It seems that the air is “pregnant with promise” [1] at the moment. Promises for individuals to live out of their true calling and their true identity. Promises for the church as a whole, for us to be the light God has called us to be, to see our services filled with His glory, to see freedom in the lives of those all around us. Yes, the air is "pregnant with promise".
At All Saints church, we’ve been doing a sermon series on the heroes of faith found in the Old Testament characters and every week, we’re faced with the same message – will the people of God believe God for the fulfilment of His promise? Will they remain hopeful when the circumstances of their lives contradict the very promise that was given to them?
Amidst this multitude of heroes, one person in particular stands out from the list of Old Testament heroes and gets a detailed analyse of his life, when the Apostle Paul holds him up as an example for the early church to follow and as an encouragement to stand strong in the promises of God. In Romans Paul writes of Abraham...
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed....”
When everything looked so opposed to the promises of God, Abraham held fast and simply believed. Paul goes on to write... “(Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” Abraham simply believed God. He took Him at His word knowing that He who promised would be faithful to fulfil it (Hebrews 10:23).
And so the challenge comes to us – will we celebrate the promises and faithfulness of God before the fulfilment of these promises. Will we be a people who simply celebrate God’s goodness and victory even before we see it in our own eyes and so fulfil the calling of the church to live by faith and not by sight? It’s a challenge because I know that I often through my complaining, impatience and ungratefulness I reveal that my belief is somewhat shallower than I sometimes like to admit. I simply grow tired of waiting and doubt begins to creep it's way into m life. Did God really say that? Did God really promise me this? Is it really worth the fight? And I find myself right back in the Garden of Eden, being tempted by the enemy to disbelieve God and doubt His promise for me.
But like Abraham I can strengthen my faith by giving glory to God (Romans 4:20 ESV). God hasn’t left us unequipped for the battle over hope but has given us the gift of praise, the truth of His word and the power of His Holy Spirit to ensure we are able to overcome all doubt and live our lives hopeful even when the circumstances of our lives may tell us a different story. Abraham has prepared the way for us and we are called to follow in his footsteps. Against all hope, we are called to believe.
N.B. The following links and Scriptures may be of some use to you, if today you find yourself needing encouragement as you cling on to the promises of God.
Sermons:
- Danny Silk sermon – Hope happens - http://www.ibethel.org/site/sermon-of-the-week
- All Saints sermons http://allsaintspeckham.org.uk/default.aspx?menuId=1319
Key Scriptures:
· “I am watching over my word to perform it.” Jeremiah 1:12
· “We live by faith and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
· “Yet (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith as he gave glory to God.” Romans 4 ESV
· “No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
· “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrew 10:23
· “He who began a good work in You will carry it on to completion.” Philippians 1:6
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