Sermon: Sanguineous [sang-gwin-ee-uh s]
by Chris Cumming                                  printer-friendly

In recent weeks, I was contacted by a member wanting to discuss the subject of Hope.  She stated to me that she wanted to discuss Hope in a very specific context.  She acknowledged that she understood the biblical concept in the overall and that the hope of every firstfruit is the return of Christ, salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.  What she is seeking, however, is Daily Hope or hope for the firstfruit who is living day-to-day in a very negative and degenerating world.

In the latter part of Acts 14:22 we read, “that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”  With a reality like this, how do we go about having daily hope?

The purpose of my sermon today will be to encourage all of us to manifest hope each and every day. 

Manifest Hope

Before we get started let us reference another scripture that speaks to the days we experience and how we are to react.

1 Peter 4:12-14
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

The apostle Peter clearly states that with each fiery trial and reproach we are happy.  A part of happiness is hope.  As you are about to see today, many other spiritual elements are involved.  Let us begin by defining a couple of terms.

Hope:
---to wish or wait for something with expectation of its fulfillment.
---to have confidence and trust.
---desire and search for a future good.
---expectation of reaching a goal.

The last definition here speaks to the fact that one’s goals generate hope.  Interestingly God gives us both the goals and the hope.  Both are manifested from the Spirit of God in us.

Sanguineous
The name of the sermon today is, “Sanguineous” which is the quality of being sanguine.  It is defined as:

1] a tendency to expect a favorable outcome.
2] to dwell on hopeful aspects.
3] cheerful and confident; optimistic

I encourage all of you to be sanguine (ˈsæŋɡwɪn).  That is, I want you to face each day with cheerfulness and optimistic confidence.

Manifest Hope

We just recently had a recap of our 113 hours of study in 1 Timothy.  What did we learn about daily hope there?

From 1 Timothy Recap:

1 Timothy 1
Verse 1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

Key point:  Jesus Christ is our hope.

Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory - Or, Christ among you. Margin. The meaning is, that the whole of that truth, so full of glory, and so rich and elevated in its effect, is summed up in this - that Christ is revealed among you as the source of the hope of glory in a better world.

1 Timothy 4
Verse 6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Key Point: Let the Word of God rule your daily life.

1 Timothy 4|
Verse 10
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Key Point: Firstfruits, everyday set their hope on the living God.

We trust in the living God - Better, have set our hope on. ~Vincent’s Word Studies

Let us now discuss some of the many hope scriptures.

The Hope Scriptures
Psalm 16:7-9
7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Point: Have daily contact with God and His instruction and you will have gladness, joy and rest in hope.  You will be constantly in hope.

Psalm 31:24 
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Point:  Have your Hope in God and you will have courage and strength.

Notice the commentary:

Be of good courage - See a similar exhortation at the close of a psalm, in Psalm 27:14.  As the result of all his own experience of the goodness of God, and of His gracious interposition in the time of danger, the psalmist exhorts others to be encouraged, and to feel assured that God would not leave or forsake them.

Quoted verse:
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

And he shall strengthen your heart - He will animate you; he will enable you to meet trial and opposition; he will keep you from becoming faint and disheartened.

All ye that hope in the Lord - All that put their trust in him, or all whose expectation is from him. It is a characteristic of true piety that all hope centers in God, or that the soul feels that there is no other ground of hope.

(a) The truly pious man despairs of success in anything else, or from any other quarter, for he feels that God alone can give success.

(b) He does hope in God - in reference to all that is needful for himself as an individual; all that will be for the good of his family; all that will tend to bless the world; all that he desires in heaven. Hope in God cheers him, sustains him, comforts him; makes life happy and prosperous; and makes death calm, serene, triumphant. ~Barnes Notes

Psalm 33:22 
Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Point:  There is a direct link between daily hope and the abundant elements we receive from God.  This hope is absolute confidence that the abundance of God will come according to His infinite wisdom and perfect will.

Psalm 39:7 
And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Let us look at the commentary before I state the point of this verse as it may not be easily understood in its reading.

And now, Lord, what wait I for? - Look for, or expect, in this view of things? not long life, since the days of man are so short, and his age as nothing; not help from man, since he is altogether vanity; not riches and honour, since they are such poor, fading, perishing things; but the glories of another world, and the enjoyment of the Lord himself, both in this and that;

My hope is in thee - the psalmist now returns to himself, and comes to his right mind, and to a right way of judging and acting; making the Lord the object of his hope and trust, expecting all good things, grace and glory, alone from him; and this is the hope which makes not ashamed. ~John Gill

Point:  You and I live in this world and we go through each day surrounded by the elements of this world.  We do not put our hopes in these.  All true help comes from God and we put all our hope in Him.  Indeed, we expect all good things from Him and our daily confidence is that they will be there.  This confidence makes you Sanguine… “dwelling on hopeful aspects” and “expecting a favorable outcome."

All this adds to what we learned in the sermons, “Assiduity” [putting all things in the hands of God] and “Verity” [seeing the invisible God].  If you are doing your assiduity prayers in the morning, then you are counting on and expecting God to intervene in each and every part of your life during each and every day.  Surely, if you are seeing these multiple interventions and the continual providence from God, you ARE seeing the invisible God.  Where else could your hope possibly be?  The assiduity and verity are feeding your hopes.  They are establishing them.  The elements of the world, including all trials, tribulations, concerns and sorrow diminish.  Now there is no way you could put your hope in them AND there is no way you could allow them to get you down.

Let us look at a few more Hope scriptures.

Psalm 119:81  ...what we just spoke about: worldly sorrows vs. trust in God
CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

Point:  Our physical bodies, emotions and minds fainteth [long for] "thy salvation" which is referring to both kinds of salvation.  We long for eternal salvation and the Kingdom and we long for salvation from the struggle of this day and each day in which we struggle.  Notice the commentary for, "but I hope in thy word."

But I hope in thy word - the word of promise concerning deliverance and salvation, especially by the Messiah, which supported him, and kept him from fainting; that being firm and sure, for ever settled in heaven, and has the oath of God annexed to it, for the confirmation of it; and God is faithful that has promised, and is also able to perform; so that his word lays a solid foundation for faith and hope. ~John Gill

Point of this commentary: When facing another day on this earth, we get through it by dwelling on the Word of God which if full of promises, oaths, providence and confirmations from God.  We know that God is faithful and will intercede into each aspect of our lives.  Notice four more scriptures from Psalm 119 which speak to Hope coming from the Word of God

Psalm 119:42
So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

Psalm 119:49 
Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Psalm 119:77
Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

Psalm 119:114 
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Notice a bit of commentary for these verses:

Verse 42
For I trust in thy word - I believe it; I rely on it; I confide in that, as my only comfort and protection. ~Barnes Notes

Verse 49
Upon which thou hast caused me to hope - That is, All the hope which I have has been excited by thy word; thy promises. I have no other source of hope; I cherish no other hope. I pray now, since that hope has been thus excited in me, that I may realize all I have been led to desire and to expect. The word of God is the only foundation of hope for people; and when our hopes are fairly built on that, we have a right to appeal to God that he will make it good. ~Barnes Notes

Verse 114
Thou art my hiding place - From temporal calamities. The perfections of God are chambers of retreat and safety to his people, where they may hide themselves and be safe, till such calamities are over. ~John Gill

And my shield - to protect from all dangers, and preserve from every enemy. ~John Gill

I hope in thy Word - There is a twofold and mutual recognition conveyed in this passage. God recognizes man in his helplessness and dependency, and man recognizes God in the mercy, and compassion, and goodness of His character and relationship to His creatures. And thus the basis of Christian hope is to be found in the Divine testimony, conveyed in the writings of Moses and the prophets, of Christ and His apostles. ~The Biblical Illustrator

Maybe all these scriptures speaking to hope being established by our full immersion into the Word of God can be summed up in a cartoon recently sent to me.  [I will describe the cartoon for those listening to the audio.]



In the first panel we have a firstfruit on his knees calling out to God, “Lord, please talk to me.”  In the second panel we see the strong arm of an angel reaching out of the clouds and handing the man a Bible.

Our daily hope is in the Word of God.  Fully immerse yourself into it.

Let us now go to the Bible Story for a quote.

From Volume 1 of the Bible Story, Chapter 30, "Moses Returns":

“On repentance, God is pleased to forgive and remove sin by blotting out all past mistakes, but to gain everlasting life, one must live from then on by the Creator's rules, which are for happiness, good health and success. Often they are difficult to obey, but God gives ability to overcome and a growing hope of becoming a spirit being. (Matthew 10:22.)”

Essential Elements for Daily Hope
Following are just a few of the essential elements needed for daily hope.  As you continue to immerse yourself into the Word of God, you will add to these.

To have daily Hope one needs: A Plan
Proverbs 21:5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

The New International version reads:
The plans of the diligent lead to profit.

The New Living Translation reads:
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”

The New American Standard Bible reads:
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.”

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness - A man that is thoughtful and studious, and wisely forms schemes in his mind, and diligently pursues them; the issue of it is, generally speaking, prosperity and plenty: such a man is usually thriving and flourishing; and this holds good in things spiritual, as well as in things temporal. ~John Gill

Quotes on having a plan
---"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."
---"You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win."
---"Failing to plan is planning to fail."
---"Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan."  ~Margaret Thatcher
---"Having a goal is a state of happiness."

And as you make your plans, keep in mind that...
Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way [makes his plans]: but the LORD directeth his steps.

To have daily Hope one needs: Purpose
Ephesians 1:11 
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 6:22 
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

Colossians 4:8 
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

2 Timothy 1:9 
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Ephesians 1:7-21 ...Paul speaking to the Ephesians on his being called to go to the Gentiles
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:10 
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience.

Commentary:
Purpose - were open and manifest; and which were not to obtain glory and applause from men, nor to gather wealth and riches for himself; but that God might be glorified in the salvation of men; that Christ might be magnified both in his life and death; that his Gospel might be spread, his kingdom be enlarged, and that many souls might be converted and brought to the knowledge of him; and hence he became all things to all, that he might gain some. ~John Gill

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