Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
A Prisoner of Hope
Everyone knows there is pain in this life.
We've all seen our share of tears,
But I choose to live on the positve side and
I won't be held hostage by fear.
(Chorus) I'm a prisoner of hope,
Bound by my faith, chained to His love,
Locked up in Grace, I'm free to leave, but I'll never go,
I'm wonderfully, willingly, freely a prisoner of hope.
Some people doubt what they don't understand,
But I know what's true in my heart,
Now I can't control what's out of my hands,
But I can lay back in His arms.
In Thy Hands
I am sorry I have not posted anything for a long time. My computer died at the beginning of summer, and it is hard to work on Blogger from just my Ipod touch. I am trying out this keyboard for the Ipad.
I thought the study posted by another member on what happens to babies that die was good, and thought that this might be a good time to also post this study of mine, as it may answer some more questions and give some comfort for those who may be grieving the loss of a loved one.
In Thy Hands
My times are in Thy hand:
deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Psalm 31:15
Note: Please understand that my purpose for writing this study is not to rebuke those with a wrong perspective on death, nor to make light of someone's struggle over the death of a loved one; but my purpose is to lessen their struggle and increase their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ by helping to give them the Biblical perspective of the issue. I believe that if we remember what the Lord has said in His Word, then we would not be sorrowful as those without hope. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13) If you are grieving over the loss of a loved one right now, and are looking for answers, please prayerfully read over this study. If you are not ready for answers at this point, please save this study on your computer, and down the road you will have it handy when you need it.
The Bible teaches quite clearly that the Almighty God is in control of our lives and deaths. He is the one who has decreed our physical boundaries, our physical characteristics, our personality. (See Acts 17:26; Ecclesiastes 3:2; Psalm 139:13-16) He is also the one who has determined when and where we would be born, and when and where we would die. Death is not an accident; it is an appointment. Hebrews 9:27 says And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
Death comes to all. It is a result of sin; in fact, it is the punishment for it. (See Romans 6:23) Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. Everyone living will someday die (except for those Christians who are living when Jesus Christ returns, at the rapture). Death should not come as a surprise. The tragedy is not so much in dying, but in being unprepared for death and the judgement that comes after.
The way we can be prepared to face death is by placing personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His death for our sins on Calvary. We were all guilty of death, but the Bible teaches that Jesus tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9). He died in our place as our substitute. He took the punishment that was due us for our sins, and by placing personal faith in His death, burial and resurrection, we can spend eternity in Heaven, instead of Hell. Because I have personally trusted Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I need not fear death - it is only the doorway to Heaven for me. When I die, I go to be with Jesus and all my saved loved ones. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Ps 68:20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. This verse teaches that it is the Lord alone who can issue a pardon and deliver us from death. There are two main applications to this truth:
1) Death means separation. The first death is physical - the separation of the spirit from the body. (See James 2:26) The second death is spiritual - the separation of the spirit from God. (See 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9) This is called the second death in Scripture, and is otherwise known as Hell. (See Revelation 20:14-15; 21:8) Only Jesus Christ can deliver us from the punishment due our sins (eternity in Hell). He took our punishment upon Him when He shed His blood for us upon the cross. The price of our redemption was paid. We do not need to pay it ourselves - we just need to believe in and receive the Saviour who has paid our debt. This is our issue from the second death.
2) The second application is the deliverance from physical death. When we are faced with a life-threatening illness or enemies that seek to kill us, it is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can issue us the pardon and deliver us from death. He is the only person with this authority. We need to petition Him for deliverance when we (or our loved ones) are faced with physical death, but we also need to submit to (accept) His will in the matter. It may not be the Lord's will to deliver someone at a specific time; we must leave the decision in His hands, the hands that were graven for us! Isaiah 49:15-16 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.
So many people are afraid to face death and live in bondage to their fear. (See Hebrews 2:14-15) If we are children of God (through faith in Christ), we need not be afraid of dying. We can live in faith, knowing that our times are in His hands, that He is in total control of when we live and die, and we can trust Him that in His perfect wisdom He knows the best time to take us home. When an infant (or young child) dies and when a believer dies, the Bible teaches that they go immediately to Heaven, to a much better place, to dwell in the presence of God forever. It may bring Him more glory and result in more souls being saved if He took His ailing child home. It may be greater mercy on the Lord's part to take the sick Christian to Heaven, where they will be perfectly healed and made whole and will not suffer any more. When a believer dies, they have gone to a infinitely better place with no sickness, no pain, no sorrow, only unending joy.
The Bible teaches that the Lord takes the righteous home to give them relief from the evil to come, and that their deaths are precious in His sight. (See Isaiah 57:1-2; Psalm 116:15) The righteous enter into peace when they die; they enter into the eternal hope that they've been waiting for. (Proverbs 14:32)
I know Christians love that part. They don't have a problem with that; however, they have a problem with the deaths of their unsaved loved ones, those that die without receiving Jesus Christ as their Saviour. I know from the Word of God that when an unbeliever dies, they have already made their eternal choice - whether we agree with it or not. The Lord took them when He knew it was best, according to His infinite wisdom. I believe that an all-knowing God would not take an unbeliever while they were searching, looking for truth, if He knew that person would come to place personal faith in Jesus a little further down the road. He has promised that those who seek Him will find Him.
Two verses that have really eased my mind on this point are:
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Our Heavenly Father is in control of when we die. When we do, it will be according to His perfect will, not an accident or oversight. We can trust Him with our lives and our deaths.
Revelation 1:18 I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus Christ has the keys of Hell and death. That means that no one dies without His say, no unbeliever goes to Hell until He says so. Even the devil has to get permission to kill a believer. (See Job 1:12; 2:6) Our job, as believers, is to ensure that we have done all we can to reach the lost around us, especially our loved ones. If we are doing so, then when an unbeliever we love has died, we don't have to be tormented in mind about what ifs. They made their choice, and the Lord has allowed them the free-will to do so.
When Jesus was dying on the cross, He submitted His will to the will of His Heavenly Father, and trusted His Father with His spirit in death. Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost. Jesus is our example to follow. If we are saved, we can trust our Heavenly Father in this area as well. To die in faith will not be a problem, if we live in faith. If we trust the Lord with our spirit (and soul) during our lives, it will be an easy matter to trust Him with our spirit in death. Psalm 31:5 Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
When a believer dies, it is like taking a walk through a valley. Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. It is only the shadow of death. Jesus Christ has taken away the sting and bite of it. (See 1 Corinthians 15:55, 57) For the believer, there is nothing to fear – only endless glory to look forward to.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
I especially like the next verse (verse 18): Wherefore comfort one another with these words. There’s a reason these promises are in the Bible. They were put in there by the Lord to encourage and strengthen us, to comfort us, and to exhort us to to keep our eyes on the future hope of seeing all our saved loved ones again someday. That someday won’t be too far away. Oh come, Lord Jesus.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.
Psalm 116:15
And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
“Even so” – it is well with my soul.
(From the hymn It Is Well With My Soul by H.G. Spafford.)
I've Gone Home
I've gone home to see my Father,
I've gone home, so don't you cry
I'll be waiting for you in Heaven,
In my mansion prepared on high.
No more sickness, no more sorrow,
No more pain, and no more grief.
I've gone home to be with Jesus
Though my sojourn here was brief.
I've gone home to live in Heaven
With all the blessed saints of old,
Here with Abraham and David
To stroll through streets of gold.
I've gone home to be in Heaven
Where there's no sadness, and no night.
There is joy and peace unending,
In this blissful land of light.
But there's something else more beautiful,
So precious, beyond this crystal sea,
As I wander through realms of glory
I find my Saviour walks with me.
I've gone home to be in Heaven,
Though you miss me, and tears abound,
Just keep believing in God's promises,
And listening for that trumpet sound.
Because one day in God's timing
When the Lord calls out your name
Look to the skies in awe and wonder -
We'll see each other again.
Poem written August 1st, 2002
Study written June 5th, 2002
By Jerry Bouey
I thought the study posted by another member on what happens to babies that die was good, and thought that this might be a good time to also post this study of mine, as it may answer some more questions and give some comfort for those who may be grieving the loss of a loved one.
In Thy Hands
My times are in Thy hand:
deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Psalm 31:15
Note: Please understand that my purpose for writing this study is not to rebuke those with a wrong perspective on death, nor to make light of someone's struggle over the death of a loved one; but my purpose is to lessen their struggle and increase their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ by helping to give them the Biblical perspective of the issue. I believe that if we remember what the Lord has said in His Word, then we would not be sorrowful as those without hope. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13) If you are grieving over the loss of a loved one right now, and are looking for answers, please prayerfully read over this study. If you are not ready for answers at this point, please save this study on your computer, and down the road you will have it handy when you need it.
The Bible teaches quite clearly that the Almighty God is in control of our lives and deaths. He is the one who has decreed our physical boundaries, our physical characteristics, our personality. (See Acts 17:26; Ecclesiastes 3:2; Psalm 139:13-16) He is also the one who has determined when and where we would be born, and when and where we would die. Death is not an accident; it is an appointment. Hebrews 9:27 says And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
Death comes to all. It is a result of sin; in fact, it is the punishment for it. (See Romans 6:23) Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. Everyone living will someday die (except for those Christians who are living when Jesus Christ returns, at the rapture). Death should not come as a surprise. The tragedy is not so much in dying, but in being unprepared for death and the judgement that comes after.
The way we can be prepared to face death is by placing personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His death for our sins on Calvary. We were all guilty of death, but the Bible teaches that Jesus tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9). He died in our place as our substitute. He took the punishment that was due us for our sins, and by placing personal faith in His death, burial and resurrection, we can spend eternity in Heaven, instead of Hell. Because I have personally trusted Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I need not fear death - it is only the doorway to Heaven for me. When I die, I go to be with Jesus and all my saved loved ones. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Ps 68:20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. This verse teaches that it is the Lord alone who can issue a pardon and deliver us from death. There are two main applications to this truth:
1) Death means separation. The first death is physical - the separation of the spirit from the body. (See James 2:26) The second death is spiritual - the separation of the spirit from God. (See 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9) This is called the second death in Scripture, and is otherwise known as Hell. (See Revelation 20:14-15; 21:8) Only Jesus Christ can deliver us from the punishment due our sins (eternity in Hell). He took our punishment upon Him when He shed His blood for us upon the cross. The price of our redemption was paid. We do not need to pay it ourselves - we just need to believe in and receive the Saviour who has paid our debt. This is our issue from the second death.
2) The second application is the deliverance from physical death. When we are faced with a life-threatening illness or enemies that seek to kill us, it is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can issue us the pardon and deliver us from death. He is the only person with this authority. We need to petition Him for deliverance when we (or our loved ones) are faced with physical death, but we also need to submit to (accept) His will in the matter. It may not be the Lord's will to deliver someone at a specific time; we must leave the decision in His hands, the hands that were graven for us! Isaiah 49:15-16 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.
So many people are afraid to face death and live in bondage to their fear. (See Hebrews 2:14-15) If we are children of God (through faith in Christ), we need not be afraid of dying. We can live in faith, knowing that our times are in His hands, that He is in total control of when we live and die, and we can trust Him that in His perfect wisdom He knows the best time to take us home. When an infant (or young child) dies and when a believer dies, the Bible teaches that they go immediately to Heaven, to a much better place, to dwell in the presence of God forever. It may bring Him more glory and result in more souls being saved if He took His ailing child home. It may be greater mercy on the Lord's part to take the sick Christian to Heaven, where they will be perfectly healed and made whole and will not suffer any more. When a believer dies, they have gone to a infinitely better place with no sickness, no pain, no sorrow, only unending joy.
The Bible teaches that the Lord takes the righteous home to give them relief from the evil to come, and that their deaths are precious in His sight. (See Isaiah 57:1-2; Psalm 116:15) The righteous enter into peace when they die; they enter into the eternal hope that they've been waiting for. (Proverbs 14:32)
I know Christians love that part. They don't have a problem with that; however, they have a problem with the deaths of their unsaved loved ones, those that die without receiving Jesus Christ as their Saviour. I know from the Word of God that when an unbeliever dies, they have already made their eternal choice - whether we agree with it or not. The Lord took them when He knew it was best, according to His infinite wisdom. I believe that an all-knowing God would not take an unbeliever while they were searching, looking for truth, if He knew that person would come to place personal faith in Jesus a little further down the road. He has promised that those who seek Him will find Him.
Two verses that have really eased my mind on this point are:
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Our Heavenly Father is in control of when we die. When we do, it will be according to His perfect will, not an accident or oversight. We can trust Him with our lives and our deaths.
Revelation 1:18 I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus Christ has the keys of Hell and death. That means that no one dies without His say, no unbeliever goes to Hell until He says so. Even the devil has to get permission to kill a believer. (See Job 1:12; 2:6) Our job, as believers, is to ensure that we have done all we can to reach the lost around us, especially our loved ones. If we are doing so, then when an unbeliever we love has died, we don't have to be tormented in mind about what ifs. They made their choice, and the Lord has allowed them the free-will to do so.
When Jesus was dying on the cross, He submitted His will to the will of His Heavenly Father, and trusted His Father with His spirit in death. Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost. Jesus is our example to follow. If we are saved, we can trust our Heavenly Father in this area as well. To die in faith will not be a problem, if we live in faith. If we trust the Lord with our spirit (and soul) during our lives, it will be an easy matter to trust Him with our spirit in death. Psalm 31:5 Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
When a believer dies, it is like taking a walk through a valley. Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. It is only the shadow of death. Jesus Christ has taken away the sting and bite of it. (See 1 Corinthians 15:55, 57) For the believer, there is nothing to fear – only endless glory to look forward to.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
I especially like the next verse (verse 18): Wherefore comfort one another with these words. There’s a reason these promises are in the Bible. They were put in there by the Lord to encourage and strengthen us, to comfort us, and to exhort us to to keep our eyes on the future hope of seeing all our saved loved ones again someday. That someday won’t be too far away. Oh come, Lord Jesus.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.
Psalm 116:15
And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
“Even so” – it is well with my soul.
(From the hymn It Is Well With My Soul by H.G. Spafford.)
I've Gone Home
I've gone home to see my Father,
I've gone home, so don't you cry
I'll be waiting for you in Heaven,
In my mansion prepared on high.
No more sickness, no more sorrow,
No more pain, and no more grief.
I've gone home to be with Jesus
Though my sojourn here was brief.
I've gone home to live in Heaven
With all the blessed saints of old,
Here with Abraham and David
To stroll through streets of gold.
I've gone home to be in Heaven
Where there's no sadness, and no night.
There is joy and peace unending,
In this blissful land of light.
But there's something else more beautiful,
So precious, beyond this crystal sea,
As I wander through realms of glory
I find my Saviour walks with me.
I've gone home to be in Heaven,
Though you miss me, and tears abound,
Just keep believing in God's promises,
And listening for that trumpet sound.
Because one day in God's timing
When the Lord calls out your name
Look to the skies in awe and wonder -
We'll see each other again.
Poem written August 1st, 2002
Study written June 5th, 2002
By Jerry Bouey
Strength for Today
Allen Domelle has written many devotions we use here at IFBKJV.com, but this one was a special blessing to me today. He also just redid his website, take a look - it's looking great!
It Will Get Better
Job 3:2-3
“And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.”
When you read the verses above, you can see that Job was overwhelmed with the tragedy that had smitten him. Put yourself in Job's shoes for a minute, and think about what you would feel like if everything that happened to him happened to you. Job lost his job, wealth, transportation, children, health, friends and wife. This is quite a bit of tragedy to hit one person at one time. I seriously doubt that there are too many people who have had all of this happen to them at one time.
In the verse above, we read Job's first response to everything that had happened to him. Job's first response was overwhelming despair. Notice that Job questioned why he was born. When you put yourself in Job's place, you can just about feel the overwhelming feeling of despair and disbelief that had taken him. Yet, when we read the remainder of the book, we learn that because Job did not give up, his end was better than he ever imagined.
Your first response to tragedy when it comes your way is very important. There are many who will read this devotional that are either in the midst of tragedy or have just had tragedy hit them. There are many who read this devotional that are just like Job and are overwhelmed with the tragedy that has come there way. Let me help you with some advice to get you through what you’re facing.
First of all, it is bad. I am not going to try and paint a pretty picture for your tragedy because all tragedy is bad. Though your tragedy may be bad, it is probably not as bad as you feel right now.
Secondly, don't react to your first feelings. When tragedy hits, you are normally in a tailspin and really don't know how to react. You must be careful not to react to your first feelings when tragedy hits because you are not in a good frame of mind to make decisions.
Thirdly, everything is not lost. Our reaction is to think that we don't have anything else for which to live, and this is totally untrue. You always have something for which to live, and you must not think that everything is lost. If you will look hard enough, you can find something for which you can live.
Next, God is still alive! Let me assure you, though you may doubt the existence of God at this time, He is still alive! God is alive and He knows what you are facing right now. In fact, God is concerned for you and will not allow more to be placed upon you than what you can bear.
Lastly, it will get better. When you read the end of the book of Job you realize that His end was better than he had ever imagined. I promise you, if you are saved it will get better. You will get through whatever you are facing right now and you must realize when you get through it that it will be better.
Don't despair when tragedy comes, it will get better. Just hang in there and you will find that the initial overwhelming feeling of tragedy will subside and life will eventually get better. It may seem bad right now, but it will get better.
It Will Get Better
Job 3:2-3
“And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.”
When you read the verses above, you can see that Job was overwhelmed with the tragedy that had smitten him. Put yourself in Job's shoes for a minute, and think about what you would feel like if everything that happened to him happened to you. Job lost his job, wealth, transportation, children, health, friends and wife. This is quite a bit of tragedy to hit one person at one time. I seriously doubt that there are too many people who have had all of this happen to them at one time.
In the verse above, we read Job's first response to everything that had happened to him. Job's first response was overwhelming despair. Notice that Job questioned why he was born. When you put yourself in Job's place, you can just about feel the overwhelming feeling of despair and disbelief that had taken him. Yet, when we read the remainder of the book, we learn that because Job did not give up, his end was better than he ever imagined.
Your first response to tragedy when it comes your way is very important. There are many who will read this devotional that are either in the midst of tragedy or have just had tragedy hit them. There are many who read this devotional that are just like Job and are overwhelmed with the tragedy that has come there way. Let me help you with some advice to get you through what you’re facing.
First of all, it is bad. I am not going to try and paint a pretty picture for your tragedy because all tragedy is bad. Though your tragedy may be bad, it is probably not as bad as you feel right now.
Secondly, don't react to your first feelings. When tragedy hits, you are normally in a tailspin and really don't know how to react. You must be careful not to react to your first feelings when tragedy hits because you are not in a good frame of mind to make decisions.
Thirdly, everything is not lost. Our reaction is to think that we don't have anything else for which to live, and this is totally untrue. You always have something for which to live, and you must not think that everything is lost. If you will look hard enough, you can find something for which you can live.
Next, God is still alive! Let me assure you, though you may doubt the existence of God at this time, He is still alive! God is alive and He knows what you are facing right now. In fact, God is concerned for you and will not allow more to be placed upon you than what you can bear.
Lastly, it will get better. When you read the end of the book of Job you realize that His end was better than he had ever imagined. I promise you, if you are saved it will get better. You will get through whatever you are facing right now and you must realize when you get through it that it will be better.
Don't despair when tragedy comes, it will get better. Just hang in there and you will find that the initial overwhelming feeling of tragedy will subside and life will eventually get better. It may seem bad right now, but it will get better.
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
This was such a blessing today I wanted to share it here.
Abiding Hope in Prison
Friday, August 14, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell
Acts 16:25
The presence of God is always reason for hope.
Darlene Deibler, a missionary in Indonesia during WWII, described the moment she was taken by the Japanese secret police and locked in solitary confinement for later interrogation:
The door closed upon me, and I dropped to my knees, eyes intent upon the keyhole. When I saw the key make a complete revolution, I knew I was on death row, imprisoned to face trial and the sentence of death.
I listened to the footsteps of the guard recede on the concrete walkway. When he was gone beyond hearing, I sank back onto my heels. My face and hands were wet with cold perspiration; never had I known such terror. Suddenly I found I was singing a song that I had learned as a little girl in Sunday school in Boone, Iowa:
Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot;
He enters all rooms, The doors being shut.
He never forsakes, He never is gone,
So count on His presence from darkness ‘til dawn.
So tenderly my Lord wrapped His strong arms of quietness and calm about me. I knew they could lock me in, but they couldn’t lock my wonderful Lord out. Jesus was there in the cell with me.
Even in prison, God gives His children “songs in the night” (Job 35:10). Paul and Silas provide an example of the abiding hope we can have in Christ in the most desperate circumstances.
When Paul and Silas were unjustly beaten and cast into prison for preaching the Gospel, they could easily have buckled under the persecution. They could have harbored bitterness toward their persecutors or to the Lord. But what was the response of these godly men? They prayed and sang praises to God at midnight!
Didn’t they feel the pain of the stripes on their backs and the shackles binding their feet to the stocks? Didn’t they experience fear of possible (even likely) execution? Didn’t they smart under the unjust treatment? To sing in a dungeon-like prison with open wounds, sticky with clotting blood, surely indicated that these men needed a reality check!
No, they were not in denial; they felt every bit of the pain. Yet, Paul and Silas understood the larger reality—God was with them in prison. As real as the pain, as real as the stocks, as real as the uncertainty, was the presence of the Lord.
Paul and Silas’s spiritual response to persecution demonstrates to us that the hope and joy which triumphs in all circumstances cannot be self-manufactured; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22). We, too, can have this abiding hope that enables us to sing joyful praises to God, even during difficulties, when we surrender to the Holy Spirit’s control.
Is your spirit bound in a prison today? Has despair tried to wrap its heavy chains around you? Have the actions of others wounded you? Remember Christ is with you. There is no prison where He cannot enter. Trust God’s promise that He will never leave you and that He will make all things work together for good. Like Paul and Silas, sing and praise God—even in the prison. The presence of God is always reason for hope.
To learn more about Pastor Chappell's books, Sunday school curriculum, and spiritual leadership resources, please visit strivingtogether.com, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter. http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 14, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell
Acts 16:25
The presence of God is always reason for hope.
Darlene Deibler, a missionary in Indonesia during WWII, described the moment she was taken by the Japanese secret police and locked in solitary confinement for later interrogation:
The door closed upon me, and I dropped to my knees, eyes intent upon the keyhole. When I saw the key make a complete revolution, I knew I was on death row, imprisoned to face trial and the sentence of death.
I listened to the footsteps of the guard recede on the concrete walkway. When he was gone beyond hearing, I sank back onto my heels. My face and hands were wet with cold perspiration; never had I known such terror. Suddenly I found I was singing a song that I had learned as a little girl in Sunday school in Boone, Iowa:
Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot;
He enters all rooms, The doors being shut.
He never forsakes, He never is gone,
So count on His presence from darkness ‘til dawn.
So tenderly my Lord wrapped His strong arms of quietness and calm about me. I knew they could lock me in, but they couldn’t lock my wonderful Lord out. Jesus was there in the cell with me.
Even in prison, God gives His children “songs in the night” (Job 35:10). Paul and Silas provide an example of the abiding hope we can have in Christ in the most desperate circumstances.
When Paul and Silas were unjustly beaten and cast into prison for preaching the Gospel, they could easily have buckled under the persecution. They could have harbored bitterness toward their persecutors or to the Lord. But what was the response of these godly men? They prayed and sang praises to God at midnight!
Didn’t they feel the pain of the stripes on their backs and the shackles binding their feet to the stocks? Didn’t they experience fear of possible (even likely) execution? Didn’t they smart under the unjust treatment? To sing in a dungeon-like prison with open wounds, sticky with clotting blood, surely indicated that these men needed a reality check!
No, they were not in denial; they felt every bit of the pain. Yet, Paul and Silas understood the larger reality—God was with them in prison. As real as the pain, as real as the stocks, as real as the uncertainty, was the presence of the Lord.
Paul and Silas’s spiritual response to persecution demonstrates to us that the hope and joy which triumphs in all circumstances cannot be self-manufactured; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22). We, too, can have this abiding hope that enables us to sing joyful praises to God, even during difficulties, when we surrender to the Holy Spirit’s control.
Is your spirit bound in a prison today? Has despair tried to wrap its heavy chains around you? Have the actions of others wounded you? Remember Christ is with you. There is no prison where He cannot enter. Trust God’s promise that He will never leave you and that He will make all things work together for good. Like Paul and Silas, sing and praise God—even in the prison. The presence of God is always reason for hope.
To learn more about Pastor Chappell's books, Sunday school curriculum, and spiritual leadership resources, please visit strivingtogether.com, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter. http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com/
Spurgeon Today
“Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn.”
- Rth_2:2
Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean to-day in the broad field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet thy wants. Take this one: “He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.” Doth not that suit thy case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, he will not break thee; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen thee. Thou art like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from thee; but he will not quench thee; he will blow with his sweet breath of mercy till he fans thee to a flame. Wouldst thou glean another ear? “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What soft words! Thy heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore he speaketh so gently to thee. Wilt thou not obey him, and come to him even now? Take another ear of corn: “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” How canst thou fear with such a wonderful assurance as this? Thou mayest gather ten thousand such golden ears as these! “I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thy transgressions.” Or this, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Or this, “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” Our Master’s field is very rich; behold the handfuls. See, there they lie before thee, poor timid believer! Gather them up, make them thine own, for Jesus bids thee take them. Be not afraid, only believe! Grasp these sweet promises, thresh them out by meditation and feed on them with joy.
- Rth_2:2
Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean to-day in the broad field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet thy wants. Take this one: “He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.” Doth not that suit thy case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, he will not break thee; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen thee. Thou art like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from thee; but he will not quench thee; he will blow with his sweet breath of mercy till he fans thee to a flame. Wouldst thou glean another ear? “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What soft words! Thy heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore he speaketh so gently to thee. Wilt thou not obey him, and come to him even now? Take another ear of corn: “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” How canst thou fear with such a wonderful assurance as this? Thou mayest gather ten thousand such golden ears as these! “I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thy transgressions.” Or this, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Or this, “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” Our Master’s field is very rich; behold the handfuls. See, there they lie before thee, poor timid believer! Gather them up, make them thine own, for Jesus bids thee take them. Be not afraid, only believe! Grasp these sweet promises, thresh them out by meditation and feed on them with joy.
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.
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.
More Mercy Than We Deserve
Lamentations 3:21-24 (King James Version)
21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
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