A recent message at FLF was titled, "Be of good cheer!"  Or to paraphrase that, "Get your hopes up."  In this insane, wild, mixed up world we need hope and encouragement more than ever.  You can go to Sermons and listen to the entire message, but until then here is a quick outline to give you the reasons why we can have real Bible Hope, Bible Encouragement.  Ready, here we go...

In Matthew's gospel, chapter 1:2 it says,  "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."   The greatest reason we have Hope is because we are forgiven!  Just knowing we are redeemed, we are forgiven gives us reason for Hope!

In Matthew 14:27 Jesus told His disciples, "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."   We do not need to fear.  We can be prayed up, read up (in the Bible) and ready to go up!  Instead of fear we can be full of faith by the Word.  That's a reason for Hope!

In Acts 27:22-25 we are given the story of the Apostle Paul being taken before Caesar as a prisoner.  In transit their ship is hit by a typhoon and they are in danger of loosing their lives.  But Paul has been below deck in prayer before God.  When Paul did come out of prayer he came with a message - "the God whose I am and who I serve has said we're all going to make it!" All you have to do is stay in the boat...  

So there is Hope, there is encouragement for us as Believers.  This world appears hopeless, but in Christ there is the Blessed Hope!  So go witness to someone about surrendering their life to Christ!