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Fresh Hope. A Study in Ezekiel 36 & 37 Ezekiel 36:8-22. Fresh Hope.
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Fresh Hope A Study in Ezekiel 36 & 37 Ezekiel 36:8-22
Fresh Hope Rom 5 3 We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. 4 And patience produces character, & character produces hope. 5 And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. NCV
Fresh Hope Hope: the confident expectation & anticipation of good, improvement or a positive end result to a desire.
1) Fresh Hope-Born Out of God’s Desire for Us to Know Him- Eze36:8-11 8 "But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches & yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. 9 For indeed I am for you, & I will turn to you, & you shall be tilled & sown…
1) Fresh Hope-Born Out of God’s Desire for Us to Know Him- Eze36:8-11 11 I will multiply upon you man & beast; & they shall increase & bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, & do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.
God works on our behalf to not only bless us, but so that we can know Him and have hope through our relationship with Him.
I John 5 19 We know that we are of God, & the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come… Because God desires us to know Him, hope comes as God… A) Shows Himself to us by coming to us B) Demonstrates His love for us
I John 5 20 And we know that the Son of God has come & has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true… Because God desires us to know Him, hope comes as God… C) Gives us the ability to know Him
I John 5 20 … & we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God & eternal life. Because God desires us to know Him, hope comes as God… D) Shares His blessings with us E) Gives us opportunity to grow
Do I have hope that I can know God or do I feel lonely and separated from God?
2) Fresh Hope- Can Come Out of Any Circumstance- Eze 36:16-20 16 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways & deeds…
2) Fresh Hope- Can Come Out of Any Circumstance- Eze 36:16-20 18 Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, & for their idols with which they had defiled it.
2) Fresh Hope- Can Come Out of Any Circumstance- Eze 36:16-20 19 So I scattered them among the nations, & they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways & their deeds.
2) Fresh Hope- Can Come Out of Any Circumstance- Eze 36:16-20 20 When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, & yet they have gone out of His land.’
The hope God offers is not dependent on circumstances, but rather upon our faith that God will work through our circumstances. Even our own sin cannot quench our hope, for forgiveness is experienced by faith & hope.
There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them. Clare Boothe Luce
2 Cor 4 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God & not of us.
2 Cor 4 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed
Have I decided that hope can come through my circumstances or am I just under my circumstances?
3) Fresh Hope Starts With God’s Desire for a Good Testimony- Eze 36:21-22 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.
3) Fresh Hope Starts With God’s Desire for a Good Testimony- Eze 36:21-22 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.
Hopelessness focuses on our worthiness to receive blessings from God, hope meanwhile focuses upon the character of God and His desire for people to see His goodness.
Psalm 106 7 Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the LORD's miracles. They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea. 8 Even so, he saved them-- to defend the honor of his name & to demonstrate his mighty power. NLT
Am I more focused on working for my good name or in hope that God will work for His good name?
Fresh Hope A Study in Ezekiel 36 & 37 Ezekiel 36:8-22