High Hopes for Hard Times
Encouraging Bible Verses - Free Words of Encouragement

The message John shared yesterday at Gateway Church was really worth a listen.

If you have hurts in your past due to family issues (who doesn’t) you’ll want to listen to this message titled, “Nobody Stands Alone: A New Kind of Family” (click below to listen to the streaming audio):

If you want to listen to more of the recent messages from the pastors at Gateway, just go to www.GatewayChurch.com.

So, I recently started reading Jack Cavanaugh’s “Kingdom Wars“ books, and I could hardly put them down from the first page of the first book through the last page of the second. Not since I read This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness have I been so captivated by a work of Christian fiction.

More than just entertaining me for a few idle hours, the books got me thinking about the entire realm of spiritual warfare that goes on all around us while we remain mostly oblivious…

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks. 12 Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. 13 That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. 14 So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest. 15 On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. 16 And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One. 17 Accept God’s salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.” - Ephesians 6:10-18, New Century Version (Bold and italics mine)

In the second book, the above Bible passage plays a pivotal role in the story. Of course, you’ll have to read it to find out how - trust me, it’s worth the read.

Despite that the books are fiction, the story serves as a cogent reminder that all we see is not all there is; further, it reminded me how important it is to truly put on the full armor of God, every single day.

Do yourself a favor and pick up Mr. Cavanaugh’s excellent books… I’m sure you’ll be both entertained by the story he spins, as well as inspired to look a bit deeper into spiritual warfare in scripture, as well.

And for practical teachings on spiritual warfare for Christians, check out Spiritual Warfare in a Believer’s Life by C.H. Spurgeon.

Jesus told us in no uncertain terms that we would have troubles in this world. Yet, as is typically the case when Christ gives us bad news, He couples it with Good News that far outweighs the bad.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 (NIV, bold and italics mine)

Of particular note to those of us who need encouragement is the fact that Christ defeated the “evil one” at the cross. Christ died for our sins, so that we would no longer stand accused because of our sin. In short, Christ took our shame away.

I know it’s hard to think of spiritual things when you’re hurting so much in the here and now. That being said, if you are troubled about things that are going on in your life right now, just remember what Jesus did at the cross, and know that you have a Savior who loves you so much He died for you.

And, Jesus desperately wants to have a relationship with you, so He can ease your sorrow:

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” - Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

Want to know more? A good place to start would be to read the individual study guide at WayofChrist.info - it’s free, and it will help you understand more about Jesus and what salvation in Christ really means.

“But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” - Hebrews 3:6, NIV

Scriptures often refer to how faithful God is to His people. God keeps His promises, and He is the same now, tomorrow, and forever.

Just the same, the Son is faithful just as the Father. What that means to us is that Jesus is watching over us, faithfully… He knows your every hurt, your every pain, your every struggle.

Yet, it is up to us to hold on to courage, in the sense that we must guard our hope in a Savior who died for all our sins, so that we can be redeemed.

And if we start to lose courage, and we start to see hope slipping away, then it’s time to ask God to provide us with courage and hope.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” - from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7, Verses 7 and 8 (NIV)

…

John Burke is our lead pastor at Gateway Community Church. John doesn’t know it, but he’s part of the reason why I started attending church again.

I’m really thankful for God leading us to Gateway Church, and also I’m thankful that God is equipping people like John so they are able to make someone like me feel at home at church, even though I’ve always struggled with feeling comfortable in a traditional church setting.

I know God is working through people like John to help people like me come out of their isolation and back into active involvement in the church. I’m just glad there are pastors and other people in the ministry like that who are really trying to reach people where they are. It hurts to be alone, and as the following message explains, God doesn’t want us to fly solo.

So, here’s the message from the service today… it’s Part 1 of a new series called “Nobody Stands Alone”:

Want more? Head on over to www.GatewayChurch.com.

Oh, one more thing - Pastor Burke has a new book coming out soon called Soul Revolution (about living in the presence and awareness of God). It’s available at Amazon.com if you want to check it out.

“1 Give thanks to the Lord and pray to him.
Tell the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him; sing praises to him.
Tell about all his miracles.
3 Be glad that you are his;
let those who seek the Lord be happy.
4 Depend on the Lord and his strength;
always go to him for help.
5 Remember the miracles he has done;
remember his wonders and his decisions.
6 You are descendants of his servant Abraham,
the children of Jacob, his chosen people.
7 He is the Lord our God.
His laws are for all the world.
8 He will keep his agreement forever;
He will keep his promises always.”

- Psalm 105, Verses 1-8 (New Century Version, quotes, italics, and bold mine)

Have you ever felt like God had abandoned you? Maybe you feel like that today… I know there have been times when I have felt that way.

However, we need to remember that God always keeps His promises. He will never forsake you nor leave you, as we are told in Deuteronomy 31:6 -

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV, bold mine)

Isn’t that an awesome promise? I know it makes me feel that I’m loved, to know that I have a Father in heaven who will never leave me, and a Saviour who petitions my cause at the throne of my Father in Heaven.

So, depend on the Lord and His strength, and always go to Him for help… you won’t have to go very far.

^“114 You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope.” - Psalm 119:114 (New Living Translation)

Psalm 119 verse 114 is a reminder to us not only that the Lord is looking out for us, but also that He has left us a powerful source of hope and encouragement.

Reading Bible verses for encouragement is not just a good idea; according to the Psalmist it is the prescribed source of hope for those in need of comfort.

In 2 Corinthians 1 verses 3 through 7, Paul writes the following as he opens his second letter to the church in Corinth:

“³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. ⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ⁵ For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. ⁶ Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. ⁷ We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NLT, bold text mine)

How interesting that Paul tells the reader that God is the source of all comfort. Obviously, Paul’s purpose in this was to remind the reader that we should look to the Lord first, foremost, and always for comfort in our time of troubles.

So, if you’re hurting, pray to God that he provides you with comfort in your time of troubles. He’s there for you… turn to Him and let the Lord who loves you carry your burden.

Earlier today, I came across this lecture (http://www.cosmicfingerprints.com/audio/newevidence.htm) regarding scientific evidence of God’s existence and couldn’t help but think of it as a lecture of hope.

That is, hope to all people who hear and read the story put out by the secular culture regarding the origin of life, creation, evolution, and so on, and doubt the existence of a loving and caring God who created a planet uniquely designed to support intelligent life…

Now, I’m not a science professor… but according to the bio on the site the author of this lecture, Dr. Hugh Ross is:

“…the youngest person ever to serve as director of observations for Vancouver’s Royal Astronomical Society. With the help of a provincial scholarship and a National Research Council (NRC) of Canada fellowship, he completed his undergraduate degree in physics (University of British Columbia) and graduate degrees in astronomy (University of Toronto). The NRC also sent him to the United States for postdoctoral studies. At Caltech he researched quasi-stellar objects, or “quasars,” some of the most distant and ancient objects in the universe.”

All I know is that Dr. Ross explains some very technical concepts regarding the scientific evidence for the existence of God in terms that even I could understand, despite my pitiful understanding of physics and astronomy.

For more on Dr. Ross and his work, visit http://www.reasons.org/.

“In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.” -John 16:33 New Century Version

One thing you’ll notice when you read the words of Jesus in the scripture - He doesn’t mince words. Christ lets us know exactly what to expect from the world. Yet, the Lord’s message always comes with a promise of salvation and everlasting life.

So, be brave!

No matter what troubles may come our way, our Saviour has defeated the world.