Staying Strong In Believing Through Hope
Download MP3Staying Strong In Believing Through Hope
In our last episode, we shared how what’s often required to experience answered prayer is both faith and patience. In this episode we will look further into what patience means and not just how to stay strong but how to grow stronger in faith and we pursue God’s will in our lives and the lives of others.
In our last episode, we shared how what’s often required to experience answered prayer is both faith and patience. In this episode we will look further into what patience means and not just how to stay strong but how to grow stronger in faith and we pursue God’s will in our lives and the lives of others.
Let’s look again at Hebrews 6:9-12 ESV
9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Verse 12 says “so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
What’s the “so” about?
It’s referring to the previous verse.
11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
Let’s hear that same verse from the Amplified Bible
11 “But we do [[a]strongly and earnestly] desire for each of you to show the same diligence and sincerity [all the way through] in realizing and enjoying the full assurance and development of [your] hope until the end,”
The writer of Hebrews is communicating their strong desire for believers to be diligent and sincere in continued efforts to realize and enjoy the full assurance and development of hope.
Remember what biblical hope is? Full assurance and expectation based on God’s Word.
It’s this continued hope, this full assurance and expectation based on God’s Word that will keep the believer from being sluggish, giving a half hearted effort, from being discouraged and instead, with hope continue in faith and perseverance in believing!
Now let’s look at Romans 15:13
Romans 15:13 ESV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
When you abound in hope, confident expectation, you are filled with joy and peace.
How does this hope comes. It comes from God by staying in His Word and choosing to believe it. Just as God can give us peace that passes understanding, so can he give us hope that exceeds natural hope.
That type of hope will not let the believer be sluggish or start to doubt and be discouraged. That type of hope will not let us quit or give up but stay strong in faith with patient endurance, believing God until the promise comes to pass.
It comes down to this. Read the Word and let it change you so that you have God’s ability to believe and expect his Word to come to pass no matter what the circumstances look like. To stand in hope, full of joy and peace, when there’s no reason to hope except the Word of God, is what God will do for us as he does a work in us.
Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
All for his Glory!
Blessings,
Tim Dumas
www.hopeforhealingfaithforliving.com
