Our Sources of Hope

Scripture: Psalm 146:5, Romans 15:4, James 5:17, Psalm 102:17, Luke 18:1-8, I Thessalonians 2:17-20, Titus 2:13

GODLY HOPE: STEDFAST, SURE, ANCHORED, NEVER FAILING

WORLDLY HOPE: WISHFUL THINKING, MAY OR NOT HAPPEN, UNSURE

1. God’s Word provides Hope

2. Prayer to God provides Hope

3. God’s people provide Hope

4. God’s Son provides Hope

Psa. 119:153-160

“Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.” (v.154)

The cry is “Plead my cause” O LORD, and it is the prayer of a broken and defeated heart. When we get God on our side, who can stand against us? (Rom. 8:31) O that He might plead our cause before men, and bring us the victory over the world, and he will, by the way. It is amazing to me to see how fearful David seemed to be, yet how bold he was in battle so that many sang “Saul slew his thousands, David his ten thousands.” This tells me that it is not wrong to be afraid, in fact, it will lead us to a greater power, teaching us to seek Him who knows no fear. When we learn to fear enough to trust in God, we have come quite far in our life for Him, and can be “quickened” by Him. To be quickened by the Lord is to be lifted up by Him, resting in His arms, and given a new zeal, as well as life. David asks three important things here, to have the Lord to plead for him, or to intercede for him; and to deliver him; and to quicken , or revive him, all “according to thy Word.”

I believe our greatest prayers are those that are cried out of desperation, because our whole heart sees it important enough to beg God, and to cry out our need to Him. Fasting also is nothing without a certain element of sorrow. We seem to think of fasting as a remedy to get our prayer answered, and use it that way when we want something special from God, but we often make a mockery of it in so doing. Often the greatest pains produce the greatest prayers.

This particular verse sounds as if it were produced in tears, and from the chains of fear. Three times David asks the Lord to quicken him, and all three times it is according to a tenet or principle of God. The first is here, “according to thy Word”; the second is v. 156, and “according to thy judgments”; while the third is v.159, and “according to thy loving kindness”. There are many “according to’s” throughout the 119th Psalm, one would do well to study them.
This psalm ought to be read often, as it deals completely with the Word of God, and what greater subject could we seek?

Psalms 119:89-96

“Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.” (v.90)

The Lord is faithful to all peoples, everywhere, who call upon Him in Truth. He is there for us, unto the third and forth generations, and further, even unto all generations. Paul put it this way in Rom. 8, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (v. 31), and, who indeed? His faithfulness is toward us, and He will never let us down. I cannot even imagine my God letting anyone down that has truly and fully trusted in Him, He cannot do it! Most people would be reluctant to disappoint someone who was desperately depending on them, let alone a loving and merciful God. Why then do we fail to trust Him in all things, and at all times? He has established the earth after all, and is more than capable of handling any and all problems that it might bring forth. I only wish we were as faithful to Him as He is to us.

This is one of only five verses that does not contain a direct reference to the Word of God in this entire Psalm. There are nine different words used for God’s Word, and nearly every verse in this huge psalm (176verses) contains at least one, and some two. This psalm is an excellent tribute to the Word of God, and what it means to mankind; it should be read often and carefully, as well as prayerfully. He has established, or settled His Word, and the earth, as we see here. He has established his Word in the earth, through His Son, Jesus, Who is the Word incarnate; the very God of gods, and Lord of lords. It is, then, a tribute to Jesus. Read it carefully, and with great awe, and see the Lord of the Psalms, in Christ. Laws, ordinances, precepts, testimonies, commandments, etc., all are about Jesus. Read on, and note these synonyms and be reminded that Christ is everywhere in the Bible, walking through it’s pages, and hiding Himself in every page. Praise the Lord for this wonderful fact.

Psalms 119: 73-80

“They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.” (v. 74)

Twice in this passage we see the importance of fellowship with the people of God. We need each other, as well as the guidance of the love of God. To see someone that is serious about serving the Lord is always a blessing to me, and who do you think I ask to pray for special needs? Those who I know walk with the Lord. The prayer of the psalmist is that God’s people will “turn” unto him, and unite with him in the service of the Lord. We have much in common, after all, and ought to act as if we do. Romans 12:10 tells us, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” so even Paul tells us to prefer, or desire the company of our brothers and sisters in Christ. (Emphasis is mine.)

I am reminded of my army days, and of the camaraderie that is found among soldiers who suffer the same fates. Many times, through suffering together, we “bond” with others who have struggled with us. It seems that there is a closeness, because they understand each others’ fears, and joys, and sorrows. Often, when we were off duty, we sought out those “buddies” who we had been through much tribulation of some sort or another with, and we became good friends. It is the same in the bus ministry, by the way. Bus workers understand the heart of a bus worker, and they all sacrifice together, and “suffer” if you will, the same “afflictions”. This brings them closer together, many times, so that “They that fear thee will be glad when they see me” as our text verse says, and all because we have, together, “hoped in” His Word.

Let’s desire the companionship of one another, as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s “honor” one another, and be kind to one another, and “prefer” the company of one another, and we will please the Lord in that one thing at least.

Spurgeon's Devotions

“Exceeding great and precious promises.”
- 2Pe_1:4
If you would know experimentally the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, meditate much upon them. There are promises which are like grapes in the wine-press; if you will tread them the juice will flow. Thinking over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their fulfilment. While you are musing upon them, the boon which you are seeking will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise has found the favour which it ensured gently distilling into his soul even while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he was led to lay the promise near his heart.
But besides meditating upon the promises, seek in thy soul to receive them as being the very words of God. Speak to thy soul thus, “If I were dealing with a man’s promise, I should carefully consider the ability and the character of the man who had covenanted with me. So with the promise of God; my eye must not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the mercy-that may stagger me; as upon the greatness of the promiser-that will cheer me. My soul, it is God, even thy God, God that cannot lie, who speaks to thee. This word of his which thou art now considering is as true as his own existence. He is a God unchangeable. He has not altered the thing which has gone out of his mouth, nor called back one single consolatory sentence. Nor doth he lack any power; it is the God that made the heavens and the earth who has spoken thus. Nor can he fail in wisdom as to the time when he will bestow the favours, for he knoweth when it is best to give and when better to withhold. Therefore, seeing that it is the word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise, I will and must believe the promise.” If we thus meditate upon the promises, and consider the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain their fulfilment.

PSALMS 119:25-32

“Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.” (v. 27)

When we really grasp the wonders of God, we will share the blessing with others. Our testimony ought to always be about how great He is, and what The Lord has done for us. When I think of the way the Lord has nurtured me along all these years, I am amazed, dumbfounded, to say the least. I hope to shout it from the housetops, for all eternity, the amazing grace of God, and His wonderful Love toward me and mine. Oh that we could all say that, and see the hand of God at work in our lives for many years. The psalmist knew where his strength was, in v. 28, and he sought God’s Word for it. Yes, there is strengthening in His Word. The power to do right; to glorify the Father, we all have the power and ability to do so, but shamefully we fail in the task.

This passage contains the words “according unto thy Word” two times, the first in v. 25, where he asks to be refreshed, or “quickened” by the Word of God, and the promise of it, and in v. 28 where we see him asking for the strength that comes through the Word. The real strength comes from God Himself, and in Him “making us” to understand His Word, and to His way, as the text verse clearly implies. Understanding is defined in Job 28:28, as is wisdom, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Holiness is the key to happiness. We need to ask, with the psalmist, that the Lord would deliver us from lying, (v. 28), and from all evil (Mt 6:13).

Will we “Run the way” of His commandment, as the psalmist said he would do in v. 32? If so, God will “enlarge” our heart for us, and our life will be an abundant life, filled with the grace and blessing of God Almighty.

Psalms 119:17-24

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (v.18)

God gives great wisdom through the study of His Word. Those who seem to get more out of the Bible are those who have whole-heartedly sought after Him. What joy it is to discover little “jewels” of scripture as we read God’s Word. Many things are revealed when we “diligently seek Him” and we seem to have better judgment in decisions we must make. Oh, the wondrous things we see from His Law, and the blessing it is in our lives. David said “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.” (119:10).

Have you ever traveled to a distant land, or even in our own land, been in a far-away, and strange seeming place? I believe the psalmist captured that attitude in this world, and he knew he was a stranger here, and needed God’s comfort and direction in life. He said, “I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.” How often I have heard some claim that they are pilgrims and strangers in this world, but then they seek after its delicacies with a zeal that is unmatched in the Christian realm. If we think ourselves to be sojourners here, we have no desire, nor business running the world, do we? If I were to come to your home, and begin to run your business, you would resent it, but we do the same thing when we seek after this world so vehemently; we do it to Christ. Jesus put it this way, to one of His followers, “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” (Mt. 8:22). Yes, there is great wisdom in following our Lord, but we need to let go of this world to fully appreciate His blessings. Seek out the Lord in all thy ways, my friend, and find the wisdom and the comfort of it in Christ, and Him only. Remember 1 John 2:15-17, and especially v. 15, where we see that “the love of the Father is not in him”. We must all ask ourselves, “Do I look to the Lord for my peace? Do I seek comfort in Him, or in some organization or person? What about my economic security, who do I trust for that?” There are so many ways that we violate these verses that one cannot mention remember all—and as humans, we usually find them quite easily.

Psalms 119:9-16

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (v.9)

We see, first, the cleansing power of the Word. Oh what joy there is in total cleansing, few things feel better to us when we are weary, than a nice hot bath or shower. A young man finds cleansing here, as the young seem to get the dirtiest, but there is a cleansing for all of us at any age in the Word. Where is the cleansing found? In v. 11, by hiding God’s Word in our hearts. Oh that we would realize the power of the Word of God, and allow It to do Its wonderful work in us.
Notice the psalmist repeats his zeal in v. 10, and in the whole-hearted seeking. This cannot be emphasized enough. A heart totally given to the Lord’s will, is one that has already hid Him in it, and will walk accordingly, and has learned to rejoice in Him, “as much as in all riches”, (v. 14).

In Psalms 138:2 we see that God magnifies His Word even above His Name! This seems like an amazing thing to us, but it shows how important God’s Word really is to Him. The psalmist in Psalms 119 treats the Word of God much the same way that God does, he “delights “ in It, (v.16); he meditates on It, and has respect unto It, (v.15), and it is no wonder that that he can hide It in his heart, and is afraid to sin against God! Folks, that Bible you hold in your hand is a very precious Book, let’s take care of it and respect it, and obey it. First we need to read It, then we need to heed It! We sometimes respect the American flag even more than the Word of God! We throw our Bible on the floor, or in a closet, but proudly display the flag, and forbid it to touch the ground even! Shame on us! When we learn to love the Lord with all our hearts, we will learn to treat His Word with the great respect It deserves. Let’s get our priorities right!
“Blessed art thou, oh Lord: teach me thy statutes” (v.12). The Lord will teach us, if we will learn of Him. The Word will cause us to bless the Lord too. We will appreciate His goodness, and His graces. We will desire to know Him better, and to get closer to Him. The joy He gives us through His Precious Word, will guide us through the storms of life with confidence in Him, if we can learn to delight in Him.

Disciple, Profiteer, or Temporary Miracle-Believer: The Work of the Word in John 2

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a two-way street, hinging on his discipleship of us through the Spirit, and our continued discipleship with him through the word of God.

We pick up in John 2:13-25, after Cana. The remainder of John 2 post-Cana seems like a disjointed collection of different accounts of Jesus moving southward with his disciples to Jerusalem. But there is a uniting concept there, and in the Gospel of John, which does not always follow chronological order, sequence is key. If John puts something in a particular order, they may be linked not by time, but by theme. The theme, friends, is discipleship.

After resting after the Cana (water to wine ) wedding at Capernaum, Jesus and his disciples went to Jerusalem, where Jesus cleared the temple of the livestock hawkers and the money-changers. He went on his rampage, and then his disciples recalled the scriptures that had forecast his zeal (John 2:17). Then, he was questioned apparently by some in the religious establishment, and he answered, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19). After the Resurrection, his disciples recalled what he had said “and they believed the scripture” that had forecast it (John 2:22). Finally, Jesus attended Passover, and performed miracles there, seen by many. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because knew all men. (John 2:24). Commit here is from the Greek word for “have faith” – pisteuo. Why did Jesus not commit himself to those people? Jesus did not have faith in those people in Jerusalem because their faith was superficial – they only saw his works, they did not know his words, and how his works fulfilled the Word of God. He needed to see them paging through scripture in search of the deeper, prophetic ramifications of his deeds.

This latter part of John 2, holds for us a classification for people who claim Christ into three groups:
1) Disciples: Believe not only in Christ or his miracles, but are students of the Word. They are Bible readers and studiers, like those at Berea. They pore over what they see in the scriptures to see if it was so. (Acts 17:11)
2) Temporary believers. These are the souls he won by performing miracles. They liked what they saw and signed on, but did not continue in his word. Jesus obviously did not continue on with them either.
3) Profiteers. These are people who profit from the selling of the word, and these are cast out of the Temple by Jesus. These are people more akin to Judas, who might walk among believers, but their hearts are only interested in material gain that they associate with their ill-founded belief in God.

The Gospel of John points to the need for us to be saved, but then gives us a choice about discipleship. I believe the two are connected. If we choose not to become disciples of Christ, then Christ himself will not commit himself to us.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:7)

How do we abide in Christ? Love each other. But this also calls for the converse of that: the words of Jesus abiding, or living, in us. And to do that he must be willing to abide in us. That means that one of the key components of discipleship is staying in the Word. Is not the Gospel of John centered on the fact that Jesus Christ is the living logos, of God, made flesh? Not just a son of God, as someone holy, but the Son of God, the only begotten. Abiding in his Word was why Jesus chose to keep close to his disciples while he would not entrust himself to those believers who were just interested in the fanfare of miracles and free food.

So, in this way, we can conclude that his works on earth were of far less important than his words on earth. The works of Christ are recorded in the gospels, some of them, in fact just a very small smattering of them, John noted, were included, and they were included in John precisely to make us believers (John 20:30-31). But the words of Christ, of God, breathed through scripture, must be our compass and map for the rest of our Christian walks. Fulfilling the Word, and being ready for its complete fulfillment in his return, is the “works” that God wants us to do for the rest of our lives here on earth. Let us not misunderstand the task of discipleship.