Until Then – Wintley Phipps

4 Things believer’s hope in

“I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.”

– Billy Graham

NO MORE SIN

There is an old hymn that speaks of the day when we’ll be saved to sin no more. I love that idea…saved to sin no more! That’s not possible this side of the kingdom, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try, but that is the hope of the believer that will come to pass someday (in Revelation 21 and 22)…a time for us when sin will be no more.

Read more: http://www.christianquotes.info/images/4-things-believers-hope-in/#ixzz4VkajDUZB

Suddenly

by Dion Todd

If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. Mark 13:36 NIV

There was a time in our life when our business started failing and our income got less, and less, and then stopped. As the bills started piling up, we tried everything, but nothing seemed to help. We gave more, prayed more, fasted more, served more, tried to find any job possible and then as the last straw, we prepared to move out of our home.

After months of this, I no longer had the energy or will power to pray anymore. One morning during the week that we were preparing to move, I went into my prayer room and just sat there, mostly contemplating how much I would miss it. The Lord spoke to me that morning, and within twenty-four hours our life had completely changed for the better. That is how I became a pastor.

God closed the old out and brought in something new. It hurt to see the old go, but the new was so much better. God moves suddenly at what we often think is the very last minute. It is not to Him. He knew the day that the transition would take place and He was right on time. Our fear and worry were for nothing.

God knows where you are and He has the day marked on His calendar when your circumstance will suddenly change. Don’t give up yet. We don’t know the day or the hour, but the Father does and He will not be late, nor early. The change will come suddenly.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that you meet my needs and move in my life. Draw me into a deeper relationship with You and give me a fresh zeal today, in the name of Jesus.

Comment at Refreshing Hope http://www.refreshinghope.org/blogs/1/1108

 

They Will See His Face, Rev 22:4

by Bill Fiess

And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads (Rev 22:3-4).

Read the blog: https://faithalone.org/blog/see-his-face/

One Step at a Time

by Dion Todd

By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Hebrews 11:8 WEB

The Lord told Abram to leave his father’s house and country and travel to a land that He would show him in Genesis, Chapter twelve. After this it simply says, “So Abram went as the Lord had told him.” What a step of faith it was for Abram to leave his country and his family, without even knowing where he was going.

Continue: http://www.refreshinghope.org/blogs/1/942

My Redeemer Lives

by Dion Todd

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth. After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh, whom I, even I, will see on my side. My eyes will see, and not as a stranger. Job 19:25 WEB

Read more: http://www.refreshinghope.org/blogs/1/895

The Source of Hope

1 Peter 1:3-9 3 Let us thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was through His loving-kindness that we were born again to a new life and have a hope that never dies. This hope is ours because Jesus was raised from the dead. 4 We will receive the great things that we have been promised. They are being kept safe in heaven for us. They are pure and will not pass away. They will never be lost. 5 You are being kept by the power of God because you put your trust in Him and you will be saved from the punishment of sin at the end of the world. 6 With this hope you can be happy even if you need to have sorrow and all kinds of tests for awhile. 7 These tests have come to prove your faith and to show that it is good. Gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire. Your faith is worth much more than gold and it must be tested also. Then your faith will bring thanks and shining-greatness and honor to Jesus Christ when He comes again. 8 You have never seen Him but you love Him. You cannot see Him now but you are putting your trust in Him. And you have joy so great that words cannot tell about it. 9 You will get what your faith is looking for, which is to be saved from the punishment of sin. Hope can be defined as the desire for something good and the expectation of receiving it. Jesus Christ is the only genuine source of hope, because He alone knows what is best and also has the sovereignty and power to secure its fulfillment. In contrast, other hopes are grounded on the shifting sands of circumstances beyond our control. We all have expectations for the future, but these often pertain only to earthly life. Christ promises us the “living hope” of an imperishable inheritance in heaven. Everyday desires will fade away, but our eternal heavenly home is our ultimate security and anchor when life’s storms are severe. However, heaven can seem far away when pain is present and there’s no relief in sight. So how do we endure trials right now? One way is through hope, which anticipates a change of circumstances for the better. But what about when our situation isn’t improving—then, what’s the Lord doing that’s “better”? Peter tells us He is refining our faith, which will result in praise and glory when Jesus returns. This proves more valuable than gold or even relief from our distress. What a paradox! The difficulties that cause us to lose hope are the very tools God uses to increase our faith and hope in Him. Christ promises us hope not only for eternity but also for this life. Those times that God does not deliver us from difficulty, we can be sure He is doing a greater work within us. When we finally reach our eternal home, we’ll recognize the immeasurable value of the faith He produced in us as we kept our hope in Him. ~ Andy Stanley