett Keil)

4) Remember, you are a

.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. —Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

As a Christ Follower your team is not just you and your spouse. Your team

Jesus Christ who is interwoven into the marriage, into your family, your relationships.

Finally,

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure —Hebrew 6:19a (NIV)

Hope is a stabilizing force for the Christian, the Christ Follower. Our hope in Jesus Christ forms an anchor for the whole life and that it is undisturbed by outward forces and influences. —Author Unknown

Resources:

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus – Dr. Tony Evans | Senior Pastor Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas TX
Marriage Night 2020 Online/Watch at Home – September 12th
Gateway Small Groups - 5 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage (Fall Session sign-ups begin August 30)
Through the Word with Gateway – Carson Minish | Discipleship & Young Adults Director
Focused Prayer with Gateway – Tom Louis | Congregational Care Pastor
19 Ways to Encourage Others – Stacy Wiebe (The Life website)

Don’t forget!

RSVP to attend Live Worship next Sunday at 9:30 AM!