Get Your Hopes Up: God’s Word is Yes and Amen

Have you ever been told, “Don’t get your hopes up”? This is a piece of advice we hear often. Some well-meaning people with the wisdom of sages may even use this to mellow your resolve and dissolve your faith in healing or any other promises of God you are fanatically holding on to. They may say, “Don’t get your hopes up; God heals some people, and God provides for some people, but it might not include you.” However, this is not God’s Word. It is human reasoning.

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It’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t go how we want them to. But as believers, we have a powerful weapon to help us stay hopeful in difficult times: God’s Word. The life of Abraham and Jairus shows us that we should hope against hope and act on God’s promises.

In this article, we will explore how God’s Word is Yes and Amen, and how it can help us get our hopes up and stay encouraged no matter what we face.

Walk By Faith in God’s Word

Remember Jairus—the ruler of the synagogue who came to the Lord Jesus requesting healing for his daughter? Listen to what this man said to the Lord Jesus: “And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live” (Mk 5:22,23).

How remarkable! Examine the words of faith this ruler of the synagogue spoke. Her daughter is at the point of death, yet he confidently asks the Lord, “Come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed.”

He believed all that needed to happen was for the Lord to lay hands on her, and she would, without doubt, be healed. This is the type of faith we need to operate daily.

Continue Believing in the Face of Contrary Evidence

While they were on the way to Jairus’ house, the members of his household sent him an urgent message not to bother the master anymore because the child was dead. They essentially told Jairus to give up hope. The child was dead. All hope was lost.

But when “Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe” (Mk 5:36).

Jairus heard the evil report, but against hope, he believed in the Word of the Lord Jesus. The Lord is looking for people among us who will against hope, believe in hope, and act upon God’s Word.

Let’s sing this Chorus, which was popular in the days of the “Voice of Healing” Revival:

Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe; Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe

Lord I believe, Lord I believe; All things are possible, Lord I believe; Lord I believe, Lord I believe; All things are possible, Lord, I believe.

Abraham Believed God

Abram was 99 years old. His wife was 98 and barren. They had been looking forward to having a child for a long time. God had given them a promise 24 years before, and they waited and waited and waited. And now, humanly speaking, there was no hope.

Can you guess one “reasonable” piece of advice Abram must have gotten from those who knew him and probably those close to him? I can picture them advising him, with much sympathy and respect, after 24 years of looking for a child, not to get his hopes up.

But Abram did not seem to be listening to them. Neither was he facing the physical realities surrounding him. And, like an unreasonable man, while his wife was still barren and almost a centenarian, he called all his relatives one morning and told them they should no longer call him Abram.

He told them they should start calling him ABRAHAM instead. Abraham means-“A father of many nations” If he were living today, people in my neighborhood here would say—Abram is ‘nuts.’

Against Hope, Abraham Believed in Hope

Yes, as the Scriptures aptly summarized, Abraham, against hope, believed in hope. When there was no hope, he believed in hope, holding what God said as eternally true in the face of contrary evidence. He had his hopes up! This is what God expects from you and me.

God wants us to exalt His Word above the bad reports from the doctors or our accountants. The doctors may have told you there is no hope; the accountants may have told you your net worth is negative, or your professional management consultant may have given you a grim report about the job market, and now you have to decide what to do.

My friend, do as Abraham did: hope against hope. Take the Word of God, place it against these bad reports, and side with Him who cannot lie. Get your hopes up!

Calling Those Things That Be Not As Though They Were

I will not speculate about how those people reacted when they heard Abraham’s Name-Change announcement; I will leave the rest of the story to your imagination. But the core of the matter is that Abraham acted on God’s Word of promise in the face of insurmountable physical evidence. He was acting like God and calling those things that were not as though they were.

Romans 4:17-18 “As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be” (Rom 4:17,18).

It Was Counted Unto Him for Righteousness

Abraham believed God, despite no physical sign or external encouragement to help his faith. He acted as if what God had said would unfailingly come to pass. He believed God, and this was enough for God to give him a passing mark for everything he did. Abraham was not perfect, not by a long shot. His good works did not justify him. His faith set him apart and propelled him to become a friend of God.

“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Rom 4:1-3

Follow Abraham’s Example of Faith

Dear believer, I don’t know what kind of situation you’re in today. If you are in a quandary similar to Abraham’s, or if you have been told by man that there’s no hope, remember what Abraham did.

Get into the Word. Listen to the Spirit of God, and let Him speak to you. And like Abraham, “believe God who raises the dead.” Hope against hope, and like God, begin to call “those things that be not as though they were.”

Abraham did not consider his body, which was very old and ready to die, nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not stagger at the promises of God through unbelief. He’s indeed an example for us one who stood in faith when there seemed to be no hope.

When the state of the economy is hopeless, banks are collapsing, and retirement and college savings are disappearing because of the recession, what we should do, is follow Abraham’s example of faith.

We should judge God faithful who has promised. Believe God’s Word. Against hope, believe in hope, and begin to call those things that be not as though they were.

God’s Promises are Yes, and Amen

2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him, the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” In this verse, Paul is emphasizing the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God’s promises. He’s saying that all of the promises that God has made to His people are “Yes” in Christ. This means that all of God’s promises are fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ. The word “Amen” at the end of the verse is very significant. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, the word “Amen” is used as an affirmation of the truthfulness and reliability of God’s promises. It was a common practice in Jewish worship to say “Amen” after a prayer or statement of belief, which meant “truly” or “it is so.”

We Say Yes to All God’s Promises

In 2 Corinthians 1:20, The word “Yes” in 2 Corinthians 1:20 translated from the Greek word which means “truly”, “certainly”, or “indeed”. It is used to express agreement or affirmation. In this context, it signifies that all of God’s promises are true and certain to be fulfilled. Paul is emphasizing that God is faithful to keep His word and that His promises are not empty or unreliable. The word “Yes” is a declaration of the certainty of God’s promises, and it is followed by the word “Amen”. Together, they express the idea that God’s promises are absolutely trustworthy and sure to be fulfilled.

We Say Amen to All God’s Promises

The use of “Amen” in this verse emphasizes the certainty and trustworthiness of God’s promises. When God promises something, His word is guaranteed to be fulfilled. Therefore, when we say “Amen” to God’s promises, we are affirming our faith and agreement with His word, and declaring that we believe that what God has said will surely come to pass.

In essence, “Amen” is a declaration of confidence in God’s faithfulness and an acknowledgment of His sovereignty. It is a powerful word that underscores the unchanging and unfailing nature of God’s promises. In other words, when we affirm God’s promises and say “Amen,” we are acknowledging and declaring our trust in God’s faithfulness and giving Him the glory for fulfilling His promises.

“Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.

The Power of Speaking God’s Word over Our Situations

The Bible says in Isaiah 55:11, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall. accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” This means that when we speak God’s Word over our lives, it has the power to bring about the change that we desire. We can declare God’s promises over our finances, health, relationships, and every other aspect of our lives.

The power of our words is enormous, and when we speak God’s Word, we are partnering with Him to bring about His perfect will in our lives.

For example, let’s declare God’s promise of healing, and we will experience physical healing in our bodies. If we say and walk in God’s promises of provision, we will experience financial abundance in our lives. When we fill our minds and souls with His words, we will experience the peace that passes all understanding.

Holding onto God’s promises brings Peace and Hope

Holding onto God’s promises brings peace and hope to our hearts. The Bible says in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” When we hold onto God’s promises, we are filled with hope and joy, knowing God is faithful to His Word. Our faith in God’s promises brings us peace even amid difficult situations.

Hold Fast to Your Faith and Hope, Don’t Give Up

The Bible says in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

When we let go of our hope and faith, we essentially say we do not trust God to fulfill His promises. This will lead to discouragement, anxiety, and despair. It is essential to hold onto our hope and faith in God’s promises, no matter our circumstances.

How to Keep Your Hopes Up in God’s Promises

1. Stay connected to God through prayer and His Word

Staying connected to God through prayer and His Word is crucial for holding faith in His promises. The Bible says in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” And faith, which gives substance to hope (Hebrews 11:1), comes from reading the word of God. When we read the Bible, we are reminded of God’s promises and encouraged to hold onto our faith in Him. Prayer is also very important because it allows us to communicate with God, receive inspiration and strength, and helps turns the words we have read into faith. Faith is produced in the atmosphere of worship and prayer.

2. Meditate on God’s Promises, Declare Them Over Your Life

Meditating on God’s promises and declaring them over your life is the way to build your faith in God’s promises. God commands you and me for our benefit in Joshua 1:8, saying: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

When we meditate on God’s Word, we saturate our minds with God’s supernatural seed that will produce victory, success, and prosperity in our life.

3. Take Corresponding Action Toward God’s Word of Promise

We need to believe God to receive from Him. But believing is not sufficient; we must take corresponding action toward what we claim to believe. Our believing only becomes faith when we follow it up with the corresponding action. This is what the Bible teaches in James 2:17, that if we say we believe, but there is no corresponding action towards what we claim, that indeed is dead faith. When we take action in faith toward what God has promised us, we are demonstrating our trust in Him. We are saying, “God, I believe your promises, and I am willing to act on that belief.” This kind of faith pleases God.

How to Receive God’s Promises

To receive God’s promises, we must first believe that He is able and willing to keep His promises. We must also align our thoughts and actions with His will. This means seeking His guidance through prayer, reading the Bible, and making choices that honor Him.

Spend time meditating on God’s wording atmosphere of worship and prayer.
Speak God’s word aloud to yourself, speak in faith, and claim the promises you desire
Believe the Word of God. Believe you have received what you requested. Start “calling those things that be not as though they were.”
Start thanking God and praising Him for performing what you requested

For more details on this, read the article “Practical Steps to Possessing Your Possession.”

Conclusion:

As we journey through life, we can be confident that God is with us and that His promises are Yes and Amen. We can stand on His promises and experience His blessings in our lives. His Word never fails. We just need to walk by faith. So, get your hopes up and trust in the promises of God. He is faithful to keep His word, and His promises are available to all who believe..