Revolution
A systematic and fundamental change in a short period of time in the way an organization or person functions
Faith
- Last week we defined faith from Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
- We looked at the Greek word pistis – The authentic moral conviction of a religious teacher.
- And…we talked about faith is not just believing in God, but believing God.
No better example of faith exists than Abraham.
- God told Abraham that God was going to make Abraham great. He was going to bless him and better yet, use him as a blessing.
- God promised Abraham that he would be a father to the nations. That his offspring would outnumber the stars in the sky.
It wasn’t easy for Abraham either. Not easy at all.
- His nephew Lot got the good bottom land and he was stuck with the scrub country.
- He and Sarah didn’t have any babies.
So Abraham complained.
- This land is awful.
- We don’t have any kids and at our age it isn’t likely going to be happening anytime soon.
Genesis 15:5-6
Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Listen to that last line. Not a single sentence exists in the Old Testament that means as much to followers of the New Testament:
And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Abraham believed the promise even though he had no evidence the promise would come true.
Abraham and Sarah cashed in their pensions and built a nursery.
Isaac was born
Then Jacob
Later David
Later Solomon
And later Jesus
But, Abraham believed the promise even though he had no evidence the promise would come true.
Abraham didn’t say…I believe that we are going to have a baby because my wife has this thing growing in her stomach. Abraham simply believed.
Trust is never logical and faith never makes perfect sense.
It is a gift that God gives and a gift that humans can give as well.
Faith is an act of courage in which people who cannot control the outcome decide to trust anyway.
Revolution begins with faith.
Hope
Elpis – The expectation of good
Hope, like faith, is a gift from God
We have defined hope in the past something like:
The expectation that tomorrow can be better than today.
Nehemiah 2:3-5
How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
Nehemiah’s heart was broken. He was troubled. He wasn’t sleeping well at night. He was sad.
Something that was so important to him was destroyed.
You ever been there before?
- Broken
- Troubled
- Restless
- Sad
You’ve been there and I’ve been there too. Some of us are there now.
Nehemiah’s response was a response of hope. Tomorrow can be better than today.
Pretty much every day was a fight for Nehemiah. Brick by brick. Complaint after complaint. But hope remained. 12 years later, the walls were rebuilt.
You have walls that need to be rebuilt in your life, don’t you?
Are you hopeful these walls can be rebuilt? Or have you given up hope?
- Have you given up hope that you can get along better with your spouse? Or are you going to rebuild that wall?
- Have you given up hope that you can get out of debt? Or are you going to rebuild that wall?
- Have you resigned yourself that this is all there is to life? Or are you going to rebuild that wall?
Hope believes the walls can be rebuilt and that the new walls can be a whole lot better than the old walls.
Love
Love – agape – Not love because of the other person, but love in spite of the other person. Not love because of the other person, but love because of our own character and integrity.
2 Samuel 9:1-13
One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.
God's invitation is that we feast at the King's table with Him.
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