"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE GIVING US AN EXAMPLE OF FAITH IN GOD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE GIVING US AN EXAMPLE OF FAITH IN GOD"

Rom 4:18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

Rom 4:19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

Rom 4:20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

Rom 4:21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

Some explanatory thoughts/application/questions and a prayer:

This short passage taken from Romans four, is part of a long explanation by Paul of the truth that man is not saved by works but by faith. And, in this passage, Paul goes in depth in showing us how it was that Abraham believed. He gives us four "keys" to faith if you will. I pray that you might take the time to really consider these keys, or explanations of what faith looks like in action. May God bless you in your faith in God. P.S these verses all have to do with the promise that God made to Abraham, that he and his wife Sarah would have a child, ( they were in fact by all normal understanding too old to have a child ) But, Abraham believed God, and they did have that child. Isaac was his name.

1. Faith hopes even when there is no logical reason to hope.
Rom 4:18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

God had spoken to Abraham, but, when he looked at the situation, his own body, Sarah's body etc, their age in general, what was there to hope in?. There was not physical, visible reason to hope. But, as the verse says, "contrary to hope, in hope believed" So, this is the first key or explanation about faith. Even when things look hopeless, faith says, "I believe God's Word" That's what Abraham did. He hoped against hope as it were.

2. Faith does not look at the circumstances, but at God.
Rom 4:19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

This is another very important key to faith. Faith does not look at the circumstances, but rather looks at God, and or believes what God has said. God spoke to Abraham, when he was an old man, his body was dead as it were, with respect to having children. He was too old to have children. He was 100 years old. Just think about that for a moment. Additionally, Sarah was too old to have a child. Her womb was dead. Think for a moment if two people about 100 years old walked in and announced to you, that God had spoken to them, that they were going to have a child. What would you honestly think?

Abraham had to deal with these same physical circumstances. But, he chose not to look at the physical impossibilities before him, but rather, he chose to look at, or believe in God, and believe in what God had told Him.

3. Faith does not waver at the promise of God through unbelief.
Rom 4:20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

Here's how this reads in the NLT Rom 4:20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.

Waver means, to doubt, have misgivings. So, faith does not waver. What causes wavering is unbelief. Unbelief and Faith cannot co-exist side by side. They do not go together. Abraham chose to believe, not to walk in unbelief.

4. Faith is convinced that what God has promised, God is also able to perform.
Rom 4:21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

This last key, is a very simple and descriptive of faith. Faith is convinced that if God has said something, than that something is not only true, but it will come to pass. Wow. That's the kind of faith we all need isn't it.

Again, here's how it reads in the NLT Rom 4:21 He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised.

5. In summary then, the four keys of faith are......

1. Faith hopes even when there is no logical reason to hope.
2. Faith does not look at the circumstances, but at God.
3. Faith does not waver at the promise of God through unbelief.
4. Faith is convinced that what God has promised, God is also able to perform.

Some questions:

1. Are you encouraged by reading this?

2. It's a real help isn't it. To see faith in action?

3. Do you know that you can also through faith, exercise your faith just as Abraham did?.

4. Do things look hopeless, and you can see no way out?. Remember, put your eyes on the Lord.

5. Do you know that you can ask God to strengthen you, and make you strong in faith?

6. Also, our faith comes from the Bible. When we are in the Word, that's how we gain faith.

A prayer:

Father, thank You for this wonderful story of the father of our faith Abraham. He had everything against him as it were, but he chose to believe you. That's the way we want to be Lord. Help us to be like Abraham. You have already given us faith, so we can believe You, and we do, but help us in our unbelief. Make us hungry for Your Word, and increase our faith. Give us strength Lord in our weakness, and lead us to believe You, look at You, and not at the circumstances which can and do discourage us so quickly. Help us to keep our eyes on You Lord. In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.