In last week’s bulletin message I stated that, “There is a word that the Bible uses instead of optimism, which is “hope”. When we study the subject of faith we need to also know what the Bible teaches about hope and how it many times is used in conjunction with faith.”
One of the most popular examples of how hope is an important element of our faith is found in Hebrews 11:1. This verse shows us how our faith comes from our hope. Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” What is “what we hope for” based on? And, what is your understanding of “what we hope for”?
First we need to realize if are we understanding the word hope with a worldly definition or a Biblical definition? The worldly understanding of hope is, “A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.” (The American Heritage Dictionary). We must also ask ourselves a question similar to what was asked last week, what is this worldly hope based on? It is based on things that are subject to change depending on the many factors and or conditions. Worldly hope is finite or limited and not absolute.
Just like faith, a Christian’s hope is derived or originates from God’s word, it is based on who God is or God’s character. The basis of this Biblical hope is from what God says and or promises in His Word. It is the confidence that God will do what He says because of who He is. Hebrews 10:23 New Living Translation, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”
In Romans 4:18-22 the apostle Paul states the importance of how hope works with faith in one particular instance in the life of Abraham. 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. These four verses teaches us many things about Biblical hope and how it is derived and based on what God said to and or promised Abraham.
Ver. 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Why is “hope” mentioned twice in this verse? Simply, as we had stated earlier (note what is underlined), there is a worldly understanding of hope and a Biblical understanding of hope. The first “hope” is a worldly hope, “Against all worldly hope. Verse nineteen tells us very clearly that Abraham physically had no basis for hope. “he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.” If Abraham was a realist this is how far his hope would have taken him. “he faced the fact”, Abraham correctly understood the physical natural and logical conditions of his and Sarah’s bodies and why they could not give birth to a child.
If Abraham was not a realist, what was he then? Abraham was a man of faith who’s hope was in God’s word and what He had promised him. This is the second “hope” of verse eighteen which is a Biblical hope. Abraham in a Biblical hope believed”.
Paraphrasing the first half of verse eighteen we could say, “when there was no worldly hope, Abraham, with a Biblical hope, believed in what God told him”. When did God tell Abraham these things that gave Abraham hope? In Genesis 15:4-6, 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Also in Genesis 17:5, No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
The first part of verse nineteen tells us something that some Christians misunderstand about hope and faith, “Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact…”. Some Christians believe that if you acknowledge in any way, mentally or verbally the negative aspects of a situation and the physical reality of the consequences, you somehow block God from doing anything positive or good, and the result is you lose your blessing. Verse nineteen is very clear, that acknowledging the negative facts of your situation or condition does not cause you to lose the blessing. Why? As with Abraham, we face the fact or “Against all hope”. And “without weakening” our faith” we believe what God says in His word or with hope in God’s promises, we believe.
Verses twenty and twenty-one explain very clearly the Biblical hope that Abraham had. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Verse twenty-one says, “being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Did you ever think what compromises, hinders or robs a Christian from being “fully persuaded” and that God has the power to do what He says in His word? The answer can be different for each Christian. One reason, among the many possible reasons, is not surrendering total control of the situation to God . A Christian cannot have hope and faith in God if they do not surrender and totally trust God. Not surrendering or trusting in God can be caused by pride which is easily identified by the “I” factor; which says, “I can resolve this myself”, “I have the resources and finances to handle this”, “I don’t like to be told what to do” (even if it is God telling me).
Fear is another reason why many Christians find it hard to surrender control of a situation to God in order to have hope and faith in Him. Surrendering to God is only possible if we have total trust and assurance that we are safe. But if we really don’t know God and know His word it will be very hard to trust, to surrender and put your hope in what He says in His word.
Are you experiencing God’s “joy and peace” because you are trusting Him? Are you overflowing “with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” in those trying and challenging situations of life?
Romans 15:13, 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.
Pastor John
