Scripture of the Week
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
What is faith? It
is the confident assurance that
something we desire is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot
see it up ahead.
Mark
11: 22-24—Have the “The God kind of
faith”
Genesis
1:1: The Holy Spirit was in a “holding pattern waiting for God to speak.
9
times the phrase “And God said” from Genesis 1
6
times the phrase “Saw that is was good” from Genesis 1
1 time the phrase “It was very good” from Genesis 1
What
was the substance? Underlying principle?
God’s vision, or what He saw before
He spoke.
What did God expect when He spoke? For those things to come to pass, or
come into existence.
What was His attitude? Confidence,
Assurance. 100%; not wishy washy. (double-minded).
What was the result? What was the “evidence”? The creation; His Creation.
Bulletin Notes
CHRIST, THE RISEN LORD, IS OUR LIVING HOPE
“The great gift of Easter is hope – Christian hope – which makes us have that confidence in God, in His ultimate triumph, and in His goodness and love which nothing can shake.” –Basil Hume
What hope we have in our Holy God! The One who saves us and calls us His own. We have hope in His unfailing love. Our old life remains on the other side of the cross. Our new life begins in Christ.
Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled prophecy. The mystery of the Gospel, that God established before the creation of the universe, was made manifest in Christ. God knew before He laid the foundation of the world, before He breathed life into man, that we would need a Savior. Christ is our Living Hope.
“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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” — 1 Peter 1:3
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. When we place our faith in Him, we are born again into the promise of eternal life. Our sins are washed away by the blood He shed for us on the cross. Jesus knew the power of His sacrifice. As our Savior, He willingly laid down His life for us.
“No one takes My life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as My Father commanded Me to do.” — John 10:18
The Romans did not kill Jesus. The Jewish leaders did not kill Jesus. Jesus chose death of His own accord. He elected to die out of love for all humanity. He followed the way of the cross in obedience to the Father and His plan for the salvation of the world. Our Lord triumphed over death and forever reigns victorious.
In this life, we have hope in our risen Lord who offers us His resurrected life through the Holy Spirit within us. We rest our future hope in one day being raised to a glorious new life. We too will be victorious over death. We will live eternally in heaven with our Lord and God. Hallelujah! What a blessed hope!
