Raising Hope

<p>When these things happen: stand up and lift your heads: A message of courage and hope!</p><p>A threefold message here:</p><ol><li>The Son of Man will return</li><li>Lift up your heads</li><li>Guard your hearts</li></ol><p>The conditions surrounding the return of the Christ – Repetition of things learned!</p><ol><li>The devil’s plot to steal, kill and destroy</li><li>The power of Christ</li><li>The overwhelming glory of Christ dispels the darkness</li><li>The preparation for what is to come since they didn’t understand when he said he would die and rise again.</li><li>The importance of the immediate fulfillment of this prophecy and the long term fulfillment of this prophecy yet to take place</li></ol><p>The importance of hope in our lives!</p><ol><li>Hope inspires confidence</li><li>Hope builds courage to conquers our fears</li><li>Hope strengthens our faith in God’s ability and God’s presence in our lives – stand up!</li></ol><p>The result:</p><p>The necessity of protecting our hearts from the attacks of the enemy – note: there is no time-table and the focus is on moral exhortation </p><ol><li>Protect yourself from falling in the deceitful traps of the devil – cares of the world, lust, abandonment of clarity in obeying God.</li><li>Be alert in prayer – listen to what Father says, grow in your communication with him, your worship of him, and your waiting on him.</li><li>Escape, run from what is a trap.  </li></ol>