Jonathan Bernis - A Hope and a Future: Live With Expectancy

The wonder, depth, and reality of the hope Gods plan and purpose intended for each individual human being is an unshakeable truth revealed in the Bible. Jonathan Bernis is an able teacher, a schooled rabbi, and a prolific author whose writings have assisted multitudes toward biblical and theological clarity on practical issues. I believe he will offer much to profit any reader who will earnestly open to the foundational truth and helpful insights he offers here.

JACK W. HAYFORD

CHANCELLOR, THE KINGS UNIVERSITY

PASTOR EMERITUS, THE CHURCH ON THE WAY

Have you ever questioned why youre here? Do you wonder what Gods plan is for you? If so, I highly recommend you read A Hope and a Future by Jonathan Bernis, one of the strongest voices in the Messianic Jewish church. In it he explains how Gods promises are still true today, and He has a plan for your life. I believe this book will be a great encouragement to you as you find hope and peace in the knowledge that your future is safe in His hands.

ROBERT MORRIS

FOUNDING SENIOR PASTOR, GATEWAY CHURCH

DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TEXAS

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, THE BLESSED LIFE, FROM DREAM TO

DESTINY, THE GOD I NEVER KNEW, AND TRULY FREE

Wherever I go, I see fear, doom, and gloom, even among some of Gods people. Many are preparing for hard times by storing up food, water, and shotguns, and thats fine if God is leading you. But you must not allow fear to distract you from Gods plan for your destiny. You must not lose hope!

A Hope and a Future, the new book by my friend Jonathan Bernis, is just what the doctor ordered. You need this hope vaccine to be normalnormal as defined by the Bible. Step up and get your shot of hope. Its painless!

SID ROTH

HOST, ITS SUPERNATURAL!

Words of encouragement, hope, and faith from a reliable source, Messianic Jewish leader Jonathan Bernis. In these uncertain and chaotic times, this book will ground you in Gods Word and help you to take hold of His good purposes for your life.

DR. MICHAEL L. BROWN

PRESIDENT, FIRE SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

AUTHOR, ANSWERING JEWISH OBJECTIONS TO JESUS

I wholeheartedly endorse Jonathans new book A Hope and a Future! This is the kind of book everyone is yearning for. Too often in our lives we wonder where God went without realizing He has never left. We left Him! He is wooing us back as each of us are children of destiny. He placed your life in history when He needed someone just like you for a mission only you could fulfill! When Israel was going through its worst time in history, with the temple being destroyed, the Jewish people taken into captivity, Jeremiah penned those words that God still has a hope and a future for them. He also has one for you! Return to Him and call upon the name of the Lord and see what great things He has in store for you! This book will be a great encouragement!

PASTOR MARK BILTZ

Most CHARISMA HOUSE BOOK GROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone (407) 333-0600.

A HOPE AND A FUTURE by Jonathan Bernis

Published by Charisma House

Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Tree of Life Version. Copyright 2015 by the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society. Used by permission of the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.

Scripture quotations marked MEV are taken from the Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NAS are from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked THE MESSAGE are from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary English, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Copyright 2016 by Jonathan Bernis

All rights reserved

Cover design by Justin Evans

Visit the authors website at www.jewishvoice.org.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

An application to register this book for cataloging has been submitted to the Library of Congress.

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62998-654-8 (trade paper); ISBN: 978-1-62998-955-6 (hardback)

E-book ISBN: 978-1-62998-655-5

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.

CONTENTS

D O YOU EVER feel like our world is spinning out of control? We turn on the news and see the horrors unleashed by groups like ISIS in the Middle East and Boko Haram in Africa. Even here in the United States we live with the constant threat of terrorism. Some say that if terrorists dont destroy us, global warming very well might.

The future seems so uncertain. One day the stock market is up. The next day its down. The economy seems to be going in the right direction, and then the experts say were on the verge of another recession or imminent economic collapse. Politicians are talking about overhauling Social Security and Medicare. Will those programs even be there for us when we really need them? And I havent even mentioned crime, disease, or unexpected tragedies like car crashes that impact thousands of lives every day.

Here we are, clinging to a tiny planet whipping through space at over one thousand miles an hour. And yet, in the midst of this seemingly uncertain world, we are held safely in the arms of a God who never changeswho is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).

This is wonderful news. God has a plan for the earth as a whole, and He has a plan for every individual human being who lives here. That includes you.

God is not the least bit surprised by any of the problems we are facing. Two thousand years ago, the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) warned that there would be wars and rumors of wars, that nation would rise against nation and there would be earthquakes and famines. He also gave us these comforting words to cling to: In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33, NIV).

One of my favorite Bible passages is this priceless gem from Jeremiah 29:1114 (NIV):

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you, declares the LORD, and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.