Focus: Hopeful Faith

Text: Rom.4:17-21

"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be."

Hebrew nouns were born out of verbs; that is, they started out as verbs. Faith is one such word. It occurs first in Gen.15:6, which says, "And he BELIEVED in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." The word 'believed' is 'âman in the Hebrew, and it is a verb. A verb is an action word. It means that work is being performed by the subject. Faith is seen to be faith only when it does something. In other words, faith is made visible by action. The implication of it is that believing in God is the same as work being done. 

The Jews asked the Lord Jesus Christ, "What shall we DO, that we might WORK the WORKS of God?" Christ's response to them was, "This is the WORK of God, that ye BELIEVE on him whom he hath sent" (Jh.6:28,29). 

From His response we can understand that believing in Christ is nothing short of doing the work of God. Faith and work belong together. One cannot function without the other.

In Rom.4:17 we encounter the God who discloses Himself, makes solid and sure promises, creates things and even resurrects the dead. In other words, this God has absolute ability to make something out of nothing and bring life back from the dead. Before Him there is nothing like nothingness, and death is not final. God has creative and resurrection powers. Faith in God exposes one to the supernatural power of God. 

Interestingly, Abraham encountered the all-powerful God, and he instantly believed and relied upon His promises. Abraham's faith was born in that moment of encounter with the Lord, and because of his faith God declared him righteous. So God is faith's source, and there is no God-connection without faith initiating and consummating it. Paul says, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed FROM FAITH TO FAITH…" (Rom.1:17). Faith begins and finishes our journey with God.

Faith is action-oriented. Our text says that Abraham believed in hope against every odd. God promised to bless him with children as many as the stars of heaven, and at the moment this promise was made Abraham had no child, and Sarah was even barren and advanced in age. Yet, Abraham believed God and held on to the promise. 

His condition was hopeless, but he was hopeful. His faith seemed illogical, but he chose rather to bank on God's word and counted God trustworthy. In the end God fulfilled His promise to Abraham.

Isaiah declares, "I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him" (Isa.51:2). God's word came to pass and Abraham became a father of a great multitude of people - both natural and spiritual.

In between promise and performance, there is always a waiting time, and it's always a critical and challenging time. It is a time when the facts don't add up, when the odds stare at you, and when the attacks from the pit of hell don't seem to stop. But one thing is sure: God is never intimidated by the size or weight of your problems. God is always fully aware of His capability before making any promises. When God promised Abraham a child, He knew He had sufficient power to make it happen. Whatever it is that God has promised you, be assured that He has all the resources to do as He has said. Believe and be hopeful! Wait patiently for the fulfillment of God's word in your life! Faith is born of God and is wholly dependent on Him. God gives faith something to hope for. God wants you to be faithful and hopeful.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter