Opening Prayer: Your hope has no restrictions, O Lord. Help us to understand the immeasurable, unlimited hope offered to Your children. There are no words or actions able to describe our great compassion for Your provision in good and seemingly bad times. Praise You in Your sanctuary. We honor Your earthly presence in believers. Let all creation bless Your holy and eternal name. In Christ’s name. Amen!
Today’s Bible Verse: Psalm 71:14-16
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
Associated Scriptures:
The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this, I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (Philippians 1:18).
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains (Colossians 4:3).
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Correlative Quotes:
The holy faith of the persecuted saint comes to the front in these three verses. But I will hope continually. When I cannot rejoice in what I have, I will look forward to what shall be mine, and will still rejoice.[1] – Charles Spurgeon
I will go in the strength of the Lord God, not sit down in despair, but stir up myself to and exert myself in my work and warfare, will go forth and go on, not in any strength of my own, but in God's strength—disclaiming my sufficiency and depending on him only as all-sufficient—in the strength of his providence and the strength of his grace. We must always go about God's work in his strength, having our eyes up unto him to work in us both to will and to do. (2.) In the promise of God: "I will make mention of Your righteousness, that is, Your faithfulness to every word which You have spoken, the equity of Your disposals, and thy kindness to Your people that trust in You. This I will make mention of as my plea in prayer for Your mercy."[2] – Matthew Henry
Man is become, through sin, a weak and impotent creature; though he is very hard to be brought to a sense and acknowledgment of his weakness; true believers are sensible of it and own it, and such, knowing that there is a sufficiency of strength in Christ for them, look and go to him for it.[3] – John Gill
Author’s notes:
INTRODUCTION
Our hope is in Christ alone. There is no other name, under Heaven, that can and will spare us pain in this life and suffering in the life that will come after death (Acts 4:12). There is no restriction on the power and presence of His Spirit. He provides for those who believe. He supplies comfort in times of sorrow, strength in weakness, health during sickness, wisdom in our decisions, the right words at appropriate times, and direction when we wander. God’s love is not only unconditional but unrestricted. His Spirit fills us with His love.
HOPE PERSONIFIED
God did not intend for hope to be sporadic, occasional, or based on the needs of the moment. Intermittent or irregular hope describes societal expectations. Worldly desires, including needs, wants, or closure, could be described as “elevator belief.” It is always up and down. Unbelievers hope for an object or outcome and if it happens they are satisfied and think of it as fate. If it doesn’t happen, they blame it on God, the cosmos, or just move on until the disappointment is forgotten.
God’s hope is different. Hope in God is continuous. A Christian’s belief is centered on God’s word. It is not dependent on worldly wants or desires for closure. The faith that God will fulfill His written promises is substantiated by continually experiencing real, predictable outcomes. Psalms 33:4 teaches: For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
Because God is faithful to us, we must be constantly true to Him. Being right with God means we are obedient to His commands. When we dissect the word of God, we see all commands boiled down to these two instructions: Love God and love others (Mark 12:30-31). The message of salvation is the verbal expression of the righteous actions of God. When we love God, we tell others about Him (Matthew 28:18-20). We are God’s spokespersons.
Once we have proclaimed the righteousness of God through the message of salvation, the next step is spiritual growth. Learning about God’s just and loving nature is a function of the Holy Spirit’s teaching through the Word. God’s Word is His textbook. His Spirit is the translator. John 14:26 explains: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Spiritual Application:
My hope is built on nothing less,
Then Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.[4]
– Edward Mote
In Mote’s beautiful hymn, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” the phrase “sweetest frame” refers to a person’s frame of mind. Believers can’t trust their frame of mind, but only the mind of Christ. Praise God. Worship Him in spirit and truth. Live a life that reflects Christ’s walk here on earth. Give Him the credit for the miracles we all experience every day. Speak up for God.
Lessons within the Lesson:
Explain the phrase “continuing hope.” Read Romans 12:12.
How do we live Christ’s message? Read 1 John 1:6-7.
How do we relate the gospel verbally? Read Psalm 19:14.
How do we teach the truth of God? Read Deuteronomy 11:18-21.
[1] Charles Spurgeon, Psalm 71:14-16, Treasury of David, Vol. III, Ibid, P. 210.
[2] Matthew Henry, Psalm 71:14-16, Exposition of the Old and New Testament, Vol. III., Ibid., P. 407.
[3] John Gill, Psalm 71:14-16, John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, Ibid P. Ibid, P. 8020.
[4] Edward Mote, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, Public Domain, hymnary.org/text/my_hope_is_built_on_nothing_less.