Faith and Hope

 Faith and Hope!

 

“Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

“Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 CJB

 

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” Romans 8:24-25 NKJV

“It is in this hope that we were saved. But if we see what we hope for, it isn’t hope – after all, who hopes for what he already sees? But if we continue hoping for something we don’t see, then we wait eagerly for it, with perseverance.” Romans 8:24-25 CJB

 

 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NKJV

“Furthermore, we know that GOD causes everything to work together for the good of those who love GOD and are called in accordance with His purpose;” Romans 8:28 CJB

 

The substance of things hoped for – salvation is hoped for by all humanity – no one wants to go to hell! And we see it worked out in some people’s lives; the change in behavior, perspective, language, desires, and goals – that is the evidence of things not seen! They cannot see their salvation but they can experience it now, we cannot see their salvation but we can see the evidence of it now.

 

The saved person as described above no longer hopes for salvation, they know they are saved by grace through JESUS CHRIST, so they persevere in the purpose of GOD for their life until its culmination upon their physical death and their appearance in His presence before His Heavenly Throne to receive their crown of life.

 

So what about the things that we do not see; like when someone is sick? We should still hope for them in expectation with perseverance! But sometimes healing is long in manifesting and sometimes it never manifests in our lifetime.

 

This is the sticky part in our walk with GOD, many Christians have been taught to believe and receive now, if not, then very soon. But that is not what the Bible teaches; study all of Romans 8 and Hebrews 11.

 

Oswald Chambers said in MY Utmost For His Highest, “If you are going to be used by GOD, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not for you at all, they are meant to make you usable in His hands.” He made this statement in reference to 2 Corinthians 1:4, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of GOD.” KJV

“who encourages us in all our trials, so that we can encourage others in whatever trials they may be undergoing with the encouragement we ourselves have received from GOD.” CJB

 

So, when we experience something that we pray to GOD for healing or deliverance of and we do not receive it right away we need to remember that JESUS taught us to pray with perseverance, study Matthew 6:25-34, 7:7-12; Luke 18:1-8; also 2 Corinthians 11:22-28, 12:7-10; Hebrews 11 & 12.

 

As Paul heard from The Father, “My Grace is sufficient for you.” We know that sometimes the answer to our prayers is delayed while GOD is working His purpose in our life; and sometimes the answer is “His Grace” for us in that situation.