CHRISTIAN
OPTIMISM IN CHRISTIAN LIFE
ROMANS 15:13 "Now
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may
abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
Introduction:
a.
Optimism: A feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future; a
belief that what you hope for will happen. I have met many people, but I prefer
optimists over pessimists within the local church.
Pessimism:
A feeling or belief that bad things will happen; a belief that what you hope
for will not happen.
b. We
need more optimistic Christians than pessimistic Christians inside the local
church.
c.
Pessimistic Christians often have a negative reaction to the forward-moving
desires of leaders or God’s servants. Conversely, Optimist Christians motivate
the church to think and act positively; they are a great blessing as the
ministry moves forward. While some may be unrealistically optimistic at times,
generally speaking, many Christians are not optimistic enough.
d. Why
should we be optimistic? Because of a powerful four-letter word:
"HOPE." Hope is something God provides for every believer.
6
Great Truths About the Optimist Christian
I. WE
NEED TO ASK IN HOPE
(James 1:5-8) Jas 1:5 If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind
and tossed.
Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall
receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all
his ways.
a.
Optimist Christians are those who pray to God with strong faith, not wavering
or being double-minded. Strong faith is a requirement for God answering our
prayers.
(Mark 11:24) Mk 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe
that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
b. God
answers our prayers when we pray in faith. Hope is the manifestation of a
Christian’s faith in God. We believe God will answer because we pray according
to His will.
(1 John 5:14-15) 1Jn 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing
according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us,
whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
II. WE
NEED TO ACT IN HOPE
(1 Peter 3:12, 15) 1Pet 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto
their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil. Prov
11:15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart [for it]: and he that hateth
suretiship is sure.
a. Our
actions should reflect our hope. If we are Christians, we should want others to
find Christ too. We must act in a way that encourages fellow believers and
draws the lost to the Savior.
b. To
act in hope is to let the light of Christ shine toward those unreached by the
Gospel.
(Matthew 5:14-16) Mt 5:14 Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mt 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in
the house.
Mt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Optimist
Christians are an extension of the bright light of Jesus to a lost world.
c. To
truly impact others, we must "preach" a sermon of actions, not just
words. People will only listen to your words if your life backs them up. An
Optimist Christian follows the example of Christ.
(1 Peter 2:21) 1Pet 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
III. WE NEED TO ABIDE IN HOPE
(1 Corinthians 13:13) 1Cor 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these
[is] charity.
a. The
Christian has a special hope: Jesus is coming.
(Titus 2:11-13) Tit 2:11
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
We
look forward to His "blessed hope" and glorious appearing. This
expectation should affect our behavior—causing us to deny ungodliness and live
soberly.
(Luke 12:40) Lk 12:40 Be
ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think
not.
b. Our
hope is not just for this world; it is eternal and heavenly.
(Colossians 1:27) Col 1:27 To
whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery
among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
To
remain fruitful, we must abide in the Vine.
(John 15:4-5) Jn 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it
abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Jn 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He
that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for
without me ye can do nothing.
IV. WE NEED TO ABOUND IN HOPE
(Romans 15:13) Rom 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may
abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
a. It
is a great experience to have abounding hope in Christ, who saved us and placed
us in the local church to serve Him.
(Acts 20:28) Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood.
b.
Abounding hope ensures the fruitfulness of the church.
(Acts 2:41) Acts 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.
c. God
is responsible for answering the prayers of an optimistic church that holds
onto His promises.
V. WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE IN HOPE
(Romans 8:24-25) Rom 8:24
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man
seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not,
[then] do we with patience wait for [it].
a.
Anticipate: To expect or look ahead to something with pleasure.
b. The
Christian living a righteous life anticipates God’s bountiful blessings.
(Psalms 1:1-3) Pss 1:1
Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Pss 1:2 But his delight [is] in the law of the
Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Pss 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the
rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also
shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
c. God
assures the rescue of His children who walk uprightly.
(Psalms 91:1-3) Pss 91:1 He
that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow
of the Almighty.
Pss 91:2 I will say of the Lord, [He is] my refuge
and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Pss 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the
snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence.
VI. WE NEED TO APPLY UNITY IN HOPE
The
Lord Jesus and God the Father are our primary models for perfect unity.
(John 17:21-22) Jn 17:21
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that
they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Jn 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have
given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Unity
is described as "good and pleasant," bringing the command of God’s
blessing.
(Psalms 133:1-3) Pss 133:1 Behold,
how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Pss 133:2 [It is] like the precious ointment upon
the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron’s beard: that went down to
the skirts of his garments;
Pss 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, [and as the dew]
that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the
blessing, [even] life for evermore.
Conclusion:
An
Optimist Christian lives in hope, and our hope is sure because it is built on
Christ.
(Colossians 1:27) "To
whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among
the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
God
bless you all always!
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