Hope Will Deliver Joy

Pastor Victory
Jun 27, 2016
4 min read

1 Thessalonians 2:14-15

“For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men”

If you read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, it gave a vivid review of Apostle Paul’s ministerial work and conduct in Thessalonica. Apostle Paul positioned two contrasts to the believers in Thessalonica which could also apply to you today as a child of God. Paul spoke about walking worthy of God and at the same time he also spoke about the passage of suffering. Dearly beloved, you may be wondering as to; how could one be walking worthy of God and yet be suffering? On lookers may draw a non-factual conclusion that one is suffering as a result of sin. It might interest you to know that a born-again, holy ghost filled child of God can suffer deprivation, persecution, afflictions for the sake of the gospel however, God can also use affliction to chastise any of his child who plays around with sin and remember Ecclesiastes 10:8 says “he that diggeth a pit shall fall into it, and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bit him.” In other words, sin can remove you from under the coverage of God thereby allowing the enemy to have access to you and God will allow it until such a time when full repentance and restitution is made.

The enemy will do anything to bring shame to the name of our God through failures, sorrow, deprivations, shame, set-back, limitations, unfruitfulness in endeavors, barrenness, sickness, diseases, family dysfunctions, marriage breakdown, rebellious children, financial instability and unworthiness amongst your equal. Regardless of what is going on in your life right now, dearly beloved, continue to stand your ground as followers and true imitators of Christ for Psalm 34:19 says “many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” And another version puts the same scripture this way “the righteous person faces many troubles, but the lord comes to the rescue each time.” (NLT) YES! THE RIGHTEOUS DO SUFFER!

Child of God, it might interest you to know that sufferings and challenges do not come with time table or schedule neither does it have time limit however, we serve a mighty God who created time and yet existed out of time. God is therefore not controlled by time; your God, our God is timeless. What does this mean for you? It means that because God does not live in the sphere of time as we do, after all time is determined by the relationship of the sun to the earth and this Great God is not limited by this relationship because God is God, therefore GOD CAN expand a day into a millennium or compress a millennium into a day, God can spread or concentrate his activities. 2 Peter 3:8 says “but beloved be not ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” And Psalm 90:4 says “for a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” And what if it doesn’t pass you asked? God’s great grace will be available to you according to Acts 4:33 and 1 Corinthians 4:7. Therefore saints of God, know this truth about your situation or presenting circumstance that God is the only one who has the expiration date to your problem, no man does.

Like I said before, no situation comes with a time limit however it does have an expiration date when placed in the hands of a mighty God. What does this mean? It means keep standing in faith, hope and trust in his timing because it is only God’s timing that validates his word. Habakkuk 2:3b "though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." What is it that you are trusting in God for? Healing? Breakthrough? Change in destiny? Career? Business idea? Children? Marriage restoration? Life partner? Divine orchestration in ministry? Let me assure you that your hope will deliver joy because whatever has been afflicting you will surely come to an end though it delays WAIT FOR IT. Why? Because God has his plan and he knows how to work out his purpose for your life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” And Ecclesiastes 8:6 says “for there is a time and a way for everything. Although, man’s trouble lies heavy on him.” Dearly beloved, as long as you live under heaven there will be resolution for your matter, and if God’s word says there’s a way for everything it therefore means there is a way for whatever you are going through and God knows how to put a stop to it . Psalm 31:15 says “your time is in God’s hands, he shall rescue you from the hands of the enemy.” Praise God for such an assuring word, and if I were you I will rise up this minute wash and eat and celebrate because hope will sure deliver JOY.