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When going through trials and troubles, do you wonder if god is still there?
Sometimes it's hard to feel G-d with you. We all wrestle with thoughts like
these to some degree. When people are in despair, it is often said, their
faith has been destroyed. We bundle everything together as faith and forget
the other ingredients that must be operative. Faith is imperative, Heb. 11:6
says with Faith it is impossible to please G-d. But what about hope? With
it, faith cannot produce the desired results. We will look at destroyers of
hope as well as how people in the Bible hold on to hope.
Prayer
Let's compare Faith to hope for a moment.
Faith deals with details Hope deals with deity
Faith finds its foundation Hope is a mental attitude
in the Word Hope is the motivator
Faith is the activator that brings us to Jesus
and the channel for the in the first place.
Miracles of Jesus
Hope is defined as the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events
will turn out well, to believe desire or trust. Faith is the dynamite that
explodes truth and brings us from doubt into belief; from defeat into victory;
from the unseen to the seen.
G-d's word produces hope, which causes faith to rise, which brings results.
Romans 15:4 tells us for whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
Scriptures might have hope.
2 Kings 4:8-37 - In this reading we can see the prophet Elisha enjoyed the
company of the Shunammite woman and her husband and visited there
each time he was in their city. As Elisha rested in the room they had
prepared for him, the Spirit of G-d prodded his heart that he wanted to bless
this couple. So he asked them if they would like a position in government.
But the woman told him that she need no favors; that she had ministered to
him that she might learn more about G-d. The Lord them prodded Elisha a
second time, so he asked Gehazi his servant if he knew of anything this
couple needed. Gehazi replied they have no children and her husband is
getting old. So Elisha told the Shunammite woman that she would have a
son by the following year and she did.
When the child was older he became sick and cried out in pain. His mother
held his limp body and heard his shallow breathing. Then his breathing
stopped. Most of us would have said he's dead and that's that, but his
mother carried him to the room build for Elisha, shut the door and told her
servants to get her a donkey. Why did she respond this way? She knew
G-d and her hope sent her straight to Elisha for a miracle. Despite this
devastating event the Shunammite woman refused to lose hope. After she
explained to Elisha what happened, Elisha send Gehazi to raise him from
the dead, but it didn't work. Still she did not give up. Then Elisha came and
shut himself up with the woman's son, and he didn't come out of the room
until the boy was restored to life.
Hope in G-d's Word produced the desired miracle. Satan's attack may not
be against our faith so much as our hope, for he knows hope is what it takes
for us to have faith. It is easier for Satan to discourage us emotionally than
spiritually. But he can not alter the Word of G-d. We have to stand on G-d's
promises and know our circumstances cannot defeat us.
Many have believed G-d for a particular need whether physical, emotional,
spiritual, financial etc. Then when the answer did not come right away, they
lost hope. Faith says He is able, Hope says G-d is willing. Often there is a
time lapse between the giving and fulfilling of G-d's promise. During that
time we are tested. It is then that fear can rob our hope and paralyze our
faith.
John 11 - In the town of Bethany lived a family Jesus loved dearly. Mary,
Martha and Lazarus. Tragedy struck and Lazarus became deathly ill. The
sisters sent word to Jesus. They felt no need to be concerned because
Jesus would soon be there. Lazarus became unconscious and the days
passed and Lazarus died. Four days after his death Jesus showed up. But
during that wait they fought doubt, anger and fear. They were disappointed
that Jesus didn't come when they thought he should. When Mary saw him
she fell down at his feet and said L-rd, if you had been here, my brother
would not have died. In John 11:35 we read that Jesus wept when his dear
friend Lazarus died. He understood the trouble and sorrow. Jesus walked
up to the opening of the tomb and in a loud voice declared, Lazarus, come
forth! Immediately, Lazarus arose and walked into the daylight, still bound
hand and foot in grave clothes. When G-d gives a promise, He will perform.
Romans 4:17 - He is the one who calls things that are not as though there
were.
There are 3 things that can destroy our hope.
1.) When we believe what we see. When the devil succeeds in making the
circumstances seam bigger then the creator, hope is lost. We become
vulnerable if we take our eyes off Jesus. Satan will use this to bring fear and
paralyze our ability to believe. Jesus promised trouble would come our way,
but He also promised never to leave or forsake us.
2.) When we battle G-d's promise. The same enemy who tempted those in
the Bible including Jesus still tries to convince us G-d's promises are not
true. Remember, circumstances are not greater than the power of our G-d.
3.) When we become our own answer. Waiting is hard, including waiting
on G-d. When we devise ways to bring about what G-d said He would do,
that's when trouble comes. Impatience leads erratic behavior. We try on
thing and it does not work; we do another and it does not work.
Consequently, we become confused and wonder if
G-d really spoke to us. The further we venture out on our own, the deeper
the trouble becomes.
G-d has set the date for performing what he promised. We have to wait for
His time. Reading and believing the Word of G-d will produce hope and
help us hold on while we wait on G-d, the source of hope. If G-d is the G-d of
hope, then G-d is in control. It doesn't matter what man says - only what G-d
says. There is no circumstance too great, no tragedy to heartbreaking, no
addiction to devastating to conquer hope. The Bible says in Romans 8:31 -
If G-d is for us, who can be against us? I challenge you Hold on to hope,
believe in G-d's promises, and stand on His Word.
Sometimes it's hard to feel G-d with you. We all wrestle with thoughts like
these to some degree. When people are in despair, it is often said, their
faith has been destroyed. We bundle everything together as faith and forget
the other ingredients that must be operative. Faith is imperative, Heb. 11:6
says with Faith it is impossible to please G-d. But what about hope? With
it, faith cannot produce the desired results. We will look at destroyers of
hope as well as how people in the Bible hold on to hope.
Prayer
Let's compare Faith to hope for a moment.
Faith deals with details Hope deals with deity
Faith finds its foundation Hope is a mental attitude
in the Word Hope is the motivator
Faith is the activator that brings us to Jesus
and the channel for the in the first place.
Miracles of Jesus
Hope is defined as the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events
will turn out well, to believe desire or trust. Faith is the dynamite that
explodes truth and brings us from doubt into belief; from defeat into victory;
from the unseen to the seen.
G-d's word produces hope, which causes faith to rise, which brings results.
Romans 15:4 tells us for whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
Scriptures might have hope.
2 Kings 4:8-37 - In this reading we can see the prophet Elisha enjoyed the
company of the Shunammite woman and her husband and visited there
each time he was in their city. As Elisha rested in the room they had
prepared for him, the Spirit of G-d prodded his heart that he wanted to bless
this couple. So he asked them if they would like a position in government.
But the woman told him that she need no favors; that she had ministered to
him that she might learn more about G-d. The Lord them prodded Elisha a
second time, so he asked Gehazi his servant if he knew of anything this
couple needed. Gehazi replied they have no children and her husband is
getting old. So Elisha told the Shunammite woman that she would have a
son by the following year and she did.
When the child was older he became sick and cried out in pain. His mother
held his limp body and heard his shallow breathing. Then his breathing
stopped. Most of us would have said he's dead and that's that, but his
mother carried him to the room build for Elisha, shut the door and told her
servants to get her a donkey. Why did she respond this way? She knew
G-d and her hope sent her straight to Elisha for a miracle. Despite this
devastating event the Shunammite woman refused to lose hope. After she
explained to Elisha what happened, Elisha send Gehazi to raise him from
the dead, but it didn't work. Still she did not give up. Then Elisha came and
shut himself up with the woman's son, and he didn't come out of the room
until the boy was restored to life.
Hope in G-d's Word produced the desired miracle. Satan's attack may not
be against our faith so much as our hope, for he knows hope is what it takes
for us to have faith. It is easier for Satan to discourage us emotionally than
spiritually. But he can not alter the Word of G-d. We have to stand on G-d's
promises and know our circumstances cannot defeat us.
Many have believed G-d for a particular need whether physical, emotional,
spiritual, financial etc. Then when the answer did not come right away, they
lost hope. Faith says He is able, Hope says G-d is willing. Often there is a
time lapse between the giving and fulfilling of G-d's promise. During that
time we are tested. It is then that fear can rob our hope and paralyze our
faith.
John 11 - In the town of Bethany lived a family Jesus loved dearly. Mary,
Martha and Lazarus. Tragedy struck and Lazarus became deathly ill. The
sisters sent word to Jesus. They felt no need to be concerned because
Jesus would soon be there. Lazarus became unconscious and the days
passed and Lazarus died. Four days after his death Jesus showed up. But
during that wait they fought doubt, anger and fear. They were disappointed
that Jesus didn't come when they thought he should. When Mary saw him
she fell down at his feet and said L-rd, if you had been here, my brother
would not have died. In John 11:35 we read that Jesus wept when his dear
friend Lazarus died. He understood the trouble and sorrow. Jesus walked
up to the opening of the tomb and in a loud voice declared, Lazarus, come
forth! Immediately, Lazarus arose and walked into the daylight, still bound
hand and foot in grave clothes. When G-d gives a promise, He will perform.
Romans 4:17 - He is the one who calls things that are not as though there
were.
There are 3 things that can destroy our hope.
1.) When we believe what we see. When the devil succeeds in making the
circumstances seam bigger then the creator, hope is lost. We become
vulnerable if we take our eyes off Jesus. Satan will use this to bring fear and
paralyze our ability to believe. Jesus promised trouble would come our way,
but He also promised never to leave or forsake us.
2.) When we battle G-d's promise. The same enemy who tempted those in
the Bible including Jesus still tries to convince us G-d's promises are not
true. Remember, circumstances are not greater than the power of our G-d.
3.) When we become our own answer. Waiting is hard, including waiting
on G-d. When we devise ways to bring about what G-d said He would do,
that's when trouble comes. Impatience leads erratic behavior. We try on
thing and it does not work; we do another and it does not work.
Consequently, we become confused and wonder if
G-d really spoke to us. The further we venture out on our own, the deeper
the trouble becomes.
G-d has set the date for performing what he promised. We have to wait for
His time. Reading and believing the Word of G-d will produce hope and
help us hold on while we wait on G-d, the source of hope. If G-d is the G-d of
hope, then G-d is in control. It doesn't matter what man says - only what G-d
says. There is no circumstance too great, no tragedy to heartbreaking, no
addiction to devastating to conquer hope. The Bible says in Romans 8:31 -
If G-d is for us, who can be against us? I challenge you Hold on to hope,
believe in G-d's promises, and stand on His Word.
| HOLD ON TO HOPE BY RABBI ESTHER BOUCHER |
| Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. © Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007 |