JESUS INSPIRES HOPE
LESSON VII
JESUS INSPIRES HOPE
A Law of Salvation
I. Jesus Saves By Hope
1. How are we saved?
"For we are saved by hope." Romans 8:24
"The Lord is keeping alive the spark of hope in their hearts."Testimonies to Ministers, p. 354.
2. What is Satan's desire to bring to the human heart?
"That at that time ye were without Christ, . . . having no hope, and without God in the world." Ephesians 2:12.
"Satan . . . desires to take every glimmer of hope and every ray of light from the soul." Steps to Christ, p. 56.
II. Jesus' Ministry of Hope
1. Cite some characters whose lives Christ inspired with hope.
a. Saul, greatest of New Testament missionaries. Acts 9:11, 13, 15.
"The martyrdom of Stephen made a deep impression upon all who witnessed it. The memory of the signet of God upon his face; his words, which touched the very souls of those who heard them, remained in the minds of the beholders, and testified to the truth of that which he had proclaimed. His death was a sore trial to the church, but it resulted in the conviction of Saul, who could not efface from his memory the faith and constancy of the martyr, and the glory that had rested on his countenance.
"At the scene of Stephen's trial and death, Saul had seemed to be imbued with a frenzied zeal. Afterward he was angered by his own secret conviction that Stephen had been honored by God at the very time when he was dishonored by men. . . . Saul was elected a member of the Sanhedrin council, in consideration of the part he had acted on this occasion. For a time he was a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan to carry out his rebellion against the Son of God. . . . A Mightier than Satan had chosen Saul to take the place of the martyred Stephen, to preach and suffer for His name, and to spread far and wide the tidings of salvation through His blood."Acts of the Apostles, pp. 101, 102.
b. Mary Magdalene, first at the Saviour's tomb. Mark 16:9
1. How are we saved?
"For we are saved by hope." Romans 8:24
"The Lord is keeping alive the spark of hope in their hearts."Testimonies to Ministers, p. 354.
2. What is Satan's desire to bring to the human heart?
"That at that time ye were without Christ, . . . having no hope, and without God in the world." Ephesians 2:12.
"Satan . . . desires to take every glimmer of hope and every ray of light from the soul." Steps to Christ, p. 56.
II. Jesus' Ministry of Hope
1. Cite some characters whose lives Christ inspired with hope.
a. Saul, greatest of New Testament missionaries. Acts 9:11, 13, 15.
"The martyrdom of Stephen made a deep impression upon all who witnessed it. The memory of the signet of God upon his face; his words, which touched the very souls of those who heard them, remained in the minds of the beholders, and testified to the truth of that which he had proclaimed. His death was a sore trial to the church, but it resulted in the conviction of Saul, who could not efface from his memory the faith and constancy of the martyr, and the glory that had rested on his countenance.
"At the scene of Stephen's trial and death, Saul had seemed to be imbued with a frenzied zeal. Afterward he was angered by his own secret conviction that Stephen had been honored by God at the very time when he was dishonored by men. . . . Saul was elected a member of the Sanhedrin council, in consideration of the part he had acted on this occasion. For a time he was a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan to carry out his rebellion against the Son of God. . . . A Mightier than Satan had chosen Saul to take the place of the martyred Stephen, to preach and suffer for His name, and to spread far and wide the tidings of salvation through His blood."Acts of the Apostles, pp. 101, 102.
b. Mary Magdalene, first at the Saviour's tomb. Mark 16:9
"There are souls in their darkness, full of remorse and pain and anguish, who still feel that God is just
and good. The Lord is keeping alive the spark of hope in their hearts. . . . The soul wrenched with human
agony turns away from the misjudgment and condemnation of men who can not read the heart, yet
have taken it upon them to judge their fellow men. He turns to One who is without a shadow of
misapprehension, One who knows all the impulses of the heart, who is acquainted with all the
circumstances of temptation."Testimonies to Ministers, p. 354.
c. The woman of Samaria, who had had five husbands. John 4:18, 39.
"Jesus had convinced her that He read the secrets of her life; yet she felt that He was her friend, pitying and loving her."Desire of Ages, p. 189.
d. The thief on the cross who confessed Christ when His own disciples forsook Him. Luke 23:42.
"He had seen and heard Jesus, and had been convicted by His teaching, but he had been turned away from Him by the priests and rulers. Seeking to stifle conviction, he had plunged deeper and deeper into sin, until he was arrested, tried as a criminal, and condemned to die on the cross. . . . For long hours of agony, reviling and mockery have fallen upon the ears of Jesus. As He hangs upon the cross, there floats up to Him still the sound of jeers and curses. With longing heart He had listened for some expression of faith from His disciples. He has heard only the mournful words, ‘We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.' How grateful then to the Saviour was the utterance of faith and love from the dying thief. While the leading Jews deny Him, and even the disciples doubt His divinity, the poor thief, upon the brink of eternity, calls Jesus Lord. Many were ready to call Him Lord when He wrought miracles, and after He had risen from the grave; but none acknowledged Him as He hung dying upon the cross save the penitent thief who was saved at the eleventh hour." Desire of ages, pp. 749, 750.
III. Lasting Victory Comes By Inspiring Hope
1. What is the purpose of the Scriptures?
"That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4, last part.
2. How did hope in the prodigal spring up?
"But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." Luke 15:20.
"In the parable there is no taunting, no casting up to the prodigal of his evil course. The son feels that the past is forgiven and forgotten, blotted out forever. "Christ's Object Lessons, p. 204.
3. What does hope do to the soul?
"And hope maketh not ashamed." Romans 5:5.
"He sought to inspire with hope the most rough and unpromising, setting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and harmless, attaining such a character as would make them manifest as the children of God. Often He met those who had drifted under Satan's control, and who had no power to break from his snare. To such a one, discouraged, sick, tempted, and fallen, Jesus would speak words of tenderest pity, words that were needed and could be understood. Others He met who were fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the adversary of souls. These He encouraged to persevere, assuring them that they would win; for angels of God were on their side, and would give them the victory. Those whom He thus helped were convinced that here was One in whom they could trust with perfect confidence. He would not betray the secrets they poured into His sympathizing ear." Desire of Ages, pp. 91, 92.
c. The woman of Samaria, who had had five husbands. John 4:18, 39.
"Jesus had convinced her that He read the secrets of her life; yet she felt that He was her friend, pitying and loving her."Desire of Ages, p. 189.
d. The thief on the cross who confessed Christ when His own disciples forsook Him. Luke 23:42.
"He had seen and heard Jesus, and had been convicted by His teaching, but he had been turned away from Him by the priests and rulers. Seeking to stifle conviction, he had plunged deeper and deeper into sin, until he was arrested, tried as a criminal, and condemned to die on the cross. . . . For long hours of agony, reviling and mockery have fallen upon the ears of Jesus. As He hangs upon the cross, there floats up to Him still the sound of jeers and curses. With longing heart He had listened for some expression of faith from His disciples. He has heard only the mournful words, ‘We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.' How grateful then to the Saviour was the utterance of faith and love from the dying thief. While the leading Jews deny Him, and even the disciples doubt His divinity, the poor thief, upon the brink of eternity, calls Jesus Lord. Many were ready to call Him Lord when He wrought miracles, and after He had risen from the grave; but none acknowledged Him as He hung dying upon the cross save the penitent thief who was saved at the eleventh hour." Desire of ages, pp. 749, 750.
III. Lasting Victory Comes By Inspiring Hope
1. What is the purpose of the Scriptures?
"That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4, last part.
2. How did hope in the prodigal spring up?
"But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." Luke 15:20.
"In the parable there is no taunting, no casting up to the prodigal of his evil course. The son feels that the past is forgiven and forgotten, blotted out forever. "Christ's Object Lessons, p. 204.
3. What does hope do to the soul?
"And hope maketh not ashamed." Romans 5:5.
"He sought to inspire with hope the most rough and unpromising, setting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and harmless, attaining such a character as would make them manifest as the children of God. Often He met those who had drifted under Satan's control, and who had no power to break from his snare. To such a one, discouraged, sick, tempted, and fallen, Jesus would speak words of tenderest pity, words that were needed and could be understood. Others He met who were fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the adversary of souls. These He encouraged to persevere, assuring them that they would win; for angels of God were on their side, and would give them the victory. Those whom He thus helped were convinced that here was One in whom they could trust with perfect confidence. He would not betray the secrets they poured into His sympathizing ear." Desire of Ages, pp. 91, 92.
IV. Jesus–the Basis of Hope
1. Who is our hope?
"For thou art my hope, 0 Lord God." Psalms 71:5.
2. What is it that gives us hope in this dark hour?
"The Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." Isaiah 60:2.
3. What hope is there in the name of Jesus?
"Thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21.
4. While men's hearts are failing them for fear, through looking at things coming on the earth, where, and to Whom, are we to look?
"Look up." Luke 21:28.
"Look unto me, and be ye saved." Isaiah 45:22. 5. The promises of God are likened to what? "Which hope we have an anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast." Hebrews 6:19.
V. How to Receive this Hope with which to Inspire Others
1. How only can we receive, and then give this hope to others?
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:5.
"If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plentitude." Acts of the Apostles, p 50
2. How full of hope is the Holy Spirit when He comes to the human heart and is admitted as our guide?
"Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance." Ephesians 1:13, last part; 14, first part.
“The gift of this Holy Spirit, rich, full, and abundant, is to be to His church as an encompassing wall of fire, which the powers of hell shall not prevail against." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 18.
Since men are "saved by hope," is it your determination to inspire the most rough and unpromising with
hope?
1. Who is our hope?
"For thou art my hope, 0 Lord God." Psalms 71:5.
2. What is it that gives us hope in this dark hour?
"The Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." Isaiah 60:2.
3. What hope is there in the name of Jesus?
"Thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21.
4. While men's hearts are failing them for fear, through looking at things coming on the earth, where, and to Whom, are we to look?
"Look up." Luke 21:28.
"Look unto me, and be ye saved." Isaiah 45:22. 5. The promises of God are likened to what? "Which hope we have an anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast." Hebrews 6:19.
V. How to Receive this Hope with which to Inspire Others
1. How only can we receive, and then give this hope to others?
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:5.
"If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plentitude." Acts of the Apostles, p 50
2. How full of hope is the Holy Spirit when He comes to the human heart and is admitted as our guide?
"Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance." Ephesians 1:13, last part; 14, first part.
“The gift of this Holy Spirit, rich, full, and abundant, is to be to His church as an encompassing wall of fire, which the powers of hell shall not prevail against." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 18.
Jesus
Wonderful story of Jesus:
Whisper it softly to me.
Give me a hope in His mercy;
Hand me His pardon so free.
Tell me for all of my longings,
All of my strivings for peace,
All of my heart-aches and sighings,
Jesus will bring me release.
Freedom is found in a person
Theory alone cannot do.
What I now need is a Saviour.
Friend, what has Christ done for you?
Reflection
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Tuesday, October 24, 2017
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