Message Notes

YAG 9th RETREAT 
SESSION # 6
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Time: 9.00am
Theme: “I Have Hope”

A. MATURE REFLECTIONS

1. Devastation of the land noted           Lamentations 4:1

a) Suffering of the children           Lamentations 4:4

b) Suffering of the privileged class           Lamentations 4:5

2. Degeneration of the sons of Zion

a) From gold to clay           Lamentations 4:2

b) Cruelty           Lamentations 4:3

3. Punishment from the Lord

a) Compared to Sodom and Gomorrah           Lamentations 4:6

b) Nazarites go unrecognized in the streets           Lamentations 4:7-8

c) Ravages of war           Lamentations 4:9-10

i) Hunger           Lamentations 4:9

ii) Cannibalism           Lamentations 4:10

d) Acceptance of the consequences of sin

i) Sins of the prophets           Lamentations 4:13a

ii) Sins of the priests           Lamentations 4:13b

iii) Wandered blind           Lamentations 4:14

iv) Rejection by people           Lamentations 4:14-15

v) Failure of political allies           Lamentations 4:17-21

B. REALISTIC HOPE

1. Punishment concluded

The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion

Lamentations 4:22a

a) Punishment had to be meted out

b) Punishment had to be accepted

c) Punishment completed and ended

(Subject of Chastening: Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-11)

2. Captivity over

He will no longer send you into captivity

Lamentations 4:22b

a) Captivity was never meant to last forever

b) Lessons during captivity to be learned well (Cf. Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel)

i) Faith

ii) Faithfulness

iii) Love for God’s word

iv) Prayer

v) A close relationship with God that is treasured

vi) Ministry for God

C. PLEADING WITH DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND RENEWED HOPE

1. Pleading with God to “remember”           Lamentations 5:1

a) Pleading for mercy

b) Pleading as God’s restored people

2. Pleading “inheritance”           Lamentations 5:2

a) Land overrun by foreigners

b) Pleading for the return of the land

3. Pleading the suffering of the people of God

a) Children           Lamentations 5:3a

b) Mothers           Lamentations 5:3b

c) Intense hardship           Lamentations 5:4-14

i) Difficulty in making a living           Lamentations 5:4-6, 9

ii) A burdened generation           Lamentations 5:7

iii) Oppression           Lamentations 5:8

iv) Famine           Lamentations 5:10

v) Oppression of womenfolk           Lamentations 5:11

vi) Princes and elders not respected           Lamentations 5:12

vii) Boys and young men bullied           Lamentations 5:13

viii) Normal decent life disrupted           Lamentations 5:14

ix) Joy ceased; mourning prevails           Lamentations 5:15

x) Consequences of sin accepted           Lamentations 5:16

4. Pleading for Restoration           Lamentations 5:19-22

a) Pleading before the throne of grace

You, O LORD, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation

Lamentations 5:19 (Hebrews 4:16)

b) Pleading to be restored

Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored

Lamentations 5:21

D. PROMISE OF FULL RESTORATION            Jeremiah 30-31

1. Captivity to end           Jeremiah 30:3a

2. Return to Israel promised           Jeremiah 30:3b

3. Fear to be banished           Jeremiah 30:10

4. Promise of the Presence of God           Jeremiah 30:11

5. Promise of Mercy           Jeremiah 30:18

6. God’s people will be established           Jeremiah 30:20, 22

7. God’s everlasting love will be outpoured           Jeremiah 31:3

8. Redemption will be given           Jeremiah 31:11

9. Joy will return           Jeremiah 31:12-13

10. Abundance will be experienced again          Jeremiah 31:14, 23

11. A New Covenant will be given           Jeremiah 31:31-34

E. CULTIVATING HOPE

1. Establish starting point Jeremiah 1

a) Calling

b) Initial faith

c) Continuing faith

2. Evaluate faith and strength           Jeremiah 12

a) Discernment and Understanding of life

b) Depth of response to adverse circumstances

c) Demanding challenges

i) Footmen           Jeremiah 12:5

ii) Horses           Jeremiah 12:5

3. Enduring Hope

a) False understanding of Hope

i) Mere euphoric feelings

ii) Unrealistic optimism

iii) Foolish wishing

b) Long Term (Life-long) approach/outlook of life

i) Short-term mindset to be abandoned

ii) Long-haul approach to be adopted

iii) Concrete plans

iv) Strength of spirit

c) Mindset

i) Of faith in the Lord

ii) Of trust in the Lord’s will

iii) Of hope for the future

iv) Of personal commitment to do our part faithfully

4. Example of a Reasoned Hope with reference to life on earth

(Pauline)

a) Access to God by grace through Christ           Romans 5:1-2

b) Rejoicing in hope of the glory of God           Romans 5:2b

c) Glorying in tribulation           Romans 5:3a

d) Believing that tribulation produces perseverance           Romans 5:3b

e) Believing that perseverance produces character           Romans 5:4a

f) Believing that character produces hope           Romans 5:4b

g) Believing that hope does not disappoint           Romans 5:5a

h) Believing in

F. NEW TESTMENT FOCUS OF HOPE-
(IN THE SPIRITUAL AND ETERNAL DIMENSIONS)

1. Subjected in hope           Romans 8:20

2. Hope in the glory of God           Romans 5:2

3. Hope in things unseen           Romans 8:24

4. If there is only hope in life on earth 1           Corinthians 15:19

5. Hope laid up in heaven           Colossians 1:5

6. Christ in us- the Hope of glory           Colossians 1:27

7. Hope of eternal life           Titus 1:2; 3:7

8. Hope as an anchor           Hebrews 6:19

9. A living Hope           1 Peter 1:3

10. Ability to articulate our hope           1 Peter 3:15

ADDENDA
TEXTS THAT TOUCH ON PROBLEMS THAT THREATEN TO ROB HOPE

1. A significant number of such texts may be found (Psalms)

a) Psalm 6

b) Psalm 22

c) Psalm 31

d) Psalm 32

e) Psalm 35

f) Psalm 38

g) Psalm 41

h) Psalm 42

i) Psalm 55

j) Psalm 56

2. Importance of these texts:-

a) They teach us much about the presence of evil in the world

b) They teach us about problems:-

i) How they can affect us adversely

ii) How they will affect us deeply

c) They teach us about the nature of sin

i) The perversity of sin

ii) The power of sin

d) They teach us about ourselves

i) How weak we are

ii) How prone we are to feeling despondent

iii) How we can end up with feelings of hopelessness

e) They teach us about how we can bring God into our life

i) Through knowledge of God’s word

ii) Through the exercise of faith/trust

iii) Through prayer

iv) Through meditation

v) Through hope

TEXTS THAT TOUCH ON GOD’S STRONG DEALINGS WITH SINFUL MAN

1. Serious Charges of God against Israel/Judah

a) Rebellion           Isaiah 1:2d, 23

b) Laden with iniquity           Isaiah 1:4b

c) Corrupt           Isaiah 1:4d

d) Forsaken the Lord           Isaiah 1:4e, 28

e) Arrogance           Isaiah 2: 11-17; 3:16

f) Provoking of God           Isaiah 3:8

g) Oppression           Isaiah 5:7

2. Struggles in Comprehension and Acceptance of God’s Punitive Will

a) Desolation of the country           Isaiah 1:7

b) Rejection of religious worship           Isaiah 1:10-15

c) Destruction of transgressors/sinners           Isaiah 1:28

d) Removal of leaders           Isaiah 3:1-3>/

e) Entering into judgment with Israel           Isaiah 3:13-15

f) Anger

3. Solemn texts that describe the above struggles

a) Isaiah

b) Jeremiah

c) Lamentations

d) Habakkuk

e) Hosea

f) Malachi

4. Significant truths that should have made a difference!

a) God’s Promises

i) Many promises of blessings

ii) All promises are contingent upon faithfulness to God

b) God’s Presence

i) Manifestation

ii) Hidden

c) God’s Provision

i) Abundance

ii) All aspects (Spiritual and Material)

d) God’s Power

i) Evidenced

ii) Awesome

e) God’s Punitive Judgments

i) Corrective purposes

ii) Condemnation only where there is no returning to the Lord

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED

1. Hope as a System of Thinking           Romans 5, 8

a) Salvation

i) Grace The Basis

ii) Faith The Means

iii) Hope The yet-to-be-realised Future

b) Hope

i) Tribulation

ii) Perseverance

iii) Character

iv) Hope

c) Two vital principles man is subjected to           Romans 8:18-25

i) Subjected to futility

ii) Subjected to hope

2. Hope as a Personal Mindset

a) Content- Hope           Lamentations 3:21

b) Choice (The Lord) – Hope           Lamentations 3:24

c) Serving the Lord- Waiting Hope           Lamentations 3:26

d) Humility- Hope           Lamentations 3:29