Always Ready to Give an Answer for Your Hope

Turn your Bibles to First Peter chapter 3. First Peter chapter 3. How many of you be honest now? How many of you when I asked you earlier to figure out what the is today? How many of you really said kind of said, "I have no idea. I have no clue." Raise your hand. All right. Congratulations. You got it right. All right. Uh you ever had somebody ask you something, you go you don't know. You don't know the answer to it. And so this is what we're going to talk about is uh is not knowing the answer. In 1 Peter chapter 3 and beginning with verse number 13 down through verse 18, it says, "And who is he that will harm you if you be followers of that which is good?"

But and and but and if you suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. having a good conscience that whereas they speak of you as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. See, we want to know the answers to the questions we're asked. And so, we're going to talk today about when you have to say, "Well, I don't know." And I hope that's not true of you today.

And in John chapter 3 and verse number four, there was a man named Nicodemus saith unto him, Jesus, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? He wanted to know, "How do I enter the kingdom of God?" Jesus said, "You must be born again." He says, "Well, how can I be born when I'm old?" And here's what Jesus said to him in verses 9 and 10. He says, "Nicodemus answer said, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things?" There's certain things that you should know, especially if you grew up in church or you've been come to church, if you've been saved for a while.

There's just certain things that you should know. And and one of the most important things that all of us need to know is whether we're going to heaven or not. In 1 John 5 and:es 12 and 13, it says, "He that hath the son hath life. He that hath not the son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the son of God. If I were to come to you individually and say, "Do you know for sure that you're going to heaven? Do you know that your sins are forgiven? Do you know that you have eternal life?"

Your answer should be yes. And why should you be able to say that? Not because of who you are or because something you've done, but because God said you can know that for sure. You don't have to wonder. You don't have to think. You don't have to. You can know that you have eternal life. In fact, the Bible was written so you could know him. In John chap 20 and verse number 31 when u somebody's new in their Bible and newly Christian, one of the things I always recommend is read the book of John. Chapter a chapter a day, just read through the book of John. The reason why is in verse 31 it says, "But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name."

The whole reason John wrote John is so you could know who Jesus was and you could know that you have eternal life through his name. And so that's a good reason to read through that book. And if you've never done your own personal Bible study, I challenge you just start reading the book of John, one chapter a day, and pick out one or two verses that stand out to you and meditate on those throughout the day as we talked about earlier in this series. But Jesus said this in John 5 and verse 39. He said, "Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me."

If you want to know that you're saved, if you want to know that you're going to heaven, if you want to know that your sins are forgiven, that's why you have a Bible. And you ought to be searching that Bible to make sure of your salvation. You see, God wants us to know that we're going to heaven. That's why he made it plain and simple. It's not hard. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:12, "Seeing then that we have such a high hope, we use great plainness of speech." Paul said, "I I don't want to make this complicated. I don't want to make this difficult." The Bible is very clear and very simple about salvation.

Now, notice it says, "Seeing then that we have such hope." You say, "Well, see, you you hope you're going to heaven." No, the hope he's talking about here is not a think so hope. It's a not a maybe hope. It's a no hope. In Titus chapter 1 and verse number two, it says, "In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began, but hath in these times manifested his word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our savior." God cannot lie. And he's promised to you and he's promised to me eternal life. So, it's not a think so hope, it's a no so hope.

You say, "Well, what do you mean by that?" Well, you ever heard somebody say, "Well, I hope the sun comes up tomorrow." Now, even if it's a cloudy, rainy day, does the sun still come up? You see, I I may say, I hope the sun comes up, but I know it's going to come up. I may not see it because of the clouds, and it may be all kinds of rain coming down, but I still know that I can hope in the sun coming up every day. And if it does come up, we got a problem. So, it's a no so hope. You see, what gives me hope every day to persevere through life's trials is this. I have hope in Jesus Christ. And so, I can keep on keeping on.

Go to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. And I want you to look at verse number 19. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and look at verse number 19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Now, I'm thankful that I have hope in Jesus Christ. No matter what's going in my life, I have the hope. No matter what the trials, no matter how many clouds are in the sky, I know that Jesus is still going to be there just like I know the sun is going to come up tomorrow. Okay? But skip down a little further here to verses 55 through 58. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse number 55.

Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin. The strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth his victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore be my beloved brethren be steadfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor is not in vain of the Lord. See I have confidence because first of all I know no matter what I'm going to heaven. What's the worst thing that happen? I die and go to heaven. That's good hope. That's good to know. So no matter what, I'm going to heaven. But I have not only hope of heaven one day, but I have hope in this life through Jesus Christ as well.

You see, the hope comes from knowing that you're saved. Knowing who you have believed in. See, if you're believing in yourself, if you're believing in your religion, if you're believing in your rituals like baptism or catechism or church membership, if you're believing in your own righteousness, the Bible says is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according his mercy, he saved us. And so we our hope is not in ourselves. Our hope is in God. In 2 Timothy 1 and verse number 12, for the which cause also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I believed and am persuaded is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

You see, I know that I'm going to heaven because I have committed my soul to Jesus Christ and I know that he is going to keep his promise to give me eternal life. I'm not trusting in myself. I'm trusting in him. And so God wants us to know that we're going to heaven. Our hope is in him. Look at Titus chapter 3. Titus chapter 3 and look at verses 5-7. Titus chapter 3 and beginning with verse number five down through verse number seven. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed in us abundantly through Jesus Christ our savior.

that being justified by his grace, we should be made hes according to uh the hope of eternal life. You see, the hope of eternal life is not in my righteousness, but it's in the grace and the mercy of God. It's in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. See, hope is putting our faith in him. Go over to Hebrews chap 11. Hebrews chap 11 and verse number one. Hebrewsap 11 verse number one it says now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Verse number six but without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and is rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

See hope comes from faith in Jesus Christ. It comes by trusting in him. Paul said I'm persuaded. Why? Because I know whom I have believed. I have believed in God's plan of salvation. I have believed in God's promise of eternal life. I have believed in Jesus Christ as my savior. And I know if I were to die today, I'd go to heaven. See, folks, there's certain things you should never have to say, well, I don't know. I I have a lot of times people come to me, ask me a question, I have to say, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. But there's one question I can tell you I do know. And that is, are you going to heaven when you die?

Because I have trusted Jesus Christ as my savior. I have that hope of eternal life from the word of God, from God's promises. And so, you should know that you're going to heaven, but you should also know how to tell someone else. In 1 Peter 3:15, where we started at, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that's in you with meekness and fear. See, you ought to be able to not only know that you're going to heaven, but you ought to know how to tell somebody else how to get to heaven. You say, "Well, pastor, I don't know if I know all the scriptures.

I don't know all the things that you're supposed to say. What if I get it wrong?" Listen, if you know enough to know that you're going to heaven, you know enough to tell somebody else how to go to heaven. It's that simple. Go over in your Bibles to First John chapter 1. 1 John chapter 1 and look at verses 1-4. 1 John chapter 1 and verses 1-4. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life. For the life was manifested, we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.

That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ and these things rightly unto you that your joy may be full. See Jonah said I'm just going to tell you what I've experienced. I'm going to tell you what I've lived through what what God has done for me. And if you know enough to know how to be saved, if you know that you are saved, then you know enough to tell somebody else how to be saved. Now, don't get me wrong. You ought to know the Bible verses, and you ought to know uh how to illustrate and explain it, and you ought to do your best job you can to help people to know about how to get to heaven.

But you know enough to be saved, you know enough to tell somebody else how to be saved as well. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse number 12, Paul said, "For our our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that is simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation the world and more abundantly to you, word." See, what Paul said here is is it's not complicated. It's very simple. The simple plan of salvation is this. That for God so loved the world, that's you, that he gave his only begotten son. That if you would believe in him, you should not perish but have everlasting life.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. See, the gospel is that God loved you and sent his son to die to pay for your sins and to give you eternal life. And his death, his burial, his resurrection is the power of salvation. And you need to put your trust in what he did for you and not what you can do for yourself. It's not complicated. It's simple. The simple, sincere plan of salvation. I don't know. You ought to know you're going to heaven. God says you can. God says you should. He says here's how you can do it. I I don't know. You ought to know how to tell people be saved.

If you're saved, yeah, I didn't know how to share the simple, sincere word of God, the plan of salvation. But you know, there's another way we say, and that's when we say it in pain. You ever been in pain just because you're hurting? You ever had that? Go over to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and look at verses 1-4. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. How many of you like camping? Raise your hand. What? How many The only thing good about camping is when you're back home in your own bed. Raise your hand. Yeah. You ever been out camping and you're laying there in the ground and there's that rock sticking up in your back and there's the bugs crawling across your face and and the rain is coming down and soaking through your tent and you're sitting there in the cold, wet, hard grounding in pain saying just thinking about nothing but a warm shower and your warm bed.

You know what I'm talking about? You did that. This one you're thinking, "Boy, I can't wait to get back in my own bed. I can't wait to get that hot shower, get all this grime and dust and dirt off of me. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Look at verses 1-4. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle or this tent were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan in pain earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. If so be that being clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we are in this tabernacle, this tent groan, being burdened not for what we would be that we be unclothed, not that we would die, but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up with life.

You know, sometimes we go through the pain of this life and and what keeps us going is knowing, hey, listen, I'm going to be in heaven. I'm going to be in a new body in a in a perfect place and and I can put up with this tent a little bit longer. And it's that knowing there's hope. Knowing there's hope. Look at Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8 and beginning with verse number 22. Romans chapter 8 beginning with verse number 22. For we know that the whole creation groanth and travaleth in pain together until now. And not only they, but we ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to with the redemption of our body.

For we're saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, what did he had hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. You see, sometimes we grown in this body. Sometimes we're in physical pain or we're in emotional pain or mental pain and we're going through that pain of life and and and we grown in that pain. But we have hope. Hope of eternal life in heaven and hope in Jesus Christ. Because when there's no hope, there's nothing to live for. Some of you know I have what are called cluster headaches. And and cluster headaches are uh they come in clusters and they're like somebody shoving a ice pick through one of your eyes.

They're very painful and about only about 01% of the population has these. And they're the cluster headaches are nicknamed the suicide headaches. And the reason they're called that is because for a long time people would with no hope they would the pain was so bad they would kill themselves because they couldn't handle it any longer. [clears throat] And and and so I I I praise God. I went to Mayo Clinic a few years ago and found some help with that. Haven't had any clusters in a number of years. But back when I was still having the clusters, there were times I really understood why it was called the suicide headache.

I'd go to doctor after doctor and most doctors didn't even know what it was. And the ones that had heard of it didn't know how to deal with it. And there was just no hope. And when there's no hope, what keeps you going? You ever gone to a doctor and tried to describe your pain? Look at Romans chapter 8. Look at verse number 26. Likewise, the spirit also helpeth our infirmities. For we know not what we pray for as we ought, but the spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be cannot be uttered. You know, you go to the doctor and he says, "Uh, tell me about your pain." And here's what I would do.

I said, "Well, I got a headache." And here's what the doctor would say. This is these guys took four years of training, three years of residence to get to this point. And this is what the doctor would say to me. So where does it hurt? In my head. And does it hurt? Well, describe the pain. It hurts in my head. You know, and and you know, it was frustrating because you wanted to tell, you know what I wanted to do was pick up an ice pick and shove in my doctor's eye. Say that's what it feels like. You ever seen those pain sharks they show you at the doctor's office now with the smiley faces? You know what I'm talking about?

I thought, you know, who wants to be looking at smiley faces when you're in pain? Whoever came over that ought to be in jail. In fact, I don't think they went far enough with this. I think they needed one more smiley face on that chart for me. And and that looked like this guy right here. That's what my pain. You know, when you're in pain, don't you wish the doctor could feel what you're feeling because it's hard to describe it, isn't it? Well, what does it feel like? It's a headache. I learned later on that there's different kinds of headaches. I began to understand, well, what's he looking for?

And when I finally began describing the way it was, he said, "Oh, I know what those are." But we have the spirit of God within us. He understands what we're feeling. I love Hebrews 4:15 to 16. Listen to what it says. For we've not a high priest, Jesus, which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly under the throne of grace that we may attune mercy and find grace in the help of time and need. We have a God who understands pain because he felt pain. He understands loneliness because he was lonely.

He understands betrayal because he'll be betrayed. Everything that I have ever felt in life, Jesus has felt without sin. When I feel those things, I usually sin. When you're in pain, what do you do? You do. You say things you shouldn't say. You get mad easily. You get upset, you know. But Jesus didn't sin. But he understands everything that I've ever gone through in life. He understands it because he came as a man. He was fully God, but he was also fully man. And he understands the infirmities of our flesh. And so when I'm feeling pain, he understands that. The Holy Spirit says, "I know what you're feeling because I'm right there with you."

He understands that. Mark chapter 2 and verse 17 says, "When Jesus heard it, he say, "They that are whole have no need of physician, but they are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners repentance." You have to get to the point you want the doctor to help you. Sometimes it frustrates me, especially men are good at this. They don't want to go to the doctor because they're afraid they'll be told there's something wrong. You got to go to the doctor to find out what's wrong, to find out what you can do. And you got to come to Jesus. If you're in pain, come to the one, the great physician that can help you through that, who can understand it, who's felt that pain.

See, our only true hope is in Christ. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 12. 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and look at verses 7-10. 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and beginning with verse number seven. Paul says this, "Unless I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. But this thing I besought the Lord thrice and may depart from me." And he said, "And my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, and reproaches, in necessities, and persecutes, and distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." You know, we have hope in Christ. When you're in pain, you can come to Christ. And you know sometimes he doesn't take away the problem but he does promise I'll never leave you and forsake you. He does promise his grace. He says therefore he says I most gladly rather glory and my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. My grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in thee. And that's God's promise. And yes, I may have to lose live some pain in this life, but Christ will be with me through that pain.

And I one day I'm going to be in heaven where there is no more pain, where there's no more tears, where there's no more need for doctors because there's no more problems. And I have hope. You see, God wants to do something amazing in your life. Whatever you're going through right now, and I know there's some in this room, you're going through pain. Maybe it's physical pain. Maybe there's some health issue that you're dealing with and and the doctors just don't seem to have the answers. That's why they say doctors practice medicine. They're practicing on you. And I understand that and I went through that for many years.

It's frustrating as hard. Or maybe you're going through some health issues or or perhaps you're going through some financial issues or or maybe you're dealing with some personal issues and dealing with depression and so on and going through some hard things in your life. No matter what you're going through, Jesus has been there. And no matter what you're going through, he says, "My hope is there for you because I will never leave you nor forsake you. And my grace and my strength are there for you to take you through this situation." And God says, "I want to do something amazing in your life." In 2 Corinthians chapter 4:1 17 it says, "For our light affliction is but for a moment, working for us more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

Sometimes these things seem like they go on forever, but compared to eternity, they're nothing. And God says, "I've got something special I want to do in your life and through your life." And even with that pain and even with that trial you're going through, even with that situation, you have hope in Jesus Christ. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 1. Good. Look at verses 3-4. 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse number three. Blessed be God, even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Oh, comfort us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comfort of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abounded in us, so our consolation also aboundeth in Christ. Folks, I wish I never had those cluster headaches, but you know, even today, I'm still thankful for them. Number one, they taught me a lot of lessons, hard lessons that I needed to learn. It taught me how to trust in God and find his grace to be s sufficient and to find strength in him. And God has also used it over and over again in my counseling with others. I can't tell how many times I've shared that with people that are going through issues in their life and how how it's encouraged them because I found comfort.

I can share that comfort with them as well. I don't know. You should know you're going to heaven. You should know how to tell somebody to be saved. You're in pain. Realize that God's grace is there for you. But there's one more I want to look at today, and that's I don't want to. And we usually say it this way. Mm-m. Not going to do it. Mm-m. I remember the first time when I went to Mayo Clinic, they said, "Here, here's your solution. They're going to give you needle and you stick the needle in your belly and squeeze the and and put it in there." Saidm I didn't want to do that, but I realized that was less painful than headaches.

And sometimes we just don't want to do it. Psalms 142 verse number 4 says,"I looked on my right hand and beheld there was no man that would know me. Refuge failed me. No man cared for my soul." Folks, don't saym to caring about people. God's called you and I to go into all the world and preach the gospel. He's called us to care about people's souls. And yet most of us go through our weekm. We don't talk to anybody about Jesus. We don't tell them about Jesus. Jesus. Let me ask you a question. When's the last time you wept for the lost? [clears throat] In Psalms 126 5 and 6, they that sew in tears shall reap in joy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheep with him. It's time that we cried over the loss. It's time we cried for people that are hurting. It's time that we cared about people's souls. You see, either we can cry now or we can cry later. In Revelation chapter 20, the Bible talks about a new heaven and a new earth. And in there, it talks about how that all tears will be wiped away. When we get to heaven, there'll be no more tears. But folks, if you read Revelation, you will find figure this out. The tears are not wiped away until after the great white throne judgment when people are cast into hell without Jesus.

You and I will not stand at the great white throne judgment to be judged. That's only for the lost. If you're saved, you will be judged by Jesus and how you lived your life, whether you get reward or loss of reward. But you will not be judged whether you go to heaven or hell because when you trust Christ as your savior, you already have eternal life. You don't get eternal life when you go to heaven. You have it now. The only difference is you're going to either have it here or have in heaven. It's already started. But I do believe that we as Christians will be there at the great white throne judgment and we will watch as the angels take those that are lost and cast them to hell for all eternity.

And we'll be standing there looking to see how our neighbor is being cast into hell and we never told them about Jesus. To see how our loved ones being cast into hell and we never took the time to share our testimony. And to see those people that we could have cared about their soul and we could have told them about Jesus and we did not. And I believe we're going to be weeping tears streaking down our face. I'm thankful those tears will be wiped away one day, but it's not until after that. And so, we're going to have to deal with those tears. So, don't say mm- God's called you and I to go into all the world and tell them about Jesus to care about their need.

Means you got to see it. In 1 John chapter 3 16-18, it says, "Hereby perceive we the love of God. Because he laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso this world's goods and seeth his brother have need and shutth the bowels of compassion from him? How dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, it's not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed in truth." We got to open up our eyes and see the need of people around us. There are people that are crying out for somebody to care on social media. I've been watched in some of these social media p places for like military spouses and I'm amazed at how many women and how many men will go on those things and and just talk about what they're going through.

I'm going through a divorce. I I we're struggling. We have no food. We're going through this. We're going through that. And how many people out there saying, "Help me." And that's what God God has called you. And that's what God's called me to do. And yet we don't. We don't even see it. We need to see that neighbor who is lost. We need to see that that coworker who's struggling in their marriage. We need to see that person that needs someone to care for their souls. In James chapter 2 15-17 if a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say unto them depart in peace being warmed and filled notwithstanding you give not those things which are needful the body what does it profit even so faith that have not works is dead being alone it's not enough just say we care we got to show we caregiving is coming up there's a lot of people that have nowhere to go for Thanksgiving they're away from family and friends.

They're by themselves, husbands deployed, or single moms or singles that are in the barracks or families that are new on the island, don't know anybody, and they're looking for somebody who will care for their soul. That will do more than just say, "Have a good Thanksgiving," but will say, "Come on over my house and invite them into your home." You see, folks, don't say mm- to God. Don't saym to salvation. If you're not saved, you need to put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. You can know for sure you're going to heaven. But don't saym to telling others about Christ. Say yes to him. Philippians 1:20, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, till now also Christ should be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.

Paul wrote that when he was in prison, he said, "I don't expect to be in this prison forever." No, they I'm either going to be released and sent back out to preach the gospel or I'm going to go to heaven. But I'm fine because I have hope. And no matter what you're going through, you have hope in Jesus Christ. We need God's overflowing hope. Romans 15:13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. God says, "I want to fill your cup to where it's overflowing. It's abounding." You know, nowadays, most of McDonald's and places like that, they don't let you do your own soda.

They fill it for you. And I always get frustrated when there's still this much empty space at the top of that cup. It's crazy. Because I want a full cup. I want it to be when you put that lid on there, a little bit pushes out. Yeah. I want to get all I paid for. And God says, "Listen, I want to fill you with hope. So much hope that it's going to overflow and you can share it with those around you. Do you have hope today?" Not I think so. It's I know so. The sun's going to come up tomorrow whether there's clouds in the sky. And God is still God. And God is still good no matter what you're going through in your life.