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Passover and Hope

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Amidst the despair and challenges of personal, national, and spiritual life, there shines a blinding ray of hope that pierces through the darkness. This hope, deeply rooted in faith, is the confident, enduring expectation that sustains us, no matter the circumstances. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the very foundation that undergirds our aspirations. Without faith, hope holds no meaning, for the strength of our hope depends on the depth of our trust in God. The heart of hope is faith in Him, a trust that He will bring to pass what He has promised. This hope is relational, built on knowing God and believing in Him. As we grow in our relationship with Him, our hope strengthens, becoming a stable rock we can cling to. Through this faith, we trust that God, in His unchanging and righteous character, will fulfill His promises perfectly every time. Our hope, therefore, is not a fleeting wish but a confident expectation of deliverance, allowing us to rejoice even in the midst of severe trials. Whether facing personal failures, societal decay, or spiritual struggles, we can remain joyous and hopeful, assured by His eternal nature and the promises He has spoken.

Defining Hope for the Creation

'Ready Answer' by James Beaubelle

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, as Paul describes in Hebrews 11:1. This faith strengthens our hope, and our hope is realized through our faith, making these two virtues inseparable, both having Jesus Christ as their ultimate focus. Our faith underpins our hope with belief in God's promises, while our hope motivates us to right actions toward a future good, supporting the vision of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Without this vision of hope, we risk standing still when we should be preparing for the future. Godly hope always looks toward a future good, inspiring us to strengthen our relationship with God, develop patience, and stand fast in faith. Because this hope is a desire placed in us by God, its true object is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and the work He does on our behalf.

Faith, Hope, and the Worship of God (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Faith is the foundation of things hoped for, serving as the substance, the ground, and the assurance of what we long to see fulfilled in our relationship with God. It is the evidence of things not seen, the title-deed to our hopes, and it must be rooted in God's Word to hold any value. Without this solid evidence, our hopes are mere wishes, ephemeral daydreams lacking reality or conviction to motivate action toward their fulfillment. Only the faith generated from hearing and receiving God's Word provides a legitimate basis for hope, ensuring that what we anticipate has a foundation in His promises. The conviction that sustains our hopes, especially those pertaining to eternal life, rests entirely on the faithfulness of God in keeping His Word, which is always true. If God has not spoken on a matter, there is no basis for belief, and any hope in such areas is nothing more than human imagination or emotion. True hope requires a reality, a proof produced from God's revelation, to inspire us to work toward its accomplishment. Without this, there is no reason to act, as hopes remain baseless and ungrounded. In worshipping God, faith is indispensable, for without it, it is impossible to please Him. We are to worship Him by faith in His sovereignty, His providence, and His faithfulness, anchored in what He reveals. Even when His ways are not fully clear to us, as with complex matters, our faith must rest on His Word and His promises, trusting that He provides the evidence necessary for our hopes to be solid. If we do not receive what He says, our hopes cannot stand, and our worship fails to reflect the deference and respect due to Him.

Hope and Faith

Sermon by Clyde Finklea

Hopelessness stands as the most crushing feeling a person can endure, yet for those in Christ, such despair is never inevitable. Even amidst fear, loneliness, or desperate situations, hope remains a steadfast anchor. In Scripture, hope is not a mere wish or uncertain optimism, but a strong and confident expectation, a certainty rooted in trust. Hope, as defined biblically, is the confident expectation and sure certainty that what God has promised in His Word is true. It resides in our hearts and minds, built on the belief in God's promises, trusting that He is preparing a future for us, that Jesus our Lord will return to this earth, gather us in a resurrection, and that we will rule with Him in His Kingdom. Faith serves as the substance of this hope, acting as its support. Derived from Greek words meaning a setting under, faith provides the foundation for hope. It is not only the support but also the evidence of the hope within us, manifested in our actions and the way we live our lives. Biblical hope does not allow for idleness or escapism; instead, it propels us into action, transforming how we live, what we value, and how we utilize our talents, time, and resources. This hope, when grounded in God's truth, fosters a heavenly mindset over an earthly one, shaping our pursuits and priorities. It works hand-in-hand with faith, where hope is the internal belief in God's promises of resurrection and a better world, moving us toward action, while faith is the action itself, demonstrating to God our trust and belief in Him. Our God, the source of all true hope, holds the power to instill this confident expectation, ensuring that our lives reflect the evidence of this hope through our faith.

Wandering the Wilderness in Faith

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Like the Israelites, Christians must live by faith as we follow Christ through a spiritual wilderness. Faith is the vital component carries us through.

Faith to Face Our Trials

'Ready Answer' by Pat Higgins

Life seems to be one trial after another. However, God has revealed an astounding facet of God's love that should give us the faith to soldier on.

Faith and Contentment (Part One)

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

A Christian can be content because his faith and trust are in the trustworthiness of the supreme God. The world is not spinning wildly out of control.

Faith (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Faithfulness in a person ultimately rests on his or her trust in God, and if a person is going to be faithful, its because he or she believes what God says.

Hope in a Turbulent World

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Greek and Roman myths have shaped the world view of Western culture, including our attitude toward hope, a concept which is often abused and distorted.

Faith and the Christian Fight (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Bible abounds in metaphors of warfare, indicating that the Christian's walk will be characterized by stress, sacrifice, and deprivation in building faith.

Faith (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

At the time of the end, sin will be so pervasive and so compelling that our only resource for enduring its influence will be our relationship with God.

Hope to the End (Part Three)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Faith, hope and love are spiritual gifts which safeguard us from discouragement and depression, giving us a mature perspective that will last eternally.

Faith (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We would like God to instantly gratify our desires. Consequently, we find living by faith difficult; we do not trust that He has things under control.

Hope to the End

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Peter, while warning about impending suffering, nevertheless distinguishes himself as the apostle of hope, keeping our minds on what is to be rather than what now is.

A Pre-Passover Look

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must thoroughly examine ourselves, exercising and strengthening our faith, actively giving love back to God, to avoid taking Passover in a careless manner.

Faith Overcomes the World

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

As we attempt to overcome the world, we soon realize that we battle against invisible principalities, requiring us to form a close relationship with Christ.

Living a Life that Pleases God

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

Even as Enoch lived a life that pleased God, the Scriptures identify seven qualities that enable us to live a life that pleases God.

Ping

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

God has given to us spiritual sonar to help us to navigate in uncharted venues. As we pray, study, and meditate, we develop our spiritual sonar.

Our Spiritual Reality

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

Neither virtual reality nor spiritual reality can be seen with the naked eye—the first requires equipment, and the second requires eyes of faith.

God's Workmanship (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Salvation is not a one time event, but a continuous process—not just immunity from death, but a total transformation of our nature into a new creation.

Hebrews (Part Twelve)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Hebrews 11 provides examples to bolster faith. The faith described is not blind, but is carefully developed from systematic analysis of available evidence.

Hebrews (Part Four)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must emulate Christ, who learned through suffering, preparing Himself for His role as High Priest. Giving in alienates us from the fellowship with God.