Three ways that your faith is demonstrated
Psalm 33:13–22 AV
13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
1. Rest in Hope
Psalm 33:16–20 AV
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Rest in hope for deliverance
He is our help
Psalm 63:7 AV
7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
Psalm 146:5 AV
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
He is our shield
Psalm 3:3 AV
3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
• He is the true source of our protection
• Never loose sight of your hope
Romans 12:12 AV
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Hope = confidence in a future event
• Our hope is the future promised by God
Colossians 1:5 AV
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
That future can be trusted because God views those promises from the perspective of eternity
Psalm 33:14 AV
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
• The place of his habitation
• Heaven
• 1 King 8:30
• 2 Chron 6:21, 30, 33, 39.
• Hebrews 8:1.
• Hebrews 12:2.
• Eternity
Isaiah 57:15 AV
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
• Since HE views them from eternity
• they have already been fulfilled!
• That hope will help you to persevere in tribulations
Romans 5:3–4 AV
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
New Testament hope is not merely what is wished for
but what is assured to happen!
2. Rejoice in HIM
Psalm 33:21 AV
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Rejoice = to experience joy and gladness in a high degree
• Experience joy because you know the truth
Titus 2:13 AV
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The word of truth
The word of truth came from God
The word of truth can be trusted
John 17:17 AV
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
• There are many messages/ideas that could be called true
• Only Gods word IS truth
John 14:6 AV
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Everyone has faith in something
Faith is only as good as the object which a person puts their trust
John Selden (1584–1654) was a leading historian and legal authority in England. He had a library of 8,000 volumes and was recognized for his learning. When he was dying, he said to Archbishop Ussher: “I have surveyed most of the learning that is among the sons of men, and my study is filled with books and manuscripts on various subjects. But at present, I cannot recollect any passage out of all my books and papers whereon I can rest my soul, save this from the sacred Scriptures: ‘The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men’ (Titus 2:11).”
3. Rely on HIS Mercy
Psalm 33:22 AV
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
All of our hope rests in HIS mercy
Titus 3:4–5 (AV)
4 … the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
1 Peter 1:3 AV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Results of HIS mercy
• We also show/offer mercy to others
Ephesians 4:32 AV
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
