God is a God of Hope

Pr Josephine Lu
15-01-2017

Don't look at the circumstance;
Focus on the Lord.

A lot of people are distracted when we are overwhelmed. 

God can do all things. He is a God of miracles.

God is far greater than any negative pronouncements.

Isaiah 30:12-16
12 Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says:

“Because you have rejected this message,
    relied on oppression
    and depended on deceit,
13 this sin will become for you
    like a high wall,cracked and bulging,
    that collapses suddenly, in an instant.
14 It will break in pieces like pottery,
    shattered so mercilessly
that among its pieces not a fragment will be found
    for taking coals from a hearth
    or scooping water out of a cistern.”

15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.
16 You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
    Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
    Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

God brought judgement due to the pride and rebellion of the people. Even then, He wanted to bring the people back. There was a redemptive purpose. 

God desires us to remain faithful to Him. 

Isaiah 35:1-10
Joy of the Redeemed

35 The desert and the parched land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
    the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you.”

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
    and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

8 And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10     and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

When we wait expectantly upon Him, God will meet us there and come through for us. Sometimes it is so hard for us to enter into the fullness. 

Three areas that we can strengthen to come into His fullness:
1) Strengthen our prayer time with the Lord

Rick Warren: "The more you pray, the less you'll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You'll feel more patient and less pressured."

He desires us to seek Him in spite of our struggles. The treasures are found in darkness. In this place of waiting and seeking God, change happens. God can change circumstances. Let the change begin with me. 

Jacob, later given the name Israel.

Jacob: the deceiver

Israel:

Genesis 32:28New King James Version (NKJV)

28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

"He who struggled with God and with humans and have overcome." 

When we make connections with non-believers, we are able to share the gospel.

Pray for others and see things happen.

2) Come to the place of consecration.

Matthew 3:11-12

11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Isaiah 33:14New King James Version (NKJV)

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;
Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:
“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

"Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?”

Allow the fire to burn away the hindrances.

When God pours the presence of God tangibly, all of us get blessed.

God is in the process of building His Kingdom in our land.

3) Live a life of faith and expectation because the promises of God are there. 

We need one another to hold each other up. The splendour of God will be shown. There will be people filled up with joy. He gives us that strength to go through and arise from it. Come to the place of seeking Him with all our hearts.

Malaysia is a rainbow nation with different ethnic groups. 

God empowers His church with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Lord, let me be the channel of peace in our home.

Believe Him as a God who heals.