Romans 15:13, I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We usually think about hope in one way or one dimension. We understand hope as something that people need who are struggling and feeling hopeless. Thank God that when we struggle, there is hope to sustain us. When life does not makes sense and hope seems lost, there is a great hope from God to lift us up. Hope is more than a survival strategy. Hope is not only for the hopeless. Hope gives substance to faith. Hope is a picture. Hope is a sustaining power from the Spirit of God. Jesus is the true hope giver. The Biblical Greek definition of hope simply means, “An expectation.” (noun); “To anticipate” (verb). A modern dictionary definition of Hope: 1) a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, 2) grounds for believing that something good may happen I want to suggest that there are three dimensions, or aspects, of hope: 1) Expectation, 2) Desire, and 3) Purpose. Listen to this teaching on the Firm Foundation Podcast:
Part Four - “Dealing With Your Mountains: Leaves or Figs?”
Mark 11:12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. 20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. [“Be faithful to God and fruitful. Don’t be like this tree, putting out leaves, but showing no fruit.” 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Faith in God is not all about getting stuff, it is about doing God’s will. Don’t forget this statement: Faith begins where the will of God is known. Jesus' teaching in Mark 11 is dealing with personal character and doing the will of God. Important question: Why did Jesus curse the fig tree, if it was not the season for figs? It appears shocking that Jesus cursed the tree and made it wither from the roots, never to yield fruit again. This seems stunningly out of character for Jesus. What should we learn from this story? DOWNLOAD POWERPOINT PDF Listen to This Message on the Firm Foundation Podcast:
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT), Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! In the midwest, we experience four very different seasons of weather and conditions, of which one, winter, can be hard and dangerous. Life also has seasons, some of which are hard. The prophet Habakkuk described a hard season, in which outward conditions were troubling. In the middle of those outward conditions, he described his inward condition - JOY! Joy is not an emotion or a feeling. It is a mindset and a decision that determines an inward condition. It is a mindset shaped by the decision to stay focused on the Lord. This results in the condition of joy as expressed in rejoicing and being joyful. This brings a better feeling from within. Sometimes circumstances do not bring encouragement. Sometimes circumstances are encouraging. Because of this, you can't depend on circumstances, but you can depend on the Lord!
Latest Teaching on Firm Foundation: Don’t Live in Fear of Coronavirus (Covid-19). “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
1 John 4:18, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
While we do not ignore health threats, being fearful is a condition that breeds more fearfulness, hinders faith, and gets in the way of walking in wisdom to take appropriate preventive actions. This message also include a brief video about the scientific effects of fear on your mind and body.
Learn how fear can be useful, but how fearfulness is a state to avoid. You will be greatly encouraged by this teaching!
