At our last Hope Springs staff meeting, Ben led us in devotions and brought out some very interesting points from Nehemiah about church planting. Since I cannot remember for sure which was the Holy Spirit speaking to me or that which Ben mentioned, I am just going to mention some of the things that I have noticed from the book of Nehemiah – to God be the glory!
The Call (Neh 1:2-3)
Henry Blackaby in his popular book “Experiencing God” mentions that God’s revelation of a need is His invitation (or call) to join Him in the work He plans to do. In this passage, Nehemiah inquires about the city Hanani and some of his friends come from. He is made aware of the need and his heart is filled with compassion – so much so it drives him to prayer about that city. In that prayer, he accepts responsibility for the sin that has taken place. In closing, he asks for divine favor from those who he works for.
I see this as the first initial call to plant a church or do anything for the Lord, it begins with revelation of needs, followed by compassion, that leads to intercessory prayer, and permission from superiors to do something about it. Nehemiah recognized that permission is a result of God’s divine favor.
The Ministry Plan (Neh 2:4-8)
The king responds to Nehemiah’s request by inquiring, “What is it you want?” (v. 4). Nehemiah doesn’t have time to go into his prayer closet and pray a lengthy prayer, instead he prays – what I would imagine is – a prayer of desperation. “Oh God, what do I say?!”
Nehemiah asks, “Send me to the city…” His leadership naturally asks for his ministry plan (How long will it take…? etc.) Nehemiah then presents his list of needs: a letter of approval to empower him to do the work; a request for resources for both the ministry and his residence (v.8). And because God’s hand was upon him, leadership granted his request. Along with these things, leadership sent with him a leadership team (v. 9). What is interesting about this is that king Artaxerxes gave without asking for anything in return. What was Artaxerxes motivation? You know what? I don't know, but what if Nehemiah didn't have the boldness to ask? We have to give people the opportunity to give to God's work and entrust them to the promises of God that He rewards those who give generously.
Opposition to the Plan (Neh 2:10, 19; 4:2-3)
Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” That tells me that whenever Jesus is building His church there is opposition against it. In fact Jesus warns us if all men speak well of us (Luke 6:26). We must have a holy boldness and determination as a church planter or minister of Christ to finish the race marked out before us.
The Plan is Delegated (2:17; 3:1-32)
If at first you don't succeed, delegate it. In reality, the work God calls us to is designed to be too great for human hands. Again, Henry Blackaby brings this out in “Experiencing God.” God’s desire is for us to personally know Him as the God of – whatever it is you need. if you need healing – He is the God who heals us; if we need provision – He is Jehovah Jireh…etc. He is the One who plants and grows His church. God’s representation of Himself on earth is not a single person but it is a body of many members whose head is Christ. Nehemiah divides the work to be done and establishes leaders over each area. This is God’s plan for work in His kingdom to be accomplished – the effectual working of every member brings increase to the body (Eph 4:16).
Three factors for success involve effort on our part according to the “Life in the Spirit” study notes: the people put their whole heart into the work (4:6); the people were prayerful and watchful as they did the work (4:9); and the people demonstrated courage, determination, and faith when confronted with opposition (4:14).
The Workers Weary (Neh 4:6-12)
It is interesting that the laborers tire at the half way mark (v.6). It is to be expected that weariness will set in even when doing a great work for God. Part of the problem was that there was “so much” garbage in the way. Nehemiah listened to and validated the workers concerns and took appropriate measures. The other part of the problem was with those who “lived near” told them ten times over they needed to be afraid. Nehemiah had to both encourage and respond (v. 14) to their fears. Interestingly when the enemy realized that they were aware of Satan’s schemes (2 Cor 2:11) they left and allowed the work to continue. The Bible says they recognized “God had frustrated” their plan.
Conclusion
Church planting is not promised to be easy work but in it we each have the privilege of seeing God’s hands at work. We willingly place ourselves in the activity of God who is seeking to save that which is lost. Whatever it is that we are called to do; we must seek first His kingdom – I believe that means for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. So, let us go into all nations and make disciples.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Can God Create a Rock He Cannot Move? Or One Reason Reformed Theology is in Error
In my previous blog on this subject, I mentioned that the answer that was given to me in prayer, was, “Yes, and He did. The rock is the Word of God.”
The Scriptures truly bear this out:
Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus describes His word as a rock that, if men will build their lives upon, what they build will endure whatever devastating storms may come. Jesus said, “… on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matt 16:18); which is commonly interpreted to mean that Jesus will build His Church upon that same word, or confession of faith, uttered by Peter – “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.”
In fact Jesus himself is so closely related to the Word of God – this rock – He is Himself referred to as that “spiritual rock,” (1 Cor 10:4); the “foundation” of our faith (1 Cor 3:11); the cornerstone (Isa 28:16), and the Word of God (John 1:1; Rev 19:13).
That the Word of God is unmovable and eternal is shown by the following passages: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever (Isa 40:8). Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words (said Jesus) will never pass away (Matt 24:35). The word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you (1 Peter 1:25).
This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you have time to study it out I think that it will be a blessing to you.
So why would this be significant in view of the question, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move?”
First of all, I believe there is significance to the fact that God is unchanging and His word is unchanging. Whatever God says He fully stands behind in order to bring it to pass. If God is unchanging there are some things that He cannot do. For example: God cannot change, there is no shifting shadows from God changing (James 1:17); God cannot lie (Titus 1:2); in fact it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb 6:18); His promises are unchangeable.
The seeming contradiction to the nature of God is applied when one looks at the term “omnipotent.” When we say that God is omnipotent and that with God “all things are possible;” neither we nor the Bible implies that God can contradict Himself. The Bible teaches that God cannot deny (Gk.: arneomai) or contradict Himself (2 Tim 2:13). God does not create anything that is contradiction to His character (Rom 1:20). God can create what is eternal, (for example heaven, hell, angels, and humans) but all of these things reflect an aspect of God’s character or are made in His image.
When we are referring to God’s omnipotence we are saying that God is fully capable of doing what is faithful to His nature regardless of opposition. In other words, nothing can obstruct or prevent God from His fully being able to be Himself. What He has said He will do, He is fully able to bring it to pass (Isa 14:27, 46:11).
This is where those of the Reformed Theology persuasion make an error in regard to God’s “sovereign will.” They would say that God imputes faith to some and holds it back from others based upon “His sovereign will.” The phrase they use is "unconditional election;" as if to say that God’s sovereign will is an unknowable will that is somehow able to contradict His Word.
Yet the Bible says, He has made known the mystery of His will (Eph 1:9, 3:3-9; Rom 16:25-26; 1 Cor 2:10). God is holy. That means that it is impossible that God makes any judgment based upon an arbitrary reason. Unconditional election is false. The judgment of God is according to truth and will be righteousness (Rom 2:2, 5). In regard to imputation, the Bible never says that God imputes “faith.” The Bible says that what is imputed and what is the free gift – it is righteousness (Rom 4:11, 21-24, 5:17; James 2:23).
Because God is unchanging and always acts in accordance to ways that are holy, just, good, and loving, as the Bible states, does that mean that He is no longer sovereign and omnipotent? No, God is still the supreme power and presides over all external control.
Can God create a rock that even He cannot move? Most certainly! What this says about God is that He is faithful to His character, to His word, and cannot act outside the realm of either (just like those decrees made by kings in the Bible that cannot be reversed). God has absolutes. Therefore when God says, “I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame (Rom 9:33), He means it. How do you not stumble or fall? Rom 10:8-11 tells us that “the word of faith we are proclaiming (is): That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
The Scriptures truly bear this out:
Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus describes His word as a rock that, if men will build their lives upon, what they build will endure whatever devastating storms may come. Jesus said, “… on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matt 16:18); which is commonly interpreted to mean that Jesus will build His Church upon that same word, or confession of faith, uttered by Peter – “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.”
In fact Jesus himself is so closely related to the Word of God – this rock – He is Himself referred to as that “spiritual rock,” (1 Cor 10:4); the “foundation” of our faith (1 Cor 3:11); the cornerstone (Isa 28:16), and the Word of God (John 1:1; Rev 19:13).
That the Word of God is unmovable and eternal is shown by the following passages: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever (Isa 40:8). Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words (said Jesus) will never pass away (Matt 24:35). The word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you (1 Peter 1:25).
This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you have time to study it out I think that it will be a blessing to you.
So why would this be significant in view of the question, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move?”
First of all, I believe there is significance to the fact that God is unchanging and His word is unchanging. Whatever God says He fully stands behind in order to bring it to pass. If God is unchanging there are some things that He cannot do. For example: God cannot change, there is no shifting shadows from God changing (James 1:17); God cannot lie (Titus 1:2); in fact it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb 6:18); His promises are unchangeable.
The seeming contradiction to the nature of God is applied when one looks at the term “omnipotent.” When we say that God is omnipotent and that with God “all things are possible;” neither we nor the Bible implies that God can contradict Himself. The Bible teaches that God cannot deny (Gk.: arneomai) or contradict Himself (2 Tim 2:13). God does not create anything that is contradiction to His character (Rom 1:20). God can create what is eternal, (for example heaven, hell, angels, and humans) but all of these things reflect an aspect of God’s character or are made in His image.
When we are referring to God’s omnipotence we are saying that God is fully capable of doing what is faithful to His nature regardless of opposition. In other words, nothing can obstruct or prevent God from His fully being able to be Himself. What He has said He will do, He is fully able to bring it to pass (Isa 14:27, 46:11).
This is where those of the Reformed Theology persuasion make an error in regard to God’s “sovereign will.” They would say that God imputes faith to some and holds it back from others based upon “His sovereign will.” The phrase they use is "unconditional election;" as if to say that God’s sovereign will is an unknowable will that is somehow able to contradict His Word.
Yet the Bible says, He has made known the mystery of His will (Eph 1:9, 3:3-9; Rom 16:25-26; 1 Cor 2:10). God is holy. That means that it is impossible that God makes any judgment based upon an arbitrary reason. Unconditional election is false. The judgment of God is according to truth and will be righteousness (Rom 2:2, 5). In regard to imputation, the Bible never says that God imputes “faith.” The Bible says that what is imputed and what is the free gift – it is righteousness (Rom 4:11, 21-24, 5:17; James 2:23).
Because God is unchanging and always acts in accordance to ways that are holy, just, good, and loving, as the Bible states, does that mean that He is no longer sovereign and omnipotent? No, God is still the supreme power and presides over all external control.
Can God create a rock that even He cannot move? Most certainly! What this says about God is that He is faithful to His character, to His word, and cannot act outside the realm of either (just like those decrees made by kings in the Bible that cannot be reversed). God has absolutes. Therefore when God says, “I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame (Rom 9:33), He means it. How do you not stumble or fall? Rom 10:8-11 tells us that “the word of faith we are proclaiming (is): That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Point of the Plan
Jer 29:11NIV - "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."
As Christians, most of us are familiar with this scripture passage and from it we teach an important truth: God has a plan for each of our lives. As a result of that plan God promises to prosper us and give us hope and a future. Therefore we conclude this plan for our lives is a good plan because it is given to us by a good God. A holy God who cannot do anything but good. As the scripture says, "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:16-17 NIV).
Here is a thought: Does this plan of God for our lives automatically take place apart from anything that we do? Well, of course not - correct? In other words, the plan of God is the call of God on our lives to which we must seek and respond to it. For instance, it would do us no good to know that God called us to overseas missions where He planned to prosper us if we failed to respond to that call and become a missionary and go.
The point of God having a plan for your life and mine is the "call." The "call" is different for each person's life and one person may be "called" to do many different things in their lifetime. The point is that we must become aware of what God is "calling" each of us to do and then for us to adjust our lives to obey and follow that "call."
What is God calling you to do? Has He told you to do something like enter full time ministry? or has He called you to help a church grow by contributing your time, gifts, and resources? "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col 3:23-24 NIV).
How will you recognize God's calling? Look for the opportunities to do good that God places in your life and respond to them. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal 6:10 NIV). Like the story of the good Samaritan, we are responsible for those God places in our path not outside of it.
Father bless your children as they listen and respond to your call and bring about the good purpose and plan that you have for their lives, in Jesus name. amen.
As Christians, most of us are familiar with this scripture passage and from it we teach an important truth: God has a plan for each of our lives. As a result of that plan God promises to prosper us and give us hope and a future. Therefore we conclude this plan for our lives is a good plan because it is given to us by a good God. A holy God who cannot do anything but good. As the scripture says, "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:16-17 NIV).
Here is a thought: Does this plan of God for our lives automatically take place apart from anything that we do? Well, of course not - correct? In other words, the plan of God is the call of God on our lives to which we must seek and respond to it. For instance, it would do us no good to know that God called us to overseas missions where He planned to prosper us if we failed to respond to that call and become a missionary and go.
The point of God having a plan for your life and mine is the "call." The "call" is different for each person's life and one person may be "called" to do many different things in their lifetime. The point is that we must become aware of what God is "calling" each of us to do and then for us to adjust our lives to obey and follow that "call."
What is God calling you to do? Has He told you to do something like enter full time ministry? or has He called you to help a church grow by contributing your time, gifts, and resources? "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col 3:23-24 NIV).
How will you recognize God's calling? Look for the opportunities to do good that God places in your life and respond to them. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal 6:10 NIV). Like the story of the good Samaritan, we are responsible for those God places in our path not outside of it.
Father bless your children as they listen and respond to your call and bring about the good purpose and plan that you have for their lives, in Jesus name. amen.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Can God Create A Rock He Cannot Move?
“I have a question for you…,” one of the two obviously college students proceeded to ask me, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move?”
It was a few years ago that I was standing on a corner in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on a Saturday evening with a friend of mine from the church where I was attending at the time. We had a sidewalk sign that read, “Read the Bible, it’s for you and concerns you.” I had only come to receive God’s grace through Jesus Christ a year or so earlier and I was quite nervous to return to my home town to “street witness.”
The person that I was with was a much more experienced Christian who engaged passers by with ease while I secretly hoped that everyone would ignore me. While the person I was with from the church spoke to a man who had been walking down this busy street, suddenly two guys approached me.
I was nervous, I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, or how God could use me to “witness” about Him, but sure enough, one of them spoke to me. “I have a question for you…,” one of the two obviously college students proceeded to ask me, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move?”
I had known that this was a trick question used in philosophy classes to show the impossibility of an “all powerful creator God.” The idea is this: If God couldn’t create such a rock; it would be proven that there is something that God couldn’t do, who supposedly by definition, could do all things. As a result, you couldn’t answer, “No,” without disproving God. On the other hand, If someone would answer, “Yes,” then the result would be a God was not all-powerful because there is now something He cannot do. Either reply supposedly disproved God’s existence as being irrational to the logical mind.
As all of this flashed across my mind, I felt like I would soon become a failure as a witness for Jesus. Admittedly I replied, “I don’t know the answer,” but I continued, “Let me pray and ask God if He will give me an answer to your question.” So, I bowed my head to pray right there on the sidewalk in front of them. As I prayed silently suddenly I knew the answer.
I raised my head and looked the young man in the eyes and said, “The answer is: Yes and God did! The rock is the Word of God! The Bible says, Heaven and Earth will pass away but my Word will never pass away. Jesus said, upon this rock I will build my church. God has established His Word forever.”
At this, the young man’s friend slapped him on the back and shouted, “He got you!” In disbelief, the young men walked away.
There are some very important reasons why this answer is significant and why I believe this answer was in deed from God. In subsequent posts I will go on to explain the ramifications of this immoveable rock and the Scriptural reason for our God who willingly limits Himself so that He cannot do all things (e.g., it is impossible for God to lie). I will also explain the hidden agenda of philosophers who ask the question, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move.”
It was a few years ago that I was standing on a corner in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on a Saturday evening with a friend of mine from the church where I was attending at the time. We had a sidewalk sign that read, “Read the Bible, it’s for you and concerns you.” I had only come to receive God’s grace through Jesus Christ a year or so earlier and I was quite nervous to return to my home town to “street witness.”
The person that I was with was a much more experienced Christian who engaged passers by with ease while I secretly hoped that everyone would ignore me. While the person I was with from the church spoke to a man who had been walking down this busy street, suddenly two guys approached me.
I was nervous, I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, or how God could use me to “witness” about Him, but sure enough, one of them spoke to me. “I have a question for you…,” one of the two obviously college students proceeded to ask me, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move?”
I had known that this was a trick question used in philosophy classes to show the impossibility of an “all powerful creator God.” The idea is this: If God couldn’t create such a rock; it would be proven that there is something that God couldn’t do, who supposedly by definition, could do all things. As a result, you couldn’t answer, “No,” without disproving God. On the other hand, If someone would answer, “Yes,” then the result would be a God was not all-powerful because there is now something He cannot do. Either reply supposedly disproved God’s existence as being irrational to the logical mind.
As all of this flashed across my mind, I felt like I would soon become a failure as a witness for Jesus. Admittedly I replied, “I don’t know the answer,” but I continued, “Let me pray and ask God if He will give me an answer to your question.” So, I bowed my head to pray right there on the sidewalk in front of them. As I prayed silently suddenly I knew the answer.
I raised my head and looked the young man in the eyes and said, “The answer is: Yes and God did! The rock is the Word of God! The Bible says, Heaven and Earth will pass away but my Word will never pass away. Jesus said, upon this rock I will build my church. God has established His Word forever.”
At this, the young man’s friend slapped him on the back and shouted, “He got you!” In disbelief, the young men walked away.
There are some very important reasons why this answer is significant and why I believe this answer was in deed from God. In subsequent posts I will go on to explain the ramifications of this immoveable rock and the Scriptural reason for our God who willingly limits Himself so that He cannot do all things (e.g., it is impossible for God to lie). I will also explain the hidden agenda of philosophers who ask the question, “Can God create a rock that He cannot move.”
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Having an Eternal Hope that Springs up in You
There is a story from Our Daily Bread, December 19, 1996, that reads:
The English poet Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest.” But where does man turn when hope dries up?
The director of a medical clinic told of a terminally ill young man who came in for his usual treatment. A new doctor who was on duty said to him casually and cruelly, “You know, don’t you, that you won’t live out the year?”
As the young man left, he stopped by the director’s desk and wept. “That man took away my hope,” he blurted out.
“I guess he did,” replied the director. “Maybe it’s time to find a new one.”
Commenting on this incident, Lewis Smedes wrote, “Is there a hope when hope is taken away? Is there hope when the situation is hopeless? That question leads us to Christian hope, for in the Bible, hope is no longer a passion for the possible. It becomes a passion for the promise.”
The fact is that man’s hope does not spring up eternally. There are all sorts of times that we lose hope or feel hopeless. There is a reason why:
Hope for the future is based upon the faith that you have now. Thomas Aquinas said, “Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.” Until there is substance for your hope, whatever hope you have for the future is fleeting. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for (Heb 11:1). In other words, the substance of our hope is our faith or, what you believe is the tangible reason for whatever hope that you possess.
WE NEED HOPE
Job rightly said, “If the only home I hope for is the grave … where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?” (Job 17:13-15).
Job had lost everything and he was extremely sick and in pain. He was saying that if we believe that this life is all there is then what hope for the future is there for him? Do you see how what we believe now affects what hope we have for the future?
When you come to hear a sermon, I believe you come to find that there is hope for your life and your circumstances from the Bible. A working definition of hope is - to desire with expectation of obtainment or to expect with confidence.
WHAT ARE WE HOPING FOR?
What is it that you expect to receive from God? The forgiveness of your sins? Help in time of your need? Healing for your body? Provision for your financial needs? Deliverance from your sinful or addictive behavior? A fresh start? A ministry? Eternal life? Spiritual gifts? Justice?
WHAT ARE YOU TRUSTING IN?
The fact is that there is hope, but for what reason do you have hope? Is it because I or someone else said that you should not feel hopeless? Is it because you have some warm fuzzy feeling of hope because you are an optimistic person? How can you hope against hope? How can you have hope when the circumstances of your life look hopeless?
We have hope that springs up in us and lasts, or is eternal, when it is not based upon merely our experiences (because not every circumstance works out the same way); when it is not based merely upon our feelings (because our feelings change and are too often subject to our circumstances); when it is not based upon what we see (because we walk by faith, not by sight).
The natural consequence of false beliefs will be false hopes.
BIBLICAL FAITH IS THE ONLY PROPER BASIS FOR OUR HOPES
Five different times in Psalms 119 David says, “I have put my hope in your word.”
Ps 119:49-50
Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Rom 15:4
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The basis for our hope and expectations is found in God’s Word, the Bible. Why?
Titus 1:2
A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, [i.e. cannot lie – most other translations] promised before the beginning of time.
Heb 6:17-19
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
PASSION FOR THE PROMISES
You see; we can have great confidence for our hope when it is based upon God’s Word because He cannot lie and He has the power to bring about what He has promised. His Word is guaranteed.
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt 24:35).
Isaiah 55:11
My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Jeremiah 1:12
The LORD said to me, "…, I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."
Rom 3:4
Let God be true, and every man a liar.
Isa 14:24
The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.”
If we have hope that is not based in God’s word when conflicting circumstances come to us we will fall into despair and lose hope.
Notice the story from Luke 24:13-27:
Now that same day two of them [referring to the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things [what had happened that resurrection day] with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
Notice, because they believed the wrong thing their hope for the future was dashed.
He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! …And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Do you recognize that without Biblical faith that comes from the Word we will lose our hope? Some of us are only “hoping” for salvation because we have yet to find in the Bible faith that is unshakeable because it is based on God’s Word. We have no security that way. Some of us only hope for God to hear our prayers without understanding when God listens or why He refuses to answer our requests.
The phrase “hope against hope” is defined as – having hope when there is no basis for that hope. But that is NOT what the Bible teaches about the subject.
Rom 4:18-25
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Just as much as our faith is not baseless but there exist tangible reasons for what we believe, so our hope is not baseless, it is based upon our faith in the promises of God. We have hope because God has given us hope in His Word.
Let me challenge you today to find some substance for your hopes by searching the Scriptures for the basis for your faith that your hope is built upon.
Gal 5:5
By faith we eagerly await -through the Spirit the righteousness - for which we hope.
The English poet Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest.” But where does man turn when hope dries up?
The director of a medical clinic told of a terminally ill young man who came in for his usual treatment. A new doctor who was on duty said to him casually and cruelly, “You know, don’t you, that you won’t live out the year?”
As the young man left, he stopped by the director’s desk and wept. “That man took away my hope,” he blurted out.
“I guess he did,” replied the director. “Maybe it’s time to find a new one.”
Commenting on this incident, Lewis Smedes wrote, “Is there a hope when hope is taken away? Is there hope when the situation is hopeless? That question leads us to Christian hope, for in the Bible, hope is no longer a passion for the possible. It becomes a passion for the promise.”
The fact is that man’s hope does not spring up eternally. There are all sorts of times that we lose hope or feel hopeless. There is a reason why:
Hope for the future is based upon the faith that you have now. Thomas Aquinas said, “Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.” Until there is substance for your hope, whatever hope you have for the future is fleeting. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for (Heb 11:1). In other words, the substance of our hope is our faith or, what you believe is the tangible reason for whatever hope that you possess.
WE NEED HOPE
Job rightly said, “If the only home I hope for is the grave … where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?” (Job 17:13-15).
Job had lost everything and he was extremely sick and in pain. He was saying that if we believe that this life is all there is then what hope for the future is there for him? Do you see how what we believe now affects what hope we have for the future?
When you come to hear a sermon, I believe you come to find that there is hope for your life and your circumstances from the Bible. A working definition of hope is - to desire with expectation of obtainment or to expect with confidence.
WHAT ARE WE HOPING FOR?
What is it that you expect to receive from God? The forgiveness of your sins? Help in time of your need? Healing for your body? Provision for your financial needs? Deliverance from your sinful or addictive behavior? A fresh start? A ministry? Eternal life? Spiritual gifts? Justice?
WHAT ARE YOU TRUSTING IN?
The fact is that there is hope, but for what reason do you have hope? Is it because I or someone else said that you should not feel hopeless? Is it because you have some warm fuzzy feeling of hope because you are an optimistic person? How can you hope against hope? How can you have hope when the circumstances of your life look hopeless?
We have hope that springs up in us and lasts, or is eternal, when it is not based upon merely our experiences (because not every circumstance works out the same way); when it is not based merely upon our feelings (because our feelings change and are too often subject to our circumstances); when it is not based upon what we see (because we walk by faith, not by sight).
The natural consequence of false beliefs will be false hopes.
BIBLICAL FAITH IS THE ONLY PROPER BASIS FOR OUR HOPES
Five different times in Psalms 119 David says, “I have put my hope in your word.”
Ps 119:49-50
Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Rom 15:4
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The basis for our hope and expectations is found in God’s Word, the Bible. Why?
Titus 1:2
A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, [i.e. cannot lie – most other translations] promised before the beginning of time.
Heb 6:17-19
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
PASSION FOR THE PROMISES
You see; we can have great confidence for our hope when it is based upon God’s Word because He cannot lie and He has the power to bring about what He has promised. His Word is guaranteed.
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt 24:35).
Isaiah 55:11
My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Jeremiah 1:12
The LORD said to me, "…, I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."
Rom 3:4
Let God be true, and every man a liar.
Isa 14:24
The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.”
If we have hope that is not based in God’s word when conflicting circumstances come to us we will fall into despair and lose hope.
Notice the story from Luke 24:13-27:
Now that same day two of them [referring to the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things [what had happened that resurrection day] with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
Notice, because they believed the wrong thing their hope for the future was dashed.
He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! …And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Do you recognize that without Biblical faith that comes from the Word we will lose our hope? Some of us are only “hoping” for salvation because we have yet to find in the Bible faith that is unshakeable because it is based on God’s Word. We have no security that way. Some of us only hope for God to hear our prayers without understanding when God listens or why He refuses to answer our requests.
The phrase “hope against hope” is defined as – having hope when there is no basis for that hope. But that is NOT what the Bible teaches about the subject.
Rom 4:18-25
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Just as much as our faith is not baseless but there exist tangible reasons for what we believe, so our hope is not baseless, it is based upon our faith in the promises of God. We have hope because God has given us hope in His Word.
Let me challenge you today to find some substance for your hopes by searching the Scriptures for the basis for your faith that your hope is built upon.
Gal 5:5
By faith we eagerly await -through the Spirit the righteousness - for which we hope.
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