Baptist Sermons And Devotions

PRISONERS OF HOPE

Zec 9:9-12 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

INTRODUCTION:

The passage tells about God’s dealing to His chosen nation Israel:

That He will come unto them (in v.9) but the problem is Israel did not received Him - John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

And because of that they will became as prisoner out of the pit wherein is no water (v.11). They will suffer chastisement because of their hardheadedness and because they are (as God called them) a stiff neck people. But God still has wonderful promised to them – that’s why in the last verse that we read (v.12) it says Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

Hope is an anchor for our soul.

Without it, we'd be less than whole.

But with it, we can do all things

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.

Hope is a Heavenly treasure,

A gift from God above;

The helmet of our salvation

Inspired by His faith and love.

Even though we've never seen it,

We are prisoners of it, still.

It leads us to be patient

Until it is ready to fulfill.

Though the passage of scriptures we read is the promise of God to His chosen nation Israel – but thanks be to God because right now God’s dealing is not only to His chosen nation, but also to the redeemed and to the washed by His blood and to a person who received an imputed righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

One of the virtue that will keep us alive is hope – there are 3 Christian virtues or elements that the apostle Paul talk about in 1Cor. 13:13 and we know that the greatest of all is love or charity. But of course faith, hope, and charity is equally important. We always talk about love and faith – but tonight we  will talk about hope. – Prisoners of Hope.

Many people survive because of hope. People – maybe they don’t really know about faith – because we know that faith is the word of God and they know nothing about love because true love talks about sacrifice and commitment but why do people even the unbelieving one survive? Because of this one universal virtue – it is called HOPE!

Even animal knew something about it – the laboratory rats…

A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment:

"Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope! Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. "

If hope can have that kind of effect on an animal that lives solely by instinct, what kind of effect can it have on you and I whom God has gifted with intelligence?

Hope is an attitude, an expectant outlook on life. It is a gift that God has granted to every man. No one can take it from us. If we "lose hope," it is because we have given it away. How many times have we heard stories of people who have endured incredible hardships, overcoming "impossible" situations, simply because they refused to give up hope?

I have read about stories of the Holocaust survivors – One by the name of Victor Frankl and the other by the name of Elie Wiesel and in their books they always talk about this subject of Hope and that’s what keep them survive.

Victor Frankl one of the most distinguished holocaust survivor survived that terrible ordeal in one of the Nazi concentration camp by always expecting to see his beloved wife once again – although it did not happen because all of his love one’s were already murdered by the Nazi. Elie Wiesel a Nobel Peace Prize awardee also survived by always hoping to see again his father.

Our survival depends upon if we turn out instead of  being a prisoner out of the pit wherein is no water unto a stronghold and become a prisoner of hope…

"Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity"

In your struggle, chastisement, testing and trials and even in your temptations the elements that will keep you alive and survive – IS HOPE.

"Everything that is done in the world is done by the hopeful."

I.             THE CONDITION OF THE SORROWFUL

Prisoners in the pit wherein is no water.

Pit – describe it!

No Water!

One preacher illustrate that the most brutal and terrible experience in the training of the Navy Seal is when they are put in a cave or dungeon with total darkness in just 10-15 minutes!

Most of them screamed, some cried and some of them said they will lost their sanity if prolonged.

Brig. General Robinson Risner - he spent seven years as a POW in a North Viet Nam compound. He spent four and a half years of that time in isolation. He endured ten months of total darkness. Those ten months were the longest of his life. He was put into a little seven-by- seven foot cell, shutting out the light, he wondered if he was going to make it. He had already been under intense physical and mental pressure after years of confinement. And now, not a glimmer of light shone into his cell -- or into his soul.

Gen. Risner spent hours a day exercising and praying. But at times he felt he could nothing but scream. Not wanting to give his captors the satisfaction of knowing they'd broken him, he stuffed clothing into his mouth to muffle the noise as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Although he did not lost his hope - One day Risner got down on the floor and crawled under his bunk. He located a vent that let in outside air. As he pressed against the vent, he saw a faint glimmer of light reflected on the inside wall of the opening. Robbie put his eye next to the cement wall and discovered a minute crack in the construction. Although the crack allowed him only a glimpse of the outside, he was able to see one blade of grass. A single blade of grass and a faint ray of light. But when he stared at the sight, he felt a surge of joy, excitement and gratitude like he hadn’t known in years. “It represented life, growth, and freedom,” he later said, “and I knew God had not forgotten me.”

The nation of Israel experienced and still experiencing great and terrible sufferings especially during the times of holocaust and will experience more during the tribulation period. Why? Because of their unbelief.

I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

And many Christians experience as such…

Chastised,  weary, living in doubt and fear, perplexed, discourage -

As if they are bound and freedom is gone.

Impossible to escape. Intolerable darkness. Terrible discomfort –

Prisoners in the pit wherein is no water.

Comfortless and likely to perish.

Prisoners in the pit wherein is no water.

Seems darkness – as in the hope of Abraham – Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Maybe, because of chastisement.  Maybe,  because you involved yourself in sinful and wicked ways and you became prisoner of our own or sad prisoner of Satan.

Don’t make yourself a stronghold of Satan!

Some sins cause you to become prisoner of Satan or let your body become his stronghold.

But don’t lose hope. Hope thou in God.

Apostle Paul experienced that. Job experienced that. David and Joseph and other Bible characters greatly used by God also experienced that. Jeremiah experienced that.

Jer 38:6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

2Co 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

And many Christians if you will just let them tell about their present situation they will tell you that they are somewhat a prisoner.

It seems total darkness no hope and no comfort and it seems nobody care and nobody understand you and nobody knows about it.

Just like the condition of the Prisoners in the pit wherein is no water.

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

II.           THE COURSE COMMENDED

“Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope”  v.12

Don’t make yourself a stronghold of satan but rather turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Don’t turn to sin and wicked ways but turn to God.

Don’t turn to your self or others but rather turn to your Saviour.

Stronghold means a strong fortress, a place of refuge – our greatest and blessed and lively hope is on God. Wait upon God.

Frankl and Wiesel survived the holocaust concentration camp because they expect great things to come although it did not happen to them. Our hope – which is the greatest and the blessed and lively will certainly come -  the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking for that blessed hope. The anchor of our soul.

Make hope our character our attitude – trust God – Job said though he slay me yet I will trust in him. When you feel like prisoners, hope thou in God and so become “prisoners of hope”

Jeremiah sunk in the mire call upon God and God visited him and promised and felt an everlasting love.

Apostle Paul turns to God during his prison cell experienced and wrote almost half of the NT while he was in prison.

Apostle John relies on the guidance of the Holy Spirit while imprisoned in the island of Patmos and wrote one of the most important book of the Bible - the Book of Revelation.

John Bunyan depend on God while he was imprisoned in Bedford Jail that conceived his allegorical novel: The Pilgrim's Progress. Most read Christian book next only to the Bible.

In the place of Doubting Castle which Giant Despair owns and in the place called Valley of the shadow of Death the only course of action is get the key of HOPE in order to get back to the Heavenly Road. That’s one of the truth presented on that book called The Pilgrim's Progress

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Our greatest hope is in Christ second coming -  Zech. 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This promise was fulfilled on Christ first coming – and if Jesus literally fulfilled His first coming He will also literally fulfilled His second coming -   Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

We are not looking for a small god, nor a perfect man that become God as some cults teaches – but a great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

While Zech 9:9 was for Christ first coming for the Jews Titus 2:13 is a promised, a blessed hope for Christ second coming for His saints. 

What is the course of action commended when you fell you become a prisoner out of the pit wherein is no water - Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope:

Don’t turn to others for rescue – but turn to God. Make Him your creator God and Saviour your Father which is in Heaven – He is constantly longing to have a fellowship with you.

Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

For the Laboratory rats – their hope is someone would reach down and rescue them.

For Victor Frankl – it was hope to see his beloved wife.

For Elie Wiesel – it was his expectation to see again his father

For Gen. Risner - It was that tiny glimmer of hope that sustained through an unbearable ordeal.

But for us Christians it is turning our eyes upon our Creator God and on our Savior Jesus Christ - we know that our hope is eternal, secure, blessed and lively.

Christ is our Advocate and Anchor of our Hope.

"Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.

To move forward in life, hope is essential. Hope is the means of keeping your goals and dreams alive. The essential oil blend “Hope” helps you to reconnect with a feeling of strength and grounding, restoring hope for tomorrow.

The blend of ingredients found in “Hope” will calm and balance your emotions, release emotional blocks, elevate spiritual awareness, and create a feeling of love and peace to keep hope truly alive in your life.

III. THE COMFORT GIVEN TO THOSE WHO TURN TO THE STRONGHOLD

“Even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” V.12

1. God is steady in His comforts to those who turn to Jesus. -  Even today do I declare.
2. God is abundant in His mercy: - I will render double unto thee.

-          The double of your trouble Job 42:10  And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

-          The double of your expectation (Isa. 61:7)

-          The double of your attainments

3. God is consoling in His promises; for it is:

Plain: “I declare”

Present: “Even today do I declare”

Positive: “I will declare that I will”

Personal: “I will render unto thee”

THE COMFORT GIVEN TO THOSE WHO TURN TO THE STRONGHOLD - Even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.

CONCLUSION:

God never:

·         Said He’d pay all the debts we incur

·         Promised to heal every disease by which we are stricken

·         Guaranteed that we would be surrounded by friends or showered upon with success.

But He did promise:

·         To meet your every need

·         To comfort you in all your afflictions

·         To be with you in every trial

·         To display His strength through your weakness

And when you are fully persuaded that God is able to do that which He has promised, then you can "against hope believe in hope."

So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s hands because in God’s hand everything will become beautiful.

Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

Don’t let your body become a stronghold of Satan but rather go to the stronghold and he will deliver you..

Questions today:

1. Are you chastised? Ps 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
2. Are your weary? Matt 11:28, Gal. 6:9
3. Are you in doubt and fear? Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
4. Are you perplexed? Rom. 8:28

Job said thou he slay me yet I will trust in him…

Hope thou in God…

Zech. 9:11-12 I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

It is God who sent you there and he can also set you free – and more than free indeed for He promised that I will render double unto thee.

Are you a prisoner tonight? Then make yourself a PRISONER of HOPE!


Rey Sandoval Dalde
reydalde@gmail.com
Ark Bible Way Baptist Mission
San Rafael, Cararayan, Naga City, Camsur