Topic: PRISONERS OF HOPE
Bible text: ZECHARIAH 9: 11-12
[11] As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
[12] Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
INTRODUCTION
A prisoner of hope is one who remains hopeful in spite of circumstances that seem hopeless.
Hope, which is the expectation that something good will happen, can also be likened to faith. In Hebrews 11:1, faith is explained as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Prisoners of hope believe that even though their current situation looks hopeless and believing that there can be a turnaround is a foolish endeavour, they hold on to their
faith.
EXPOSITION
In our text today, we see God speaking, declaring the wonders he will perform for the children of Israel that were exiled. He says there will be a complete turnaround for them. God never makes promises he will not keep. When he makes a promise he will fulfill it. However, these promises do not come to pass because we humans do not hold to our own end of the bargain which is to obey God and have faith in him. Faith is an important ingredient in enjoying the promises of God. A person who is resigned to the circumstance they find themself and believes nothing more can be done will have a hard time getting the promises of God.
In verse 12 of our text, we hear God saying he will restore twice as much to the prisoners.
Imprisonment results in loss, the loss varying from one individual to another. Prisoners suffer the loss of family, friends, material possessions and others. Most times, the only things an imprisoned person has left is their life. Most people have to start over when they leave prison, (that is if they ever leave).
However, God’s covenant will not go unfulfilled. God says he will free the people and everything that was taken from them will be returned in multiple folds. Therefore, anyone who finds themself in imprisonment should not despair, instead they should cling unto God and remind him of his promises.
CONCLUSION
No matter your current situation, keep hope alive. Have faith in God and his words. No word of God will go without coming to pass. The type of joy and goodness that comes with his saving grace cannot be found anywhere else. When God rises to the rescue of a person, everyone who
witnesses it marvels because it will be obvious that such power does not exist in the hands of a man.
May God’s power be so much evident in your life that people praise God because of you. Amen.
