| “HOPE’S SURE PROVISION ”
The Right Word © with Brother Scott : scott@portervillepost.com
Today I am going to circle back and address again a subject involving the heart of every Christian that in the days to come will be of great strength, comfort and help.
Listen :
We are seeing trouble arise that will affect all of us at one level or
That trouble in the near-time has to do with the rapidly rising cost of living, the loss of employment or other incomes for many, and other dangers that some of these things threaten us with.
However , these troubles can be themselves helpful for us to prepare our hearts and faith to face the greatest trouble the world has ever seen according to our Lord and Savior Jesus († Matthew 24:21 ).
How can the imminent hardships help us, you ask, and what hidden but mature condition of the believer’s heart can enable us to continue to have hope that endures?
Please listen closely today & learn the answers!
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† 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 [You !] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, [your faith ] might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Two words used in these verses (and one in particular ) are critical for the believer to hang-on to as we live each day ahead of us, and those two words are “hope ” and its sure provision “joy ”. happy and having joy . In fact, I can be very un happy but still have joy. However, other versions of the existence of these two states of the mind and heart of a Christian can also be at work within us.
At times we can be very happy but have no joy, and there can be times where both are absent—we are not happy and we have no joy either. The intention of the Holy Spirit is for us to walk in joy no matter the issues of our present and future earthly lives. As a reminder, let me contrast these two conditions of the mind and heart.
“Happiness” relies on the here-today yet gone-tomorrow conditions of our life and is temporary as the good happenings of our lives come and go. A man may be very happy with his first car or later a brand new car but in time, his happiness at possessing and driving it wears off and his former happiness fades.
The same can be true of a woman’s new dress or hairstyle or new piece of furniture, or a child’s new video game (would you young men and women still be “happy” with that old Game Boy you so loved 20 years ago? ). When really good things happen for us, we are happy. Just this week I was relieved and very happy that my older car passed its biennial smog test—but the happiness I had has now faded.
When living conditions or events are their best for us, we are happy, but when these things get old or break down or stop we lose that emotion of happiness while often either not recognizing the change or we actually become un happy—maybe even depressed in some instances.
Happiness :which it doesn’t ].
[ I add for our discussions: non -spiritual applications in life, this temporary happiness can also be synonymous with the term “joy” but when earthly happiness is compared to joy that is a spiritual reality, we see that happiness falls away and is short-lived but joy (with its source as the Spirit of God ) [joy ] carries-on when it is nurtured by hope and our discipleship practices.]
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† Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy , peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts [many of the things that gave us temporary happiness !]. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit [for the fruit He brings forth in us ].
† Isaiah 12: [This should grow to always be running in the background of our hearts :] 1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
† Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoi ceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope
† Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
† Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink [earthly things that temporarily satisfy us ]; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ...
† Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. [Hope’s sur provision—joy! ]
I said that “happiness falls away and is short-lived but joy, with its source in the Spirit of God, [joy ] remains when it is nurtured by hope and our discipleship practices.”
In the busy-ness and many distractions of our days, and especially for the trying days of our tomorrows, we must choose to empower joy and give it the rank to be the “first assistant” to the chief supervisor of the state of our minds and hearts; where love is to be the commander, joy is to be love’s first adjutant (assisting the commanding officer ).
It is because of our love for God and genuine affection for all others that we can and should face each of the abrasions against our lives with the calm but unmistakable humming in our spirit that is the joy of our God’s salvation poured out upon our lives.
Love and its helper joy (the provision of hope ) keeps us balanced and on-point when hardships and trouble try to off-set the balance that God by His Spirit gives us.
Our Perfect Example Is JESUS !
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† Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us , and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross , despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
† Acts 20: [With the same attitude as his Savior, Paul said: ] 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me († Psalm 16:8 ), neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy , and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
How Do We Do It ???
How do we nourish and give joy the power to help supervise our minds and hearts when earthly “happiness” so easily dies and unnoticeable death? Peter gave us the insight we need to this pleading of our rational mind; the answer to “How do we do it?” as followers of Jesus.
I remind you what we read at the first:
( † † † )
† 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible , and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 [We ] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. . .
[ And regarding such trials, James said this: ] † James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing
this , that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have
her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
In the opening remarks of his letter, Peter gives all believers at least three reasons to walk each day with joy: We have a “lively hope” by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead… We have “an inheritance in heaven” waiting for us that is safe and eternal…
And until that day we “are kept by the power of God”… By the followers of Jesus having the sure and certain knowledge and faith in these things, and our not losing sight of them day-by-day, in our increasing hardships and trouble, we can walk in joy.
So - What Is Joy ?
Do we continually walk around putting on a good front for all to see—a disingenuous façade? Are we always singing and smiling even when we are alone with our entangled thoughts and concerned musings?
No—(please let your mind capture this metaphor—the many commas are to emphasize each part for you to carefully ponder ) joy , is like the iron rails of train tracks, with each nearly 40-foot individual track length (representing each single day of our life ), being perfectly straight, yet connected to a thousand other tracks, that although each length is perfectly straight, the tracks of our joy as redeemed ones, though straight, will carefully wind around , the hillsides and mountains that rise up in our way.
( † † † )
† Matthew 7: [Jesus warned that ] 14 ...strait is the gate, and narrow (troubled full of winding twists and turns ], crowded [with obstacles ], narrow is from having “ruts ” ) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
† Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy (= calm delight, gladness, cheerfulness [within the heart that cheers its salvation through Christ ]), peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
It is true, in the unfolding of trouble in our tomorrows due to food and fuel shortages, then unrest and greater uncertainties, and eventually war in our own country, we can face all these things with faith in our God to provide, with love for Him and others (and even our enemies ), and with joy in our hearts because we belong to God and have the hope that all His Word promises us He can deliver .
( † † † )
† Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. . .
† Psalm 70:3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. 4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. . .
† Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
† 1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. . . [and, we have each other for joy: ]
† Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. [And so we are exhorted to: ]
† Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised; ) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
[ You will help me live in joy and I will help you live in joy! ]
Do I mock the troubles of tomorrow daring them to do their darndest? No—but by the hope my Bible gives me, my heart is set to resolutely face what I encounter from a position of my love for God and faith in Him with joy in the Holy Ghost as my strength and helper. And all because I am a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and a sold-out believer in what God has said in His Word! Therefore, I:
( † † † )
† Philippians 4:4 Rejoice (be cheerful ) in the Lord alway: and again I [can ], Rejoice.
† Habakkuk 3: [and 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet , and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
† 1 Peter 1:8 [because of Jesus, ] Whom [I ] have not [yet ] seen but love; [while ] believing [Him completely, I ], rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 [That I mightmy ] faith, even the salvation of [my
Believer(!), Get filled with the Spirit
Read the Word, believe it, and have a sure and certain hope in God, and so with joy (calm delight by the Holy Ghost within knowing God’s power and promises ) move through each future-day of your life in hope with joy until He takes you home!
~ Brother Scott ... With ... The Right Word © ... For Today~
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E stab. Jan 2008
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Preparing For Amos 8:11
| “HOPE’S SURE PROVISION”
