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God's Way
Contributed by Richard Gardner on Jan 27, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Biblical hope is the only way for us that believe.
God’s Word
I don’t know how other people feel sometimes, but sometimes I feel like just throwing in the towel. At times I just get tired of listening to the rest of the world and want to dwell on my own thoughts and just sort of tune people out of my life. I don’t guess you’ve ever thought that way, or have you? Jesus felt that way at times and got away from the multitudes that were following him by going up into the mountains and praying and strengthening his spirit.
I want to quote a scripture from Ps. 33:18-19 “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy: To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” Living without a hope of any kind seems odd to me, but living without Biblical Hope would be a complete disaster in my life. Even when I get tired, physically and spiritually I still contain in myself through Christ, a hope for the future that lift’s me up again, again, and again. The very foundation that my hope is based on derives from the nature of God, of Jesus Christ and of God’s word. The revelation of the new covenant in Jesus Christ provides even more reason for confident hope in God. God’s word alone will inspire every hope and need that I will ever have. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Instead of quitting or throwing in the towel there is hope for all of us. There is nothing behind us to go back to, it all lies ahead in the arms of a loving Father. Jesus Christ Himself taught that Scripture is the inspired Word of God and also affirmed that all He said, He received from the Father and is true. He further spoke of revelation that was to come from the Holy Spirit through the apostles. The Holy Scriptures are God’s infallible, true witness to His saving activity for humankind in Christ Jesus. We must accept for this reason, Scripture is incomparable, forever finished, and forever binding. No word of man or religious institution is equal to its authority.
My hope doesn’t lie in what man will and can say, or what the weather might be tomorrow. And it certainly doesn’t stand on what we have or don’t have in our life. But it stands on the very promises that God has given to all of us continually and continually again through His living word, the Holy Bible. Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Christ is my strong hold, the very breath that I put my every day trust in. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." We must use the inspired Word of God to conquer the power of sin, Satan, and the world in our lives.
There is nothing fair at all about the world we live in, let’s face it, life’s not fair at all, but God is Good. We all have problems, trials, and tribulations in this world that we must overcome, many of us like for other’s to believe that we don’t, but I hardly think that is truthful.
I once knew a minister that was going to college to be a full time minister and while visiting me and my wife for Sunday dinner one time, asked me a question that I will never forget. He said, “Why does everybody that I go to visit and see pretend that they never have any problems and life is a bowl full of cherries? When I know it’s not!” I replied that people and most of us aren’t willing to share our personal life and our downfalls. But all in all we serve a God that is willing to forgive us, love us unconditionally to the very end, if we would only let Him. I encourage you to pick up that dusty Bible that’s been sitting around for such a long time and revisit God and all His promises.
Rev. Richard Gardner- Minister
Ky. District Council Assemblies of God