There is hope in hopelessnes

The Hope (Joshua 1;1-9) 

Today I’d like to share the word of God with you entitled”hope” 

Hope is essential to our survival 

It is something that is as important to us as water is to fish, 

As vital as electricity is to a light bulb 

Hope is that basic to life 

I tell you one story 

Do you know the story of last leaf written by O HENRY? 

The story goes like this 

One painter (artist) got sick 

So he went to the hospital and was confined 

And beside his bed was one girl 

That girl was very sick; in fact doctors had given up on her already 

Actually she was only waiting for the time death 

Outside of the window was a tree with leaves 

The girl always looked out through the window 

The painter was wondering and asked her, 

“What are you looking at outside always?” 

And the girl replied “the tree” and continued saying, “Maybe if all the leaves of that tree will fall so would I also die” 

And the painter said to her, “There is always hope in hopelessness.” 

Till he was discharged from the hospital, he encouraged her. 

Days passed by, little by little the leaves of the tree fell down. 

Rain came, soon most of the leaves had already fallen from the tree 

And she said to herself, 

“Oh only few leaves are now left on the tree, maybe my death is near” 

Winter came 

And there’s only one leaf left over 

And she said oh only one leaf left, may the last leaf will fall tomorrow then maybe I will die 

And next day came 

The leaf is still in the tree 

And she said thank God he extended my life one day more 

Maybe it will fall tomorrow and I will die 

And tomorrow she looked at the tree 

And the leaf is still there (2X) 

So she said to herself, if spring comes 

And the leaf is still there maybe I will not die 

One night there was a strong wind 

So she wished pls. don’t let it fall down 

The next morning she looked out side 

And thank God the leaf is still there 

Days passed by 

And spring came 

And new leaves came out from that tree 

And one day, the doctor check the girl 

And he was surprised, she is getting better 

And finally she came out of the hospital 

So she wanted to get the last leaf 

But when she came to the tree and saw the leaf 

That is painted leaf 

Later she realized, 

The painter made and artificial leaf and hanged it on the tree. 

And today I’d like to tell you once again 

“There is hope in hopelessness.” 

As we read today’s Scripture, the Israelites leader Moses died. 

And the Israelites were shock by his death. 

Because they lost their great leader 

So After Moses death, they don’t know what to do next 

and they were worried who will lead them next. 

They were worried whether they can conquer the Promised Land or not. 

They were so afraid for their future. 

That time God spoke to them. 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. “ 

Brothers and sisters 

Moses died. 

And every body know this fact 

The people will die someday. 

Last week when we go to mountain ministry 

I brought Isabel to mountain ministry with us 

And while we were climbing the mountain 

I asked her, “Are you okay?” 

And she answered , “Mahirap ditto, mas dadali ang buhay ko.” 

So I told her, “ No, it will not, this is good for your health. Maybe you will live longer.” 

Anyway brothers and sisters 

We don’t know when 

but we will die someday. 

  

But we have to know this one, our God will not die he will live forever. 

God existed before the time and He still will exist when the universe is no more. 

Bible says in Psalms 121:3~5 

Even He never dozes or sleeps 

and He is always awake and protects us. 

May be you know the great Theologian Martin Luther 

he always preach “ our God is God of hope” 

so do not discourage, because  God is with us 

but one day, he was disappointed with something. 

And He had a sad look all day 

So the wife asked him “what happen to you” 

But he didn’t say anything and kept his sad ｅxpression 

So she went to her room and changed her clothes 

She dressed in mourning (black dress) 

So Luther asked her “some one died why are you wearing Black dress? 

And his wife said “God is dead” 

So Luther was surprised “what are you talking about God is dead ?” 

And the wife said, “If not then why are you so disappointed?” 

“You always say God is our hope (2X) 

but now you look at your face, it seems like you have lost your hope. 

That is why I think God is dead.” 

Brothers and sisters once again I will tell you 

“There is always hope in hopelessness.” 

When you enter here ABC and study 

May be you have strong faith as mountain move 

May be you were fullness of the Holy Spirit 

And you have boldness you can over come any circumstance 

But times pass by, you dried up 

Now you are stresses by study 

And there is very tight schedule 

Ptr. sung always angry at me 

And you afraid for you future 

What shall I do after graduation.. 

And May be you miss your girl friend or boy friend in your home town 

And you may think I will give up I will go home it better to plant potato 

But brothers and sisters 

The God who stayed with the Israelites is the same God who is with us here and now.  

And he is saying to you “continue to go your way” 

Brothers and sisters 

Do you have any problem? (x2) 

I tell you something and promise you 

After 10 years all your problem will be gone amen. 

God is alive 

And because he live there is hope 

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. 

Because He lives, All fear is gone. 

Because I know~~~ He holds the future, 

And life is worth the living just because He lives.” 

‘be strong and courageous. Do not be discouraged, 

for the lord your God will be with you wherever you go” 

What a amazing and wonderful promise is this 

God promises to Joshua 

And If you see the Genesis 28; 15 God made same promise to Jacob 

And this promise will be repeated to Gideon. 

And this promise will be repeated to Solomon 

And above all, God has made this promise to us as his people today. 

Jesus saying to us I am with you always even to the end of the ages. Amen 

Praise the Lord 

His presence and power to always be with us 

How powerful encouraging is this 

What this means for us as God’s people is that 

we can keep moving forward into God’s will. 

We can be absolutely assured of God’s presence and power. 

Praise the Lord 

. 

The promises of God's presence and activity are fantastic. 

God is saying to you and me through these verses, 

"I won't drop you in the middle of a project that I've given to you." 

God will never leave us nor forsake us 

God is not in the business of deserting his people,- 

when we get in trouble - 

if we're honestly endeavoring (trying) to do his will. 

But it doesn’t mean, we will not meet struggle or difficulty in our life 

We will meet struggle or difficulty 

Our faith will be tested, 

We may suffer, 

Our lives will be hard at times 

The work is tough. 

But we have to know this one 

God will never close his door to us 

God's power and his present will be with us through the good and bad times, 

And his presence will continually sustain us. 

Life won't be easy for Joshua, 

But we're going to see him 

Claim God's power and presence through both bad and good times. 

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be discouraged. 

For the lord your God will be with you wherever you go 

Brothers and sisters 

Hold this promise and focus unto God not the people 

And I pray that you're encouraged by this text, 

that it strengthens you and gives you a brave heart. 

as Davit confess  in Psalms 39;7 

“but now lord what do I looking for? My hope is in you” 

We anchor our hope in God 

Shall we stand up 

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus 

He came to love, heal, and forgive. 

He lived and died to buy my pardon, 

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. 

Because He lives, All fear is gone. 

Because I know He holds the future, 

And life is worth the living just because He lives.