If You Believe

Romans 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.”
I chose that scripture, for the first six words; “contrary to hope, in hope believed.” Contrary to what you believe is holding you back, what the world’s viewpoints and standards may impute, is your faith strong enough to press forward with God? Do you have the faith to move forward in your faith, stepping out into the unknown? This world and Satan is bent on beating you down and keeping you down. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Satan seeks to weaken your faith, for your faith encourages others around you. Satan seeks to get you to focus on all the worldly problems around you, to keep your eyes off the security and hope of eternal paradise. Satan seeks to occupy your mind with covetousness and worry for what may come tomorrow, when tomorrow may never come. Satan seeks to point out all that is wrong, to weaken your faith in trials, all the while keeping you focused on the problem, and not Jesus.

The context of this passage is where Paul is talking about the patriarch of great faith, Abraham, and how his faith was accounted to him as righteousness, and not all the Jewish traditional laws, a deep discussion at that time, and even today, for what we believe our works earn our way into heaven. Think about the simplicity, the understanding that a 100 year old man cannot get his elderly wife pregnant; that is impossible by all natural sense, yet Abraham believed, he had a heavenly hope grounded in faith, and knew God could do the impossible. 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. God has no limitations, and the level of your understanding of his omnipotent power is the gauge of your faith; how big is your God?

Paul rolls beautifully into those of the faith, those that suffer for their faith, those that understand a sovereign God is in control of their lives, builds through them through the tough times in their lives. Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. The level of your faith, the greater the glimpse he gives you of his sovereignty, the stronger you become in the trials of life. The stronger your faith becomes, the greater your witness of him to all he places in your circle of influence. Jesus did not die on a Cross for you be comfortable in your Christianity, he died for you because he loved you, and his call for you is to love him just as completely; to take up your cross and die to life each day, to live your life for him each day, to be so intimate with him you are abiding in him, a peaceful walk of the disciple, one who has the faith to believe he is in control and do all things, nothing is impossible with a God who performed a miracle through Abraham, that same God can do all things through you, if you believe.