WEBVTT 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:08.960 This podcast is a ministry of Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:14.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:23.600 A few years ago, my wife and I were on our way to Las Vegas. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:28.559 But I had never seen the Hoover Dam. 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:32.960 And so we wanted to go that particular direction to get there. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:57.359 And we got to the dam, and many of you that have been there, you know that there the street, the bridge there, and on both sides of the street, there's kind of this wall that many people come up to to look over the wall to see this unbelievable engineering spectacle. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:03.679 Well, you know, when children are small, that they don't have this sense of fear. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:07.519 And so here's my little baby girl. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:14.560 She's running to where she can see over the wall. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:24.799 But instead of just standing there, she's running to kind of leap on top of the wall so that she can see. 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:40.239 And she's real close to the edge, and I see her out of my peripheral, and I begin to run to try to catch her before she gets too close to the edge, because she could easily fall. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:48.640 So fortunately for me, I was able to grab her before she got too close. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:58.079 And I grabbed her and I held her real close, and I kind of lovingly scolded her for doing that, for kind of getting out of our sight. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:02.719 And as a little girl would do, as a little child would do, oh daddy, it's no, it's okay. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:04.959 No, sweetie, no, it's not okay. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:07.200 No, you could have fallen. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:14.800 But I held on to her real close because she wanted to be able to look over, and so I held on tight. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:20.159 She looked over and she just was just in amazement at what she saw. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.879 Well, you know, the reason why I held on to her because she's my baby. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:28.800 She's she's the last of our seven children. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:32.800 She's very valuable to me. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:35.840 I didn't want to do anything to lose her. 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:37.919 So I held on tight. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:42.000 Well, there was another time I held on to something tight. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:52.319 My wife and I were in Oklahoma, and we were encouraged to do something called white water rafting. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:56.400 Anyone ever done that? 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:00.560 Craziest thing I ever did in my life. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:08.240 And so we go there, and um we've got this guy that's prepping us to go down the rapids. 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:15.919 So he tells us how much fun we're gonna have, and all the people in our group, you know, they're laughing and joking, oh, they're super excited and everything like that. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:21.599 And then I begin to get nervous because he says, Well, I've got this thing, I've got this helmet for you. 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:24.960 I'm like, Well, I thought we were just gonna have a good time. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:34.159 Well, then they put the life jackets on us, and then they begin to give us instructions of the things that we needed to do as we're gonna go down the river. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:38.319 So we start and it's super smooth. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:42.000 And I'm like, what's what's I mean, what's the big deal about this big speech? 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:45.199 This is this white water rafting things, this is this is a piece of cake. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:04:16.319 This this is easy, and the thing starts kind of speeding up a little bit, and then it spread up a little bit more, and then we start kind of going here and right, and then we start going up and down, and then people were kind of being lifted up in the air, and and so it was so funny because many of the people, of course, including my wife and I, that thought this thing was gonna be a piece of cake, they had these things on the side where you could grab a hold to, and all of us were for dear life, we were holding on super tight. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:20.800 Well, you all know the reason why. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:23.360 We all valued our life. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:28.720 No one wanted to get thrown out of the water, I mean, out of the raft into the water. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:49.759 You know, when I think about the value of my daughter and why I held on to her so tight, and the value of my own life and my wife's life as we're in this raft, I thought about is there anything more valuable than human life? 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.000 And I found out that there is. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:59.279 It's the hope that we have in Christ. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:11.839 It's the special hope that we've been given that people that don't know Christ have no clue of what we have. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:15.680 So I want you to turn with me this morning in your Bibles to the book of 1 Peter. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:17.839 1 Peter chapter 1. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:20.399 They're gonna place it on the screen. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:26.079 1 Peter chapter 1, and we're gonna begin our reading at verse 3. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.399 1 Peter chapter 1. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:34.560 Beginning at verse 3. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.240 When you get there, just say amen to let me know that you're there. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:06:05.920 1 Peter chapter 1, beginning at verse 3, it reads, Blessed be the God or the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his great mercy, he's caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:25.279 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you've been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.759 Though you have not seen him, you love him. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:40.800 Though you have not seen him, you believe in him, and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your soul. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:47.120 You see, everyone, when you think about this whole idea of hope, it's quite interesting. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:07:02.639 You see, a little boy who's asked his dad to go to the mall and pick up his favorite game has hoped that his dad will return and give him the game that he asked for. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:15.360 You know, the young man hopes that when he proposes to his girlfriend that she'll say yes, in the midst of 18,000 people in the Toyota Center. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:27.040 You know, the student who has studied hard and prepared hopes that his professor will give him or her a passing grade on that exam. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:36.720 Even a man hopes that his supervisor will give him a raise after he's watched how hard he's worked at his job. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:54.720 Even a young couple, like just happened at our first service, there was a couple that had been trying to have a child for many years, and they were having problems, and finally little Caleb was born to them, and he was dedicated this morning. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:02.720 A couple hopes that maybe this time they'll be able to have this child. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:10.000 But you see, there's a problem when we deal with hope as it relates to men. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:23.600 The dad, the professor, uh, the young lady saying yes to the young man, even the supervisor with the raise, or even the couple that has this dream of having a child. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:28.560 You see, it's possible that their hope may never materialize. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:34.159 In some cases, it becomes almost kind of like just guesswork. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:45.919 But you see, when you deal with God, when you deal with God, when God is in the mix or when God is in our midst, there's something that you have to add to the word hope. 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:48.720 If you've got a pen or something, I want you to write this down. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:50.879 I want you to write the word confident. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:56.559 So when you're dealing with God, it's a confident hope. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:00.320 Because God is not a man that he should lie. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:07.840 If God says he's going to do something for you, it's a confident hope. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:10.320 It's something that you are sure of. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:18.559 It's not guesswork, it's not maybe he will, it's not maybe he'll forget, or maybe he'll get tired, or he needs to be reminded. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:29.039 When God says, trust me, when God says, there's something that I've promised for you, then guess what, guys? 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:32.879 We can hold on to that promise. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:37.360 So just for a few moments this morning, I want to speak to you from this theme. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:40.480 Hold on to your hope. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:44.080 Hold on to your hope. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:52.799 Now, when I'm at the seminary, one of the things I do for my students is that I tell them, if you're going to study a passage, there's two things that are critical. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:10:02.960 You have to study a passage in its context, then you have to study a passage in its greater context if you're to come away with the proper interpretation. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:17.360 And those of you that have done any Bible study, especially or studying the book of 1 Peter, you know that Peter's calling, his ministry, is primarily to minister to those that are of the Jewish faith. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:21.840 Paul's responsibility was primarily to minister it to Gentiles. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:33.840 And so as Peter writes this book, he's writing to a group of Jewish Christians who have trusted Christ as their personal Savior, but they're under extreme persecution. 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:37.440 They've been pushed away from their homeland. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:40.320 They're strangers in an alien place. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:47.840 And so that's why he says in these opening words, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect, exiles. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:50.320 Exiles. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:11:03.840 From Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Aja, Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God, in the sanctification of the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ, for sprinkling with his blood, may grace and peace be multiplied to you. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:13.039 Peter says, I know you guys are in a situation where it's difficult, where it's hard, where in some cases you've been separated even from family members. 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:17.360 Maybe even last week, just a loved one that you saw was murdered, persecuted. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:22.159 And I know it's hard, so I want to give you some words of encouragement. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:29.600 And maybe even this morning, we're somewhat like Peter's audience that we're going through stuff right now. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:31.919 You're going through stuff in your home. 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:34.000 You're going through stuff in your marriage. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:39.440 I wouldn't be surprised because I've had it happen to me many times over these almost 40 years of ministry. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:42.720 I wouldn't be surprised that there is a couple in here. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:48.480 There's a married couple in here this morning who's been going through all kinds of marital difficulty. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:52.480 I mean, you guys haven't even slept in the same bed in months. 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:55.440 You guys barely speak to one another. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:59.600 And you're right there, you're right there at the edge of divorce. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:01.919 As a matter of fact, here's what you said last night. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:13.200 You finally talked to one another and you said, okay, we're gonna go to church, and if we don't hear a word, if we don't hear something from God today, Monday morning, we're going down and we're gonna file the divorce papers. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:18.879 If God doesn't show up, if God doesn't tell us something to do to save this marriage, it's over. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.799 And you might be that couple that's here this morning. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:25.600 Well, I want to let you know, you're not here by surprise. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:27.039 You're not here by accident. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:32.399 The sovereign God of the universe has you here because he wants to give you some hope. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:36.000 It's not too late for you guys. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:39.039 You don't have to throw on the towel, you don't have to quit. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:41.279 Neither of you are perfect. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:54.159 So God knows how to take two imperfect people and put himself in the midst of the two of you, and as the two of you look to him for help and strength, I promise you that you can make it. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:13:01.279 I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt, I love my wife and she loves me, but can I tell you the truth? 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:03.360 There are times I don't like her. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:10.000 And there are times I promise you she doesn't like me. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:15.919 Especially when I go to her favorite barbecue place and only buy enough barbecue back from me. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:21.360 She doesn't like it, but she still loves me. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:33.200 Maybe just last week you were given some shocking news after that blood test from your doctor, and you haven't even told your children. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:39.919 You haven't even told your mom and dad what the diagnosis was, and you're scared to death. 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:42.480 What's gonna happen? 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:44.320 What am I gonna have to deal with? 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.919 How long is it gonna last? 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.759 Is this gonna be fatal? 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:51.759 And you're sitting here in church this morning and you are worried sick. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:14:00.159 You haven't been able to sleep, you haven't been able to eat, you've been irritable, and you're not here by surprise. 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:10.000 Or maybe you're like that dad and mom that has that son that was raised right, that was raised in church, you live godly in his presence, but he's way out there somewhere. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:11.200 He's way out there. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:15.600 I mean, you're almost embarrassed to even tell people the stuff that your son is doing. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:18.799 Well, can I tell you guys, I've been there. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:25.840 I know what it's like to have a son or daughter who was raised in Jesus Christ, and you weren't a hypocrite. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:31.120 The same person that you were at church on Sunday was the same person that you were on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the house. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:39.039 They saw a godly husband, they saw a godly dad and mom, and yet at some point they chose to go totally opposite from Jesus Christ. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:41.039 Any parents know what I'm talking about? 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.519 But don't give up. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:52.399 Don't give up on that son, don't give up on that daughter, don't give up on that grandson, that granddaughter, because I'm a living witness. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:15:02.960 Because right now, one of those children that was waiting out there 45 years old, she's committed her life to Jesus Christ, and she's so fired up, she's serving the Lord, she's just blowing my mind with it. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.759 And my son that's almost 30, he was waiting out there. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:07.519 They moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:09.360 He's serving the Lord, he's on fire. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:14.559 The Lord's giving him a great wife, he's giving him two beautiful children, and man, I'm telling you, God is able. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.879 We serve a God who's what? 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:28.159 Omnipotent. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.600 He has all power. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:34.480 As my grandmother would say in her southern voice, he has all power in his hand. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:47.440 But what is it that would encourage Peter's audience to have so much hope? 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.879 He talks about it beginning in verse 3. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:55.200 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:02.399 According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:08.240 Watch this, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:15.679 Guys, put it on the screen again. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:18.159 Romans chapter 6, beginning to verse 1. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.360 What is it about this resurrection of Jesus? 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:26.000 What would make the resurrection of Jesus Christ give us so much hope? 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:31.519 The Apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 6, verse 1, it says, What shall we say then? 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:33.919 Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.720 By no means. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.519 How can we who died to sin still live in it? 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:44.320 Verse 3, don't you know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:56.159 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:03.919 For if we had been united with him in a death like this, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like this. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:14.960 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:18.559 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:22.480 Now, if we have died with him, we believe that we will also live with him. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:27.119 We know that Christ being raised from the dead, that he will never die again. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:29.119 Death no longer has dominion over him. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:35.440 Verse 10, for the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:41.920 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.720 Here's what Paul is saying, guys. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:54.799 Remember in the book of Galatians, chapter 2, verse 20, Paul makes this statement I'm crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:18:01.440 Now the life I live, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:03.200 So Paul says, wait a minute. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:11.519 I recognize now, spiritually, when Christ was on the cross, Paul was on the cross. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.240 When Christ was crucified, Paul was crucified. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:20.160 When Christ was buried, Paul was buried. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:24.160 When Christ was resurrected, Paul was resurrected. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.839 So guess what, guys? 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:32.799 If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, when he was on the cross, you were there with him. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:36.240 Because he was your sin bearer. 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:40.000 He atoned for your sins and minds. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:43.519 When he died, you died spiritually. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.839 When he was buried, you were buried. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:50.079 But the good news is when he got up from the dead, you got up with him. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.799 And now God has given you a new life. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.240 And here's the good news. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:19:03.119 Even if you experience physical death, Paul says in Romans, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, he says, what's going to happen? 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:07.279 This mortal body is going to put on something called immortality. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.559 Then the saying is going to be said, Oh death, where is your sting? 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.160 Oh grave, where is your victory? 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:12.960 Because guess what? 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:19.119 We're only going to be dead temporarily because the Bible says we shall be raised to new life. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.640 Aren't you glad about that? 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.559 If you're glad, say amen. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:26.960 No, say amen like you just won the best game of your life. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:33.200 So why can't we be sure? 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:36.160 What gives us so much hope? 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:39.119 We are in him. 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:45.839 I have to recognize there's a big difference between being around him and being in him. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:49.599 See, guys, I was raised in the church. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:53.920 I told you the last time, and if I you didn't hear it the last time, let me remind you. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.119 I feel bad. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:59.839 You need to feel bad for me because my mom had a drug problem when I was a little boy. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.240 She drugged me to Sunday school. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.000 She drug me to church. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.880 She drugged me to mid-afternoon church. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:10.799 She drug me to night church. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:13.839 When there was revivalist in town, we would have a midnight revival. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.400 She drug me to the to the 12 o'clock revival. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.799 My mother was a drug addict. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:24.160 But I'm glad of those drugs she took. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:34.079 Because I'm standing before you today because of a praying mother, one who believed in that scripture that said, train up a child in the way he should go, and when he's old, he won't depart. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:43.200 I had a mother who loved me, and now I'm a believer in Jesus Christ, and now I have the assurance that comes with knowing that Jesus Christ is my Savior. 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:45.039 Is that good news or not? 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:48.480 That's why the gospel is called the good news. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.759 That's right, man. 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:56.480 So one of the words I want you to write down. 00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:58.319 What gives us hope? 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:07.039 The surety of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:15.839 And can I tell you guys all of Christianity hinges upon that one single truth? 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:18.400 The resurrection of Jesus. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:22.319 It is the most important doctrine of all. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:33.839 Because Paul says in chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians, if Jesus is still dead, we of all people should be the most pitied. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:38.880 Because we have believed in the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on humanity. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:42.319 When an atheist is trying to attack Christianity, guess what? 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.920 He's always going to go to first. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:46.319 He's going to go to the resurrection. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:49.920 Because if the resurrection is not true, then Christianity is not true. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.640 It's a lie. 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:52.000 It's almost like C.S. 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:56.960 Lewis said Jesus Christ is either a liar, he's either a lunatic, or he's Lord. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.759 What do we know? 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.480 He's what? 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.359 He's Lord. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.880 And he is very much alive. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.599 So guess what? 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:09.039 When I'm going through difficult times, all I have to do is remind myself he is alive. 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:15.759 And because he's alive, I can always turn to him for help, even when there's moments when I feel that it's hopeless. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.640 Amen. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.480 Number two. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.839 Why can we have hope? 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:24.079 Why can we hold on to our hope? 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.559 Because our hope is steadfast. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:28.000 Look at verse 4. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.839 Verse 4 says this. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:41.039 The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to the inheritance that's imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and kept in heaven for you. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:47.359 As you look at these words, you know that these are words that are not words that relate to the earth. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:50.720 These words are otherworldly because notice what it says. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:52.960 It says imperishable. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:57.680 We know that there's nothing on the planet that's not everything is perishable. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:05.119 We even know how it is when you have that fish that you forgot to cook. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:15.519 And uh, you know, it's left out on the counter, and you walk in the house, and anyone know that smell of that spoiled fish? 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:20.480 I mean, it takes times hours to get that smell out of the house. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:25.920 But Peter says, what we have, it will never perish. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:29.519 What we have is undefined, which means what? 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:33.119 It will never be stained, it will never become impure. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:36.160 Then he says it's unfading. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:48.079 Even that beautiful car that we just bought, that we when we polish on it, or that beautiful dress that you just bought, or that very nice looking suit, or whatever the case may be, you we all know what's gonna happen sooner or later. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:50.480 Well, it's going to fade. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:52.559 Sooner or later, we're gonna have to give it away. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:58.720 Sooner or later, as much as we like it, it's gonna begin to tear, it's gonna begin to unravel, and we're gonna have to discard it. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:06.799 Anything that is created, anything that's attached to the earth will sooner or later what fail. 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:12.079 That's why we know that he says this stuff that God has for us is where? 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:14.480 It is in heaven. 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:17.839 Heaven is the place where people don't get old. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:24.640 Heaven is the place that I want to go to so I can get my Denzel fineness back. 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:29.759 I used to be fine just like Denzel. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.640 I did. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.640 I even had that walk. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:36.960 I mean, I even had that Denzel walk. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:40.000 But I've noticed my fineness is leaving me. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:49.839 I mean, I've got these dark things up under my eyes, and and and my hair has turned this funny color, and I'm dying. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:53.039 I'm getting old. 00:24:55.519 --> 00:25:02.720 I may not be around another 40 years because in just a few months I'll reach my 67th birthday. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:05.680 40 years would be 107. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.640 How much longer do I have? 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:12.000 I don't know. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:26.640 But the good news is that however much longer I have, the Lord told me, Willie Bolton, live every day with hope of something better than this. 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:29.680 Guys, you know what it's like? 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:52.400 You work all your life and you do all this and and and and and and you say I'm working and I'm saving, and boy, one day I'm gonna retire and I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna start traveling the country, I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go fishing, I'm gonna play golf at all the best places I'm going, and you and you retire, and you hear about the guy that had all these plans, and then two weeks after he retires, what do we hear? 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.920 He just died. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:01.920 And you say, is that all there is? 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:09.279 The good news for you and I is that isn't all there is for the believer in Jesus Christ. 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:11.039 It just got started. 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.480 Amen. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:17.039 And so he says, God has something waiting for you, and guess what? 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.279 When you get there, he won't forget you. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:23.839 When you get there, it has your name on it, and he never will get the names confused. 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:24.559 And guess what? 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:27.839 If you're looking for me, just go to Mansion 2020. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.000 That's where Willie Bolden will be living. 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:34.160 Mansion 2020. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:36.000 Willie Bolton has his name on it. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.039 Isn't that what Jesus said? 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:39.759 I'm going to prepare a place for you in the foreign. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:42.319 So I would have told you, coming back to get you. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:45.039 So I'm I'm saying, hey, I'm just getting ready to live in my mansion. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:48.160 For the first time, I'll be living in the palace. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:51.920 I won't be in the back of the bus anymore. 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:56.160 I'll be riding on the front of the bus with my own chauffeur. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.880 What a great, what a great, what a great life. 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:17.200 When I think of this benefits, when I think of this specialness, it reminds me of uh of this lady uh who was with her pastor and she was she was an elderly lady and she had been given uh uh um uh um a kind of a terminal diagnosis so she knew she was gonna pass away very, very shortly. 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:29.440 She calls the pastor to the house and she says, Pastor, I just wouldn't like to talk to you about what I'd like to see done at my at my funeral, and and I want to tell you what dress I'm gonna wear, and I've got these beautiful pearls of mine that I've always love. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:31.200 Uh, I want you to make sure I've got that. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:36.000 And Pastor, I want you to make sure that my favorite Bible is put in the casket with me. 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:39.279 And uh, so the pastor said, Okay, ma'am, I'll do everything I can. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:43.920 So the pastor's about ready to walk out the door, and she says, Oh, hold on, Pastor, I I forgot. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.279 There's one more thing. 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:48.720 One more thing I want to make sure that you have placed in my casket. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:52.319 She says, I want you to make sure that they put a fork in my hand. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.200 The pastor looks at her. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:55.759 What? 00:27:55.920 --> 00:28:01.440 I mean, and so she says, I can tell, or I can tell by your look that you don't understand. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:18.720 She says, Look, for many, many years, I've attended many uh church potluck dinners, uh, I've attended many socials, and oftentimes she says, when the people were clearing the plates, they would whisper, they'd lean over and they'd whisper in my ear, and they would say, uh, hold on to your fork. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.400 Uh hold on to your fork. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:25.359 And she learned over times that when they would say that it's because dessert was coming. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:30.079 That beautiful, what red velvet cake. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.200 Anyone know what it's from? 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:34.960 Or that beautiful pecan pie, not pecan. 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:37.039 That beautiful pecan, come on, y'all. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.799 That beautiful pecan pie. 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:42.319 That deep crust peach cobbler. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:42.799 Oh. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.400 Yes. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.599 Yes. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.920 That thick German chocolate. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.599 Oh, oh gosh. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:55.599 I'm in trouble already, sweetie. 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:58.000 I've I've I've broken my diet already. 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:06.240 So she says, Pastor, when the people come by the casket, they're all gonna be asking this question. 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:09.839 What in the world does she have that fork in her hand for? 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:27.119 And she says, so she says, Pastor, when they ask, I want you to come to the pulpit and I want you to remind them because she knows when she leaves this earth dessert is waiting for her. 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:32.960 Something far better, something far sweeter when she gets to heaven. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.119 I want to ask you this morning. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.200 Got your fork with you? 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.240 Got your fork with you? 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:43.519 Turn to your neighbor and say, neighbor, come on, don't be scared. 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.440 Neighbor, don't be scared. 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:48.559 Neighbor, ask, do you have your fork? 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.599 Do you have your fork? 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:06.240 And then, real quickly, real quickly, two more words that are important. 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:12.880 The text says, What we have, these benefits, this dessert in heaven. 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:23.119 Verse says that it is kept in heaven for us by God's power, verse 5. 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.359 We're being guarded. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:32.640 We're being guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:36.400 The word guarded carries the idea of protection. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:39.759 So the word I want to give you is the word secure. 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.799 Secure. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:45.119 I've given you the word that our hope is sure. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:52.400 Our hope is steadfast, it's it's it's it's never wavering, it'll never spoil, it'll never wear out. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:54.799 Then our hope is secure. 00:30:55.039 --> 00:31:00.240 When I think of being secure, I think of back in the late 50s and 60s. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:07.200 I'm I'm uh um some of you guys who are millennials, you you're not gonna even know some of these names I'm gonna tell. 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:20.319 But there used to be uh move, there used to be monster movies that uh uh many in the room that we loved, or some of us we were scared to death of the movies, and one of the monsters was Frankenstein. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.640 Anyone remember Frankenstein? 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:23.599 Okay. 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:28.559 Not the modern Frankenstein, the old Frank, the old guy. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:29.920 You know about the old guy? 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.960 Okay, good. 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:34.480 And then there was another one called Dracula. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.279 Ooh. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:38.480 Then there was another one called The Mummy. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:49.359 So my older brother, four years older than me and his friends, they were way into their teens, and I was I was one of the little guys. 00:31:49.519 --> 00:32:12.799 I I would love to go to the movies with my brother, but it was always it bothered me when the scary movies would come and it would get to those parts where the the wolf man or uh the of the mummy of Frankenstein was gonna do something to somebody, and I would turn my face away from the screen because I didn't want to see it, because it made me scared, and my brothers and his other friends they'd be laughing at all of us little kids, you're scared of the cat. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:17.759 Then on the way home, they they they go in the bushes and they jump out of the bushes. 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:21.680 And boy, some stuff would run down our legs, a little water would run down our legs. 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:34.799 But then when I got home and I tried to go to sleep, all those guys were in my room. 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:37.440 Over in the corner was Dracula. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.079 He was he was there. 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:39.359 I know he was there. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:43.200 They kept trying to tell me he wasn't, but he was there. 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:48.319 Frankenstein was over in the closet, and he kept trying to get out of the closet. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:50.400 And I'd go and I'd close the closet. 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:52.559 Then I'd hear the closet open. 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:55.920 And the wolf man was trying to crawl through my window. 00:32:56.400 --> 00:33:01.359 And so I was scared, and when I'd do almost all the time, guys, I'm telling I would do this almost all the time. 00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:09.359 I'd go get out of my bed, and I'd go and I'd knock on somebody's door. 00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:11.200 Anybody have any idea who it was? 00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:12.559 Yeah. 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:14.720 And guys, I'm sorry. 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:20.640 I'm I'm I'm a dad now, but when I would knock on the door, I would not say daddy. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:32.960 First word out of my mouth was mama, mama, dwarf man trying to get me, mama, Dracula's trying to bite my neck, mama, can I please? 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:36.880 And so every time without a fail, she would say, Boy, come on in here. 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.720 Get in the bed with me. 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:44.960 I'd get in the bed with my mother, and she would just begin to rub my head, she'd rub my back, and guess what she would say? 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:48.880 She would say, Little Willie, little baby, it's gonna be alright. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:51.119 You're safe with me. 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.160 It's interesting. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:55.680 In my head, Frankenstein was still in the house. 00:33:57.279 --> 00:34:01.599 But he couldn't get to me because I was with my mama. 00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:04.079 I was with my daddy. 00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:05.440 I was protected. 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:06.400 Listen to me. 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:13.920 There's a spiritual Frankenstein in your life that's got you scared to death. 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:16.000 But you know what you need to do? 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:19.920 Just go knock on your daddy's door. 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:28.559 And if you do, he'll put you in his arms and he'll whisper to you, my child, you alright? 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:39.119 He might be real in your mind, but I'm telling you, I'm more real and I'm bigger and I'm better than he ever was. 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:39.760 Amen. 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.800 Somebody. 00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:50.639 And last but certainly not least, here's the part that it's rough for me to always talk about. 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:54.239 In verses six through nine, Peter says this. 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:59.679 Our hope is refined. 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.880