Hope Rekindled All of us have dreams. Hope for something. However have you experienced a dead end to one of your dreams? A hope that is totally crushed. Albert had been building a good relationship with his boss. He had worked hard. He was well liked by all. His boss included. The boss has highly rated Albert in his performance. He had even hinted at giving Albert a promotion when the next opportunity arises. Then all of a sudden he got transferred to head a subsidiary company. Months later it is apparent that he had forgotten about Albert. Not only that, Albert now finds difficulties relating with his new boss. He finds all sorts of problems with him. Albert finds working with the new boss a misery. All dreams for progress in his career in that company had come to a grinding halt. His hope had indeed been crushed. Joe was studying hard. It is his A level year. He wanted to get into the local U to do engineering. The dates for the A level were drawing close. It was just one more week to the exams. Then all of a sudden he got taken ill. He was hospitalized. They allowed him to take the exams whilst in hospital. But somehow he knew that he was not going to perform up to the required mark. He felt his hope of getting into the local U dashed. What do we do with dashed hopes? What should we do with dreams that had been crushed? Today, we will examine this. We will see how we should handle hopes that have been crushed Immediately after the Easter weekend, those who had followed Jesus found themselves in a hopeless situation. They were feeling depressed. Their hope in Jesus fulfilling their dreams were dashed. He had been crucified but there were rumours that he had arisen. Let us pick up this scene to see what happened to this group of disillusioned followers. Turn with me to Luke 24 LK 24:13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. LK 24:17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" LK 24:19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." LK 24:25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. LK 24:28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. LK 24:30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" LK 24:33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Verse 7 states that the two followers were downcast. Would not anyone be if their dreams had been crushed? When their hopes had been dashed. Verse 21 states what their dreams and hopes were. They had hope that Jesus will be the one to redeem Israel. Israel at that time was under Roman rule. The Israelites as conquered people were oppressed. They suffered at the hands of their conquerors. They had therefore hoped that God would send a deliverer. Someone who would set them free from Roman rule. God however had something else in mind. Something far better. He had something far more important for them. Rather than setting them free just from Roman rule, he was going to set them free from Satan. Rather than just giving them life on earth, he was going to give them life eternal. He was going to do so through Jesus Christ. It requires Jesus to go on to the Cross to die for the sins of the world. It requires Jesus to be resurrected on the third day. When the disciples began to see the truth and that Jesus is alive, their hopes were rekindled. Their hearts were indeed burning within them when they realized the truth. The two followers of Jesus were downcast when their hopes and dreams were centred on self desires. Of course getting rid of Rome for people suffering under Rome seems to be the right thing to do. They felt their hope and dreams had died when Jesus died. The resurrection didn't really mean much to them. However, when they shift their hopes and dreams to a far higher realm - when they see their hopes and dreams from God's perspective - the crucifixion and resurrection were truths that burnt within their hearts. We might also be like the two followers of Jesus. We could feel downcast when we see our hopes and dreams crashing in on us. Albert knew that he could not continue working in the company. He was not going to get anywhere in his career. Though he felt downcasted in having to leave his company in such a way, he nevertheless picked up courage. His pastor had just preached on "God will work out everything for the good of those who love him." He placed his trust in God. Using whatever savings he had, he started a business which he always wanted to do but never got into. Several years have passed by since. That business has grown to be a multi-million one with branches all over the world. Had Albert continued in his career in his first job, he would not find success in which he now did. Though our dreams may be crushed. Though our hopes may be dashed. God knows best. If we will place our trust in him we will never be let down. Joe after finding that he could not enter the local university here went to America to further his education. He found that there was a branch of engineering there that is not present in the local U's. He pursued that course. Did extremely well. Got a scholarship. Today, Joe is not only a qualified engineer in a specialized field that is in high demand, he has also a PhD and is lecturing in the local U. Our dreams may be dashed. Our hopes may be crushed. But God knows best. He will never let us down when we place our trust in him. Robert felt that his world had crashed on him. His one and only daughter and child lay dead in the coffin in front of him. She was still in her teens. She had showed such great promise. An intelligent girl. A girl who loves God. A girl who is well loved by those around her. Then this cancer had to hit her. He sat there wondering whether God is even true as people began to stream in for the wake. Soon the sitting room of their bungalow house was filled with people. People who had come in to comfort the family. The pastor began the service and gave the exaltation to comfort and impart hope the family. The congregation then rose to feet for the final hymn. All of a sudden, several people fell - slain in the Spirit - on the floor they began to speak loudly in tongues. Others in the congregation began to praise the Lord in tongues as well. Suddenly, a lady in a wheelchair stood to her feet, started to praise God and started to dance around in the Spirit. More people fell under the power of the Spirit. The meeting went on for hours. What was to be a wake turned out to be a revival meeting. A few days later testimonies started to pour in - not only was the lady in the wheelchair - lame for years - healed and began to walk as normal - people were healed of cancer and other sicknesses. Robert then decided to start a weekly meeting in honour of his daughter. That meeting lasted for years - during that time, many accepted Jesus into their lives - many others were healed of many forms of sicknesses. What seems to be a defeat was turned around to be a victory. The death of Jesus seemed to be a defeat but it was turned around to be a victory over sin. The death of Robert's daughter seemed to be a defeat - God turned it around to be a victory. On the human level dashed hopes and dreams would seem to be devastating. What has God in mind during those moments in time? If God loves us, he will never allow our hopes to be dashed - the outcomes may not be what we have expected - but God will always turn it around for overall good. God knows best. When we place our hope in him he will never let us down. Victor had to go to New York for an important business meeting. It was a meeting that he had waited for sometime to have. There was an important client there to meet. If he clinched this deal, he could turn his company from the red into the black. Victor was in his office that day going through his mind what he was going to do in New York. The flight was in the evening. Then all of a sudden he got a call from his wife. His son had collapsed in the football field and was being rushed to the hospital. The doctors did a thorough examination. They found that the young boy had a heart problem. If they leave it alone it would endanger his life. They need to operate straight away. Victor felt crushed. Was he to go ahead with his plans? Fly to New York and leave his family alone. His wife persuaded him to stay. He struggled. What if he did not go for the business meeting? His chance of turning the company around would be lost. After about an hour Victor decided that his family was far more important. He felt his dreams and hope however crushed. Disappointed, he nevertheless stayed back for his wife and son. The next day, he switched on the TV and was horrified by what he saw. The flight he was to be on had crashed. He called his client. He told him everything. The client was happy that Victor had made the right decision. Another meeting was arranged. A seemingly bad situation was turned around for good. God knows best. He holds our future in his hands. We will never be let down when we place our hope in him. Though hopes may be dashed. Though dreams may be crushed. Though dead bones may be dry. God can always bring life back to those bones. God can always turn hopeless situations around for his glory. Jesus is alive. We don't know what lies ahead but he does. So trust him even though our dreams and hopes may seemed crushed. He will rekindle our hopes. He will turn our sorrows into joy and our mourning into dancing. God is faithful. All of us have failed in one way or other. I am talking about failing others. We could have met a friend whom we have not seen for years. You spent sometime with him catching up on the past. Before the two of you parted company he asked that you pray for him. Do you? Have you ever forgotten to do so? Perhaps you were at home one day. The phone rang. You were the only one in. The person asked to speak to your dad. He asked you to tell your father when he returns. Do you? Have you ever forgotten to do so? If we will be honest, we know that all of us have failed from time to time to follow up on things we are supposed to do. All of us except God. All of us as human beings will fail. But God never fails. He is faithful all the time. Whatever he said that he will do he will. So, when he said that he will send the saviour - that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, that he will be born in Bethlehem, that he will be rejected by his people, that he will be crucified, that he will rise up on the third day - that was exactly what happened. Jesus fulfilled every single promise of God. So, when God tells us that he is working everything for the good of those who love him, we can believe him for it. He will. Nothing can form against us that God has allowed. And we can trust that anything that he allows us into our lives will turn out good for us in the end. So, though our hopes may be deferred. We may be waiting for a desire for a long time. Do not give up hope. God is faithful. Though our hopes may be crushed. Our dreams may have come to a halt. Do not be downcast. God will turn it around for our good. God is faithful. Today, have you a dream that is yet to be fulfilled? Have you a hope that seems to be crushed? God is here to give you his assurance. Have hope in him. Continue to believe in him.

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