Hope LESS Faith is Not Faith at All

Are you in a situation in your life right now where you feel the odds are against you and all hope is lost? You are not alone.

Things can happen in life where you’ll suddenly find yourself at the lowest point of hope. It could be the loss of someone or something dear to you, or a circumstance that is too much to bear. It could be some things that are not working out, like a stage where you got stuck and can’t see any path forward, a feeling that you are all by yourself, or a total loss of interest in living.

No matter what you’ve gone through or are going through, you can get over your current circumstances and beam, grin and smile with the ray of hope again.

The promises of GOD are designed to inspire hope. All of the gives us the ability to look at any situation and know that regardless of how it may appear GOD is going to come through. This is the essence of what hope is.

However, if you are honest, the challenges of life can sometimes seem overwhelming. I know because I have faced those challenges just like you have. When these challenges attack, the thing they often come after is your hope. They try to move you from hope to despair, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Hope is an optimistic state of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes regarding events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. It involves a wish for something, the belief it will come true, and the trust in one's capabilities to help achieve that wish. Hope is also described as a universal human experience and a powerful life force that can inspire individuals to face challenges with resilience.

We need to consider Romans 9 and 10:

 

Romans 9

”6 …but it is not as though the Word of GOD has failed, for they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants shall be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of GOD, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 9 This is the Word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son,” 10 and not only that, but there was also Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that GOD’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

 

Looking back at Chapter 9 and verse (6) of Romans, we see the picture of generations in full pursuit of the hope they were told quite some time earlier. Can “hope” be passed along. I am not certain, but it IS contagious! 

When our faith is intact, we must give credit to hope. GOD’s Word (Jesus) has and never will fail us. On the contrary, when we have our hope placed in a different person, or on another thing, hope becomes distraught and distressed -- and becomes useless.

Every person who became a descendant of Israel, developed into being so because of the hope that was within and that hope gave fire to their faith.

What was the trust of the LORD GOD leading them to? …The land they were promised.  Is that not what we are seeking to be part of? …the Promise, by trust?  

HEARING THE WORD of TRUST: Rewards those of us who are 'actively' listening to or reading the Bible, studying Its Teachings, and are examining the Message of Hope preached. There should ALWAYS be hope. Faith doesn't work WITHOUT expectation leading the way.

FAITH: Like Abram, this is the “belief” and “trust” in GOD and His promises. Like Abram, there was no designated detail of where He was going. He just knew that he had to get there. Hoping for the answer is a catapult to the destination and outcome that faith offers. It's a core element of a journey with GOD, and a life well-traveled highlights how it is nurtured.

THE WORD OF GOD: The Message of all of the Scriptures is to “Faithfully obey the Word of GOD.” The Teachings of Jesus continued to reveal GOD's nature and will. Faith and obedience matter MORE, when we understand that “together” they please GOD, and our hope is fueled by the realization that He will not let us down. We can not only place our faith in Him but put that trust (faith) to work in what He wants to do through and in us. 

 

Romans 10

”4 For Christ is the end [Apex, Goal or Highest Point (cut-off)] of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

 

CONTEXT (Biblical): If one serves the LORD GOD in Truth, He will deem him/her as righteous. If this is the case, the impact that comes from “Lawlessness” (spiritual death) is not valid for them. Why not? ..because that person is not going to be judged by that Law of GOD, for the sin they are doing against It. In other words, “If a person is careful to do (obey) the Words given by GOD, He will not be condemned.”

The Law assists that person with knowing what sins (actions that displease GOD) are.

Does the Law save us? No.

Does the Law point to Jesus? Without a doubt.

Paul said, “If it was not for the Law, I would not know what sin was.”

 

Romans 7

7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” 8 But sin, taking an opportunity through the Commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the Commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; 10 and this Commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it, killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the Commandment is holy and righteous and good.

NOTE: Hope is HUGE! It pointed them then and still does today. All throughout the Scriptures, we see the revealing of the coming Messiah, Who offered hope in His body. “The tiny ripple of hope you set in motion can change the path of someone's, or even your life.” 

WARNING: Do not weave in church, denominational or sectarian doctrine to fit the narrative of today’s belief structure. GOD’s Bible is very clear on what obedience and holiness are. Is man clear on this matter? Not so much… As you can see by how we live.

 

NOTE: In Genesis it reads, “In the beginning, GOD”. It does not say, “In the beginning man”.

NOTE: We should be trusting the character and ways of the Holy Creator and not be naïve concerning the ones whom the Bible was made for. We are responsible for what we tell people His Word is saying. His Word will please the LORD GOD and His Spirit will help us to DO THE SAME. 

NOTE: Those who practice Lawlessness will have a difficult time, when standing before the Righteous and Holy Judge.

 

“22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ 24 Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” -Matthew 7:22-24

 

NOTE: This the same as the person who chooses to serve the Son of GOD, and lives in the Way He (and His Father) have always said.

NOTE: On the contrary, if ANY person chooses today/as back then, to live unlike the Ways given in the Commandments/Words of the Holy One, that person will be judged by their actions and their words.

 

Romans 10

”5 …for Moses writes of the righteousness that is based on the Law, that the person who performs them will live by them, 6 but the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead),” 8 …but what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 The Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 12 There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? …and how are they to hear without a preacher? 15 How are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

16 However, they did not all heed the Good News; for Isaiah says, “ADONAI, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of the Messiah.”

 

Hope provides a haven from pessimism, fear, and dread. It galvanizes our courage and mobilizes our energy and vitality. It enhances our mood and focuses our thinking. Hope also contributes to our propensity to help others who are in distress, including strangers as well as loved ones. Heroism is frequently spawned by the presence of hope during times of danger and destitution. It is one of the great human motivators, engendering a sense of purpose and aspiration during desperate times.

Don’t lose it. We need it!

“Now may the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13

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