Sermon preached on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at Garden Valley Chapel during our morning worship service based on Psalm 33.

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:4-5 -

3...we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5and hope does not disappoint...

Hope for believers is not some vague wish for something ("I hope it will stop raining"). Christian hope has little to do with earthly optimism.

Rather the hope which the Scriptures affirm is a firm and solid expectation of that which will surely come to pass in eternity - for example...

o The promise of Christ´s return (cf. Titus 2:13);

o The promise that we will be like Him (cf. 1 John 3:2-3);

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

o The promise that we will be partakers in His glory (cf. Col 1:27);

27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

o and the promise that we shall dwell with Him forever, free from the curse of sin (cf. Rev 22:3-5).

True hope stems from the unshakable confidence that God is absolutely faithful to His promises, and therefore all those promises are as sure and certain as God Himself.

So hope is forward-looking, far-reaching, and heaven-bound. It is not dependent upon earthly realities.

If you want to erode hope, simply be preoccupied with worldly and material ambitions.

Although hope is cultivated by hardship and trial, it is the sweetest of Christian virtues. Hope is the very thing that enables us to endure every trial in life with our joy intact.

That is why Peter refers to hope as living (cf. 1 Pet. 1:3). And the writer of Hebrews says, "this hope we have as anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast" (cf. Heb 6:19).

God is our hope and the psalmist knew this reality all too well. He alone is the source of our hope.

Open your Bibles to Psalm 33.

Psalms has been called "Israel´s Hymnbook" yet this particular psalm opens it up for all [all nations, all people, all generations] to join in praise - "sing for joy in the Lord" - all you who are righteous, all you who are upright.

It is a praise psalm for everyone.

I invite you to stand as I read this beautiful psalm. Read Psalm 33.