HOPE, FAITH & PATIENCE

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1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.

Hope, faith and patience go together. It starts with hope, which paints a picture of what we desire. On that foundation rests faith, which is tested and strengthened by obstacles and delay. And, as this process continues, patience grows.

Patience is a necessary virtue because we seldom see the answers to our prayers immediately. It can and does happen, but if every prayer were answered instantly how quickly spoiled and proud we would become! Every parent understands this and so does our Father.

Though waiting is hard it can also be precious. It can sweeten expectation and usher us into greater intimacy with God. It can elicit many conversations with Him. "Why, Lord?","When will I see my healing?","When will that loved one get saved?","When will I see this dream come to pass?" At those trying times our faith is being tested and strengthened through patience.

In addition--and very importantly--our flesh is being subdued so that we learn to no longer trust our own plans.

Reflecting on the lives of Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Job, Daniel, David, Paul, John -- and Jesus Himself -- clearly illustrates this vital principle. It seems that, the greater the person, the greater the patience. Quickly reflect on the lives of those great saints and look for how God humbled them through patience before using them mightily.

So, like a three-legged stool, faith, hope and patience make a powerful team where each complements the other. In this lesson we'll note how these three virtues work together.

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HOPE

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast [patience] the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful.

Hope must be confessed. This could be another reason to vocalize prayer.

Heb 6:19  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.

When we are in hope we are in a place of intimacy with God envisioning together a desired future. Remember, God works through man. He reveals to us His heart's desire--hope--then gives us the faith to believe for it, then the patience to wait for it. Hope is the foundation or anchor that holds it all together. What are you hoping for? Hold fast to it.

Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

As always, it is God in us -- through the Holy Spirit -- who supplies the hope (and everything else) we need.

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FAITH

2Pe 1:1 LITV  Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those equally precious with us, having obtained faith in the righteousness of our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ: 

As recipients of God's grace we participate in the righteousness of Christ. This puts us on equal footing with each other, as we no longer rely on our own strength and ability, but on His.

Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God [faith], and it was counted to him as righteousness."

Rom 4:5 And to the one who does not work [i.e. does not rely on his own effort to receive God's grace as if it were a debt] but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

I claim righteousness totally on the basis of what Jesus has done for me, not on what I can do myself. I live for You because of the grace You have shown me. I put an end to all striving and self effort.

Gal 3:2, 5  Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 5  Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

Faith is the pathway to the miraculous. When we add faith to the hearing of the word we receive from God.

2Co 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Heb 11:6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him.

Walking by sight implies filtering everything through the senses. This is a mistake that will rob us of many blessings of God.

1Pet 3:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Faith assures me of everything I hope for. By faith I draw upon the character of a God who cannot lie and who wants to bless me (and everyone who believes Him) with every good gift and ultimately with the salvation of our souls.

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PATIENCE

Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Hab 2:3-4  For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it [patience]; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4 "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Gal 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Luk 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart [Implied delay].

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HOPE AND FAITH

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hope is the object of our faith. Without hope there would be no need for faith.

1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Notice that hope and patience are virtually synonymous.

Rom 4:18a In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations…

Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [faith], so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

In these verses we see the relationship between hope and faith.

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HOPE and PATIENCE

Rom 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. [2]

[2] Like faith, hope must be nurtured, protected and preserved though patience until the end.

Rom 8:24-25…Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Patience, implies waiting in peace, joy and equanimity. It is not the kind of waiting which is agitated, frustrated and fleshly.

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FAITH and HOPE

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the [confident] assurance of things hoped for, the conviction [evidence] of [the reality of] things not seen.

This oft-quoted definition of faith is one every believer should know by heart.

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FAITH and PATIENCE

Heb 6:11-12  And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish [dull], but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

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Jas 1:3-4 knowing that the proving [testing, trying] of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfective work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

People typically confuse the word 'perfect' with sinless perfection and are always quick to say that they are not perfect, as if it were unattainable. But the word 'perfect' in the bible is usually better translated 'mature' or 'complete.' So in this sense we are all expected to become 'perfect.'

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2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure…

Jas 1:2-4 (LITV)  My brothers count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the proving of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfective work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

So, once again we see perfection [maturity, completeness] is the end game of patience.

But how do patience and steadfastness equate to perfection and completeness? When I live with patience and steadfastness it is like I already have what I'm praying and hoping for so, in that sense, I am truly lacking nothing. Indeed, we lack nothing at those times because we are in the same (settled, peaceful, joyful) state as if our dreams had already been fulfilled. That is the sense in which we are complete and lacking in nothing.

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HOPE, FAITH and PATIENCE

Rom 5:1-5  Then being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have had access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we glory [rejoice] on the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory [rejoice] also in afflictions, knowing that affliction works out patience [1] 4 and patience works out proven character [2]; and proven character, hope. [3] 5 And the hope does not put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. [4]

[1] Affliction produces patience: Delays can sometimes be accompanied or caused by persecution, tribulation, opposition or suffering. God is pleased and there is great benefit when we persist through these trials and our patience grows.

[2] How does patience develop proven character? Patience helps us to wait, to stick it out in the face of delay. If we lose patience we have lost hope and faith. Notice that proven character develops as we remain in a state of rejoicing and peace as we allow patience to develop.

[3] It is worth meditating upon how proven character is connected to hope. Perhaps it means that proven character has learned to never give up, so hope always remains alive as we anticipate God's blessings.

[4] Finally, there is the connection between hope and the love of God in our hearts. As the Holy Spirit reveals the unfathomable love of God for us, how can we ever lose hope for any petition we have requested of Him?

 

It is beautiful to reflect on how these three virtues are all connected.

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1Pe 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again [regenerated LITV] to a living [lively KJV] hope [1] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary [2], you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the proving of your faith, much more precious than perishing gold, but having been proved through fire [patience] [3], may be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [4]

[1] I remember when I got saved, the first thing I noticed was that hope and anticipation for the future came alive -- God lit my pilot light.

[2] The fire is not always necessary and is temporary, i.e. until it accomplishes its work.

[3] I have struggled to understand this baptism of fire but this passage gives great light. I take it to mean that God will send the fire of trials to cleanse and strengthen our faith and to build patience in us.

[4] Notice how the passage starts with hope and ends with faith and patience (implied).

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Rom 4:18-24  He against hope believed [faith] in hope, for him to become a father of many nations, according to what has been said, "So shall your seed be." 19 And being about a hundred years old, not weakening in faith [patience], he did not consider his body to have died already, nor yet the death of Sarah's womb, 20 and did not stagger by unbelief at the promise of God, but was empowered by faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully persuaded [faith] that what He has promised, He is also able to do. [1] 22 Because of this, "it was also counted to him for righteousness." [2] 23 But it was not written for him only, that it was counted to him, 24 but also on account of us, to whom it is about to be counted, to the ones believing [faith] on Him who has raised our Lord Jesus from the dead, 

[1] Another beautiful definition of faith is: being fully persuaded that God is able and willing to keep His promises. Thus I will not stagger at the things He has called me to do but will believe confidently for them. I am absolutely certain that God will do what He promised. When adverse circumstances come--if God deems necessary--I will not waver but will trust my Father even more. Indeed, this is the only proper response because faith grows stronger through adversity and my Father wants to strengthen my faith.

[2] This kind of faith is righteousness. Like Abraham, I walk in extraordinary faith, equal to the faith of the apostles. I choose to believe God completely. I am fully persuaded of His love, favor and power.

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It's amazing to observe how these three virtues of hope, faith and patience work together to produce a settled, mature, peaceful and joyful life, even as we await the fulfillment of our dreams and the answers to our prayers.

It's a worthwhile exercise to reflect on our unanswered prayers looking for the presence (or absence) of patience, joy, peace and equanimity. These states of mind would be indicators of whether faith is indeed present. If they are not, we must pray for God's help in strengthening our faith.

So, when faith is being tested, hope and patience come to the rescue and we can be assured we will either get exactly what we have asked for, or if not that, something better.

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ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

OVERCOMING FAITH

Eph 6:16  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one…

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…

Job lived under the old covenant, so his perspective was that God was the one slaying him. In reality it was Satan. God certainly allows suffering at times but always for a beneficial (or advantageous) purpose. By contrast, adverse circumstances sent by the evil one are always meant to destroy our faith. So, faith is my defense, my shield. At those times when everything in our lives seem to be going wrong we must not lose our perspective: God will deliver us in due time and lead us into a greater blessing.

Hab 2:3-4  For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4 "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

True faith is always tested and proven through adversity and impossibility because a settled, tested faith is God’s intention for us. It is what really matters to Him.

When answers to prayer seem delayed I will recognize that God is hastening His reply. In fact the answer will come at its appointed time. What seems like delay to me is hastening to Him. He will provide the right answer at the perfect time and anything perfect is worth waiting on. I will not drift ahead of God for such drifting comes from unbelief.

Faith waits patiently and quietly. I trust my Father’s perfect timing of all His blessings. It blesses Him. Like Joseph, I will bloom in any situation where I am planted until God sees fit to move me.

Heb 11:39, 40  And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

I may not receive what is promised in this life but I am assured of it in the next. The posture of faith is God’s intended destination for us, whether or not we receive what we are hoping for in this life.

At the end of my life my faith, hope and love would be all that is left. Nothing else would matter. I will renew my mind, but I renounce the need to understand everything before I believe and trust God. If I insist on understanding everything God asks me to do, I am reducing Him to the level of a mere human and choosing to remain in the natural, outside of His miraculous power.

Act 11:22-24 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24  for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Heb 4:2  For also we have had the gospel preached, as well as them. But the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

God’s formula for success:  God’s Word + Our Faith = Profit

Luk 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart [Implied delay]. 2  He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' 4 For a while he refused [Delay], but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" [i.e. the kind of faith that outlasts delay through patience]

Heb 6:11-12  And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish (dull), but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Isa 64:4  And from forever they have not heard; they did not give ear. Eye has not seen a God except You, who works for him who waits for Him. 

Rev 2:19  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping the commands of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Father, show me today how faith, hope and patience intertwine to make me perfect and complete.

Matt 38:40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 

High fear = Little faith

Heb 11:5  By faith "Enoch" was translated so as not to see death, and "was not found, because God translated him." For before his translation, he had obtained witness to have been pleasing to God. (Gen. 5:24)

HOPE

Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Ps 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Rom 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

My God is a God of hope. In Him there is always room for optimism and none for despair and discouragement. The Holy Spirit ministers hope to me abundantly. My hope brings me joy and peace as I wait in faith for what I desire.

1Co 13:13  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Though love is greater, hope remains. Hope anchors my faith and keeps me looking for answers to my prayers.

Heb 6:11-20  And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hope, faith and patience are the keys to inheriting your promises. Hope ushers me into Your presence behind the curtain where I can experience Your presence and provision. Hope anchors and supports my faith, keeping me believing for God's answer.

1Pet 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

1Tim 4:10  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Tit 2:13  waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

Our hopes are reflected in our greatest prayers. Write yours out now.

Psa 42:5-11  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" 10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Col 1:3-5  We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

Rom 8:24  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Pro 13:12  Hope deferred (delay) makes the heart sick, but a tree of life is desire coming.

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