Embracing Faith, Hope, and Love for Tomorrow
Summary
Living in tomorrow is a concept that challenges us to look beyond our present circumstances and focus on the hope and faith that God provides. Life can be overwhelming, filled with days that seem endless and burdens that feel insurmountable. Yet, in these moments, we are reminded of the power of faith, hope, and love. These three virtues are not just abstract concepts but are the very essence of our existence. They are what keep us moving forward, even when life seems to be at its darkest.
The story of Job is a powerful example of maintaining faith amidst adversity. Despite losing everything, Job's unwavering trust in God allowed him to separate his circumstances from his relationship with God. This is a profound lesson in Christian maturity, teaching us that our walk with God should remain steadfast regardless of life's trials.
Similarly, the life of Abraham illustrates the importance of hope. Despite the delay in God's promise, Abraham continued to believe against all odds. His story encourages us to hold onto hope, even when it seems like there is none. This hope is not just wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in God's promises.
Moreover, the narrative of Elijah shows us that God often speaks in the stillness, urging us to listen for His voice amidst the chaos. Elijah's journey reminds us that God is always present, even when we feel alone or overwhelmed.
Finally, the sermon emphasizes the importance of speaking faith into existence. Just as God spoke the world into being, we are encouraged to declare God's promises over our lives. This act of faith can transform our present reality and align it with God's divine plan.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith, Hope, and Love as Life's Pillars: These virtues are essential for enduring life's challenges. They are not just ideals but the foundation of our existence, enabling us to face adversity with courage and resilience. [36:30]
2. Job's Example of Christian Maturity: Job's ability to separate his circumstances from his relationship with God teaches us to maintain our faith regardless of life's trials. This maturity allows us to trust in God's goodness, even when life is difficult. [37:35]
3. Abraham's Hope Against Hope: Abraham's story encourages us to hold onto hope, even when it seems impossible. His unwavering belief in God's promise is a testament to the power of hope in sustaining us through life's delays and uncertainties. [01:00:56]
4. Elijah's Encounter with God's Still Voice: Elijah's experience reminds us that God often speaks in the quiet moments. We must be attentive to His voice, trusting that He is present and guiding us, even when we feel alone. [46:51]
5. Speaking Faith into Existence: We are encouraged to declare God's promises over our lives, believing that our words can shape our reality. This act of faith aligns us with God's divine plan and empowers us to live in tomorrow. [01:06:01]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[27:19] - Introduction to Living in Tomorrow
[29:05] - The Challenge of Bad Days
[30:37] - Overcoming Life's Trials
[31:58] - The Strength of Resilience
[32:55] - The Desire to Escape
[33:23] - Lessons from a Bird
[34:48] - The Ineffectiveness of Escapism
[35:28] - Embracing Faith, Hope, and Love
[36:30] - Paul's Perspective on Adversity
[37:35] - Job's Unwavering Faith
[45:44] - Elijah's Encounter with God
[46:51] - God's Call to Look Forward
[49:28] - Living in Tomorrow by Faith
[50:39] - The Power of Vision and Faith
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living in Tomorrow
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 13:13 - "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."
2. 2 Corinthians 5:7 - "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
3. Romans 4:18 - "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. How does the sermon describe the role of faith, hope, and love in our lives? ([36:30])
2. What example from the sermon illustrates the concept of "living in tomorrow"? ([49:28])
3. How did Job demonstrate Christian maturity according to the sermon? ([37:35])
4. What was Elijah's experience with God's still voice, and what does it teach us? ([46:51])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faith, hope, and love are foundational to enduring life's challenges? ([36:30])
2. How does the story of Abraham encourage believers to maintain hope even when circumstances seem impossible? ([01:00:56])
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of listening for God's voice in the midst of chaos, as illustrated by Elijah's story? ([46:51])
4. How does the act of speaking faith into existence align with God's divine plan, according to the sermon? ([01:06:01])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did faith, hope, and love help you navigate through it? If they didn't, how might they have helped? ([36:30])
2. Consider a situation where you felt like giving up, similar to Job. How can you separate your circumstances from your relationship with God in such times? ([37:35])
3. Think about a promise from God that you are waiting on. How can Abraham's example of hope against hope inspire you to remain patient and faithful? ([01:00:56])
4. In what ways can you create quiet moments in your life to hear God's still voice, as Elijah did? What practical steps can you take this week to make this happen? ([46:51])
5. Identify a promise from God that you want to declare over your life. How can you actively speak this promise into existence in your daily routine? ([01:06:01])
6. How can you shift your focus from present difficulties to a hopeful future, as encouraged in the sermon? What specific actions can you take to start "living in tomorrow"? ([49:28])
7. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's trials. How can you use the principles from this sermon to transform your perspective and align it with God's plan? ([49:28])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith, Hope, and Love as Life's Foundation
Faith, hope, and love are not merely abstract virtues but the very essence of our existence. These three pillars provide the strength and resilience needed to navigate life's challenges. Faith allows us to trust in God's plan, hope gives us the courage to look forward to a brighter future, and love binds us to God and each other. In moments of darkness, these virtues illuminate our path, reminding us that we are never alone. They are the tools God has given us to endure and overcome adversity, enabling us to live with purpose and joy. [36:30]
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." (Hebrews 10:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current challenge in your life. How can you actively apply faith, hope, and love to this situation today?
Day 2: Job's Example of Christian Maturity
Job's story is a profound lesson in maintaining faith amidst adversity. Despite losing everything, Job's unwavering trust in God allowed him to separate his circumstances from his relationship with God. This maturity teaches us that our walk with God should remain steadfast regardless of life's trials. By focusing on God's goodness rather than our hardships, we can find peace and strength to endure. Job's example encourages us to trust in God's plan, even when we cannot see the way forward. [37:35]
"Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." (James 5:11, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent trial you faced. How did you respond, and how might Job's example inspire a different approach in the future?
Day 3: Abraham's Hope Against Hope
Abraham's life illustrates the importance of hope, even when circumstances seem impossible. Despite the delay in God's promise, Abraham continued to believe against all odds. His story encourages us to hold onto hope, not as wishful thinking but as a confident expectation rooted in God's promises. This hope sustains us through life's delays and uncertainties, reminding us that God's timing is perfect and His promises are sure. [01:00:56]
"In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, 'So shall your offspring be.'" (Romans 4:18, ESV)
Reflection: What is a promise from God that you are waiting to see fulfilled? How can you nurture hope in this waiting period?
Day 4: Elijah's Encounter with God's Still Voice
Elijah's journey reminds us that God often speaks in the stillness, urging us to listen for His voice amidst the chaos. In moments of feeling alone or overwhelmed, we must be attentive to God's presence and guidance. Elijah's experience teaches us that God is always near, ready to comfort and direct us if we take the time to listen. This awareness of God's presence can transform our perspective, providing peace and clarity in the midst of life's noise. [46:51]
"And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper." (1 Kings 19:12, ESV)
Reflection: Set aside a quiet moment today to listen for God's voice. What might He be trying to communicate to you in the stillness?
Day 5: Speaking Faith into Existence
We are encouraged to declare God's promises over our lives, believing that our words can shape our reality. Just as God spoke the world into being, our declarations of faith can align our present reality with God's divine plan. This act of faith empowers us to live in tomorrow, trusting that God's promises are true and will come to pass. By speaking faith into existence, we actively participate in God's work in our lives, transforming our circumstances through His power. [01:06:01]
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." (Proverbs 18:21, ESV)
Reflection: What is one promise from God that you need to declare over your life today? How can you incorporate this declaration into your daily routine?
Quotes
"Now, living in tomorrow is something that's really not possible in any way to do in the natural sense. How can we live in tomorrow uh when we get there it's already today you know it just doesn't work you can't live in tomorrow and uh so that is that's natural logic and but but maybe have you ever had a bad day have you ever had a really bad day maybe today um maybe today isn't so good for you maybe this week hasn't been good to you maybe this month hasn't been good to you maybe this year's been a bad year you know it happens it happens and um maybe it seems too difficult i've had people tell me i can't take it i can't make it i can't do it in fact i had somebody tell me that just just a week or two ago on the phone said said uh i can't do it i said yes you can yes you can I said, yes, you can." [00:29:05] (67 seconds)
"And the only way any of us are going to make it through these tough times is by believing eventually it's going to get better. You know, we feel that way, don't we? You know what I'm talking about. This is not the end. It's tough now. We've got a cliche for it. You know, this too shall pass. It's going to be all right. And we start, we try to encourage ourselves, and others try to encourage us. But you know what we're really doing? We're starting to live in tomorrow." [00:35:28] (40 seconds)
"Paul said sometimes we're afflicted in every way, but not crushed. We're perplexed, but not in despair. He said we're persecuted, but we're not forsaken. We're struck down, but not destroyed. I mean, Paul had bad days. And he says we will experience bad days. You're going to go through them. But listen to me. He said we see through a glass darkly. In other words, we can't figure out what's going on. What is this? I just can't see like I want to see." [00:36:30] (36 seconds)
"You've got to have faith, hope, and love. Amen. And he said the greatest is actually love. Amen. And so, stop and realize that everything might change. Everything might be heavy upon us. But faith, hope, and love will carry us through the day. Amen. We believe and hope for the best. You know, we all do. We don't get in our car expecting to have a wreck on the way to work. And we don't send our kids to school thinking there's going to be a school shooting." [00:37:35] (36 seconds)
"Have you ever realized how often God tried to get people to turn their thoughts to tomorrow? You know, he tells Noah, build an ark to save your house 120 years before he needed the ark. And so he's dreaming, living, thinking, and working in tomorrow. Everything he's doing is about tomorrow. God told Abraham, I'm going to give you a son, and I'm going to raise a great nation up out of you through that son. And Abraham lived every day looking for that son. And finally, 25 years later, it happened." [00:47:51] (39 seconds)
"God told Abraham, I'm going to give you a son, and I'm going to raise a great nation up out of you through that son. And Abraham lived every day looking for that son. And finally, 25 years later, it happened. But then Jesus comes on the scene and says this statement. Listen to him. Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day and saw it. And was glad. He's not dead." [00:49:28] (33 seconds)
"Think about that for just a minute. He waited 25 years for his son, but when God said, in your seed, all this world's going to be blessed. He wasn't talking about Isaac. He was talking about Jesus Christ. And so for 1900 years, Abraham was looking forward to seeing the day he would have that son, Jesus, the prophesied descendant. And he saw it, because he looked forward to it in" [00:50:39] (34 seconds)
"God has a plan. I'm not gonna tell you what it looks like. it's gonna be a long time, but if you walk in the promises of God, you're gonna make things happen. exercise them. Do them. You build your future. You create a new way. You hear me? It's got to be his way. You can't just do your own rebellious thing, you know. That's what we're talking about now. Amen. And God makes a way where there's no way. At times, we question delay. How many times did Abraham question that delay?" [01:00:56] (33 seconds)
"Don't tell me he didn't question that delay hundreds of times a year. I know he did. He's as human as you and I. Amen. But that didn't cause him to quit. He continued to believe. The scripture says against hope. Listen to the scripture you know so well in Romans 4 and 18. Who against hope believed in hope. That means hope was against him. There was no hope on his side. There was no hope in his favor. But he believed in hope anyway." [01:01:56] (33 seconds)
"but you know what somebody had to speak it God wanted it spoken God wants us to speak in faith God wants us to declare things in faith that's why from this pulpit multiple times through prophecy through tongues and interpretation through preaching you've heard over and over God's gonna feel this house hundreds God's gonna give us hundreds somebody says yeah I've heard that before go ahead there's always gonna be scoffers there's always gonna be naysayers and doubting people but I'm telling you what there's always gonna be people of faith that make it happen in spite of everything and everybody amen God calls those things which be not as though they were and we need to do the same thing amen we have spoken things into existence you know that's a God trait that's a God quality that is the way God is God always prophesies you say well he's God well he's given us prophecy" [01:06:41] (91 seconds)
"he's filled us with his spirit he can give us his gift of faith and his word of prophecy and interpretation of tongues to speak the same things. And it's coming out of a man, it's coming out of a woman, it's coming out of a human being, but it's a word from God. I've heard those words so many times. I've spoken those words so many times." [01:07:57] (35 seconds)
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