Hope

This is the message given at Pioneer Engage Church on Sunday, 14 March 2010.  You can listen to the message here.

1 Cor 13:13 (NIV) ‘And now these three remain, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.’

But what is hope?   I feel like John the Baptist today preparing the way of the Lord.

Hope is the Word lately.  Carl Wills a few weeks ago shared of his encounter with the angel of hope that has been awakened for Leatherhead.  He’s since had another visitation and will share it next week.  John Noble sent an email this past week in follow-up to the Dream Café meeting on March 1^st.  He made the observation that more than anything else, the word ‘hope’ was written all over the notes different people made, Hope, Hope for Leatherhead, Hope for the children and youth, Hope for the schools, Hope for the government, Hope for the businesses, Hope for the elderly, Hope abounds.

Why is the angel of hope coming to Leatherhead?

I did well in maths and science and had my choice of universities and degrees.  I could have become a scientist, but instead I chose to study engineering because I didn’t just want to study theory, but apply it, and make something from it.  So we hear the angel of hope has been awakened, and my first thought is great!  What for?

There has to be a reason.  Angels never came without a reason.  There are cases in the Bible where angels were seen doing their jobs, but if they came to someone specifically they always had a message.  So I’m anxious to hear Carl next week to know the specific message the angel of hope is bringing to Leatherhead.

We also need to be careful how we treat angels.  In Luke Chapter 1, an angel came to Zechariah while he was he the temple to tell him about his wife becoming pregnant with John the Baptist.  Zechariah doubted the angel and was struck dumb, unable to speak, until John was born.  When John saw an angel in the Book of Revelations, he fell at his feet, but the angel told him to get up, do not worship me for I am a fellow servant.

We need to respect angels.  If God is sending an angel to speak to us, there is a significant reason for it and we need to listen.  But we do not worship angels.  We worship God alone.  So don’t get hung up on angels coming, but be encouraged they are a sign that God is on the move.

So what is hope?

Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines hope as ‘a favourable and confident expectation’ or ‘the happy anticipation of good.’

Dictionary.com defines hope as ‘the feeling that what is wanted can be had,’ ‘the feeling that events will turn out for the best,’ or ‘to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.’

In these definitions, I see 2 key elements, the first is looking to the future, and the second is a positive feeling, emotion.

It differs from faith in that faith is not emotional.  I have faith in God whether I feel like it or not, because I know God will always come through for me.

After the high of being in the presence of God in such a powerful way at last weekend’s conference, events started Tuesday which sent me into a real emotional fall.  By Thursday, I was in a pit of despair and depression that I hadn’t been in for a long time.  I lay on my face before God and heard nothing.  Christians, trying to be helpful, reminded me my faith was not about feelings.

That is true, but I hadn’t lost my faith, I lost my hope in the discouragement from the events, and without it, I could no longer hear God or feel His presence.  Fortunately, mainly through the help of a patient wife, I came out of the pit, my hope was restored, and suddenly I could hear God again.

God is the God of our emotions just as much as our intellect and our body.

In working with other churches in the area, I’ve come to know many Christians who’ve been working in their church faithfully year in and year out, but they’ve become sour and bitter.  They still have faith in God, but they’ve lost their hope and with it the joy of their salvation and frankly their witness to the world.  Who wants to know a hopeless, joyless God?

So why is hope so important?

Why is it so important that it is one of the three things that remain, faith, hope and love?  Why is it so important that an angel of hope has come to Leatherhead?

Scriptures about Hope

Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Tim 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Psalm 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Prov 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

Scriptures about the lack of Hope

1 Chron 29:15 We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

Prov 15:15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the joyful heart has a continual feast.

Prov 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Medical Links Between Health and Happiness

Carnegie Mellon (2005) Positive emotions (general wellbeing, not momentary ones) are linked to living longer and lower rates of chronic illness, symptoms and pain

Article by Terrene C, 1 March 2010

We have all heard the saying ‘laughter is the best medicine” but how much truth is there to this statement? Apparently a lot! Research has found that happiness itself may cause good health, and may be as important a factor as certain unhealthy habits such as smoking. A study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined the link between happiness and a number of health factors in 200 Caucasian adults, age 45-59 years, all of whom worked for the government in London, England. The study assessed each participant on a work day and weekend day, measuring them at work and play for a number of criteria including blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormone (cortisol) levels. Participants were measured under normal conditions and after a mental stress test. Under each condition participants ranked their happiness on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). There were no differences in happiness between people who were married or single, male or female or of varying socioeconomic status; however the happiest participants had the best results across the board for the health markers. I.e. happier people had lower heart rates, and an average of 32% lower levels of cortisol which can have a direct effect on other elements such as blood sugar.

Another study exposed subjects to the cold virus and found that happy people were less likely to get sick, and if they did contract the virus, displayed fewer symptoms. (Source: Carnegie Mellon University). Happy people are less likely to have surges of cortisol, which decreases immunity and makes you more likely to get sick.

Positive, happy people are also more likely to take good care of themselves, have a stronger support system, and live longer. One of the most convincing studies was done on a group of nuns who had almost identical histories, eliminating variables such as diet and socioeconomic background. The study involved this group of nuns each writing an auto biological sketch of her life upon acceptance into the convent, and then examining these sketches six decades later. The study found that the content of these sketches was surprisingly indicative of whether these nuns were still alive, and how healthy they were. 90% of the nuns that had written positive and cheerful sketches were still alive at age 85, while only 34% of the least cheerful nuns were alive. The happiest nuns actually lived a full 10 years longer!

Do you want to be happier, healthier, and live longer? Who doesn’t! But the million dollar question is “How?” Here are 7 strategies to increase your current level of happiness:

1. Make your negative thoughts positive: Aynsley Smith, director of the sports-medicine research center at the Mayo Clinic has a simple method of training her students to focus on positive thoughts. She has her students carry a clicker pen around with them and whenever they notice they are dwelling on negative issues, they are asked to click the pen. This acts as a trigger to change one’s ‘thought channel’.

2. Keep a gratitude journal: Studies show that people who practice grateful thinking on a regular basis can increase their natural level of happiness significantly. Grateful thinking encourages us to be aware and spend time thinking about the positive experiences, things and people in our lives. Keeping a gratitude journal is a simple process – grab a blank notebook or journal and each night before you go to sleep, think of five things you are grateful for and write them down. Review your day and write down anything that made you feel good or that you are appreciative of – big or small. You can review your entries daily and develop a pattern of seeing things in a positive, grateful way.

3. Exercise: Many tactics to increase our happiness are short lived and actually end up making us feel worse. I.e. an extra glass or two of wine, indulging in too much chocolate ice cream, etc. Exercise not only helps in the short term, but has lasting effects that are more conducive to long term happiness. Exercise helps to reduce anxiety and increase feelings of happiness due to the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones). Regular exercise is also thought to improve sleep patterns, bringing us to another important element in increasing your happiness.

4. Sleep: Sleep deprivation has a profound effect on your happiness. Studies show that a bad night sleep is one of the top reasons for being in a sour mood at work, whereas one extra hour of sleep at night can do as much if not more for your daily happiness than a $60,000 raise. We mentioned that exercise is related to a regular sleep cycle, but the two are actually interrelated. Being well rested means you are more likely to commit to a regular exercise regime, particularly if you exercise each morning, before your work day takes over.

5. Emphasize and utilize your strengths: rather than spending your thoughts and energy on correcting the things you do ‘wrong’ or that need improved upon, emphasize and utilize your strengths – find tasks that relate to your strengths and put them to work! Strength-use leads to feelings or pride and accomplishment, resulting in greater happiness.

6. Show kindness and compassion daily: Volunteer your time to a cause that means something to you. Be a listening ear for a friend in need. Perform random acts of kindness on a regular basis. Helping others has a dramatic effect on our own happiness. Sonya Lyubomirsky, Psychology professor at Stanford University indicates that this is most effective when all five acts are performed on the same day. Professor Lyubomirsky’s instructs,

“In our daily lives, we all perform acts of kindness for others. These acts may be large or small and the person for whom the act is performed may or may not be aware of the act. Examples include feeding a stranger’s parking meter, donating blood, helping a friend with homework, visiting an elderly relative, or writing a thank you letter. One day each week, you are to perform five acts of kindness. The acts do not need to be for the same person, the person may or may not be aware of the act, and the act may or may not be similar to the acts listed above.”

7. Set SMART goals: That is goals that are specific, measureable, attractive, realistic and time-framed. The likelihood of achieving SMART goals is much greater, and achieving your goals leads to greater confidence and happiness. Each time you achieve a goal that you have set for yourself, you are one step closer to creating your ‘ideal life’.

The first step to achieving greater happiness is having an understanding of the implication being happy has on the rest of your life. We all deserve to live long, happy, healthy lives; take matters into your own hands, start with the above strategies and get happy today!

The Faith Factor by Harold Koenig and Harvey Cohen (2002)

New medical research supporting religious faith and involvement positively affect a wide variey of health outcomes, from susceptibility to cancer to recovery from surgery.

Yale University Reports published by Dr. Stanislav Kasl and Dr. Ellen Idler

Concluding a 12 year study of over 2800 people over the age of 65.

1. Lower frequency of unhealthy behaviours like heavy drinking and smoking and more liking to participate in healthy habits like exercise
2. Stronger support systems and social ties
3. Improved emotional well-being: Increased feelings of optimism and happiness while fewer systems of depression

‘Participation in religious activities was the linchpin associated with better overall health and higher levels of well being.’

Why is there a correlation between religious beliefs and high levels of well being?  Because we serve the God of Hope (Rom 15:13), the happy anticipation of something good!

Why should Hope come to Leatherhead?

Location

Leatherhead’s other name is the ‘Town at the Crossroads’ because it’s at the intersection of major Roman North-South and East-West trade routes.  Israel is located like a keystone between Europe, Asia and Africa.  Leatherhead is a similar keystone for England.  Where in one spot do you have better access to more of the country and Europe.  We are right off the M25 with easy access to London without being bogged down by London traffic.  We are halfway between Heathrow and Gatwick airports, only 1 ½ hours from the Eurotunnel and ferries to the continent, a reasonable drive to the west country, Birmingham, Manchester, Lincoln…  If God wants to do something to spread across England, Leatherhead is a pretty good spot to start.

Demographics

Unusually large population of handicapped, visually impaired, mentally challenged as well as the veterans hospital nearby, and corresponding agencies and centres that help those groups.

What will happen when these people are touched by the God of Hope?  At a minimum, their lives will improve, and when supernatural healing breaks out – whoa! That will be a sign to the world!

What will happen when the area churches with older, shrinking congregations, see their despair turn to joy, and their witness restored!

Gift of Hope

It’s one thing to have natural hope, but as in all gifts, there is a natural a spiritual.  The spiritual gift is anointed with supernatural power.  There is faith and then there is the gift of faith.  There is love and then there is the supernatural gift of agape love.  There is also a supernatural gift of hope.

The angel has not just come to release an increased natural measure of hope, but release a supernatural gift of hope with the supernatural power that goes with it.

Right now, we ask Lord, release supernatural hope in this meeting.  Pour it as bowl overflowing over the Leatherhead area.  And now Lord we pray for each other with the laying on of hands to impart the gift of hope.