“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound (overflow) in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
This verse is loaded with gospel truth. Paul had just dealt with the inclusion of the Gentiles as the people of God, which had been prophesied in the Old Testament. This verse serves as a kind doxology on that truth. The hope of God is not just for Jews (though it is too) through Christ it is hope for Gentiles as well. Through Jesus Christ the world is literally overflowing with hope. Paul, then, gives the substance of this overflowing hope. I’m going to begin at the bottom of the verse to point out the reason that we have this hope. Paul wrote that it was “through the power of the Holy Spirit.” In John’s gospel, the promise of the Holy Spirit was given, and at the end of the gospels and at the first of Acts we see the fulfillment of this promise. We have this great hope in the Lord because of the Holy Spirit that God has given to believers. The Holy Spirit who convicted us, confirmed us and entered into our lives brought this great overflowing hope into our lives. The hope that we are given overflows with joy: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy…” In John 15:11 Jesus said, “My joy I give you that your joy might be full.” Jesus gives us His joy through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that we will always be happy, but it does mean that we will have the Joy of Christ no matter what is going on in our lives. It is up to us to claim this joy when we are going through difficult times. The Bible nowhere promises God’s people that they will be trouble free. All you have to do is read about all of the Bible’s prominent characters and see the troubles that they went through – all the way from Moses to Paul. But all believers have an overflowing hope that brings Christ’s joy into their lives. The hope that we are given overflows with peace: “Now the God of hope fill you with…peace in believing.” Just as Jesus promised us His joy, He also promised us His peace in John 16:33: “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (trouble): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world…” Hundreds, maybe thousands, of books have been written advising people how they can find peace. Jesus promised us overflowing peace. The Holy Spirit brings peace into our lives. Like it is with joy, this promise of peace does not mean that we will not have anything happen in our lives to unsettle our peace. After all, Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble.” He offers us overflowing peace in spite of the troubles that we meet with in life. I personally know this, for I have had to claim this peace many times. The hope of overflowing hope with joy and peace comes about by believing: “Now the God hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…” “Believing” is an important word in the New Testament. The promise given throughout the New Testament is that we can have salvation through believing in Jesus Christ. This means more than believing about, or just believing Jesus. To believe in Jesus means to give your life to Him. Believe in Jesus and claim the overflowing hope, joy and peace that we can have only in Christ. If you have it today, claim it!!! Bro. Joe
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“And the serpent said unto the woman, “You will not surely die.” 5. For God knows that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes will be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
The serpent approached Eve and asked her if there was fruit in the garden that she should not eat. She told him that they were not to eat from the tree “in the midst of the garden,” because they would die. Then he started his temptation in earnest. He told her that she would not die. In other words, he was calling God a liar. This is one of Satan’s favorite tricks and he just does it over and over again, and people still fall for it. Jesus said of him: “When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44) Jesus was probably referring back to this original temptation when he called Satan “the father” of lies. The liar was lying about calling God a liar. No matter how devastating the results of sin are, we brilliant human beings just keep falling for it. Like Eve, we just don’t believe God…… He told Eve that if she would eat the forbidden fruit, she would “be as gods.” Why? Because she would know both good and evil. This is exactly what God warned them would happen. Satan made what God forbad look as if it was really something beneficial. We haven’t learned a lot since the Garden of Eden…..Have we! That is when the forbidden fruit began to look good to eve, and she plucked it and ate it, and was joined by Adam. There is an old adage that forbidden fruit always looks good. I don’t guess that there is a human being, outside of Jesus, who has not experienced the pleasure of tasting forbidden fruit. We read about the devastation of this forbidden fruit throughout the Bible. The original couple did not die right away, but die they did. Satan lied….sin is a killer. “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a) Thank God, that in His grace, that is not the final answer. The conclusion of Romans 6:23 is: “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Satan was defeated at the cross, because by His blood, Jesus made forgiveness for sin possible. Satan tried all of his lies to keep Jesus from the cross, but it did not work. Jesus drank all of the bitter dregs of pain and suffering in order to rescue us from the liar. Satan continues to lie, but through faith in Christ, we do not have to give in to his lies. The answer is lined out for us in Romans 3:23-24: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 24. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” We are redeemed by our faith in Jesus Christ, Who died for our sins, rose from the grave, ascended to heaven, where He intercedes for us, forgives us and gives us eternal life. Bro. Joe “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11. The Pharisee standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God. I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, un just, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12. I fast twice a week: I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ 14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
According to Jesus, the Pharisee’s prayer of self-exaltation was not honored by God, but the prayer of the tax collector was honored. I want to share with you what the tax collector did that was right. He made the right approach to God. Both men prayed to God, one honored himself, but the other humbled himself in the presence of God. It makes a difference how we approach God in prayer. He is not impressed with us. That is why we pray humbly in the name of Jesus. Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” He asked for the right thing – mercy. The prayer of the Pharisee had no hint of humility, or of a need for God’s mercy. Romans 3:23 means what it says: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The tax collector knew that he stood in the need of God’s mercy. All of us stand in the need of God’s mercy, and we should thank Him that He is the God of mercy and grace, or we would all be lost. It seemed as though the Pharisee thought that he was doing God a favor by talking to Him. We are not doing God a favor by coming to Him; He is doing us a favor by letting us come to His throne of mercy. The tax collector got it right, and his prayer was honored. He made the right confession. He sought God’s mercy for he knew that he had sinned. If we are not careful, those of us who are Christians can be like the Pharisee. Anytime we approach the throne of grace, we need to remember that we are there because of God’s grace. We just need to admit with the tax collector: “I am a sinner.” If you don’t see that, or are offended by it, join the Pharisee. Jesus meant what He said: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is a good lesson for all of us. Let’s pay attention to it. Bro. Joe “But without faith it is impossible to please (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11 is known as the “Hall of Faith,” because it is about the faith of great Old Testament saints who were people of faith. The beginning of the chapter actually defines faith as: “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In verses 4-5, the writer described Abel and Enoch who pleased God because of their faith. Then in verse 6, the writer points out that the only way to please God is by faith. Paul wrote that we are saved “by grace through faith.” (Ephesians 2:8) Real faith will express itself, not only in the confession that it makes, but in the action that it takes. The kind of faith that pleases God is the kind that serves. In other words, genuine faith is not dormant, but it is active. It is impossible to please God without faith, but what is the nature of that faith? First, the person who has faith that pleases God must believe in His existence: “For he who comes to God must believe that He is.” I know that this seems elementary, but it is certainly necessary. The only way that we can grasp the reality of God is by faith in Him. Everything around us gives us evidence of God’s existence, but the faith that pleases God is the faith that takes Him personally. Second, the person who has faith that pleases God is the person who believes that God is interested in his or her life. Observe: “And that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” People of faith not only take God seriously, they know that He takes them seriously and that He loves them. People of faith sincerely believe that God is interested in their lives, and that He is aware of them, and of their love and service for Him. Third, the person who has faith that pleases God is one who knows that his or her life in Christ is serving a higher purpose. In verses 9-10 we read about Abraham: “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles (tents) with Isaac and Jacob, and heirs with Him of the same promise. 10. For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” By faith we are citizens of two countries. We are citizens of heaven; therefore, we are to remember that we serve a higher purpose than the things that we accomplish in this world. We should be careful that we use our faith to promote God’s kingdom and not just our worldly endeavors. Bro. Joe “For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness of the things in which you have seen in me and those to which I will appear to you. 17. Delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles – and to whom I am sending you. 18. To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. 19. Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” ESV
Our text comes in the middle of Paul’s testimony to King Agrippa as to why he was on trial. He shared the encounter that he had with Jesus on the Damascus Road. Paul was to turn people, from “darkness to light.” Sin is as dark now as it was in Paul’s day. Jesus told His disciples that He was the light of the world (John 8:12) and that they should be His light to the world (Matthew 5:16). Until we see the darkness of sin, we will not catch the vision to call people out of it. Paul, himself, had to be called from legalistic self-righteousness to accept the reality of God’s grace. He had to accept that God loved the pagan Gentiles as much as He loved the strict Jews. That is the way that it will have to be with us. We need to see people loved of God, who need to be called from darkness to light by God’s grace. Paul was to call people from “the power of Satan to God.” We have kind of made of joke of Satan as “a little red devil on the side of a can of deviled ham.” Satan is not a joke, and he seriously means business. Jesus knew this when He confronted Satan in his temptation experiences. The call from darkness to light is a call from the grasp of Satan into the hands of the Almighty, loving God. This is as true today as it was in Paul’s day. Paul was to call people that “they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” In order to move from darkness to light, we need to be forgiven for our sins. The Bible is clear that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) God has forgiven us for our sins and we are to call people to receive the forgiveness that only Christ can give. We are promised that if we sincerely ask for His forgiveness, He will sincerely give it. (I John 1:9) Paul told Agrippa: “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” It is our vision as well and we should be obedient to our own call. Bro. Joe “Wherefore, my beloved brothers, let every man (and woman) be swift to hear….”
I think that you will agree with me that we do more talking than we do listening. James has given us good advice here in telling us to be “swift to hear.” If you are like me, you are sometimes thinking of what you are going to say when someone else is talking instead of listening. (I plead guilty, but I will write on anyway.) We need to open up our ears, hearts and minds and be "swift to hear.” I want to share my thoughts with you on this subject. We learn when we listen. Jesus told His disciples at least three times, that He was going to Jerusalem, where He would be tried, crucified and that He would arise on the third day. Evidently, they were not listening. At least they were not listening with comprehension. We need to hear what Jesus is saying to us about our lives. He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and we need to open our spiritual ears. We also need to listen to each other, for we have a lot to teach each other. We act on what we learn when we really listen and comprehend. Simon Peter was not swift to hear, but when he, and the other disciples, finally understood what Jesus was telling them about his death and resurrection, they began a work that would change the Roman Empire – and the world. The work that Jesus instituted in His early followers continues today and we are a part of it! Like the disciples we need to wake up and hear the command of Jesus to make disciples in all the world. (Read Matthew 28:18-20.) When we really listen, our hearts and lives are changed. I have a vivid memory of when Jesus got my attention and got through to me. I was alone on my bunk one afternoon, probably while I was on night duty, on the USS Hornet, when the Lord spoke to my heart clearly and distinctly. I did not hear His voice, but I knew that He was speaking to me. I can’t explain to you what happened that day, but take my word for it – it happened. That experience of listening changed the direction of my life to this day. I did not become “saintly,” and still haven’t, but I knew what Jesus wanted with my life from that day forward. I dealt at age twenty with what Jesus planted in my heart when I was twelve years old. Enough about me. I hope that you are listening with your ears and your heart. If you will, you will learn, you will act on what you hear and your life will be changed. Try it! Bro. Joe “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with the promises of God’s provision. For example, throughout the Israelite’s trek in the desert after their escape from Egypt, God provided for all of their needs, to the point that at the end of it, their footwear was not worn out, nor was their clothing. He supplied manna each morning for their sustenance and provided quails for them at one point. Then we come to the New Testament, and we find a promise of God’s provision. After all, God’s providence had a good history to that point, and Paul promised that God would still provide for His people. Paul wrote: “My God shall supply…” After All He is God and everything ultimately belongs to Him. When we go to Him we can draw from an abundant supply. Psalm 24:1 tells us that: “The earth is the Lord’s and fullness thereof, and they that dwell therein.” We are also told in Psalm 50:9-12: “I will take no bullock out of your house, nor he goats out of your fold. 10. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills, 11. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.” The promise in Philippians 4:19 draws from that supply and from the “supply of His riches in glory.” Furthermore, Paul wrote: “My God shall supply all your need…” I know that in wealthy America we have a standard of living that no one has ever had in history. Think about it: We have air-conditioning, and we have entertainment twenty-four hours a day via television, Netflix, movies, etc. We have access to literature that is unparalleled in history. Don’t you know that Socrates and Plato would have loved having the libraries that we have today? We have all of this, and more, yet we are needy in so many different ways. Finally Paul wrote: “My God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” It is through Christ that we receive the great blessings of God. The greatest thing that the Father offers us through Christ Jesus is salvation from sin, which provides abundant life here, and eternal life in heaven. Partake of the abundance that only Christ can supply and rejoice!!! Bro. Joe |
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