HOPE IN DIFFICULT TIMES! PART 1 [MONDAY MANNA 74]

Saints,

When we reflect on the meaning of “hope,” what comes to our mind?

Probably most of us would say it’s something yet to happen…something in the future and not for today. A simple, concise definition in this world of crowded, noisy Christian information might be:

An expectation of something fruitful in the future, a future good…

Hope is set apart from the fear of dread, a foreboding of something unpleasant or even something terrible about to happen. But we know as Jesus’ blood-bought believers that even “bad things” are good things for those who truly love God and are called to Him through Jesus’ purpose!

In these increasingly darker days here where I live in the west and worldwide promised by our Lord Master and Savior, the light of Christ shines even more profoundly. There are those souls who I’m proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom that have rejected the message strongly in previous times. But now, their trust in their “stuff,” their mammon, has been thoroughly shaken and hopefully destroyed!  And they’re listening carefully with a more open heart. What a great but trying time to be alive.

This hope, this wonderful part of our spiritual life, helps sustain us, and propel us forward especially in extremely difficult and uncertain times of our lives. God is in the business of providing us hope for He knows that testing for perseverance is a way of life for those of us in pursuit of Him:

“knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:3

Hope and faith, or trust, are closely allied, being kin to each other:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

So, trusting faith is believing the assurance, and having the expectation of God’s promise of future good.

In this piece we’re not talking necessarily just about all the ways we can hope, but in the principle of hope itself. Describing it in another way, what does the authentic Word of Christ reveal to us? What does the Source Himself leave for us as spiritual food?

Let’s dive in and be encouraged!

There’s a limited number of verses in the gospels but it’s revealing…but much is taught in the New Testimony.

1.   The name of Jesus provides the gentiles, the pagans, with hope, or expectation of future good.

Matthew 12:21 “And in His name the Gentiles will hope.”

2.   There’s misplaced or mistaken hope like Herod looking for amusement from Jesus the celebrity; and the Jews (Judeans) expecting the physically conquering Jesus the first time around; and the Jews putting their hope (and consequent trust) in Moses.

Luke 23:8  Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.

Luke 24:21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

John 5:45 “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.

3.   The hope of the resurrection of the righteous and the restoration of the 12 tribes of Israel was central to Judaism, so Paul zeroed in on this key theme.

Acts 23:6  But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

Acts 24:15 …having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Acts 26:6-7  And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews.

4.   Abraham had tremendous expectation of future good, since the circumstances screamed that the prophesy of God was bogus…but his belief was counted as righteousness. Remember that hope and faith are kin. Here we see his enduring dependence on God’s promise.

Romans 4:18  In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

5.   Our future good is also to receive more of the glory of God.

Romans 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

6.   Hope will grow through a series of gracious and difficult life experiences that allow us to exult in God’s work with us. The trials bring endurance that bring proven character than bring more hope that never disappoints us in the end. So, the trials are absolutely crucial to growing a hope that the Holy Spirit helps develop by releasing our Father’s love. Hope is never seen, but always future.

Romans 5:3-5  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:24-25   For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

7.   We rejoice, yes, and exult in hope. The Word gives us expectation of future good. Again, the perseverance in tribulation…

Romans 12:12  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

8.   Our wonderful God is the creator, dispenser, and sustainer of all our hope. He is our Hope. He is all Life. The Holy Spirit brings us the power to do so. If we’re missing the joy and peace that hope brings, as is sometimes the case with all of us, then we need to tear our eyes off the circumstances and fix our eyes on Jesus. In so doing, we never lose heart permanently.

Romans 15:13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 12:1-3  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What is the challenge, the test, the trial, the difficulty, the mountain that you face today?

Is the overcoming perseverance we all need in full bloom in our heart? Do we need more courage to be a triumphant witness to both the human world and spiritual world?

Is it relational, financial, spiritual…or all three?

Is our trust, our hope, in the things of the world like money and retirement that are passing away? For these things do not and should not sustain any hope within us. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Hallelujah!

In these coming days of escalating worldwide great tribulation preceding our Lord’s return, we need to keep filled with the Holy Spirits’ power to have hope, encouragement, endurance, and love. We’re needy people…in desperate need of God. May His mercy ever cover us.

So…

Let us all boldly and confidently come today before the throne of grace to receive mercy….and then find grace in our time of desperately need. Let us believe the full promise of God the Father, and His Jesus, in hope, dear one.

 “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Every grace today, beloved….

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

After your comment, please read the other parts of this series:

HOPE IN DIFFICULT TIMES! PART 2   [MONDAY MANNA 75]

HOPE IN DIFFICULT TIMES!  PART 3   [MONDAY MANNA 76]

Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,

Marc

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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!

You may view our Archives here: MONDAY MANNA – ARCHIVES;   Complete Archives; feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.