Where is your hope?
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" I Pet 3:15
Hope, this is something extremely important for us to have, and it is what keeps us going as Christians. Many people will see us as different, they see the hope that is in us, or they should. What is this hope? Well, we have the hope that Christ is coming back for us. We have a hope that we will spend eternity in Heaven. This "hope" is not "Oh I hope this will happen" it is a strong assurance. "Hope - Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God's gracious promises; a scriptural sense." - Webster's 1828 dictionary.
So now that we have this hope, and other's see this hope, they are going to ask us what is with this "hope" that we have. This verse tells us to be ready always to give an answer. You must know how to answer these people who may ask. One way to do this is to memorize the verses….what verses? Well, our hope should not be based on our own, or someone else's opinion, it should be based on God's Word. Any hope that you have, any belief that you have must be based from the Bible. Our word is not any good, it is God's word that pierces the heart of man.
It is true that, for those of us who grew up in Church, it is really easy to rely on the opinion and teachings of others. This is not a good thing.
"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." Heb 12:2
We need to look to Jesus, for He is where our faith comes from. Our faith is the anchor for our hope. Our faith is anchored into the Word of God. Our faith is our shield. The Word of God is our sword. This is how we will fight off the enemy, read Ephesians 6:11-19. Our helmet of Salvation protects our head, because we know we are saved. Our breastplate of righteousness protects our heart, our heart must be pure before the Lord. Our shield of faith, and Sword of the Spirit help us to ward off the enemy. The truth around our loins keeps us able to stand firm. God's Word is truth. Again, we must be grounded in the Word. Our feet shod with the preparation to spread the Gospel. (Ready always to give an answer, and on the pursuit to spread the truth out there.) And finally on our knees in prayer. Pray without ceasing. If you are not praying, you will not know how to answer those who ask us. "Answer not a fool according to his folly." Pr 26:4 "Answer a fool according to his folly" Pr 26:5 We must have wisdom, and pray for it, as to when to answer the questions that people ask us. Sometimes when someone says, "How do you know God exists" they are not always asking to learn, sometimes you will be casting your pearls before swine. Sometimes you can win them. It takes wisdom. Where do we get wisdom?
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5
All of this ties together to help us to reach this lost world for Him. We must have our armor on, and we must be in prayer asking for souls, asking for wisdom, and asking for His strength.
But the verse doesn’t stop at giving an answer….it says “With meekness and fear” We should not be showy about what we know, either. We need to be meek about it. But we also should have a fear…if we don’t tell these people the truth they will spend eternity in a lake of fire. This should scare us. Their blood will be on our hands.
So let’s be ready to answer those around us in a meek and mild manner, and yet with the fear of what will happen if we don’t tell them.
May God bless you as you endeavor to serve Him.
Prayer RequestsOur President
Our Millitary
Pastors
Missionaries
Evangelists
Allen Marshall - cancer
Kim Scherer - Assistant Pastor's wife - Cancer
Johnny V. - Salvation
If you have any prayer requests, feel free to email them to[email protected]
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" I Pet 3:15
Hope, this is something extremely important for us to have, and it is what keeps us going as Christians. Many people will see us as different, they see the hope that is in us, or they should. What is this hope? Well, we have the hope that Christ is coming back for us. We have a hope that we will spend eternity in Heaven. This "hope" is not "Oh I hope this will happen" it is a strong assurance. "Hope - Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God's gracious promises; a scriptural sense." - Webster's 1828 dictionary.
So now that we have this hope, and other's see this hope, they are going to ask us what is with this "hope" that we have. This verse tells us to be ready always to give an answer. You must know how to answer these people who may ask. One way to do this is to memorize the verses….what verses? Well, our hope should not be based on our own, or someone else's opinion, it should be based on God's Word. Any hope that you have, any belief that you have must be based from the Bible. Our word is not any good, it is God's word that pierces the heart of man.
It is true that, for those of us who grew up in Church, it is really easy to rely on the opinion and teachings of others. This is not a good thing.
"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." Heb 12:2
We need to look to Jesus, for He is where our faith comes from. Our faith is the anchor for our hope. Our faith is anchored into the Word of God. Our faith is our shield. The Word of God is our sword. This is how we will fight off the enemy, read Ephesians 6:11-19. Our helmet of Salvation protects our head, because we know we are saved. Our breastplate of righteousness protects our heart, our heart must be pure before the Lord. Our shield of faith, and Sword of the Spirit help us to ward off the enemy. The truth around our loins keeps us able to stand firm. God's Word is truth. Again, we must be grounded in the Word. Our feet shod with the preparation to spread the Gospel. (Ready always to give an answer, and on the pursuit to spread the truth out there.) And finally on our knees in prayer. Pray without ceasing. If you are not praying, you will not know how to answer those who ask us. "Answer not a fool according to his folly." Pr 26:4 "Answer a fool according to his folly" Pr 26:5 We must have wisdom, and pray for it, as to when to answer the questions that people ask us. Sometimes when someone says, "How do you know God exists" they are not always asking to learn, sometimes you will be casting your pearls before swine. Sometimes you can win them. It takes wisdom. Where do we get wisdom?
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5
All of this ties together to help us to reach this lost world for Him. We must have our armor on, and we must be in prayer asking for souls, asking for wisdom, and asking for His strength.
But the verse doesn’t stop at giving an answer….it says “With meekness and fear” We should not be showy about what we know, either. We need to be meek about it. But we also should have a fear…if we don’t tell these people the truth they will spend eternity in a lake of fire. This should scare us. Their blood will be on our hands.
So let’s be ready to answer those around us in a meek and mild manner, and yet with the fear of what will happen if we don’t tell them.
May God bless you as you endeavor to serve Him.
Prayer RequestsOur President
Our Millitary
Pastors
Missionaries
Evangelists
Allen Marshall - cancer
Kim Scherer - Assistant Pastor's wife - Cancer
Johnny V. - Salvation
If you have any prayer requests, feel free to email them to[email protected]