TO HOPE AGAIN
1 PETER 1:1-9
HOPE IS THE ONE THING IN THIS WORLD THAT WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT. HOPE ALLOWS US TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE, AND DARE TO BELIEVE THAT OUR LIVES CAN BE BETTER AS WE DO.
1 PETER 1:3-4:
“3 ¶ PRAISED (HONORED, BLESSED) BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (THE MESSIAH)! BY HIS BOUNDLESS MERCY WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN TO AN EVER-LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, 4 "BORN ANEW" INTO AN INHERITANCE WHICH IS BEYOND THE REACH OF CHANGE \AND\ DECAY "IMPERISHABLE", UNSULLIED AND UNFADING, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU,”
WE OFTEN REFER TO THIS TYPE OF HOPE AS A “CERTAIN HOPE.” IT IS MORE SECURE, THAN JUST SAYING “I HOPE THE SUN IS SHINING TOMORROW.” USING HOPE THIS WAY SHOWS A LACK OF CONFIDENCE, AS IF IT WERE A MERELY A DESIRE, WITH NO ASSURANCE AT ALL.
OUR GREAT FISHERMAN IN THIS PASSAGE IS SPEAKING WITH FULL CONFIDENCE IN THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN HIS MIND.
WEBSTER WOULD AGREE WITH THIS CONCEPT OF HOPE AS HE DEFINES IT AS: “DESIRE ACCOMPANIED BY EXPECTATION OF OR BELIEF IN FULFILLMENT… TO DESIRE WITH EXPECTATION OF OBTAINMENT… TO EXPECT WITH CONFIDENCE.”
WE OFTEN FEEL THIS CERTAIN HOPE AS WE BEGIN THE ADVENTURE OF NEW AREAS OF OUR LIFE. WE LOOK AT THE CHANGES WE MAKE IN THE SERTAIN HOPE THAT THEY WILL BRING US GOOD FORTUNE.
AT NEW YEARS, WE MAKE RESOLUTIONS ALONG THIS PATH.
WHEN WE ARE RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL AFTER DEALING WITH A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION, WE SAY WE ARE GOING TO TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.
WHEN WE MOVE TO A DIFFERENT JOB WE ARE HOPING FOR A BETTER RESULT.
JUST RECENTLY WE HELD A PROVINCIAL ELECTION HERE. THE HOPE GOING INTO THE ELECTION IS THAT NO MATTER WHAT PARTY WON, THAT IT WOULD GIVE OUR PROVINCE A FRESH START AND A REASON FOR HOPE.
HOPE HELPS US GET THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIMES OF OUR LIVES. CHUCK SWINDELL WRITES: “HOPE IS A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD, A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND COURAGE IN THE FACE OF LIFE’S HARSHEST TRIALS.”
THE GREAT FISHERMAN HELPS US TO SEE THAT HOPE ALLOWS US TO DRAW SUCCESS OUT OF FAILURE. CONSIDER PETER, THE GREAT FISHERMAN, FOR A MOMENT. HE DID NOTHING HALF-HEARTEDLY. IT WAS ALL OR NOTHING. AS A FRIEND HE WAS LOYAL TO THE CORE, COURAGEOUS, AND PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIPS. THIS WOULD LEAD HIM AT TIMES TO OVERSTEP HIS COMMITMENT BOUNDARIES.
LUKE 22:33-34: “33 AND "SIMON PETER" SAID TO HIM, LORD, I AM READY TO GO WITH YOU BOTH TO PRISON AND TO DEATH. 34 BUT JESUS SAID, I TELL YOU, PETER, BEFORE A "SINGLE" COCK SHALL CROW THIS DAY, YOU WILL THREE TIMES "UTTERLY" DENY THAT YOU KNOW ME.”
SOMETIMES, IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT, WE SAY WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, NOT WHAT WE WILL DO. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO PETER. JESUS’ REBUKE MUST HAVE FLOORED HIM. BEING PRESENT FOR JESUS’ ARREST AND TRIAL, TO HEAR THE DENIAL’S COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH, AND FINALLY TO HEAR THE COCK CROW AFTER THE THIRD DENIAL, MUST HAVE SHATTERED PETER.
THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO NOW. THERE WAS NO HOPE IN THE SITUATION. JESUS HAD BEEN TRIED, FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO DEATH. NOT ONLY WAS JESUS NAILED TO THE CROSS BUT ALSO THE ONE THING PETER NEEDED TO CARRY ON, HOPE. HOPE WAS GONE IN THE DEATH OF JESUS.
THE RESURRECTION BROUGHT ABOUT A RE-BIRTH OF HOPE. JESUS GAVE INSTRUCTIONS IN MARK 16:7, TO GO AND TELL HIS DISCIPLES AND PETER ALSO. HE STATED PETER BY NAME.
PETER HAD DETERMINED TO GO BACK TO HIS OLD WAY OF LIFE. JOHN CHAPTER 21 TELLS US THAT HE RETURNED TO FISHING. JESUS FOUND HIM BY THE SEA OF TIBERIAS. IT IS HERE THAT PETER’S HOPE BEGINS TO COME BACK. JESUS IS ALIVE. THE MISSION IS NOT OVER. PENTECOST WOULD GIVE PETER THE HOLY BOLDNESS HE NEEDED TO BE THE MAN GOD NEEDED HIM TO BE.
PETER’S TRIAL DEVELOPED HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE. HE LED AS A WOUNDED HEALER. HE KNEW IT WAS ONLY THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD IN HIM THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE DID IN ACTS, WHICH WAS THE FORMATION OF THE EARLY CHURCH. IT GAVE HIM THE FOUNDATION TO WRITE HIS GREAT WORKS OF HOPE.
EUGENE PETERSON DESCRIBES PETER IN HIS INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOKS THAT BEAR HIS NAME:
“THE WAY PETER HANDLED HIMSELF IN THAT POSITION OF POWER IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THE POWER ITSELF. HE KEPT OUT OF THE CENTER OF ATTENTION, HE DIDN’T PARADE HIS POWER, BECAUSE HE KEPT HIMSELF UNDER THE POWER OF JESUS. HE COULD HAVE EASILY THROWN AROUND HIS POPULARITY, POWER, AND POSITION TO TRY TO TAKE OVER, USING HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH JESUS TO PROMOTE HIMSELF. BUT HE DIDN’T. MOST PEOPLE WITH PETER’S GIFTS COULDN’T HAVE HANDLED IT THEN OR NOW, BUT HE DID. PETER IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.”
THROUGH HIS BOOKS PETER HAS GIVEN US A RESERVOIR OF HOPE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES. IT IS A RESERVOIR I WISH TO DRAW FROM FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE CALLED UPON AT VARIOUS TIMES TO DEAL WITH HURT AND SUFFERING. IT COULD BE THE SKINNED KNEE OF A CHILD, THE BROKEN HEART OF A TEENAGER DUMPED FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE PHYSICAL AILMENTS OF AGE, OR THE TRAGEDY OF DEATH, BUT WE WILL ALL DEAL WITH SUFFERING AND HURT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. WHERE SUFFERING IS GREAT, THERE IS ALSO AN ABSENCE OF HOPE.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HURT. SUFFERING IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, THAT EFFECTS JEWS, HINDUS, BUDDAISTS, MOSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS. JOSEPH PARKER, A GREAT PREACHER OF THE PAST SAID TO A GROUP OF ASPIRING PREACHERS: “PREACH TO THE SUFFERING AND YOU WILL NEVER LACK A CONGREGATION.”
PETER FACED THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING IN HIS BOOKS AND DEALT WITH TWO ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE THAT WE FACE. THE FIRST IS HOW DO WE DEAL WITH OUR OWN SUFFERING, AND SECOND, HOW DO WE HELP THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR PHILIP YANCY AT CONVENTION THIS YEAR, AND HE DEALS WITH THE ISSUE OF SUFFERING QUITE EXTENSIVELY. HE IS AN OUTSPOKEN RADICAL OF THE CHURCH, AND MAKES THE POINT THAT SOME THINGS WE SAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO COMFORT THE SUFFERING BRINGS NO COMFORT TO THEM AT ALL. THEY ARE SAID TO THAT WE WHO ARE TRYING TO COMFORT WILL FEEL LIKE WE WERE SUCCESSFUL, AND SO MAKE US FEEL BETTER.
CONSIDER SOME OF THE THINGS WE SAY AT FUNERAL HOMES:
1. THEY ARE OUT OF THEIR PAIN AND SUFFERING.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS ARE THEY REALLY? IF A PERSON DIES WITHOUT CHRIST IT IS THE BEGINNING OF ETERNAL PAIN AND SUFFERING.
2. TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.
THIS IS TRUE OF COURSE. BUT FOR THE PERSON SUFFERING THEY MAY HAVE WANTED THEIR LOVED ONE PRESENT IN THE BODY A LITTLE LONGER.
3. WHEN A CHILD DIED SOMEONE SAID “GOD JUST NEEDED ANOTHER ANGEL WITH HIM.”
THE REPLY CAME BACK, “WHY MY CHILD AND NOT YOURS.”
4. SOMETIMES MASS DEATH DUE TO A NATURAL CATASTROPHY IS SEEN AS GOD’S JUDGMENT ON A SINFUL PEOPLE.
WHAT SIN DID THE 20 CHILDREN MURDERED IN NEWTOWN CONNICUT COMMIT TO WARRANT THEIR JUDGMENT.
5. SOMETIMES WE SAY “ I REALLY DON’T UNDERSTAND OTHER THAN WE LIVE IN A SINFUL WORLD.”
AGAIN THIS IS TRUE, BUT IT DOESN’T EXPLAIN WHY GOD PROTECTS SOME AND NOT OTHERS.
WHY NEWTOWN AND NOT SOME OTHER SCHOOL?
IF GOD IS SOVEREIGN, AND ALL POWERFUL, WHY DIDN’T HE OVERRIDE THE EVIL ANDPROTECT THOSE CHILDREN.
WHAT GREAT EVIL DID THE 16,000 PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE TSUNAMI IN JAPAN DO?
WHY DIDN’T GOD PROTECT MY SON OR DAUGHTER FROM THAT DRUNK DRIVER?
THE LIST IS ENDLESS.
THE ONLY THING THAT IS CONSTANT AND COMMON IS THE FACT THAT EVERYONE IS SUFFERING AT SOME POINT AND SEARCHING FOR A WAY THROUGH.
WHEN IT COMES TO OFFERING COMFORT, PEOPLE IN MOST CASES ARE GENUINE IN THEIR INTENTIONS. WE WANT TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE HURTING. IN DOING THIS THOUGH WE MUST BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
A FUNERAL DIRECTOR FRIEND OF MINE WOULD ALWAYS GREET A FAMILY BY SAYING, “SORRY FOR YOUR TROUBLES.” SOMETIMES WE MUST BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THE MORE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE OF REMAINING SILENT. IF WORDS BROUGHT COMFORT TO THE SUFFERING, WE COULD STAY AT HOME AND COMFORT OVER THE TELEPHONE. IT IS NOT IN WORDS THAT WE COMFORT, IT IS IN PRESENCE.
PETER UNDERSTOOD THIS AND PASSED THE LESSON ON TO US IN HIS WRITING. HE GENTLY REACHED HIS HAND TO THE CHINS OF THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM, AND LIFTED THEIR FACES SKYWARD – SO THEY COULD SEE BEYOND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE GOD WHO LOVES THEM.
SCRIPTURAL BACKGROUND:
HE STARTS OUT HIS LETTER BY TELLING US THAT WE ARE NOT LIKE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. HE USES THE TERMS “ALIENS” AND “STRANGERS” IN VERSES ONE AND TWO TO DESCRIBE THE PEOPLE HE IS WRITING TO.
THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER A PERSECUTION THAT HAS CAUSED THEM TO FLEE FROM THEIR HOMES INTO A VERY HOSTILE AND UNFAMILIAR WORLD. IT WOULD BE THIS WORLD THAT WOULD A SHORT TIME LATER CRUCIFY THE GREAT FISHERMAN.
PETER USED EIGHT DIFFERENT GREEK WORDS WHEN IT CAME TO THE WORD SUFFERING, EACH DESCRIBING THE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THE CHRISTIANS WERE IN. SOME WERE SUFFERING BECAUSE THEY WERE LIVING GODLY LIVES AND DOING WHAT WAS GOOD AND RIGHT. OTHERS WERE SUFFERING REPROACH FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST.
PETER WRITES THIS LETTER WITH A MISSION FOR THE CHRISTIANS. THAT MISSION IS TO BE GOOD WITNESSES TO THEIR PERSECUTORS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY FOREIGN TO OUR NATURAL WAY OF THINKING. IT DOES TEACH US A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON THOUGH. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE KIND AND GOOD WITNESSES TO THOSE WHO MISTREAT US IN THE POWER OF CHRIST.
IN THESE VERSES PETER REMINDS US THAT WE ARE CHOSEN VESSELS OF GOD. GOD HAS GIVEN US A PURPOSE FOR OUR ESIXTENCE. THAT PURPOSE MAY INCLUDE TOUGH TIMES BUT IT IS STILL A GOD-GIVEN CALL. MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD GO THROUGH THEIR LIVES WITHOUT CHRIST TO LEAN ON DURING DIFFICULT TIMES.
THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES HELPS US TO FIND MEANING AND PURPOSE IN OUR SUFFERING. THROUGH OUR SUFFERING AND THE WAY WE HANDLE IT AS CHRISTIANS, PEOPLE WILL SEE THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH ACCEPTING CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR.
PETER LISTS SIX REASONS WHY WE AS BELIEVERS CAN REJOICE THROUGH HARD TIMES AND EXPERIENCE HOPE BEYOND SUFFERING.
POINT ONE: WE HAVE A LIVING HOPE:
1 PETER 1:3: “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,”
JAMES M. GRAY WRITES “WHO CAN MIND THE JOURNEY WHEN THE ROAD LEADS HOME.”
HOW OFTEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN WE ARE TRAVELING, SOMETIMES FOR HOURS, AND WE SEE THE LIGHTS OF HOME, DO WE LET OUT A SIGH OF RELIEF, AND REALIZE THAT SOON THE JOURNEY WILL END.
PETER TEACHES US THAT WE LIVE IN “GREAT EXPECTATION” OR “GREAT HOPE”. THIS IS A HOPE THAT IS NOT SHARED WITH THE WORLD. ONE WRITER CYNICALLY DESCRIBED HOPE AS “THE PATHOLOGICAL BELIEF IN THE OCCURANCE OF THE IMPOSSIBLE.”
TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST, HOPE IS AKIN TO WISHING ON A STAR. “I HOPE I WIN THE LOTTERY.” “I HOPE MY BOY COMES HOME SOMETIME”. “I HOPE EVERYTHING WORKS OUT.”
THEIR PROBLEM IS THAT THEY HAVE NO FOUNDATION TO PUT THEIR TRUST IN SHOULD THEIR WISHES NOT COME TO PASS.
WHEN LESLIE AND I RETURN FROM MINTO, WE CROSS THE BRIDGE AT CHATHAM. I FIND THE ROAD ROUGH, AND FOR MOST OF THE SUMMER THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WORK ON IT CAUSING TRAFFIC TO MOVE SLOWLY. IT DOES MOVE THOUGH AND EVENTUALLY WE DO GET BACK HERE.
THIS IS WHAT IT HOPE BRINGS TO THE CHRISTIAN. THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT WE GO THROUGH IN THIS LIFE ISN’T THE END OF THE JOURNEY. IT IS A ROUGH SPOT ON THE JOURNEY THAT LEADS TO THE RIGHT DESTINATION.
POINT TWO: WE HAVE A PERMANENT INHERITANCE:
1 PETER 1:4:
“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.”
AS CHRISTIANS WE CAN PERSEVERE THROUGH OUR PAIN BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN ETERNAL INHERITIANCE – A SECURE HOME IN HEAVEN. JESUS PROMISED:
JOHN 14:1-3:
“1 ¶ “DON’T LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. TRUST IN GOD, AND TRUST ALSO IN ME. 2 THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM IN MY FATHER’S HOME. IF THIS WERE NOT SO, WOULD I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT I AM GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU? 3 WHEN EVERYTHING IS READY, I WILL COME AND GET YOU, SO THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME WHERE I AM.”
NOTHING CAN DESTROY OUR PERMANENT HOME. NOTHING CAN DEFILE IT OR DEMINISH IT. WE HAVE A PLACE PREPARED FOR US. OUR NAME IS ON THE DOOR. WHEN WE DRIVE OVER THE ROUGH PATCHES OF OUR LIVES, WE DO SO WITH HOPE, FOR WE KNOW THAT OUR HOME IS AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY.
POINT THREE: WE HAVE A DIVINE PROTECTION:
1 PETER 1:5: “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.”
AS CHRISTIANS WE HAVE THE SERTAINTY OF GOD’S PROTECTION FOR OUR SOULS. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE MAY HAVE AN EASY DEATH EXPERIENCE. THAT MAY NOT BE OUR LOT. WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT ALTHOUGH WE MAY FACE MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING IN THE DEATH PROCESS, THAT WHILE IT MAY CLAIM OUR BODIES, OUR SOULS ARE IN THE LOVING HANDS OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
WE OFTEN TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY GOOD PEOPLE FACE SUCH HORRIBLE DEATHS. WHY DID 20 CHILDREN DIE SO VIOLENTLY IN NEWTOWN CONNICUT? ALL OUR EFFORTS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS ARE MOST TIMES EQUIVILENT TO BEATING OUR HEADS AGAINST BRICK WALLS.
I DON’T KNOW WHY MY BROTHER DIES AT 47. I DON’T KNOW WHY MY NEPHEW DIED AS A RESULT OF MD, OR MY SISTER’S LIFE IS SO DRASTICALLY REDUCED AS A RESULT OF HER M.S.
I REMEMBER SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM OF THE HOSPITAL ON THE NIGHT MY BROTHER DIED. I WAS CRYING AND MY SISTERS ASKED WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY ASKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT THE END RESULT WAS THAT IT JUST HURT.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO ACCEPT SUFFERING WITHOUT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT. SOMETIMES IT JUST HURTS, AND TRUST GOD TO GET US THROUGH THESE TIMES.
POINT FOUR: WE HAVE A DEVELOPING FAITH:
1 PETER 1:6-7:
“6 SO BE TRULY GLAD. THERE IS WONDERFUL JOY AHEAD, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE TO 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.”
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THREE THINGS ABOUT TRIALS THAT WE GO THROUGH:
1. THEY ARE OFTEN NECESSARY: THEY PROVE THE GENUINESS OF OUR FAITH AND TEACH US HUMILITY. OUR TRIALS REVEAL OUR HELPLESSNESS AND OUR DEPENDANCY ON CHRIST. “PAIN PLANTS THE FLAG OF REALITY IN THE FORTRESS OF A REBELLIOUS HEART.”
2. TRIALS ARE DISTRESSING: THEY TEACH US COMPASSION SO THAT WE NEVER MAKE LIGHT OF ANOTHER’S TEST. IT IS THEIR TEST AND THEIR FEELINGS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED THROUGH.
ROMANS 12:15: “BE HAPPY WITH THOSE WHO ARE HAPPY, AND WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP.”
3. TRIALS COME IN VARIOUS FORMS: PAUL HAD A THORN IN THE FLESH, BUT SO DDO WE ALL. OUR THORNS CAN BE VARIOUS THINGS, BUT THEY ARE ALL USED TO REFINE US INTO BEIING THE KIND OF PEOPLE GOD WANTS US TO BE.
POINT FIVE: WE HAVE AN UNSEEN SAVIOR:
1 PETER 1:8: “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.”
GOD DID NOT STOP DANIEL FROM GOING INTO THE LION’S DEN, NOR DID HE STOP THREE HEBREW MALES FROM BEING CAST INTO THE FIREY FURNACE. HE PROMISED MUCH MORE THAN THAT. DANIEL WAS NOT ALONE WITH THE LION, NOR WERE THE THREE ALONE IN THE FURNACE. THERE WAS A FOURTH PRESENCE THERE. GOD WAS THERE EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT SEEN, HE WAS THERE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE THOMAS IN THAT THEY NEED TO SEE AND TO TOUCH BEFORE THEY BELIEVE. JESUS SAID:
JOHN 20:29: “THEN JESUS TOLD HIM, “YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN ME. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE WITHOUT SEEING ME.’’
POINT SIX: WE HAVE A GUARANTEED DELIVERANCE:
1 PETER 1:9: “THE REWARD FOR TRUSTING HIM WILL BE THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS.”
THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE. GOD GUARANTEES THE DELIVERANCE OF OUR SOULS, NOT ONLY FROM OUR PRESENT SINFUL CONDITION, BUT THE GLORIFICATION OF OUR PHYSICAL BODIES AS WELL.
I’VE READ THE BACK OF THE BOOK. GREAT NEWS WE WIN!!!!!
CONCLUSION:
AS WE DEAL WITH THE VARIOUS TRIALS OF THIS WORLD, ONLY THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES CAN REPLACE OUR RESENTMENT WITH REJOICING.
ONLY CHRIST’S SALVATION CAN CHANGE US FROM SPECTATORS TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE UNFOLDING DRAMA OF REDEMPTION. ONLY AS PARTICIPANTS CAN WE CLAIM THE GREAT PROMISES OF GOD.
ROMANS 8:38-39:
“38 AND I AM CONVINCED THAT NOTHING CAN EVER SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE. NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER OUR FEARS FOR TODAY NOR OUR WORRIES ABOUT TOMORROW-NOT EVEN THE POWERS OF HELL CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE. 39 NO POWER IN THE SKY ABOVE OR IN THE EARTH BELOW-INDEED, NOTHING IN ALL CREATION WILL EVER BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS REVEALED IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.”
IT IS AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE KINGDOM THAT WE FIND OUR GREAT HOPE.
