Keeping Hope Alive (Part 2)

Last week, we reminded ourselves about the importance of reading God's Word to the birth of hope. Today, we shall sink deeper into the knowledge of hope’s formation. We read below:

…because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

(Romans 5:3-4)

Suffering here refers to difficult situations. The word “hope” used in the verse above is the Greek word "elpida" which means "a confident expectation". From the verses above we are informed about the birth process of hope.

We know suffering in itself cannot produce perseverance. Suffering is simply the chaos present. It is the storm that interrupts our peace, and it is incapable of producing hope by its own power. Rather, it is the philosophies a person conforms to that determines if a villain or hero is birthed during their times of suffering. This is the reason two people might go through similar struggles yet one might become extremely bitter and vengeful, while another builds character and becomes more forgiving. As we learnt last week, it is the presence of The Word of God in the mind and heart of a person that births forth encouragement and endurance. This Word, as we discussed, is found in many stories, and reading our bible stories is a way by which God provides this encouragement. The good news? There are more ways by which hope can come to a man’s heart.

A second way God may provide us with encouragement is through preaching and prophesy. We see below:

14 So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo.

(Ezra 6:14)

This part of scripture is from the book of Ezra. It is taken from the story of the rebuilding of God's temple. The Israelites were facing great intimidation and discouragement from naysayers and envious men, and their work had been negatively impacted. We read:

Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.[a] 5 They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

(Ezra 4:4 - 5) 

Much time had gone by and little progress was being made. However, men of God stood up and prophesied to the Israelites.

Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

 (Ezra 5: 1- 2)

Haggai and Zechariah preached and prophesied to their hearing, and as the many continued to listen to them, they were empowered, encouraged, and motivated to keep going. Now note, although in the Old Testament there were some hard prophesies, they still had edifying ones like what we have just seen. In the New Testament Paul says:

3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

(1 Corinthians 14:3)

We also see Paul say to the Corinthians:

If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

(2 Corinthians 1: 6)

We know from earlier that God provides encouragement and endurance through scripture, and when the above verse is read in context, we can deduce that "their comfort" which produces in them patient endurance is attained by The Word preached to them for their edification. It appears that what Paul is saying is that when he and other apostles are encouraged, it is for the benefit of the church since in being encouraged, they are empowered to preach words of encouragement to the edification of the church, in contrast to being demotivated, or worse case, denying Jesus.

Today, I will like to encourage you to not only spend time in your bibles but to also avail your ears to the sermons of true men of God who carry encouragement on their lips. Seek to listen to teachers, pastors, and prophets who walk in the ways of Barnabas (who was nicknamed “son of encouragement”) and Paul. People who preach the victory found in Jesus!