Words of prophecy:
'This is the time to strengthen yourself! This is the time to strengthen your faith, your hope, and your love in the Lord! Strengthen yourself! Never allow anything, anyone or any occurrence in the world to rob away your strength in the Lord! Look to God and not to man. Always remember the Lord your God who has saved you, covered you, protected you, prospered you, and loved you. Never forget all His goodness in your life! Strengthen yourself in the Lord!'
Probably almost every believer knows that the Bible talks about faith, hope and love (in 1 Corinthians 13:13). It is very simple, right? But, you see, faith, hope and love in the Lord combined together makes up as a solid foundation that we as believers must continue to build on throughout our walk with the Lord. It determines how solid our relationship with the Lord is, especially when we meet with challenges in life.
So, how to build and strengthen our faith, hope and love in the Lord? Let's start with the strengthening of faith in the Lord first.
Strengthen your faith in the Lord
Hebrews 11:35-36 (NLT)
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
Throughout my life as a believer and a minister of God, I have seen how some believers blamed God, doubted Him, and drifted apart from Him whenever things didn't go well according to their expectations. But, ironically, those bad occurrences were mostly due to human's own sins or mistakes.
On one side, it might be their own mistakes. People tend to blame God for not stopping them from committing a sin or making a wrong decision. Well, maybe the Holy Spirit had been prompting and nudging them countless times. But they were probably too enticed by temptation or too desperate for achievements, than seeking the Lord for guidance instead. You see, I always believe that if God tells you to do or not to do certain things, He would show you the ways to go about it too. I wouldn't say there won't be any challenges, but I believe He will provide you the solution for every situation.
However, if a mistake has been made, just humble before God and let Him help you to rectify it. Don't try to hide from Him. There is nowhere in this world that He cannot find you.
On another side, it could be the mistakes made by their own heroes or the people they looked up to. This happened so frequently because human tend to unknowingly look for heroes to (quote unquote) 'worship' in their lives. It's so upsetting to see immature believers easily lost their faith in God whenever the Christian leader or minister, or the group of people, or the organization, or the political party, or the nation they used to look up to disappointed them. Now, our faith will not be easily shaken if we learn to look to God directly instead of having to find a hero to look up to all the time. Any hero is zero before God! Only God is infallible!
Now, let's look at some of the experiences Elijah went through as he walked closely with the Lord.
1 Kings 17:15-16 (NLT)
So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
Remember the widow and her son in the village of Zarephath? God told Elijah to stay with them and provided them with food throughout the famine.
Everything went well until…
1 Kings 17:17-18 (NLT)
Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. Then she said to Elijah, "O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?"
Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. Then she said to Elijah, "O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?"
Without any clue, the child died of sickness and the widow accused Elijah for the death of her son. Elijah must be so shocked and dumbfounded! But thank God Elijah had faith in His God event though God didn't tell him this situation would happen beforehand.
1 Kings 17:19-22 (NLT)
But Elijah replied, "Give me your son." And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?" And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him." The Lord heard Elijah's prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!
But Elijah replied, "Give me your son." And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?" And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him." The Lord heard Elijah's prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!
You see, if Elijah didn't have faith in the Lord, he would have been devastated by the situation. He would end up blaming God, probably leaving the widow's house, living miserably and not fulfilling God's calling for his life. But he had faith in his God. He was convinced that God called him there, so there must be a solution for any challenges that came his way. And true enough, the child was revived!
1 Kings 17:23-24 (NLT)
Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. "Look!" he said. "Your son is alive!" Then the woman told Elijah, "Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you."
Praise the Lord! Elijah must be really relieved to see the child alive again. He knew if the Lord has never said it's time for the child to die, then the Lord would revive the child no matter what.
Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. "Look!" he said. "Your son is alive!" Then the woman told Elijah, "Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you."
Praise the Lord! Elijah must be really relieved to see the child alive again. He knew if the Lord has never said it's time for the child to die, then the Lord would revive the child no matter what.
Now, please don't go around and trying to revive any dead body by prayer unless the Lord specifically tells you so.
1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
You unknowingly allow the enemy to attack and deplete your faith for Him, whenever you agree with the thoughts and ways of the people in the world that go against His words. You see, you were saved by grace through faith (that's in Ephesians 2:8). It's because you have faith in His existence and His love for you that you confessed Jesus as your Savior, and started a relationship with Him. Therefore, when you guard your faith, you are also protecting the precious relationship that you have with your Abba Father!
Let's look at the strengthening of hope in the Lord next.
Strengthen your hope in the Lord
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Hope here is 'qavah' in Hebrew. It also means wait, look for.
Therefore, those who hope, who wait, who look for the Lord will renew their strength in the Lord!
Therefore, those who hope, who wait, who look for the Lord will renew their strength in the Lord!
Let's look at Elijah when he waited on the Lord for the rain to come after more than three years of famine.
1 Kings 18:41(NLT)
Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!"
Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!"
God told Elijah to approach Ahab and announce to him that a rainstorm is coming soon. Elijah must have a very strong relationship with God to declare it boldly especially after more than three years of famine.
Have you been in despair for too long that you dare not even wish for a breakthrough in your life? May the Lord give you a miracle as you hope on Him. Amen!
1 Kings 18:42-43 (NLT)
So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, "Go and look out toward the sea." The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, "I didn't see anything." Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.
So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, "Go and look out toward the sea." The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, "I didn't see anything." Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.
So, Elijah waited on the Lord and prayed for the rain to come. He definitely put all his hope in the Lord's promise that the rain would come. He didn't give up even after his servant came back six times saying that he didn't see any cloud. Elijah knew he could put his hope on the God of promise! He never gave up on hoping and waiting on the Lord! Elijah knew if the Lord had said it, He will fulfill it!
1 Kings 18:44 (NLT)
Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, "I saw a little cloud about the size of a man's hand rising from the sea." Then Elijah shouted, "Hurry to Ahab and tell him, 'Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don't hurry, the rain will stop you!'"
Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, "I saw a little cloud about the size of a man's hand rising from the sea." Then Elijah shouted, "Hurry to Ahab and tell him, 'Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don't hurry, the rain will stop you!'"
1 Kings 18:45-46 (NLT)
And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab's chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab's chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
Here, Elijah did not just have his faith and hope strengthened in the Lord, he received special strength physically from the Lord to even run ahead of Ahab's chariot. This proved that what is written in Isaiah 40:31 really works! So, wait and hope in the Lord, and you will have your physical strength renewed as well. Hallelujah!
Romans 15:13 (NLT)
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
And this is my prayer for you too, that you will be filled with confident hope as you wait for your breakthrough in the presence of God.
Finally, let's looks into the love for God.
Strengthen your love for the Lord
John 14:21 (NLT)
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.
Yes, I totally agree with this Bible verse, i.e. to love means to obey. Not obeying out of obligation, but out of love and trust! As a mother, I want my child to listen to my advice because she knows that I love and care for her, and that I want the best for her. And with her willingness to listen and act on the advice I gave to her, I felt my love for her being reciprocated. I believe it is the same for our Abba Father in Heaven. He wants us to obey Him because He loves us and He knows what and which and who and where are the best for us. Of course, that is provided we are willing to seek Him for His specific instructions and commands for us, and act on them.
1 Kings 19:3-4 (NLT)
Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died."
Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died."
Personally, I am very impressed by Elijah. Even when he thought he was the only believer or prophet of God left on earth, overwhelmed by the feeling of being like a failure and knowing his life was in danger, he ran away in fear and weariness, yes, but he didn’t run away from God!
You know, it takes a strong bond in a relationship to have such trust, knowing you are still loved and cared for, no matter how you fail or mess up in your life. Whether it is the relationship with God, your spouse, children, siblings or friends, it takes the bonding that can only be nurtured and grown by love and trust over time.
And do you realize that, just like Elijah, those who love and obey the Lord, their needs are always provided for? Whether it was at the Brook Cherith, being fed by ravens, at the widow's house at Zarephath, or even under the broom tree at the wilderness, God always fed Elijah well!
My family can testify this. Every time we obeyed God's instruction for us, whether it is for our spiritual ministry or for our family, we always saw God's providence in our lives. It is so true!
1 John 4:19 (NKJV)
We love Him because He first loved us.
We love Him because He first loved us.
None of us could be saved if God didn't send Jesus to die for us on the cross and rose to life again. None of us could come to the real knowledge of God and accepted Christ unless God's Spirit first witnessing in our hearts. Our salvation in Christ alone proves that God has first loved us. We just need to reciprocate His love for us.
Prayer
"Father God, teach us to grow and strengthen our faith, hope and love in You and for You. Help us to stand firm especially in this end-time when love gets colder while people are being tossed to and fro by different bad news in the world. We want to be full of Your understanding and wisdom in every time and season of our lives, obeying Your instructions and commands for us. And we know that as long as we love You and obey You, our needs will be provided for all the days of our lives. We love You, Lord because we know that You first loved us. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen."
"Father God, teach us to grow and strengthen our faith, hope and love in You and for You. Help us to stand firm especially in this end-time when love gets colder while people are being tossed to and fro by different bad news in the world. We want to be full of Your understanding and wisdom in every time and season of our lives, obeying Your instructions and commands for us. And we know that as long as we love You and obey You, our needs will be provided for all the days of our lives. We love You, Lord because we know that You first loved us. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen."