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The Hope of Hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NKJV)

…lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

The sorrow of humanity is a controlling reality. Humans, by nature, seem prone to sorrow. It’s no wonder they project this trait on their Creator, if they in fact believe in one. It seems no matter what religion one follows, people find comfort in projecting their sorrow back on some divine  purpose as this seems to give them hope.

Yes I said it, it gives them hope, hope, that there is purpose for their pain. Strangely, humans find comfort in this which is why it’s not hard to believe in a God who gives and takes away. The problem for us however, is that we are Christians. We’re the people of truth, brought forth by truth, that we should continue to live in truth. As the people of truth, why do we continue to live separately from it?

I believe the answer is found in our failure to live by Romans 12:2. This scripture says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” If I am honest, I could preach this scripture weekly and never exhaust its importance. Where most people miss it is not allowing their mind to be renewed. To be renewed is to be completely renovated and in this case, from the world, its thoughts, its ways, and its ideals as much as they do not conform to the Word of God.

As much as we are the people of truth, we are the people of hope or Godly expectation. 1 Corinthians 13:1 says, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Love is the greatest but note that faith and hope are still listed here. To understand it better consider this: God is love, but to interact with love you must do so by faith and hope. Essentially Paul ends the great love chapter with the focus on these three areas.

Faith is the trust in hope or expectation of what God has promised. This is what we are to renew our minds to. This is also the greatest assault to all that is God. Everything the devil does has its purpose in eliminating our hope. Every attack on our faith, if you look, will always be trying to undermine our hope.

Look what we are shown in Colossians 1:23. Paul says here, “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…” Indeed the Bible declares that those who are just live by faith. We understand that faith is needed to get into Heaven, and here we see it’s possible to get moved away by losing hope.

If you are going to continue in the blessings of God and in the faith He says moves mountains, you will have to fortify your hope. Your expectation has to be more in the Word than even what you see. How do you do this? What ever area of Hope needs fortified, focus your attention in the Word, in the area attacked. If the attack is in finances, your focus must be in financial scriptures, or if you need healing, in healing scriptures, for example. Faith comes by hearing so return to the Word as often as you need, until your hope cannot be moved by anything, even and especially by your own thoughts.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

12/23/17 Unto Us a Savior–Pastor Renée Mitchener

12/16/17 All Words Matter–Pastor Renée Mitchener

12/2/17 Spirit Living Is Real Living: Part 2–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

11/25/17 Spirit Living Is Real Living–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

11/18/17 Do Not Grow Weary–Pastor Michael Lokietek

11/4/17 Still The Same–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

10/28/17 Keeping The Keeping Word–Pastor Renée Mitchener

10/21/17 What Did Jesus Do?–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

10/7/17 Committed To Him–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

9/23/17 Fixed Faith–Pastor Renée Mitchener

9/16/17 Knowing His Will–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

9/9/17 How To Go Through Trial–Pastor Renée Mitchener

9/2/17 Our God Is A Good God–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

8/26/17 More Than Win–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

8/19/17 What’s Your Confession?–Pastor Renée Mitchener

8/12/17 Fruit Bearers: Part 2–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

8/5/17 Fruit Bearers: Part 1–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

7/29/17 The Key To Perfect Peace–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

7/22/17 Growing In Knowledge–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

7/15/17 The Three Part Nature of Man–Pastor Renée Mitchener

7/1/17 Word and Spirit: Part 1–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

6/24/17 Draw near To God–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

6/9/17 Speak Life–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

6/3/17 Who Are You Working With?–Pastor Renée Mitchener

5/27/17 Sin Separate, Blood Bought–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

5/20/17 Proving God’s Will–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

5/6/17 Faith In His Supply–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

4/29/17 God Does In Those Who Do In Him–Pastor Jeff Mitchener

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Yes, Judge The Book By The Cover

1 Corinthians 2:15 (NKJV) says, “But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.”

There are several reasons not to want judgement. Some are justified and some are not. As Christians we should never nitpick anyone. In Proverbs 19:13 we are told of how it’s the equivalent of a leaky dripping roof. You won’t win anyone that way. After all the Word tells us that he who wants friends must first show himself friendly. That being said, as Christians we must make judgements and do it often. Wait! Didn’t Jesus say, “don’t judge so you wouldn’t be judged”? Let’s have a look, I’m sure the answer is in there.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5 (NKJV), “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

What He was referring to in these scriptures is simply not picking apart somebody else’s life. In other words, this is referring to constantly taking another’s faults before them, not even considering your own. The Bible is clear, other than what is written in Scripture, humans are left to their consciences to decide.
Something I’ve always loved about my church is how I was initially received. When I first started coming to Family Church I was living in the world and living in it bad. I was a master of the works of the flesh and took pride in my debauchery. When I came in disheveled, pierced, tattooed, hungover, and reeking like an ashtray (in other words, I was not what’s considered churchy), people didn’t judge me but rather loved on me. They accepted me, brought me in, befriended me, taught me, and encouraged me. That’s right, they let the Lord work things in and work things out. They didn’t, however, instantly promote me to head of any department, put me in charge of the children, put me on worship team, or give me the keys to the church. I didn’t make important decisions for the direction of the church and I wasn’t brought in as counsel for the pastor. They judged where I was, what I was capable of, and made decisions based on that. Just like Saul’s armor to David, I wasn’t fully trusted, though welcomed,because I hadn’t been proven. My faithfulness would be tested over time, first.

Over the years I was given more responsibility, a little at a time. As I proved my faithfulness, I would occasionally be increased. Today I pastor my own church and am called upon by my Pastor for anything. I no longer resemble the world but have been transformed, more and more, to look more like Him. I haven’t arrived but as I’ve been faithful, and continue doing so, I get closer to it.

We need to make judgements based on many things but how we react to those judgements should always be within the confines of Scripture. After all, part of the purpose of the Holy Ghost in us is to guide us in all things. I was judged and continually am, yet this is not bothersome to me. It was for my own good and to help me grow in spiritual maturity. When a Christian is judging a situation, it should always lead them to look closer at God. Not that we live in perfection but we need to be clean enough to reflect His.

Be Blessed,
Pastor Jeff

We’d love to hear from you if you’ve been enjoying Family Church Mayville’s weekly Faith Fix devotional. Stop in for a service at 10:30am or 7pm Sundays!