In the recent past during the course of my Bible study, I came across this scripture, and it totally got me riveted;
It says: "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken so shall thy seed be" Romans 4:18
A literal exegesis of the above scripture gave me some very fascinating insights and moreover it's something that we see on a day-to-day basis and possibly even feel and operate in albeit with little conscious thought.
The Scripture talks about father Abraham and the experience of his encounter with God concerning the child of promise. You can read details of this encounter in Genesis 15:1-21.
The line that caught my attention in the scripture of Romans above was: "who against hope, believed in hope!"
How can someone possibly do that? against hope, believe in hope? The line looks like an oxymoron, doesn't it? But not quite, as I later found out.
For a couple of days, I couldn't help ruminating over that statement - ....against hope, believed in hope, not because there is something special that I'm hoping for, rather its just a case of my spirit being stirred up and that makes me believe somebody out there needs to hear this and be strengthened in their inner man.
I am very optimistic that in the few lines that follow, we shall be able to learn from Abraham's experience and thus at a point in time in our lives be able to say - Against hope, I(your name) believed in Hope! praise the LORD.
You see, all of us without exception do hope for one thing or the other, don't we? and these often times gives us reason to live, right? We hope to have a vibrant, fulfilled and a happy life, Isn't it so? True.
But how easy is it to have and sustain that Hope? you may ask.
That's a very good question and I believe father Abraham's life can teach us just that. Moreover, this is not just a hope per say, it is in all accounts, a reality just awaiting your ACTION to bring it to manifestation.
The hope that Abraham had to believe in was one of becoming the father of many nations and that was clearly against his state of Childlessness and his wife Sarah who was barren. But thank God that Abraham's hope was not based on some wishful thinking, delusion or fantasy. It was based on what was spoken by God as recorded; "......, that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken" Romans 4:18. If you read Genesis 15:1-21, you will find details of that which was spoken.
Now, how was it possible that Abraham believed in this hope; just beside even God speaking to him(some people have been spoken to by God, but still have no hope, they've basically lost hope), what made Abraham a winner?
Aaaah, glad we came to this point.
Abraham's earlier encounter with God is recorded in Genesis 12, where upon the LORD told Abram to get out of his country and from his kindred and from his father's house and go unto the land that God would show him.
The scriptures tell us that by FAITH, Abram Obeyed. He took RESPONSIBILITY. he released his faith.
So there you have it, Abraham was later able, against hope, to believe in Hope, because he was a man of Faith and one who took responsibility and we can clearly see why God was pleased with him as we later learn according to the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him(God)"
(Just like the Pound Sterling is the currency of Great Britain, Faith is the Currency of the Kingdom of God. Everything you will ever want in the Kingdom of God, you will get it by FAITH, no two ways about that).
The other thing Abraham did was that, He acted on the word of God, he did as God told him -in other words, he took the word that was spoken and made it his responsibility to perform it.
2Timothy 3:16 tells us that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"
Well, we can learn from the scripture about father Abraham's experience that FAITH and RESPONSIBILITY are very critical/essential to our christian walk and victory thereof.
Faith doesn't require you to have proof to act or receive and responsibility calls for you to find a way to do the right thing regardless of how tough things may be around you. And that right thing to do at anytime is to release your faith, in fact, unleash it. "God's favour surrounds us - Our Faith releases it!" Act in Faith.
Right now, just as you are reading this article, there is perhaps something or some word(s) that the Almighty God has spoken to you, it may well be that you are believing God for something He's promised you ages ago, true?.
Now unto you, hear what the LORD has to say to you this day;
Stand firm! and thus saith the Spirit of God: "Fear not, ( your name here): I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward" Genesis 15:1. Do not despair.
As earlier on intimated, all of us have hopes and the reality is that, often times, there are 'giants' and 'mountains' in the way of our hopes and dreams, however, God says: Fear Not! yes, Fear not. Oh, how reassuring.
We serve a mighty & Sovereign God!
And like Abraham did, you also ought to take the Word(s) that Papa God has spoken to you and make it your responsibility to perform it - ACT on the word. Stand on the word of God & refuse to back down. Do not be shaken, not now, not ever. Unleash you faith.
God will surely supply you with the grace to perform it, just ACT in Faith, and "Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17
There and only then will you be able to say - Against hope, I believed in hope!
God bless you. Shalom.
Peace & Love
Sterling.
