WEBVTT 00:04.808 --> 00:08.130 [SPEAKER_00]: as we near the end of our series on love and action. 00:08.930 --> 00:13.752 [SPEAKER_00]: Today we're going to look at the role of hope in putting our faith in action. 00:14.833 --> 00:17.094 [SPEAKER_00]: You and I need hope more than ever. 00:18.014 --> 00:24.457 [SPEAKER_00]: We need God to give us fresh vision for the work he's doing and will do in the world around us. 00:25.618 --> 00:29.500 [SPEAKER_00]: And we need Him to empower us to share that vision with others 00:35.044 --> 00:39.551 [SPEAKER_00]: May God fill us as his people with fresh hope in his presence today. 00:40.553 --> 00:42.737 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:09.150 --> 01:14.192 [SPEAKER_00]: our scripture for today comes from first Corinthians 13 verse 7. 01:15.273 --> 01:25.517 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endure all things. 01:30.119 --> 01:34.161 [SPEAKER_00]: Through Jesus, we have been afforded an anchor of hope. 01:35.687 --> 01:51.778 [SPEAKER_00]: Through God's promises of His presence now and total restoration in the age to come, we can have peace in the midst of trials, joy in persecution and steadfastness when it seems nothing can go our way. 01:53.839 --> 01:57.001 [SPEAKER_00]: First Peter chapter 1, verses 3 and 4 says, 01:58.121 --> 02:01.684 [SPEAKER_00]: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 02:02.624 --> 02:20.977 [SPEAKER_00]: According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 02:24.438 --> 02:29.963 [SPEAKER_00]: As believers, we have an inheritance of boundless communion with our Heavenly Father. 02:31.384 --> 02:37.209 [SPEAKER_00]: And with this inheritance, we are called to share our hope with a lost and hopeless world. 02:39.631 --> 02:45.196 [SPEAKER_00]: The hope that's been freely given to you was not meant to be solely contained within you. 02:46.738 --> 02:51.522 [SPEAKER_00]: You have a testimony in Christ that has the power to transform lives, 02:53.630 --> 03:03.654 [SPEAKER_00]: First Corinthians, 13-7 says, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endure all things. 03:06.255 --> 03:10.437 [SPEAKER_00]: You are called to hope for a better life for those around you. 03:11.897 --> 03:15.639 [SPEAKER_00]: You are called to believe in people when no one else will. 03:17.648 --> 03:23.691 [SPEAKER_00]: God has abundant life and relationship for all if they will simply come to know Him. 03:25.451 --> 03:29.513 [SPEAKER_00]: And He's chosen to use His children to share that message of hope. 03:31.514 --> 03:38.897 [SPEAKER_00]: Your life has been transformed from being the lost and lifeless to being the filled with the powerful hope of the gospel. 03:40.126 --> 03:57.745 [SPEAKER_00]: No one is hopeless, no one is beyond the saving grace of Jesus, and God is calling you to love others enough to share with them the reality of His love in both word and deed that they might have hope in God. 04:00.027 --> 04:02.530 [SPEAKER_00]: The only hope the world has is Jesus. 04:04.150 --> 04:10.733 [SPEAKER_00]: No amount of money, no friends, and no politician can save us from the destruction of sin. 04:12.334 --> 04:20.318 [SPEAKER_00]: The truth of God's unconditional love and unmarried to grace is the only source of redemption and joy this world has. 04:22.779 --> 04:25.120 [SPEAKER_00]: So who around you needs hope today? 04:26.801 --> 04:30.543 [SPEAKER_00]: Who around you needs to know that God has a plan for their life? 04:32.463 --> 04:36.246 [SPEAKER_00]: who around you needs to have hope in all things for them today. 04:38.268 --> 04:40.149 [SPEAKER_00]: There is no love without hope. 04:41.230 --> 04:43.332 [SPEAKER_00]: There is no gospel without hope. 04:45.093 --> 04:51.658 [SPEAKER_00]: In you lies the hope for all the world, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. 04:53.179 --> 05:00.505 [SPEAKER_00]: Share that hope with those around you today, who are in desperate need of restored relationship with their heavenly Father. 05:31.438 --> 05:43.403 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, reflect on the hope you have in Jesus, allow Scripture to remind you of the destruction that awaited you apart from God's saving grace. 05:45.252 --> 05:53.214 [SPEAKER_00]: 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 3 and 4 says, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 05:54.415 --> 06:12.640 [SPEAKER_00]: According to His great mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 06:54.520 --> 06:55.041 [SPEAKER_00]: and next. 06:56.102 --> 06:59.665 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask God who he would have you hope in all things for today. 07:01.006 --> 07:07.172 [SPEAKER_00]: Who around you needs someone who will simply believe in them and reflect the unconditional love of God? 07:58.470 --> 08:05.354 [SPEAKER_00]: In last, ask the spirit to show you how you can share the message of hope with that person today. 08:06.594 --> 08:11.337 [SPEAKER_00]: How can you reveal God's heart of grace, love and peace? 09:16.851 --> 09:19.713 [SPEAKER_00]: both believers and non-believers need hope. 09:21.153 --> 09:23.655 [SPEAKER_00]: Everyone needs love from the people around them. 09:25.135 --> 09:34.380 [SPEAKER_00]: Whether you're sharing the gospel with someone for the first time or helping a fellow believer through a tough time, you are needed by the people around you. 09:35.781 --> 09:43.185 [SPEAKER_00]: Exemplify the hope God offers as Jesus did and watch as lives are transformed around you. 09:44.644 --> 09:51.429 [SPEAKER_00]: May your debut filled with reconciliation and good works as you allow the Holy Spirit to use you. 10:16.028 --> 10:18.311 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to today's podcast. 10:18.671 --> 10:20.173 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with First 15. 10:21.194 --> 10:26.379 [SPEAKER_00]: Take notice today as you go about your day of someone around you who seems hopeless. 10:27.507 --> 10:32.548 [SPEAKER_00]: And when you notice it, before going up to him or her, ask God for a word of hope. 10:33.748 --> 10:41.310 [SPEAKER_00]: Sharing that word of hope, given to you straight from the heart of God, can make more difference than we can imagine in the life of another. 10:42.650 --> 10:46.831 [SPEAKER_00]: May God empower you today to be a giver of hope as he is. 10:48.551 --> 10:53.412 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day today, and may God bless you as you see him.