Thoughts

Hope or No Hope?

Thoughts

Possibly one of the best natural biblical pictures of hope is that found in 1 Corinthians 9:10. This verse speaks of the farmer and the reaper. “Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.”

We can relate to this because most, if not all, of us work in hope of a future paycheck. Maybe some of you are fortunate enough to get paid before you do the job. Most of us work in hope of a future reward.

To take this to the opposite extreme, let’s see our situation when we were lost and had no hope. In Ephesians 2:11-12 we see a five-fold description of our condition before we gave our lives to Christ. “That at that time (when we were lost) you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” In our lost condition we were …

  1. Without Christ
  2. Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel
  3. Strangers from the covenants of promise
  4. Without hope
  5. Without God in the world

A person without Christ and without hope has absolutely no expectation of anything good happening in the future. We know this is true because of where they are headed. Many if us can remember the dead-end we were on when we were lost. We had no hope.

The word for hope (elpis) is found 48 times in 15 different New Testament books. Over the next few days we will consider several of the ways “hope” is used in the New Testament. Walk today in the confidence that our hope is in Jesus. Tomorrow we will see The Foundation of Our Hope. Have a great day!

Hope: A Most Important Subject

Thoughts,

In these days we are examining 1 Corinthians 13:13 and the three Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love. In 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, we find these three virtues in a different order. There Paul wrote, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.”

Over the past few days we looked at faith. Today, and for the next several days, we will look at hope. A good place to begin would be to answer the question — “Why is hope so important?” We know why faith and love are important, but why is hope so important? Let me give you three a reasons.

  1. Because it is in the Bible. For most of us that is reason enough. We need to know the truth about what the Bible says about this subject.
  2. Because of the state of affairs in our world today. It seems like evil is winning. It seems like things will continue to get worse and worse. We need hope to press on in the midst of these perilous times.
  3. Because one of the worst feelings is to be without hope.

Hope is a word that requires us to cause our minds to think biblically because of the way we naturally use the word hope. The way we use the word hope is to wish for something that may or may not happen.

  • A little boy hopes to get a bicycle for his birthday.
  • An employee hopes to get a year-end bonus.
  • A church member hopes the preacher will finish in time to get home before the roast is burnt.

None of those things are certain but they are hoped for. But when the Bible uses the word hope like we find in 1 Corinthians 13:13, it means

  • to anticipate; with eager anticipation
  • to anticipate or expect something that is pleasurable
  • the joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation
  • the anticipation includes a confidence that the thing will most certainly come to pass.

In this sense we are certain the item hoped for will come to fruition, we are confident it most certainly will happen. Why and how can we be so confident? Check back tomorrow and we will continue this most important discussion on hope. Have a great evening.

 

Faith is Properly Focused

Thoughts

Over the past few days we have been looking at the faith portion of faith, hope, and love found in 1 Corinthians 13:13. We have found …

  • Faith abides
  • Faith is a gift from God
  • Faith is the product of Bible saturation
  • Faith is based on facts, and today
  • Faith is properly focused.

The faith we are talking about is not faith in faith. Faith is properly focused when it is focused on God and the promises and the truths in His Word. In a favorite hymn of many years ago, the songwriter wrote

Have faith in God, He’s on His throne,
Have faith in God, He watches over His own;
He cannot fail, He must prevail,
Have faith in God, Have faith in God.

The first stanza of that hymn goes like this:

Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely.
He sees and knows all the way you have trod;
Never alone are the least of His children;
Have faith in God, have faith in God.

Allow me to ask you a couple questions.

  1. How is your faith? Many of us can relate to the statement of the disciples when they said, “Lord, increase our faith.”
  2. What are you trusting God for this year? Let me ask that in a little more detail.
    1. What are you trusting God for this year for yourself and your family? Increased Bible knowledge?  Boldness in witnessing? Stepping out of your comfort zone? Financial need? Would you be so bold as to write that down? No one needs to know what you are writing down, unless you want to tell someone, but what are you trusting God for this year?
    2. What are you trusting God for this year for where you attend church? Would you be so bold as to write that down?

This year will be filled with opportunities, challenges, and surprises. As we walk on into this year, let’s walk on with firm reliance and confidence in God. Let’s agree and believe that 2015 could be one of greatest years we have ever experienced. Tomorrow, we will begin to look at the hope portion of these three Christian virtues.

Faith is Based on Facts

Thoughts

When we exercise the gift of faith; the faith from God and believe in Him and trust Him, that pleases Him. Hebrews 11:6 says “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Faith is based on facts. Genuine faith is more than a feeling. It is not just closing your eyes and believing something. Faith is real. Faith is based upon factual evidence found in the Word of God. Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

So, faith …

  • Is not a feeling
  • It is not just feeling like this is something we are supposed to believe.
  • It is not impressions
  • It is not based on probabilities

Faith is a wise, spiritual, decision. It is our wise, spiritual, response based upon evidence; based upon facts found in the Word of God.

Faith is the Product of Bible Saturation

Thoughts

Romans 10:17 is an incredibly important passage for this point. Notice carefully the wording. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Romans 10:17 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. If you have room for another favorite, I would encourage you to add this one to your list. If you don’t have a favorite, consider this one.

I am a strong advocate of reading the Bible and reading it out loud  As we grow in the Lord by spending time in the Word and time with Him, we find that our faith increases. Listen to these two statements:

The more our hearts and minds are saturated with the Word of God the more vibrant we will be, the more confident we will be, and the more clear thinking we will be.

If our mind and our heart is not saturated with the Word God, the more we will be susceptible to opinion, conjecture, impressions, and emotions.

The more we read His Word, the more we digest His Word, and mediate on His Word, the more faith we will have and the result or the product of all this investment will be even more faith. If you lack faith spend time with Him and in His Word. Read it out loud. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Faith is a Gift from God

Thoughts

In Ephesians 2:8-9 we find, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We can see right here that faith is a gift of God. Faith is a gift from God. He gives us faith. Faith is not something that we tell ourselves over and over again until we convince ourselves it is true.

The faith that it takes to believe Him and believe in Him for salvation and for spiritual life as a believer is not something we work up or conjure up by our own will power. If it was, we could take some credit.

That’s why Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:9, that it is “not of works, lest anyone should boast.” If faith is something we produced, that would change the whole landscape. But, it is a gift from God and it is something He gives us by His own free will and accord.

Tomorrow we will see that we can actually build on and increase the faith we have. I hope you will come back for that installment.

Faith abides

Thoughts

As we launch into this three-part focus in faith, hope, and love we begin with faith. All of us express some level of faith everyday.

  • We take medicine and vitamins believing the ingredients inside will help. We do not know all the ingredients inside those little pills but we plop them in our mouths and swallow them with water.  We are expressing a level of faith.
  • We get in automobiles believing we will arrive at our destination safe and sound. We express a level of faith.

But the faith spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:13 is so much more. Later in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he called people to examine themselves whether they be in the faith. People who are not in the faith, would be unbelievers and would express the opposite of faith, hope, and love. They would express unbelief, despair, and hatred. We see plenty of that in our world today.

There is so much we could say about faith, but in this focused study, let’s look at five things we can nail down about faith. Today … Faith Abides.

Notice how Paul the apostle combines these words. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Earlier in the chapter, Paul wrote of things that would fail, cease, and vanishing away. But these three abide. To abide means to remain. To keep on being in existence. Along with hope and love, faith abides.

Have a great evening. Tomorrow we will see that faith is a gift from God.

Three Key Truths for this Year

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In 1 Corinthian 13:13, we find these words. “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” These three items are described in many ways. They are called:

  • Three Christian graces
  • Spiritual gifts
  • The primary and fundamental dispositions of a believer
  • Theological virtues
  • A three ingredient formula for Christian character

In the context of their appearance in Scripture, we need to see these three expressions are expressions of a genuine believer. We express faith, we have hope, and we are able to love as God loves. Over the next several days, each afternoon we will look at these three truths. We will begin with faith, move to hope, and end with “the greatest of these” which is love. We will see …

  • Faith is the foundation
  • Hope is ongoing, and
  • Love is the capstone of the three.

 

I am praying for you

Thoughts

Today I am praying for those of you who find yourself in a significant decision making time. The end of the year leads many people to a crossroads. Maybe your decision is in the area of …

  • Church
  • Work
  • School
  • Relationships
  • Finances

Whatever your situation is remember to do this: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1Peter 5:6-7).

Also remember to, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

Jesus would have us to seek wisdom in keeping with what He said in Matthew 7:7-8. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

May our Lord guide you in these days as you seek Him

Praying for you

Thoughts

As we come near to the end of these special days of prayer emphasis, today I am praying for people who find themselves in what I will call a special situation. Which of these situations can you relate to today?

  • You are a victim of bullying
  • Your child has a learning difficulty
  • You have been unfairly treated by a coworker or a boss
  • At times you have feelings like you do not want to press on
  • A “friend” disappointed you in a significant way
  • There is a major problem in the family
  • You are caring for an aging parent

If I did not include your special situation or have not included your need in one of the previous days, would you write me and let me pray for you? Just remember God knows where you are and what you are going through.

Sometimes we go through these situations just because of the continuing consequences of Adam and Eve and sin being in the world. Everyday there is evidence we live in a very sin-filled world. Sometimes these are growing experiences; we learn things we would not otherwise learn. We wish there was another way but even here we must claim Romans 8:28-29. In addition, God uses these experiences to help others through us. Please read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 for some comfort here.

Regardless of your situation, I am praying for you. As I close this note, we have two more days of prayer focus then a brief word for Christmas day. However, I encourage you to join me the day after Christmas for Truth That Will Set You Free. I will explain more about that on the December 26th.

If you have not written in a while, take a moment to say “Hey!” I would love to hear from you. Thanks to those who have already written. I trust you will have a Merry Christmas.

Bro. Tom

(Please forward this to someone who needs to read this. Thanks)