Hope

1. Introduction
   1. Today I’d like to talk about something very important that all of us look towards. That is hope.
   2. You and I, since we’ve been old enough to realize our dreams, have considered hope knowing that we never know when hope will come about.
   3. We are told about hope, encouraged to continue to hope, and are told that eventually, we will see it come to pass.
   4. I use an illustration of myself in regards to hope. Since I was a young boy, I would watch martial arts movies all the time, or you might say action movies.
   5. I always dreamed and put myself in the picture of myself being a great martial artist.
   6. As my interest peaked on a consistent basis, I one day found myself traveling to China Town in Boston, and becoming a martial artist
   7. Another hope that I would dream about and hope to become was an astronaut.
   8. I remember being fascinated with all of the space voyages, Apollo, landing on the moon, and put myself in the position of actually being an astronaut.
   9. I had hoped as a young boy that I would become one. I didn’t become an astronaut working at NASA, but when I was 13 years old, in 1971, there was a science fair project at the Seabrook Elementary School.
   10. There was an opportunity through NASA’s space center to build a simulated space capsule with all of the NASA specs, and to win the World’s Endurance Record for simulated space flight.
   11. I immediately responded and was chosen to be the third astronaut, with the space voyage entitled the JPW-40.
   12. After 18 days of staying in the capsule, and eating everything from chopped meat to vegetables inside of a toothpaste tube, we broke the world record after 18 days.
   13. To break the world’s endurance record for the Guiness book of World Records, we had to stay in 21 days, which we did.
   14. My hope and dream came to pass, just not in the way I thought it would. I thought I’d be a real astronaut. Instead, I was a simulated astronaut simulating the real voyage under the direction of NASA.
   15. God always had His Hand in the mix with me, and God has always had His Hand in the mix with you. There isn’t anyone alive that has not had a hope and dream. Those hopes and dreams are instilled by God.
   16. He says I reign on the just and the unjust. Matthew 5:45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
   17. Many have given up on hope and many have given up on their dreams, due to a variety of circumstances and also age.
   18. Today, as we look into our subject of Hope, let us be encouraged that in Hebrews 11:1, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.
   19. When you and I give up on hope, and no longer can dream, it’s almost like we’ve given up on life itself.
   20. Today, let me encourage you that hope is very much alive, whether you are a child, or you are at the ripe old age of 95.
   21. Sarah was 90 and Abraham was 100. God can do anything. Hope is alive. You just need to believe it. Now, let’s look into our study on

2. What is Hope
   1. Hope is a desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable.
   2. Hope differs from a wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it.
   3. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas a wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.
   4. In the Bible, hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised, and its strength is in His faithfulness. God has given us many promises in His Word. They are yes and Amen. We can take them to the bank. Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised. We can have hope and expectation that what He says, He will do.

3. Why Do we Need Hope?
   1. You don’t know what the future holds: Things may be tough one day, and then completely change for the better the next day.

Proverbs 27:1: Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. We need hope because it helps us trust God frome one day to the next.

1. You’re not even guaranteed a tomorrow. You might think you have many years ahead of you, but an accident, or illness can change all that. Only God knows how much time we have. We need to live for Him every day to the best of our ability: James 4:14: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
2. Without hope, we’d live for ourselves and what we can get here and now. We’d store up goods for ourselves, and not think about others or God. We’d be like the farmer in Luke 12:16-20 “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him,

Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” We can look on the things of others more than ourselves, because we have the hope and the confidence that God will look on the things we are concerned about as we bless others.

4. How did Jesus give Hope to His Disciples including us? He gave hope to His Disciples as He taught and ministered to them, and He and His Disciples give hope to us as we study the Word.
   1. He gave the hope of eternal life for all who call upon Him. John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Have you accepted the free gift of eternal life that comes through faith in Jesus? If you have been born again, he gives you that hope and confidence of eternal life.
   2. He gave us the hope that no matter what happens, He is always with us. Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” He said he would be with us always. We can depend on that. He’s closer than any brother.

1. He gave us the hope that every need He has will be provided for. Matthew 6:31-32 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. We have the hope, no matter what is happening that every need will be met. Not every want, but every need.
2. He gave the hope that one day very soon, He would come and bring His People home. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. As we look at everything happening around the world today, we don’t have to get caught up in the negativity, but we can focus on the Blessed Hope, that one day soon that trumpet will sound, and we will be Heaven bound!

5. How to Share Hope with Others?
   1. Let them know God loves them and wants to have a relationship with them. This is part of that Great Commission we spoke of earlier. You can share with them Jeremiah 31:3 – The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. God is drawing people to Himself. If we are available, and reach out to people and share the love of God with them, they will have an abundant life, filled with peace and hope.
   2. Let them know God has a plan for them: As a parent, you have hopes and dreams for your children. God also has hopes and dreams for you and those you are giving hope to. Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. We can let the person we are talking to know that God is thinking about them constantly, and has good things in store for them, no matter what things look like.
   3. Share with them what God has done for you. Your testimony. God has been building a testimony in you from the day you were born. Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

As you share your victories and experiences with God, that can inspire them to have faith for what they are going through in life.

6. How can we have more hope in God?
   1. Put God first in everything you do. Matthew 6:33-34: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Do you find yourself worrying and fretting about how you will make ends meet? You may need a little more hope and trust in God. You may need to remember to put Him first above all of these other things.
   2. Meditate on the promises of God.. 2nd Corinthians 1:20: For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. If God says it in His Word, you can take it to the bank. Try putting your name in some of the verses and read them out loud. His Word is true.
   3. Reflect on how He has helped you in the past. Psalm 103:2: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: If you struggle with doubt and need more hope, remember how God has helped you. Then remember that He is the same today as He was then.
   4. Praise and worship can give a more hopeful perspective. Psalm 66:4: All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. Sing a song to the Lord or turn on a radio station that plays worship music and sing along. You will have less of the negativity of the world and be more hopeful and faith-filled.

7. Story – Four Candles in a Room
   1. Once at night time, 4 candles were burning in a room, and they started talking to each other. The first candle said “I am peace,

1. But at present there is catastrophe and robbery everywhere, and it seems like the world doesn’t want me anymore. After saying that, the candle was extinguished.
2. After this, the second candle said, “I am faith, and today there are lies and deceit everywhere. I don’t think I’m needed anymore. Therefore I’m also leaving.
3. After saying this, the second candle also got extinguished.
4. The third candle sadly said, “I am love. I have power to keep burning, but today, everyone is so busy that noone has time for me.
5. People are even forgetting to love their loved-ones too. I can’t bear all of this. Therefore I am also going from this world.” Saying that, the third candle was also extinguished.
6. Just then, an innocent boy entered the room and seeing extinguished candles, he said, “Why didn’t you candles burn until the end? How can you leave like this?”
7. At that, the 4th candle said to the boy, “Dear child, don’t be sad. I am hope, and while I am burning, you can light the rest of the candles again.”
8. Hearing this, the child’s eyes sparkled and he took that candle of hope and relit the candles of peace, faith and love.
9. When everything looks bad, and there’s darkness all around, even then, don’t give up hope, because it has so much power that it can give back what is lost.
10. Keep your hope candle lit, because if it keeps on burning, it can light all of the other candles.

8. Conclusion
   1. Do you have a better understanding of what hope is, and how important it is in your life and the lives of others?
   2. Do you have hope as you go about your day-to-day life, or is everything dark and discouraging?
   3. Do you share the hope that you have in God with others by sharing Jesus with them?

The Gambler?

1. Introduction
   1. In 1983, I met a lady, and we got married. I just started to become a Christian.
   2. In the midst of us journeying on with our marriage, she always wanted to go to the gambling casino in Atlantic City.
   3. Though I wasn’t a gambler and was taught that this was unbiblical and I needed to stay away from it. To please her, I ended up taking her to Atlantic City.
   4. I was taken by all of the lights and believe you me, these lights were bright. It was something I’d never experienced and knew nothing about.
   5. I remember as we pulled into the hotel, my wife wanted to go to the casino right away. She had $600.00 and within an hour’s time, the $600.00 was long gone.
   6. As she came back to the hotel room I was lying on the bed watching TV. She said, “Come on with me. I want you to try out the slot machine.
   7. I said I’m really not that interested in it. She said “Would you please come anyway and let’s have a good time.” Well, I went. When I went down there they had these slot machines.
   8. You would order a roll of either quarters, half dollars, or dollars at that time. She said come on. Put a dollar into the machine.
   9. I told her that I’m not interested in gambling and I’m not interested in these machines.
   10. With her feeling discontented, and me being a dud, not wanting to get all revved up with theses slot machines, I decided that we’d only be there one more day.
   11. She took the roll of coins, and it seemed like within minutes they were gone. Much like the $600.00. She had one left.
   12. She said, “I want you to put it in one of these machines and pull the hammer.
   13. I didn’t want to tell her again that I didn’t want to do it because I wanted to have a good time eating and enjoying the hotel and scene
   14. She kept badgering So, I walked up and down the aisle with all of the machines. I remember her saying to me are you going to put the coin in the machine.
   15. I said, “I am, but I am praying.” Praying for what? Praying that God leads me to the right one, so I don’t ever have to come back again.
   16. As I walked up and down the aisle, all of a sudden I felt inspired and put the coin into this one machine. When I put the hammer down, the lights went on, and $100 poured out onto the floor.
   17. She said “See, you’re a winner. Now you can keep on going.”
   18. I remember saying to her, “Yes I’m a winner, and I’m walking away as a winner from this table, knowing that I’m not going to be foolish enough to put one more dollar into that slot machine.”
   19. “I’m not a gambler” I said “nor do I ever want to be one. I want to know the sure thing not lose everything I have.”
   20. I told her that I work hard for the money that I have. I’m thankful that I know how to save so that I was able to take you on this trip and make sure that we have enough to get back home.
   21. There were so many people. A lot of elderly ladies sitting in seats by these slot machines, just pulling the hammer, one coin after another.
   22. I remember asking this lady if she had ever been a real winner. She indicated to me that she had won over $100,000.00.

1. She decided to go to a more advanced card table and lost it all within 1-2 hours of time. She said “Don’t ever get mixed up in gambling!
2. It’s one of the biggest addictions you could ever have.” She explained that she had lost her home, cars and her family due to being very addicted to gambling.
3. She said, “Please, please stay away. Go back home.” I said to her that I intended to. I told her I was a bible believing Christian.
4. I wanted to serve the Lord with all of my heart. She said “Well you do that young man because the only heart here gets stolen away by the make-believe
5. that if I just keep putting more coins in the slot machines, or playing my hand at the cards, I’ll eventually be a winner. But you usually lose everything before you win anything.
6. Gambling is a sin. 1st Timothy 6:10: for the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
7. Now let us look into our message.

The Gambler?

2. What is a gambler to you and what does it mean?
   1. While the Bible does not use the word “gambler” it defines the underlying behaviors—covetousness, greed, and the love of money—as sin.
   2. A biblical perspective views a gambler as one who seeks gain without honest labor, risks resources entrusted by God, and trusts in chance rather than divine provision.
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3. Where did gambling originate from?
   1. Gambling is said to originate before there were written words, about 3000 BC. However, the first biblical example of gambling is in this passage.
   2. Look at Judges 14:12-13: And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it. The people could not figure out the riddle that Samson gave until they got his wife to tell her, and then she told them.

4. Where did this word come from?
   1. The word gamble originated in the early 18th century (circa 1700s) as a derivative of the Middle English word gamen (or gamenen),
   2. meaning “to play, jest, or be merry,” which itself comes from Old English gamen (game/fun). It evolved from earlier forms like gamel.
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5. Why have so many people been so addicted?
   1. Gambling is addictive because it triggers the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine—the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and euphoria—similar to drugs or alcohol.
   2. The rush comes not just from winning, but also from the anticipation of winning and the thrill of taking risks, creating a cycle of compulsion, particularly with easy access to online, 24/7 platforms.
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6. What’s the solution and remedy?
   1. If you are trapped in this addiction, God can set you free, but first you must be born again. John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Before you receive Jesus as your Lord and savior, you are dead in trespasses and sins, and once you are born again, you are a lively hope!
   2. When you are born again, you are set free from the power and penalty of sin. John 8:36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Freedom is an important theme in the gospel message, so if you are not free, God wants to set you free.
   3. Remember that every day we battle with the temptation to sin. Those battling a gambling addiction can relate to the apostle Paul. Romans 7:23-24: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? The one who can deliver you from any addiction, whether gambling, overeating, you name it…is Jesus Christ.
   4. If you need to be set free, pray in faith and stand on scriptures like this one. PSalm 91:3: Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. Gambling is a snare set by Satan but God can break that snare and spring the trap.
   5. Part of your journey to freedom may involve a re-dedication of your heart to Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 3:22: Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God. It is easy to drift and do your own thing and not put God first as you should. Why not come back to Father’s House like the prodigal, and start new.
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7. Why does the bible warn us to stay away from this?
   1. One reason is because the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. 1st Timothy 6:10: FOr the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. If you were to talk to anyone caught in gambling addiction, their life is full of sorrows and they don’t have any faith.

8. Who in the bible gambled their life away? (OT)
   1. Esau gambled away his birthright and his future over a bowl of stew in Genesis 25:29-34: And Jacob sod pottage: & Esau came from the field, & he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Esau enjoyed the food but he had gambled his life away from that day on. That one choice affected him forever.
   2. King Saul ggambled his kingship and eventually his life away through disobedience. 1st Samuel 15:20-23: And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep & oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. & Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings & sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, & to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. Saul thought he had done good. He was feeling great when he first met Samuel. However, he neglected one small detail in the Word of God, which was to destroy all of the inhabitants of the land. He did not do this and it was an expensive gamble.
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9. Who in the bible lost their way (NT)
   1. Ananaias and Sapphira gambled that their holding back on God would not be found out. Here’s what happened. Acts 5:1-5: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, & to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? & after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. & Ananias hearing these words fell down, & gave up the ghost: & great fear came on all them that heard these things. Gambling against God is a losing bet right from the start, as this dynamic duo found out.
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10. What advice would you give to someone else who’s trying to entice you to look at gambling as more fun than sin?
    1. Gambling IS a sin and there may be pleasure in it, but only for a season, as Moses learned. Hebrews 11:24-25: By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; I would advise the person that the temporary pleasure of gambling is quickly swallowed up by the resulting hardships.
    2. I would tell that person that there’s a hole in their heart that gambling & other worldly practices will never fill. Only the love of God can fill it. Jeremiah 31:3: The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. I would share my testimony & tell them how they can have the only love that satisfies their needs.
11. What did Jesus have to say about money?
    1. Someone who is caught up in gambling is serving the god of this world and the material possessions that are quickly passing away, rather than God. Jesus said this in Matthew 6:24: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. We use the money and material things we have to glorify God and bless others, not just for our own personal gain. This is why I, Pastor Wayne, and everyone that is involved with The Greatest Gift is blessed. We use everything we have to glorify God.

12. Why were the money changers sinful?
    1. Let’s look at one of the passages where Jesus goes into the temple and chases them out, and we’ll see why they were so wrong. Matthew 21:12-14: And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. The moneychangers were wrong because they took a place that had been set apart for worship and used it for merchandise and profit. They were not selling doves as a way of raising support to further their ministries! They were not running a store as a means to further the gospel. They were doing it for their own gain. There are those who have questioned us about our merchandise and bookstore, thinking that we were like the moneychangers that Jesus drove out. I assure you, there is a huge difference. Everything we do is to further the spread of the gospel. Not for personal gain.
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13. The bible tells us this:
    1. John 10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
    2. Those that are involved in gambling or other addictions are under the thief’s rule. They are being stolen from, and their life is destroyed.
    3. If they turn their lives over to Jesus, they can have the abundant, purpose-filled life that He intends for them to have, not the destructive life they are in.
14. The bible also says
    1. Proverbs 16:25: There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
    2. The temptation o9f gambling might seem like a fun, exciting thing to do, and hey, it could make you rich! But, following that path brings you down a dead end road. Turn back to Jesus and let Him set you free.
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15. Story: A Gambler’s Transformation
    1. A gambler, drowning in debt and despair, found freedom through divine intervention after hitting rock bottom.
    2. By surrendering to God through prayer, reading Scripture, and embracing a new identity, the desperate desire for the casino vanished,
    3. replaced by a renewed purpose, peace, and the strength to rebuild his life. Here is a short story of that transformation:
    4. Mark had lost everything—his savings, his family’s trust, and his self-respect—to a 20-year gambling addiction.
    5. Every time he promised to stop, the urge drew him back to the bright lights of the casino, leaving him feeling hopeless and chained.
    6. One night, sitting in his car after losing his last, Mark hit rock bottom and cried out to God, admitting he couldn’t break free on his own.
    7. “I am done, Lord. I need You” he whispered. That surrender was the turning point. Instead of fighting the urges alone, Mark began to fill his mind with Scripture and his days with prayer.
    8. When temptation arose, he prayed for strength, which he described as a “spiritual intervention” that took away the addiction’s power.
    9. Gradually, God replaced Mark’s craving for money with a desire for a meaningful life. He found freedom not through luck, but through grace.
    10. Months later, Mark was not only debt-free but also helping others find hope, finally understanding that his worth was in God’s love, not in a winning streak.
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16. Conclusion
    1. Are you a gambler? As a Christian, do you realize the consequences?
    2. This message will keep you safe. As it says in Proverbs 16:25: There is a way that seems right unto a man but (Jeremiah 17:9) the heart of man is wicked and deceitful above all things.