Faith is now.
Hope is for the future.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
We need NOW faith & hope that gives us peace of our future in Christ!
While everyone puts hop in other things...
Bank accounts
Relationships
People
Things of this world.
We MUST have hope in Jesus!
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. (Romans 5:1-5)
We must learn to glory in tribulation!
Tribulation ⇒ perseverance ⇒ character ⇒ hope
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (Ephesians 4:14)
And we no longer want to be influenced by just any wind of doctrine.
If we ever deal with doubt...hope cancels it.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)
Whenever our faith be tested... patience produces.
& we must learn to allow patience to have its perfect work!
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-7)
Do not be a double minded person... it's dangerous!
Double minded people are dangerous.
How do we know they are double minded?
unstable
inconsistent
restless
If you want to learn more about being double minded.. watch this
"How To Discern A Double Minded Man Unstable In All Their Ways"
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33)
The disciples thought they saw a ghost while they were on the boat.... but it was Jesus.
Out of all the disciples, it was Peter that called out and asked Jesus to prove it was Him.
& he was the one that stepped out the boat to walk on water.
Walking on water was a miracle, when we hear the voice of Jesus we obey. & Peter stepped out of that boat to obey!
While he SAW the wind was boisterous, he began to sink. The moment he took his eyes of Jesus, he began to sink.
The scriptures say that after he saw the wind, he began to be afraid. He let what he saw instill fear in his mind that allowed him to begin to sink.
Now Peter didn't ask for anyone else to help him, he called on the name of the Lord!
Yes Jesus called out Peter for having little faith in that moment because he was drowning, but at least he had the faith to step out on faith to walk on the water towards Jesus.
Most people would stay inside the boat, the sideline Christians.
At least Peter stepped out of the boat!
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
When we put our trust in the Lord, we also co sign on having hope in the Lord.
Our hope in God matters.
Trust & hope go together, which keeps us grounded as God's people.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)
Hope 'put off' makes our heart sick.
When we don't have hope, our hearts become vulnerable to sickness.
We must have hope, but it starts with faith.
Our faith is our justification by God!
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1)
Watch the full podcast "If You Have Lost Hope Watch This..."
If You Have Lost Hope Read This...
July 8, 2025
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