The Faith that Moves Mountains Part 6 . . . Hope

The Faith that Moves MountainsPart 6 . . . Hope

November 1, 2026, Sunday AM

Text: Rom 15:13(NKJ)

*This morning I want to finish our series . . . The Faith That Moves Mountains.

-Over the last several weeks, we've been exploring what I believe is one of the most important subjects in our Christian experience . . . The application of faith.

-Not simply what faith is from a theological perspective, but how faith actually works in our everyday lives.

*We've discovered that faith and trust are inseparably connected.

-We've learned that biblical faith is not merely trying hard to believe something.

-It is becoming persuaded concerning God, His character, and His Word.

*We've talked about how faith begins in the heart and eventually finds expression through the words of our mouths . . . Through declaration and confession.

-We discovered that our strength doesn't come from our own abilities.

-God Himself has ordained His strength to be our strength.

-Last week we learned that we must not submit to the power of unbelief, but resist it.

*But this morning, I want to introduce another element that I believe is absolutely essential to understanding the operation of faith . . . I want to talk about Hope.

-Heb 11:1(NKJ) Says . . . Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen . . . I want you to notice something . . .

-Hebrews doesn't simply say faith is substance . . . It is the substance of things hoped for.

-And that raises an interesting question.

-If faith gives substance to the things we hope for, then what role does hope play in the process of faith?

-And maybe even more importantly, what happens to our faith when we've lost our hope?

*I believe there are Christians who genuinely believe in God, who love Jesus, who know His Word, but somewhere along the way, they have stopped expecting anything good to happen.

-They haven't necessarily stopped believing in God.

-They've stopped expecting God to do anything in their situation.

-Maybe they've been disappointed.

-Maybe they've prayed for something that hasn't happened.

-Maybe they've been dealing with a problem so long that they've gradually accepted the possibility that nothing will ever change.

-And without realizing it, their expectations have been reshaped by their circumstances rather than by the promises of God.

*Listen to me carefully . . .

-You can believe that God is able to do something and still struggle to believe that He will work in your life . . . That's where the revelation of biblical hope becomes so important.

-Because hope has everything to do with what we're expecting from God.

Read Text:  Rom 15:13(NKJ)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1.  Biblical Hope Is Not Wishful Thinking.

*Let's begin by understanding what hope really means.

-In our everyday language, we use the word hope rather loosely . . . We say things like . . .

-I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow . . . or . . . I hope I get that promotion . . . or . . .

-I hope the doctor gives me a good report . . . or . . . I hope everything works out.

-And what we're really saying is . . . I would like for that to happen, but I'm not particularly sure that it will . . . That's how the world generally understands hope.

-It is a desire mixed with uncertainty.

*But biblical hope is something much greater than that.

-The Greek word frequently translated as hope in the New Testament carries the idea of expectation, anticipation, and confidence concerning the future.

-And when biblical hope is directed toward God and grounded in His promises, it becomes something profoundly different from ordinary wishful thinking.

*It becomes confident expectation . . . Now, let me explain the difference.

-Wishful thinking says . . . Wouldn't it be wonderful if something good happened?

-Biblical hope says . . . I have a reason to expect God's goodness because I know the God I'm trusting . . . Do you see the difference?

-One is based upon a desire.

-The other is based upon a relationship with someone who has proven Himself faithful.

*Listen to the first phrase in our text . . .

-Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.

-Paul calls Him the God of hope . . . Not merely the God who gives us something to hope for.

-He is the God from whom genuine hope comes . . . Think about that.

-Hope isn't simply an emotion we're supposed to manufacture when circumstances become difficult.

-Biblical hope is something God develops within us through our relationship with Him.

*Notice how Paul says it happens . . . That you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . That word abound carries the idea of overflowing or exceeding.

-God doesn't want us barely holding on to a little hope.

-He wants our lives overflowing with the confident expectation that comes through the working of His Spirit in our lives.

*And here's something important.

-Paul connects hope with joy, peace, and believing.   ( Pisteuo . . . The Verb for of Faith )

-In other words, as our hearts become persuaded concerning God, the Holy Spirit works within us to produce a different outlook on life.

-We begin viewing circumstances, all of them, through the lens of joy, peace, and faith.

2.  Hope Gives Faith Something to Anticipate.

*Now let's return to Hebrews 11:1(NKJ) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen

-A few weeks ago, we studied that word substance.

-Remember, the Greek word is hypostasis.

-It communicates the idea of assurance, confidence, an underlying foundation.

-And we discovered that faith isn't merely a positive feeling.

-It is a settled persuasion concerning the reliability of God and His Word.

-But here's the connection I want you to see today.

-Hope looks forward with expectation.

-Faith provides the assurance upon which that expectation rests.

*Faith is grounded in what God has revealed.

-Hope anticipates what that revelation means for our future.

-And trust enables us to keep walking with God while we're waiting.

-Faith believes . . . Hope expects . . . Trust rests and obeys.

3.  Abraham Demonstrates the Relationship Between Faith and Hope.

*One of the greatest illustrations of this relationship is found in the life of Abraham.

-We've looked at Abraham several times throughout this series.

-But this morning, I want us to look at him from a slightly different perspective.

-Romans 4:18(NKJ) says . . .  Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, 'So shall your descendants be.'

*Notice that remarkable expression . . . Contrary to hope, in hope believed.

-What in the world does that mean?

-Abraham was facing a situation in which natural circumstances gave him absolutely no reason to expect the promise of God to be fulfilled.

-He and Sarah were beyond the normal years of childbearing.

-From a natural standpoint, their situation appeared impossible.

-And yet God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations.

*So, Abraham found himself facing two entirely different realities.

-The natural reality said . . . This cannot happen.

-But God's promise said . . .This is what I will do.

*Now, the question was, which reality would establish Abraham's expectation?

-Romans 4:19(NKJ) says he did not consider his own body, nor the deadness of Sarah's womb in a way that destroyed his faith.

-That doesn't mean Abraham was ignorant of his physical circumstances.

-He knew how old he was . . . He knew Sarah's condition.

-He understood the impossibility of what God was promising.

-But he refused to allow those circumstances to become the authority over what he expected.

*And then Romans 4:20-21(NKJ) tells us . . . He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

-Fully convinced . . . That's faith!

-But notice that Abraham's faith was connected to hope.

-He believed God, and that belief gave him a reason to continue expecting the fulfillment of God's promise even when natural circumstances argued against it.

*Let me say something I believe is important.

-Hope doesn't require favorable circumstances . . . It requires a trustworthy God.

-Hope has the ability to look beyond what is presently visible.

4.  Hope Becomes an Anchor While We Wait.

*Now I want to show you something that I believe is one of the best descriptions of hope in the entire Bible.

-Hebrews 6:19(NKJ) says . . . This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.

*The Bible calls hope . . . An anchor.

-An anchor doesn't necessarily stop a storm . . . It doesn't calm the wind.

-It doesn't eliminate the waves . . . An anchor provides stability while the storm is happening.

-That is exactly what biblical hope does in our lives.

*Hope doesn't mean we'll never experience difficult circumstances.

-It doesn't mean every prayer will be answered on our preferred schedule.

-But it gives us a reason to remain steadfast when circumstances threaten to overwhelm us.

*Our hope is not anchored in the predictability of circumstances.

-It is anchored in the faithfulness of God and in Jesus Christ,

-It is anchored in every promise guaranteed by His oath.

*Think about that.

-The foundation of our hope is not something here on earth that can be shaken.

-It is rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

*Listen to Romans 8:32(NKJ)  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

*This is why we must keep the word always in front of our eyes.

-Prov 4:20-22(NKJ)  My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

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