The Reason for my Hope

Michelle71 · Jun 24, 2012

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Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 12:2 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.

God works through Jesus. He is the author and finisher of faith. It was through Him that God made the heavens and earth, all that is seen and unseen. It is only through Him that redemption to God, and sanctification of the Spirit can be had. He is the High Priest, Prophet, and King. Being a High Priest points back to the old testament times where the priest sacrificed an offering on the alter for forgiveness of sin. Jesus is not only the offering for our sin, but also the sacrifice and the High Priest who offers it. He became the perfect bridge between God and fallen man. What is the practical application of this though. The words go down on paper and then are stored in the thoughts or mind, but knowledge does no good on it’s own. If this truth is only something to be believed in without it striking some heart felt response, then it only becomes a dead letter. A dead religion filled with formulas, and traditions of men wrapped up in religiosity of dos and donts. It has to cause something within the very soul of the believer.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

There is something called the sinners prayer that has become popular now days. It is a blanket prayer that proclaims remorse over sin, and a belief that Jesus’ sacrifice is what covers that sin. Which is all true, but completely misses the mark of bringing the sinner face to face with specific sins that causes brokeness in the soul. This fad does not prove that sin is exceedingly sinful.

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might be-come exceeding sinful.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

It is only when the person realizes that they have broken the Law of God that the Law will do it’s work of breaking them. The miles between the head and heart merge when the Law is not seen as everyone else around breaking it, but known in the heart as personally breaking it. This may be the only time that looking upon self is beneficial for the soul. The most important question when seeing sin (breaking the Law) in others is to ask, am I guilty if this sin as well. If the answer is yes, then the next response is to let the Law break through and do it’s job. This is called repentance. But it is not the end, only the beginning.

Reconciliation/redemption

Where repentance is the breaking of the heart, reconciliation to God is the hope.

Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Jesus is who reconciles our soul with God. The sin separates. Repentance acknowledges that separation is because of sin. Personal sin that separates you and me from God. Not only as thought of in the broad scope of “men”, but individuals. Reconciliation is accepting and believ-ing Jesus stepped into the place of sin and paid the payment the Father required for the soul. This believing is something generally thought of as springing from emotions, feelings, or we have to somehow believe from our own self. This is not true, and may be what becomes a stumbling block for many.

Where can the belief be found that allows faith that the shed blood of Jesus is enough for re-demption.

Mar 9:24 and immediately the father of the child, having cried out, with tears said, 'I believe, sir; be helping mine unbelief.' YLT

From the Lord Himself! This father of the child brought his unbelief to the Lord, and asked for His belief. Incredible concept. Incredible grace. This is not the belief of gritting teeth. No where in these vessels of clay is the type of belief found that will be sufficient for faith in His redemp-tion, His forgiveness. No where in self can be found the way to really know that the sin is cast as far as the east is from the west. That the soul is made clean. It is through willingness on our part to believe, and asking Him for the working of belief in the heart, and mind.

Not only that, but God does not look upon any other sins that may be still seen in the soul be-cause the blood of Jesus covers them. It is done by faith through grace. When we ask that God not look upon the iniquities, and to forgive those sins we are aware of committing, then it is done. This is called redemption. The reconciliation of God’s Spirit and our soul.

Here is where the relationship begins. This is where His Spirit is placed in us when we ask for it. A dependence upon Him is begun in the person. I see this as the power of the Holy Spirit dwell-ing in these clay bodies in order for the soul to be sanctified and the spirit made alive for com-munion with God.

Sanctification means to become holy, purified, and consecrated. The power of the Holy Spirit working fruit into the soul. In my opinion this is a different type of power that is placed in the person for when they are ready to spread the Gospel and do works with miracles following. Same Sprit, different power or ability. First one for sanctification, then the other for works. However, a complete sanctification does not happen before He uses a person for His purpose, but it does seem that practice in dependence upon Him for sanctification happens before He puts a nail gun in the hand. Paul was 3 years with the Lord in the wilderness learning and applying this sanctification before he went out on his ministry with the power of God’s Spirit.

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I con-ferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Sanctification

This begs a question then. Does becoming holy or sanctified/pleasing to the Lord automatically happen when we first become Christians? NO! It is a process of allowing His Spirit the freedom of searching the heart. Not all things are gross sin, but for one reason or another are not quite beneficial or pleasing to Him.

1Co 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

This is a life long process, and there are times that temptations get the upper hand. Even over things that we thought were already sanctified. This is why a strong devotional life is so im-portant. Among other things it causes our heart to remain pliable in His hands. Which means be-ing willing to hear and do what He says through the Word, both written and spoken in the heart, and consider what He says through other saints. A word of caution though, manipulation of guilt by both demons and men is a powerful tool of stumbling. Lay all things down before the Lord before accepting blame from the mouth of men, or thoughts that suddenly accuse.

Is this the end of the reason for hope? Only to be sanctified by His Spirit. Living as forgiven so that we can be found in Heaven at the end of our days? By all means NO!

Even though sanctification is the beginning (and ongoing process) of being pleasing unto the Lord, it is only the beginning. We are now talking about building a relationship.

A Relationship with the Lord

Just as there must be a heart felt response for redemption, there must be a heart felt response for being sanctified. If the only reason for prayer is so deliverance or forgiveness can be had, then that saint will end up a dry well. As in any relationship there must be give and take. If we only spend time with a spouse, family member, or friend when we want something from them, it will leave the relationship wanting. This is how the Lord feels when this happens to Him. His desire is for His Bride’s, His People’s time in communing with Him. His Spirit dwells in the praise of His people.

Psa 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Do a word search on praise, and you will see it is not an option but a command. Approximately 250 times in the Bible we read commands and declarative statements regarding praising the Lord. This is not a surface "praise the Lord and pass the bacon" type thing, but a deep heartfelt praise and thanksgiving.

Devotional times spent with the Lord should flow both ways. We unburden our hearts, this in-cludes repentance for anything He has shown, prayers of deliverance/intercession for others, and asking for His strength through our weakness. Feeding the Lord means spending time reading His word prayerfully, and praising Him not only for what He has or is doing, but for WHO HE IS. Then He will respond by impressing upon our hearts what He wants to say. Through His written word, or spoken word in the heart of some. He uses other members of the body (and sometimes secular ) to confirm what He has already spoken in our heart.The most important task is remaining available for Him. That means leaving the world behind, all commentaries of men, and just going with Bible and voice to meet the Lord.

Each saint has their own unique way of coming and remaining in communion with the Lord. What works for one may not be anothers cup of tea. Which only makes sense because He really does enjoy variety. If He didn’t, we would all have the same personalities and interests. Imagine a world of borg. How boring.

tafadzwa · Jun 24, 2012

Deep insights right there.... The Lord was working Here! Amen.

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The Reason for my Hope

Michelle71

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tafadzwa

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