THE POWER OF A LIVING HOPE (2)
SUMMARY
‘Hope’ are the pictures, images, visions and dreams that we carry in our minds. The sum of every spiritual activity that we engage in is only as productive as the hope that we have! Hope therefore is the destination of faith. Hope is being able to see the possibility of God’s Word coming to pass.
Text: Matthew 14:22-32; Genesis 11:27-12:4
You can walk on water – Matthew 14:22-32
Matthew 14:25-26, 28-29 – “(25) Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. (26) And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea… (28) And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (29) So, He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” (NKJV)
The life of a believer is like walking on water. It is about doing the things that seemingly look impossible!
The disciples (Peter inclusive) SAW Jesus walking on water. This is how Peter imagined the possibility of ever walking on water.
You can’t do, go or have what you do not see!
When you constantly look at Jesus (God’s Word) your hopes are replaced with new pictures of possibilities.
The Word of God is meant to change our pictures! This is what it means to have the eyes of our understanding ‘enlightened’ – Ephesians 1:18
Romans 15:4 – “(4) For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. (AMP)
Bible characters are real! Old Testament is filled with ordinary men and women who were able to believe in an extra ordinary God and dared to see the impossible made possible – their accounts give us hope!
As a new creation, you have all it takes but you are only as limited as your mindset – your hope. God’s Word will resize your hopes!
Abraham is a bible character that we can draw hope from – Genesis 11:27-12:4
Come out of limiting mindsets – Genesis 11:27-31
Genesis 11:31 – “And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.” (NKJV)
Canaan is a type of God’s best for you in every endeavor of life.
Terah – Abram’s father – set out with his family to go to Canaan but when they got to Haran on their way to Canaan, ‘they – including Abram’ decided to settle in Haran.
Haran is a type of a ‘substitute’ for an original design. It is being content with the present and refusing to reach out for God’s best.
Haran might be a good place but it is not God’s destiny for you and it is certainly not God’s BEST.
Abraham was limited because he was under the influence of his father! refuse to settle with those who have settled. Be everything God has said to you!
To reach out and experience God’s best, you have to separate from all ‘hope killing’ relationships that try to limit.
Until you break out of the limiting influences over your life, you will not be able to move into the next place God wants you to be.!
In Genesis 11:32 Terah dies; in Genesis 12:1 God speaks to Abraham
Genesis 12:1 – (1) Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house, to a land (Canaan) that I will show you.”
WHO you stay with will determine WHAT you hear from God and only what you hear from God can give you hope.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What are your ‘walking on water’ projects?
What scriptures are you anchoring your hopes on?
Have you recognized ‘hope killing’ relationships that you need to break off from?
APPLICATION
Don’t be afraid to do the impossible! Maybe its never been done before but with your eyes on Jesus you can ‘walk on water.’ Take the first step today by getting the inspiring ‘Messages of the Quarter’ and begin listening to them! make a conscious decision to separate yourself from any person or environment that tries to limit you!
MEDITATE
Matthew 14:28 – “(28) And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (NKJV)
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