Be Faithful

                                                                              BE FAITHFUL

This past week, I had a Zoom call with one of my pastor friends, who had been my ministry friend for over sixteen years. When we were in Quincy, we used to meet every month for breakfast to encourage one another. Since then, he moved to Indianapolis, but we've never stopped our monthly check-in meetings, which now happen on Zoom.

In an age where it is hard to make and keep friends, what made our friendship thrive all these years? I would attribute that to one word, "Faithfulness!"  As I reflected on our friendship, Proverbs 20:6 came to my mind: "Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?" Do you have a faithful friend? It may be your spouse or a close friend.

If you do, thank God for them and do all you can to preserve that relationship. We all agree that for any relationship to survive and thrive, Faithfulness is essential. Where Faithfulness is absent, those relationships suffer and eventually fall apart. In the past weeks, we have focused on being thankful in all circumstances and being hopeful in afflictions. We will look at the importance of Being Faithful. What does the Bible say about Faithfulness that keeps or breaks a relationship? How does God's faithfulness manifest? How can we grow in Faithful service of God and one another? Romans 12:3-13. How is Faithfulness defined?

The dictionary defines Faithfulness as Fidelity, loyalty, firm adherence to allegiance and duty, as the Faithfulness of a subject. As Truth, veracity, as the Faithfulness of God. Strict adherence to injunctions, as the Faithfulness of servants or ministers. Strict performance of promises, vows, or covenants; constancy in affection; as the Faithfulness of a husband or wife.[1]

In the scriptures, to be faithful is to be reliable, steadfast, and unwavering. The Bible speaks of Faithfulness in four ways: as an attribute of God, as a positive characteristic of some people, as a characteristic that many people lack, and as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We would never know what Faithfulness is apart from God, so let's see how God manifests Faithfulness.

I. Faithfulness is the Essence of Who God Is.

            Scriptures speak often of God's Faithfulness. God doesn't have to work at being faithful; He is faithful. Faithfulness is one of God's inherent attributes. The Psalmist proclaimed, "Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your Faithfulness surrounds you." Ps 89:8. We learn in the scriptures that when God says He will do something, He will do it even when it seems impossible. God's promised son to Abraham and Sarah. Genesis 21.

God is always faithful, even when we are faithless; He remains faithful. For he cannot disown himself." II Timothy 2:13. This scripture means when we lack faith or fail in our promises, God remains faithful to His character and promises because He cannot deny Himself. 

That was the experience of the wisest King Solomon. He witnessed how God fulfilled his promises, so after his prayer of dedication of the temple, he blessed the Israelites, saying, "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses." I Kings 8:56

            According to these scriptures, if God is eternally reliable and steadfast in his promises to people, how about Jesus? "As Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house,.. but Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are his house." Hebrews 3:5. Can we even fathom what it means for us to be God's house, and Jesus has been committed to us? What comfort should that give us? Jesus is committed to me and to all of us because He loves us.

 

            One of the promises that Jesus made to us, his children, is that He would never leave us nor forsake us, even unto the end of the age; He will be with us, Matt 28:20. Jesus is faithful to protect us from evil, II Thes 3:3. He sets limits on our temptations, I Cor 10:13. When we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive them I John 1:9. In this world people change but Jesus never changes He is the same yesterday today and forever, Heb 13:8, so we can depend on Him.

II. Benefits of Growing in Faithfulness

Growing in Faithfulness carries several benefits. In the scriptures, we often see loyalty and Faithfulness go together. Prov 3:3-4, "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people,  and you will earn a good reputation." (NLT).

Prov 14:22, "those who plan what is good find love and Faithfulness." (NIV). Prov 16:6, "By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil." (RSV) Proverbs 20:28, "Loyalty and Faithfulness preserve the king.  And his throne is upheld by righteousness." (RSV). In English, loyalty and Faithfulness are synonyms.

"Loyalty means the state or quality of being loyal; Faithfulness to commitments or obligations."[2] "In the Bible, the concept of loyalty is purely relational. This means our whole being is thoroughly committed to someone (Joshua 24:15). The two greatest commandments express such loyalty in both the divine and human realms: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength," and "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mk 12:29-31)."[3] God calls us to be loyal to Him but to one another.

Ruth, a foreigner, embodied loyalty, as she demonstrated her devotion and duty to her Jewish mother-in-law: ^"Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." Ruth 1:16. Ruth sacrificed her youthfulness in the service of her aging mother-in-law in Bethlehem. God honored her loyalty and made her an ancestor of the ruler of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was going to be born in that little town of Bethlehem."

III. Growing in Faithfulness in God's Service and Of One Another.

            A faithful God wants us to be faithful in all aspects of our lives, not only in our family and the Church but also at our workplace. Being faithful means you are hard-working, doing everything with diligence and integrity. You are a man or a woman of your word, which means you do what you say you will do, even if it hurts. People can rely on you. How faithful are you?

Growing in Faithfulness means growing in our loyalty to God and to one another. This growth doesn't happen by mere words, but through acts of service. Jesus demonstrated his loyalty to his friends not just by serving them and ultimately giving up His life for them.

When God calls people to serve His great plan of redemption, he often calls those who are insignificant and from obscure places. Who would have thought that God, bypassing all the prominent cities, would choose Bethlehem to be a birthplace for the future rule of the world, the King of His Kingdom? "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2. A little town of Bethlehem played a BIG role in God's plan.

Similarly, God is bringing people who are not so significant and from obscure places into His Church worldwide. The best way to grow in Faithfulness is by serving in your family and in the family of God, the local Church where you belong. For many, it is Hope Church for now.

In Romans 12:3-13, the Apostle Paul encourages the believers to grow in their humble service in the local Church. He acknowledges that each member of the Church is given a gift to serve one another. Whatever that gift may be, we are to use it diligently and cheerfully.

We are called to be devoted or loyal to one another in love, never lacking in zeal, keeping our spiritual fervor, and serving the Lord. We are to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Be generous towards the Lord's people who are in need—practice hospitality.

 I see several of you growing in Faithfulness by using your gifts and serving the Lord in Hope Church. Many of our Deacons, Trustees, and other ministry leaders are aging. We are not growing any younger. If Hope Church is to survive for another ten years, we need younger people to step up and serve in various roles, as our future depends on them. Whether you are young or old, a new believer or a seasoned believer, growing in Faithfulness depends on the Holy Spirit, as Faithfulness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Gal 5:22.

 

  

 

 

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[1] https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/faithfulness

[2] Collins Dictionary

[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-loyalty.html

Be Hopeful

                                                                       BE HOPEFUL

During my recent encounter with acute abdominal pain and a subsequent seven-day hospitalization, I saw and met more people suffering from pain. Amid my unbearable pain, I cried out to God for help through the prayers of family and friends. I eagerly looked at teams of young doctors and nurses, hoping that they would help me be free of pain and be healthy again.

I even told the doctors, "I am emotionally and spiritually doing well, but my physical health is in your hands, and I trust that you will make me well." A couple of times, I felt as if I was not going to make it, especially when I was being driven in the ambulance. Other nights staying up in the hospital bed, both arms poked with IV vials, with an accelerated heart rate and uncontrollable blood pressure, I thought perhaps this may be my last night. I may die alone here!

I was not afraid to die because I knew with certainty where I would spend the rest of my life when I die, in heaven with God. But what was more unbearable was the thought of not being able to see and hold my lovely wife, my children, and especially our five-month-old grandchild, and the one that is yet to be born soon. All along, I have not given up trusting God for a miracle. What kept me going was my Hope in God and my determination to stay alive for my family.

Lo and behold, God heard our prayers. He intervened! The pain was gone. Through all the incredible efforts of these efficient young doctors, nurses, and a supportive own and my church family, I was healed and on the road to normal health. However, some of my doctors are still working with me to address specific concerns related to my health. It's an ongoing process.

When people are emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, relationally, and socially hurting, the only thing they can hang on to is a rope of Hope. As long as they keep their hopes up, they could be helped. But once they give up Hope, no one can help them. Today, we will explore why Hope is such an integral part of living, how Biblical Hope doesn't disappoint us, and how we can Be Hopeful when everything around us seems hopeless. I Peter 1:1-9

I. Why Hope Is an Integral Part of Life?

We had two young girls join us at our Thanksgiving table. During our conversation, they both said how the past churches they attended had changed their names to Hope Church. It is no coincidence that whenever our Church's name was changed from Evangelical Baptist Church to Hope Church, God saw it coming. People need Hope more than ever, living in a world that is unstable, uncertain, and frightening. It is not by having Hope either in our name or in the name of our Church that we would find Hope, but by trusting in the God who is our Hope.

Why is Hope such an integral part of life? Before we define what Hope is, here are what certain famous people in the world said of Hope: "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." Desmond Tutu

"It's always something, to know you've done the most you could. But, don't leave off hoping, or it's of no use doing anything. Hope, hope to the last!" —Charles Dickens.

"Hope is the last thing ever lost." Italian proverb. "And now these three remain: Faith, Hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 13:13

          When we give some thought, we agree that Hope is essential for living; without it, people and the world will not exist. If Hope is one of the three things that will remain, and it is the last thing we have lost, what is Hope? Where can we find Hope to stay hopeful?

II. What is Hope? A Biblical View

The dictionary defines Hope as a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen. We often use the word 'Hope' this way, for instance, if someone asks you, 'Do you think the Sun will shine tomorrow?' We will respond, "I hope so." In other words, we desire and expect a bright and sunny day, but given the gloomy and dark days, we are not confident. You are going for a job interview, and your close friend asks, "Do you think you will get this job?"

We cross our fingers without saying the words, but in reality, we're saying, "I may not get it." The word Hope in English often conveys doubt and uncertainty. In this world, people hope for something, but they do not know whether they will get it, given their disappointments. In contrast, the Biblical Hope is quite the opposite, as it is based on God who doesn't disappoint us.

The very words for Hope, both in Hebrew and Greek, exude confidence and certainty. In the OT, the Hebrew word batah conveys confidence, security, and a sense of being without care; therefore, the concept of doubt is not part of this word. Consider these scriptures: Psalm 16:9. "Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely." (NASB).

Psalm 22:9. "Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother's breasts." (NASB). "In these scriptures, the word Hope denotes: trust, confidence, security, joy, and reliance on God and His word. In most New Testament instances, the word Hope is the Greek elpis/elpizo. Again, there is no doubt attached to this word.

Therefore, we could define biblical Hope as a confident expectation or assurance based on a firm foundation, for which we wait with joy and patient endurance. That sure foundation is God and His promises. When the Psalmist said, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your Hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:11.The Psalmist is not saying, "I hope so, or I am crossing my fingers." No! Based on God's past deliverances and provision, he preaches to his soul to wait for God to come through.

For many OT believers, putting their Hope in God is not only a personal experience but also a collective practice. When calamities hit them, they collectively would cry out to God, saying, "We wait in Hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our Hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22. When troubles hit us, where do we place our Hope, in people or God?

III. Be Hopeful

For many in this world, it is hard to remain hopeful as they witness so much chaos and uncertainty, placing their Hope in human leaders who often fail to deliver what they promised.

On the contrary, the followers of Christ can be hopeful in the midst of a failing economy, famine, earthquakes, and wars. What is the difference? The difference is in whom you put your Hope. Biblical Hope begins and ends in God Himself and His eternal Word. Isaiah prophesied to a distressed people, those whom God humbled as they came through several wars.

He prophesied that people living in darkness would see a great light at the birth of God's Son and the dawn of His eternal Kingdom of Peace and righteousness. Isaiah's prophecy made God's people Hopeful. After centuries, the Apostle Peter, a broken man himself, wrote to God's elect, scattered throughout the world, living under the threat of persecution.

Some traditions say that soon after writing the letters, Peter was crucified upside down by the emperor Nero between 64 and 68 AD. He gave them three Biblical truths that would help them remain hopeful and endure persecution joyfully. These truths can also help us stay hopeful.

Truth Number One: Vs 3, Our Father God, in his mercy, through Christ's resurrection, gave us a new birth into a living Hope. We, as Christians, are people born of Hope. Truth Number Two: Vs. 4. We have an eternal inheritance of God's presence which can never perish, spoil, or fade. Unlike the gold and the riches of this world, what God has for us endures forever.

 

Truth Number Three: We rejoice when we face trials as they strengthen our faith, which is of greater worth than gold. How could we rejoice during our struggles? By fixing our eyes upon Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of our faith. All these years, it is the believers in other parts of the world who have suffered persecution for their faith, yet they remained faithful.

 

Now it is the time for the Christians in the Western world. What gives us courage and strength amid challenges and possible persecution? Remember these hope-giving scriptures: Jer 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you Hope and a future. Psalm 33:18, "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose Hope is in his unfailing love." Psalm 130:5, "wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,  and in his word I put my Hope. On this first Sunday of Advent, my prayer for all of us is this: May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13.

BE THANKFUL (I Chronicles 16:43)

                                           BE THANKFUL! ( I Chronicles 16:23-36)

 Recently, I was having a conversation with one of my friends, from India, and my former Mission's leader. He, too, moved to the  USA in 2008 with their three children. He and I recounted our earlier struggles and our ongoing health issues. While sharing how hard life in the USA had been for him, he said, "The Lord brought me to a land of plenty and made me empty to teach me what truly matters in life and to reveal Himself as the only source of all that I need."

Only those who move from other countries into the USA can understand what it is to live in a land of plenty, devoid of meaningful relationships, struggling to make ends meet, unable to find adequate jobs that match their education back in their home countries, not being able to send their children to good schools, and on top of that, inadequate healthcare etc. My friend and I have pondered our losses as we uprooted ourselves from India, as well as the things we have gained.

Those of us who were born and grew up here, earned degrees, and live comfortable lives may not understand the struggles of immigrants. Maybe the Lord should take you to Haiti, or to the DR, or to any one of the poorer countries to teach you how to value things and be grateful.

Most of us agree that we have a lot to be thankful for. We live a lifestyle full of conveniences. We live in comfortable homes, wear nice clothes, drive big cars, and we have clean water to drink and healthy food to eat. We have access to quality healthcare and good education. We live in freedom, safety, comfort, and security. Yet we take these wonderful blessings for granted and complain about what we don't have. Instead, how about giving thanks?

Millions of people worldwide live without basic necessities, such as food, clean water, clothing, and health care. G.K. Chesterton puts it mathematically: "Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." Wilma gave me a blog post by Michele Morin, a grandmother, about doubling your happiness, in which she reflects on the connection and fun she had with all her eight grandkids. She has some insightful things to say about "Wonder."

Wonder asks, "Why is God so generous with me?" "How could this glorious thing have been given on top of so many other blessings?" The practice of wonder is a gateway to some very profitable wondering. Sadly, we are prone to wondering "up," comparing our own lot with people who have "more" possessions, more influence, more opportunity. In 21st-century North America, we've forgotten how to wonder "down."

 

Here's the difference: Wondering up asks, "Why don't I live in a luxurious place, with a swimming pool, like my next-door neighbor? Wondering down asks, "Why do I get to have clean water to drink and hot water with the turn of a faucet when millions do not?" Wondering up leads to discontentment. Wondering down leads to Gratitude."[1] How about you today, are you wondering up or wondering down? Are you greedy for more? Or are you full of Thanksgiving?

 

During this Thanksgiving week, let's explore whether Thanksgiving has become a mere commercialized American tradition or a biblical command that should be obeyed and practiced by God's children. We will also look at the emotional, mental, and physical benefits of Thanksgiving and how we can grow in Gratitude in our individual lives and as Hope Church.

I. God's abundant resources and His strategy to solve the World's Hunger.

Who do you think owns all of the air space, the universe,  the stars, the Moon and the Sun, all the mountains, the land, the rivers, the oceans, the minerals, cultivation, the wild animals, the fish in the waters? Which one person or country has a monopoly over these resources? If you are honest, you would be quiet, then say, "GOD!" You are 100% right.

Psalm 95:1-7 tells us that we are to come before him and sing for Joy with Thanksgiving, and extol him with music and song. He is the great God, and great King above all gods. Everything on the earth is in His hands. We are his pasture and flock under His care. Our fitting response to such an awesome God is to bow before Him on our knees and worship Him.

If you are still not convinced, let's look at the following scriptures, Ps 24:1: "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it." Deut 10:14, "To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." Job 41:11, "Who has claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heavens belongs to me." Who can argue with God? This little book, The Service Berry, taught me about a culture of Gratitude. The Native Americans have understood what it means to be grateful and to share their resources with others.

Let me read a few thoughts on Gratitude and Economy: "Enumerating the gifts you've received creates a sense of abundance, the knowing that you already have what you need—recognizing 'Enoughness 'is a radical act in an economy that is always urging us to consume more. Data tells the story that there are "enough food calories on the planet for all 8 billion of us to be nourished. And yet people are starving. Imagine the outcome if we each took only enough, rather than far more than our share. The wealth and security we seem to crave could be found in sharing what we have. Ecopyschologists have shown that the practice of Gratitude puts the brakes on hyper consumption."[2]

 

When I read that, I had an Aha! Moment. I thought here is a strategy that is neither a Republican's, a Democrat's, nor any other human being's strategy to solve the world's hunger. It is God's strategy, successfully employed thousands of years ago, that fed over a million men, women, children, and cattle for forty years in the wilderness. I call this "Manna Strategy." I wish the economists and the world leaders would pay attention to it. Exodus 16:1-30

II. Biblical Mandate  and Practice of Thanksgiving

Whose idea is Thanksgiving? In his last sermon to the freed slaves, Moses encouraged them to be thankful to God when they reached the promised land. Deut 8:7-10, "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

 

The verbs to confess, to praise, to sing, and to give thanks come from the same Hebrew word Yadah. The secondary meaning of Yadah is the expression of thanks to God through praise. Praise leads to Thanksgiving. The name Judah also comes from the same root.

Here is how praise leads to Thanksgiving: 2 Chronicles 20:21. "After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his^[a] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever." A beautiful tradition of giving thanks or saying grace before meals has been passed on to us from the OT. Matthew records two instances in which, before feeding the crowds, Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread and the fish. (Matthew 14:15-21; 15:32-38).

Giving thanks before a meal was Jesus' customary practice. In Luke 24:13-35, on the day of Jesus' resurrection, Jesus joins two of His followers on the road to Emmaus. Once they arrive at Emmaus, Jesus stops to eat with them. At the table, Jesus "took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them" (v. 30). The disciples' eyes were opened and they recognized Him.

If you are not in the habit of giving thanks to God, start at mealtime, as it provides an excellent opportunity to pause and be grateful to God for the food we are about to eat. But not only for food, but for every perfect gift that comes from our Father. James 1:17. We praise and give glory to God because, as it reads in Romans 11:36, "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

III. How can we grow in Gratitude?

Thanksgiving is a very significant aspect of God's people in the Bible. To an extent, God ordained thank offerings in Lev 7:11-12. Thanksgiving is not optional; it is God's will for His followers. I Thes 5:16-18, Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Our biblical ancestors recognized the significance of Thanksgiving. The secular world acknowledges its emotional, mental, and physical benefits.

 

I suggest we start from now and be thankful to God for everything. Here are five ways you can grow in Gratitude and experience the Joy and the contentment of the Lord in your life.

 

1. Recognizing whatever is good and perfect comes from God our Father. James 1:17

2. Praising God for the things we have and stop complaining about what we don't have. Ps 103:2

3. Don't rush! Pause! Thank and praise God before or after each meal. Deuteronomy 8:10-18

4. As with everything, ask God to produce in us a generous heart of Thanksgiving. II Cor 9:11

5. Learn to say Enough! You can not be grateful unless you are content. II Tim 6:6-10.

 

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[1] https://michelemorin.substack.com/p/double-your-happiness?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f6f5ae2-b080-4b37-975b-e57ff898ae92_1200x960.jpeg&open=false

 

 

[2] Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Service Berry, page: 12