April 05, 2020
Hebrews 11:1(NIV) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
HOPE: Favorable and confident expectation
1 Peter 1:3–8 (NLT) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
Genesis 22:1 “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son —yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” 6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!“ Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” 12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place JEHOVAH-JIRAH (which means “the Lord will provide”).
How did Abraham have such a confident expectation?
1. He was postured towards the promise.
He was trusting in and waiting upon what God had Promised.
- “We are not being held hostage. We are being held in the embrace of of kind and gracious champion!!!”
Hebrews 6:18–20 (NIV)18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable(Oath and Promise) things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.
- Gods promise is always the greater reality!
2. He had a History of hope.
Develop some Hope History:
- Celebrate Little victories!
- Then celebrate again.
- Maybe your history in hope starts today?
3. He spoke hope.
- Vs 5 “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”
- Vs 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,
4. He looked up.
13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket.
He looked up...it's was what he always did.
Hebrews 11:11 (NLT) It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.
Hope KEEPS LOOKING….
Hebrews 12:2(NKJV) Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Matthew 11:2–4 (NIV) 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see….”
He is the one you've been looking for been looking for.
Romans 15:13(NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
March 29, 2020
Hebrews 6:12–29 (NLT) 12 …You will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their Faith and endurance. 13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: 14 “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” 15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. 16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Abraham a well anchored man.
1. Abraham, Gods friend, was poised for promise.
Romans 4:1–3 (NLT) Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
-Not because he held to a religious system
Romans 4:13–14 (NLT)13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by Faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then Faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
2. Abraham had a promise and Faith in that promise.
3. Abraham kept the Faith through a long and difficult time.
Romans 4:18–24 (NLT) 18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s Faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his Faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s Faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Abrahamic Covenant: Gen 12 Dominion, Descendants and Blessings to others.
Galatians 3:6–9 (NLT) 6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their Faith in God. 8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their Faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their Faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his Faith.
Galatians 3:29 (NLT) You belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Realities of Faith
1. Faith is Active Trust
Romans 4:20–21 (NLT) 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his Faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
Hebrews 11:1(NLT) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
2 Corinthians 5:7(NIV) We live(walk) by Faith, not by sight.
2. Faith is required to please God.
- Hebrews 11:6(NIV) It is impossible to please God without Faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
- You cannot be righteous by doing anything but only by trusting someone.
3. Faith works(It produces obedience)
- “Faith that won’t work, don't work.”
- “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone” -Martin Luther.
Obedience is the active part of Trust!
James 2:17(NLT) So you see, Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Hebrews 11:8–10 (NLT) 8 It was by Faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by Faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
4. Faith will be tested
James 1:2–4 (NIV) 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your Faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
How to nurture Faith:
- Pray in the Spirit(Jude 20)
- Go to the word- listen to it, pray it, read it. (Romans 10:17)
- Endure through difficulties(James 1)
- Ask for grace.
Mark 9:24 (NIV)“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
March 22, 2020
Acts 27:28–35 (NLT) 28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. 29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. 30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. 33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. 34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” 35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.
Hebrews 6:18–20 (NIV) We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
If we are anchored in Jesus we are secure.
4 Anchors points in the reality of Jesus.
1. Present
We have the hope of the person and the presence of Jesus.
Matthew 28:20 (NIV) I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Psalm 46:1 (NIV) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2. Protector
Psalm 91:9-11,14-15 (NLT) 9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go. ….14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
3. Provider
Philippians 4:19 (NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
4. Peace
John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
He doesn’t just give peace, he is peace.
Ephesians 2:14 (NIV) For He himself is our peace
Maybe the piece you are missing is the peace of Jesus?
