372 - In Times of Hopelessness, Hold on to God's Promises#
372 - In Times of Hopelessness, Hold on to God's Promises
(JP Text Group - Shalom Compilation)
Dear family, peace in the Lord, and welcome to your arrival.
The topic of sharing is: In Times of Hopelessness, Hold on to God's Promises
Romans 4:17-22:
17 As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations,” in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 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.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise you for preparing this wonderful time for us to listen to your words together. In this world, we need strength, and even more, we need the supply that comes from you. In times of hopelessness, your words are our hope; when there is no hope, the words of the Bible are our hope. Because your promises to us do not change, your promises will surely be fulfilled, and those who rely on you will not be put to shame. I come before you with my questions, receiving supply in this moment. Please help me find answers in your words and be renewed in strength. Bless the following time, I pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.
Looking at Romans 4:17-22, this passage talks about Abraham's faith. Our trust in God is not only about God saving us from death into eternal life, but more importantly, in our lives, we must believe in God in all things, who is the God that blesses us. This includes believing in God's words when there seems to be no hope. When Abraham had no hope, he still had hope through faith, holding on to the words God had spoken to him, believing that regardless of the circumstances, God would surely fulfill His word.
Can we still believe that God's words are true when the circumstances are dire and seem hopeless? Believing that He has not forsaken us is true faith. When circumstances are bad and prayers seem unanswered, we thank God and praise His greatness, believing that He will take responsibility for us and will not let us be ashamed!
The first point of sharing: God's promises are unchanging and real.
What God gave to Abraham was a promise; there was no actual contract between them, but Abraham believed God's words.
Let’s take a look at Genesis 12:1-3:
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
When God initially called Abraham, He simply spoke these words to him without performing miracles or healing him. Abraham did not negotiate with God like Jacob did; he chose to believe, trusting that the blessings God gave him were the best, believing that God is faithful and that His words would surely come to pass.
Where did Abraham's faith manifest? He left his country, kindred, and father's house with hope. His country was where he lived, his kindred were his relatives and friends, and his father's house was his family. He left them all, meaning Abraham went far away alone to the land God indicated. This was God's personal calling for him. Initially, he brought his father and his nephew Lot, but both left him later, meaning Abraham had to walk alone towards the promised land of God. He believed that God would bless him and make his name great.
Our faith is life; it is not like a movie where life can be compressed into thrilling moments filled with passion, constantly witnessing miracles, healings, and power. A simple and ordinary life is the true faith life. Throughout Abraham's journey of following God, what he desired did not come; he had no son, which was his greatest regret in life. He had wealth and status, but no son. As he looked at his many possessions, he inevitably felt disappointed. He originally wanted to pass his estate to Lot, but later Lot separated from him. Every time he thought of his lack of children while seeing his possessions, he must have felt weak and lost. How did God comfort him?
Genesis 15:1-4:
1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
Abraham also had moments of weakness; it cannot be said that he was always strong after believing in the Lord. This is the weakness of humanity. We carry the flesh, and weaknesses will inevitably arise. But what do people most long for in times of weakness? The fulfillment of promises, answered prayers, or a miracle. This is what many people continuously expect. Abraham had no children; if God had given him a child at that moment, all problems would have been solved, and his faith would have surely soared! However, during the waiting process, Abraham became weak, and God knew what he wanted but did not grant it.
When Abraham was still weak, God spoke to him in a vision: “Abram, fear not, I am your shield; I will greatly reward you.” Brothers and sisters, if we have been praying for something and God tells us in a vision not to fear, that He is our shield and will greatly reward us, we might easily respond, “When will you give me a son? I don’t want status or wealth; I just want a son!” Abraham was human too; we should not think of him as lacking emotions, needs, or weaknesses—he had them.
In Genesis 15:2, Abram said: “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless?”
Abraham expressed his true feelings to God, which is acceptable. You can tell God what you want, even in times of weakness. You can share your needs with Him; God will not say, “Don’t bring this up with me!” He won’t. Abraham honestly told God, “I have no son! What will you give me?” and he mentioned that the heir of his estate would be Eliezer of Damascus.
Who is Eliezer? He was a servant Abraham bought from Damascus. According to ancient records, a man without a son could appoint his servant as heir and inheritor of his estate. Eliezer was Abraham's faithful servant, wise and steady, honest and pious before God. Therefore, later Abraham entrusted him with managing all his estate and sent him to Haran to find a wife for his son Isaac, showing that Abraham trusted Eliezer very much.
Having no son and with his nephew Lot having left him, Abraham thought that since God had not given him a son, his estate would go to Eliezer. It was clear that Abraham was somewhat unwilling. When God said, “I am your shield; do not fear, I will greatly reward you!” Abraham really just wanted a son; he did not need anything else. If he had no children, no matter how much wealth he had, it would mean little to him. So, Abraham expressed his heart to God, saying, “The heir of my estate is Eliezer of Damascus.” He clearly stated the name and origin of this foreigner to God.
In verse 3, Abram said again, “You have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”
It is evident that Abraham's words reflected his unwillingness; he was somewhat complaining to God: “I have waited for you for so many years; why haven’t you given me a son?” Abraham was settling for second best, asking God why His promise had not been fulfilled. Brothers and sisters, the offspring God referred to was not Eliezer. When God promised for the third time, He directly and clearly told him, “Your very own son shall be your heir!” Previously, Abraham had moments of weakness, and God had told him this, but this time it was very clear: “That man is not your heir; your own son shall be your heir.”
What did God mean? Only the son born from your wife Sarah can be your heir. God further clarified the promise. In other words, God did not change His promise or compromise it. This indeed required faith from Abraham to receive. Abraham was already over eighty years old, and his wife Sarah was past childbearing age. This seemed absurd and unbelievable to people, but Abraham believed. This kind of faith transcended human understanding, reason, and circumstances, and such faith was praised by God.
People might think, “God, don’t say so much; just let this son be born next year, and Abram will say nothing!” In fact, over ten years had passed since God's three promises, and he had not seen any of them come to pass. In this state, he still believed and relied on God. For ordinary people, if they see no results, it is indeed very difficult to persist. Many would choose to doubt. I believe many people, in extreme weakness, would say they no longer believe! If it doesn’t work, can I change to another God? I have believed in you for so long, prayed, and declared, yet nothing has happened!
Why doesn’t God fulfill His promises? When our prayers go unanswered, when things do not come to pass, and after many prayers, we can’t bear it ourselves, doubts may arise, even complaints. But you can speak to God about it. Abraham had enough reasons: his body was failing, and his wife’s body was also failing. What could he do? Could he still believe in this God? Over ten years had passed, and nothing had been fulfilled! In this respect, Abraham's faith indeed surpassed that of ordinary people. If God had fulfilled the promise at that time, Abraham's faith would have surely soared. But God did not immediately fulfill the promise; instead, He reiterated the promises made in the past.
Let’s look at Genesis 15:5-6:
5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Abraham was weak and particularly wanted a son. Seeing that his wife’s body was failing, he prayed to God about this matter. God did not immediately give him a son but said, “Come out, look toward heaven, and number the stars; can you number them? So shall your offspring be!” If it were an ordinary person, they might say, “Lord! Don’t say such meaningless things; just give me one first! You tell me my offspring will be as numerous as the stars, but shouldn’t it start with one?”
Some people might complain to God about such things, but when God spoke these words to Abraham, he believed God. God merely gave him a word of comfort, a promise, and he believed! I mentioned earlier that he was around eighty-five years old at this time, having believed for over ten years, and this son had not yet been born. After receiving a promise from God, He did not speak again. Abraham continued his faith life, relying on the vision God gave him and the stars in the sky.
The son still did not appear, and after waiting for over ten years, when Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the son still had not come. Brothers and sisters, if this situation were placed upon you, could you still believe in this God? This is a question we must ask ourselves. Do we truly believe that the Lord we trust will not change in any circumstance and will always love us? If this matter does not come to pass, can I continue to believe in Him? When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, God appeared to him again.
Genesis 17:1-8:
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
Let’s talk about this environment again: in times of hopelessness, can we continue to hold on to God's words? Abraham left his hometown at about seventy-five years old, which means he believed in the Lord at seventy-five. Now, nearly twenty-five years have passed, and he longed for a son. For twenty-five years, he had not had a single day without hoping that his wife could conceive and bear a son. But it seemed that God had not fulfilled this promise; his wife had not become pregnant. Every time Abraham was weak, God reminded him of His words. Perhaps counting the stars was something he did for over ten years. Each time, he believed God, thinking that his future offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, yet he had no children! Now he was ninety-nine years old! His body was completely failing, and still, there was no child.
At this time, God spoke to him again. God did not say, “Abram, next year you will have a child.” What did God say again? “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will make my covenant with you and will multiply you greatly.” It seems that our Lord only repeats His promises and does not do anything tangible.
I have indeed encountered some brothers and sisters who have become weak, and their prayers have not been fulfilled. We tell them, “Do not lose heart; believe that our God is faithful; He will not let you be ashamed.” They respond, “Don’t tell me that; I don’t want to hear it anymore; I can’t take it!” They have believed for so long, prayed so many times, and nothing has been fulfilled. How can they continue to believe in Him? We also believe that Abraham had enough reasons to say such words. “Don’t talk about how great you are and how much power you have; let me be blameless before you. I am already old! You make a covenant with me and mention my offspring being greatly multiplied; how will that be fulfilled?”
For Abraham, having no son was his greatest torment. Since Abraham could become the father of faith, he must have had extraordinary faith in God. Every time God reiterated the promise, Abraham believed Him. At ninety-nine years old, it seemed that there was no hope left in the eyes of people. When God reminded Abraham of His promise again, Abraham fell on his face, meaning he believed in God's words! God then said, “I will make my covenant with you to make you the father of many nations.” Abraham truly believed this, and God even changed his name, saying, “From now on, you shall no longer be called Abram, which means exalted father, but Abraham, which means father of many nations.”
Brothers and sisters, if there is no son, God places this title upon you; it seems like a joke in front of people! Clearly, this matter has not been fulfilled, yet every day declaring, “God has fulfilled this matter; my children will be as numerous as the stars in the sky,” when speaking these words, people around you will surely look at you strangely. But Abraham truly believed this; he believed that what God said would surely come to pass. God said, “I will make you exceedingly fruitful.” Abraham did not see it, yet he still believed. God speaks, and I believe! This is the greatest trust.
With nothing, just a promise, he completely believed and did not doubt, even if others around him spoke negatively or even tried to destroy his faith, he still believed. This is how Abraham believed in God. God said, “Nations will come from you, and kings will come from you.” This sounds like an extremely ambitious goal and dream, yet Abraham believed it because it was God who said it. Even though he had nothing at that moment, Abraham still believed in God!
God continued to say to Abraham, “I will establish my covenant with you and your offspring throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant!” Abraham believed Him again. Abraham believed that God would not only bless him but also bless his offspring, and that He would establish an everlasting covenant with his offspring, never forsaking them! Brothers and sisters, these promises were made in the absence of any signs!
Verse 8: “And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.”
When God made a covenant with Abraham, He continually mentioned him and his offspring. God is a covenant-keeping and loving God! Abraham persisted in believing for about twenty-five years under circumstances where nothing had happened. Can you imagine such faith? Continuously saying He would fulfill it, yet seeing no results, and still believing—this kind of faith is real!
Many people think faith is about praying to God and having Him fulfill it, answering their prayers, healing their bodies, providing for their finances, and turning their finances around, and they give such testimonies! But how many can understand the faith of Abraham? Nothing had happened; there were no testimonies at home, no healings, and even some minor issues arose, yet he still believed God, believing that God would give him a son, bless his offspring, and make his offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky!
Up to now, Abraham had seen nothing, yet he had continued to believe for twenty-five years! Hallelujah, this is true faith; faith built on miracles and material things is unstable.
The second point of sharing: Regardless of whether the promise has been fulfilled at the moment, believe that God does not lie, just like Abraham.
Hebrews 11:1-2:
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
What is faith? Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. The things hoped for are what you desire, and assurance is the result you want to see. Faith does not refer to past events; past events do not require faith, but rather to the things that are to be accomplished. The results of what you hope for have not yet happened, but you see them and are very certain that they will happen! The conviction of things not seen means that although you have not seen this matter, you are very confident that it will happen!
This is faith, and what Abraham possessed was precisely this faith! When Abraham was called out of Haran, God said, “I will give you offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand by the seashore.” At that time, Abraham had not seen a son, but he believed that God's words would surely come to pass, and he believed in his heart. He waited for about twenty-five years, yet Abraham still believed. Although he had weaknesses, he never said he did not believe.
Why do I share this background with you? Historical records indicate that Abraham's father sold idols. If this God, after twenty-five years of believing, had done nothing, Abraham would have had ample reason to give up and seek other gods. Many people would do such things, and it would be understandable. But Abraham did not give up; for over twenty years, he continued to believe that God would surely fulfill this matter. He was very certain! Not only Abraham, but Hebrews 11 also mentions many people who believed in God in the same way, believing that even if the promise had not been fulfilled at that moment, God would surely fulfill it! Waiting is all that is needed.
In the passage we just read, Romans 4:17-21, “Abraham believed in the God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” This is what Abraham believed. Why is it said that He gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist? The resurrection of the dead refers to God asking him to offer Isaac, who was already over ten years old, as a burnt offering to God. This son was to die, and at that time, Abraham's faith had reached its peak, believing that God would raise him from the dead!
It also refers to another matter: Abraham's body was as good as dead, yet he believed that God would revive this body! Calling into existence the things that do not exist means that even when everything seems hopeless and without expectation, he still believed that God could transcend all of this! God gave him only one promise: “I have made you the father of many nations!” Just one promise, and when Abraham received this promise, he chose to believe.
God has given us many promises. Can you hold on to one promise, saying, “Lord, I believe you will not forsake me, and you will surely fulfill your promises in my life, regardless of the current circumstances; I believe you are a faithful God!” If you can have such a heart, God will surely resolve your doubts and let you see beautiful results.
In times of hopelessness, what does it mean to be without hope? When young, in their seventies or eighties, one might think that a child could still be born, but now at ninety-nine, the body has already deteriorated! How can one strive for that? This is called hopelessness. Wanting a son through one's own efforts is absolutely impossible, yet he once again remembered God's words. When the promise has not been fulfilled, I still believe in God. He, through faith, still had hope in God. This kind of faith made him the father of many nations and the father of faith.
Many people desire the blessings that Abraham received later, but very few can continue to believe in God like that! Too many people are too impatient; if God does not fulfill it in a month, they stop believing, stop gathering, and stop listening to the word! “Don’t talk to me about this anymore; I can’t take it!” Just because God has not fulfilled a prayer, they start complaining and say they no longer believe.
In contrast, Abraham waited for over twenty years, leaving his family and following God, and up to now, he still had not seen results. Yet every time God comforted him, it seemed He only said those few words: “I will bless you; I am such a God; I will let your offspring be like this.” God merely spoke His promises to Abraham, and Abraham truly believed. The circumstances were dire, yet when God gave him a promise, he was immediately filled with joy.
Verse 19: “He was about a hundred years old.”
As we just mentioned, he was ninety-nine years old, seeing his body as good as dead, and Sarah's womb was barren. In such circumstances, it truly seemed hopeless, yet his faith did not weaken. Where did his strength come from? Looking to God's promises! Brothers and sisters, what is looking to God? It is simply believing! Just hold on to this word, never giving up or doubting. This is what it means to look to God. We often tell everyone to look to God's promises and believe in God. What does it mean to believe in God? It means that even when there are no results and no good developments are seen, I still believe. When feeling anxious, take out God's promises, read them aloud, and declare them; this is looking to God!
Abraham did not waver in unbelief or doubt; it is not to say that Abraham had no weaknesses—he did. He may have even complained to God, but he never said, “I do not believe.” He did not say, “Lord, will this promise be fulfilled?” Many people, when prayers go unanswered and promises unfulfilled, will question whether God exists. This is true doubt. At any time, please do not doubt whether God exists; He is always present. This God truly exists, Amen! What about God's words? God's promises can truly be fulfilled, Amen!
When Abraham remembered God's words in his weakness, his heart was strengthened. Therefore, do not build your faith on miracles; miracles are unreliable. The Israelites saw miracles every day in the wilderness yet still lacked faith. Do not build your faith on any person; if they fall, you will also become weak. Build your faith on God's words, on the promises God has given you. What God says will surely come to pass! This way, your faith can be strong. Hallelujah!
Romans 4:21 says, “Fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”
Why was Abraham so certain? Because in his moments of weakness, he declared God's words. God changed his name to Abraham, meaning father of many nations. When his wife and family called him by this name, it was a reminder of God's promise to him, Amen! In our moments of weakness, after praying, we must continually declare God's words, regardless of the circumstances. You must declare this repeatedly to remind yourself that God will surely fulfill His promises. Never declare negative or contrary things, as that will only diminish your faith.
Finally, let’s look at a passage from Hebrews 11:8-12:
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
Hebrews 11 is the hall of fame of faith, recounting the deeds of many great men of faith, including Abraham and his wife Sarah. Abraham's faith teaches us that when called by faith, he obeyed and went out. When called, God told him this word, and when He called him, he left his country, kindred, and father's house, going out. God merely said, “Go to the place I will show you. I will bless you there and make you a great nation; I will make your name great.” As a result, because of this word, Abraham went out, leaving home without knowing where he was going.
This generation is a time of trust crisis; trust between people has been lost. Too many people are calculating against each other because of the increase of lawlessness, and people's love and faith have greatly diminished. People no longer treat each other sincerely because they have been hurt too much. Even many come to church with a layer of protection when interacting with others. We interact with others wearing masks and thick protective shells, fearing that others will know our true inner situation.
Some come to church like this. Why? Many initially truly believed in God's promises. After coming to church, they shared their issues with brothers and sisters, asking them to pray. Yet some brothers and sisters broadcast their issues everywhere, causing that person to lose face, and their little problems become known to everyone. When such things happen more and more, trust between brothers and sisters is lost.
Now, people are afraid to easily share their issues with others. Under grace, if we cannot restrain our tongues, keep secrets for others, and pray for others, it becomes very difficult to establish trust! The trust between Abraham and God was very subtle; when God spoke a word, he believed it. We write guarantees, contracts, and even pay deposits, yet we do not dare to trust.
What is the reason? The human heart has become corrupt. I hope that brothers and sisters who believe in the Lord will be different from the world, believing in God and establishing such faith with Him, and naturally, trust will be established between people. If you carry a deceitful heart and calculating spirit in your interactions with others, it will also be the same when you pray to God.
Abraham simply believed in God. I also believe that Abraham built trust with others in a simple manner. Otherwise, he would not have had such a loyal and honest servant. His old servant Eliezer, when going to find a wife for Isaac, took many treasures with him. If there were no trust between them, once he left, he would never return, and Abraham would not be able to find him! But this old servant was very loyal and trustworthy, and Abraham truly believed in him because Abraham had a simple trust in God.
We have many areas that need renewal. We must have such simple faith in God, believing that His promises do not change. Relationships with others will naturally improve, and you will have trustworthy friends. Nowadays, too many people lack true friends. When they encounter issues, they do not dare to easily share their true inner situations with others, fearing that they might fall into traps set by opponents.
Brothers and sisters, Abraham believed God; when God spoke a word to him, he believed it and persisted until the end of his life. How great was this trust? When God said to go there, Abraham did not ask why or what He had prepared for him when he got there. He simply believed.
The Israelites' faith differs greatly from Abraham's. God had already made a covenant with the Israelites, saying, “The place I will take you to is a land flowing with milk and honey. The wells there you did not dig, the vineyards you did not plant, and the houses you did not build; everything is prepared. Just go!” When the Israelites saw difficulties, they said they would not go; God would not let them pass, and He was letting them die in the wilderness. This group of Israelites had a faith that was vastly different from Abraham's.
Brothers and sisters, Abraham held on to God's promises, while the Israelites kept looking at their circumstances. The difference was immense. Abraham, by faith, lived as a guest in the promised land. He had already arrived in the land of Canaan promised by God, yet it was desolate. He lived in tents, inheriting the promised land. God always said, “In this place, I will bless you and your offspring.” Yet now it seemed that everything was like a shadow, and even Abraham himself seemed like a guest.
Today he moved his tent here, and tomorrow he went to another place. Despite this, the environment was not as good as his old home, yet he still believed God, held on to God's promises, and believed that God would make his name great and bless him, making his offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky. This was what he believed, and what Abraham was waiting for was not just this earthly city; he was waiting for that city with foundations. God not only wanted to bless him but also to bless his offspring, making them as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand by the seashore. Abraham believed, Amen.
I hope brothers and sisters will meditate on today’s message, establishing faith on God's promises and His words, holding on to His words at all times, especially in times of hopelessness, Amen. In fact, Abraham had many choices. For twenty-five years, God had not given him a son, and he had no need to endure the hardship of wandering; he could have gone back. He originally had the opportunity to return, but he did not go back; he chose to believe God's words. He was waiting for that city with foundations, the promised city of God, the new heaven and new earth.
Do not focus solely on the world. Many people give testimonies about what God has given them and feel very happy. I want to tell everyone that the promises God gives you are what you should remember and hold on to the most! What God has prepared for you in heaven is an eternal reward, and that is what you need to hold tightly! What God gives you on earth is indeed something to be grateful for, but it is a very small part. Do not place all your hopes here; rejoice in having your name recorded in heaven. God gives you this promise; believe it and hold on to this promise with joy! You must believe that this is what God has given you, and no one can take it away, regardless of the circumstances. God's promises will surely be fulfilled.
And Sarah herself, although past childbearing age, meaning her menstruation had ceased, yet God said, “Next year you will have a son.” You just need to believe; do not analyze or judge. The promises God gives us and His words are not for us to analyze or judge but to believe. When God gives you this word, just believe it, saying, “This word will surely come to pass in my life.” That is enough; do not seek other evidence. Has anyone ever received healing in this area? Even if not, you can believe that God will fulfill this matter in your life! Many people always ask, “I have this illness now; has anyone in the church ever been healed by God from this illness?” I say yes, and they ask, “Can you give me that person's contact information? I want to talk to them.”
Brothers and sisters, this is acceptable, but it is not the best way. You must believe not in how that person was healed by God but that the Lord can heal them and will surely heal you! If He can bless them, He can surely bless me! Shift your focus from people to God, Amen. Hold on to God's promises, not on how someone was healed. There are many ways!
Jesus healed blind people using different methods. Sometimes He said, “Can you see?” Sometimes He touched their eyes, and they were healed. Sometimes He used spit and mud. Which method is the right one? The focus is not on the method; it is on Jesus Himself! It is the words that come from Jesus' mouth, Amen!
God's promises in our lives can produce countless testimonies and methods, but do not mistake testimonies for truth! Amen. Hold tightly to God's promises. Sarah believed that the one who promised her was faithful. Although her body had deteriorated, she believed that God could make her youthful again. Many sisters name themselves Sarah, but it is not just about being named Sarah; it is about having faith like Sarah's that allows you to be like her, Amen. Even at an old age, you can still be beautiful, Hallelujah! It is not about being named Sarah and then complaining, “Lord! Have you forsaken me? What must I do for you to fulfill my prayers?” This is not Sarah; this is Lazarus.
The point is not what you are named but what significance that name brings you. Does that name carry God's promises within it? If you can hold on to God's promises tightly, you have received them! The Bible contains so many promises; if you can hold on to one of them, regardless of how the environment changes, this matter will surely come to pass in your life! No matter how others around you see or say, do not be influenced by them.
People around you might say, “I have also prayed for a long time; I have believed for a long time, yet I have never seen healing. There are no healing matters at all!” You say, “I also believe there is no healing…” Do not be influenced by them. The Israelites said, “We cannot enter Canaan; God is letting us die in the wilderness.” Do you believe that? If you believe, you will truly die in the wilderness and go nowhere.
But Joshua and Caleb said, “We will not die in the wilderness; we will enter the land of Canaan! God will give us our inheritance, and we will die satisfied!” God fulfilled this for them! According to their faith, they saw it. But the first generation of Israelites believed they would die in the wilderness, and God indeed fulfilled their faith, letting them die in the wilderness! Therefore, do not look at how the people around you believe; their faith is their own business, and you do not need to emulate them.
Many people always say, “How about the people around me?” I say, “Do not look at them; God is not like that. Focus your attention back on God's promises. Just hold on to God's promises.” If Jesus ever said, “You prayed, but I may not fulfill it,” and you stop believing, Jesus never said such words. You should believe what Jesus said and not what people say. People's words change from one day to the next.
The Israelites were like this; how much more so the people around us? The first generation of Israelites saw Jesus and shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Not long after, they shouted, “Crucify Him! We do not want Him!” Can you still believe the words that come from such people? They are changeable and change very quickly! Only God's promises do not change; what He says will be upheld to the end. God will uphold it!
God said to Abraham, “I will bless you and your offspring; I will establish an everlasting covenant with them.” This matter is still valid today. God has not gone back on His word! We have seen this, so you must hold on to God's promises, even in times of hopelessness. Please continue to believe that God's promises will surely be fulfilled in your life. May God grant you wisdom and strength to overcome the current crisis, Amen!
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for comforting us with such words. In times of hopelessness, we hold tightly to your promises because your promises do not change, and the words you have spoken will surely come to pass! Please grant us the faith of Abraham, let me often meditate on Abraham's faith! Abraham had hope in times of hopelessness because of his faith; he looked to your promises, fully believing that what you promised would surely come to pass!
I also believe this; I believe that the words of promise you have given me will surely come to pass! Every day, I draw strength and faith from your words, living with your promises! This week will be different; the Holy Spirit will be with me, reminding me of your promises. I will stand strong in your words; you are still the living God, and your promises cannot be hindered; they will surely come to pass in my life.
Thank you for making me one of your beloved, for letting me be in your covenant, and for being willing to take responsibility for me. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for loving me so much. I look forward to good things happening in my life this week, and I expect your promises to be fulfilled in my life! Hallelujah! All glory be to you. I pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.