Our Resolute Hope Podcast

These judges show us that faith can go hand in hand with weakness, insecurity, and pride.  Our faith can begin imperfectly, and it seem awkward as it grows.  But God assures us He focuses on what our faith can accomplish in His kingdom.

Fear can be crippling, causing us to miss opportunities to experience God’s blessings.  Faith isn’t the absence of fear, it’s obedience despite feeling fear.  And Gideon’s life shows how we can have faith in our Lord despite overwhelming opposition.

Crossing the Red Sea.  Watching Jericho’s walls fall.  And a Canaanite prostitute who demonstrates her fledgling trust in God.  All are wonderful examples of what’s possible when we simply choose to have faith in our God and His promises.

During Passover and death of the firstborn, Moses chose to trust God’s promise of divine protection.  And God proved Himself trustworthy, coming through in a mighty way.

Tending sheep in the backside of Midian, Moses finally meets the Lord, who reminds him of his godly heritage.  But before God could redeem Israel through Moses, He first had to redeem Moses.

Money, power, reputation – Moses had it all.  But when God showed him who he really was, he turned from it, choosing rather to identify with his brothers in slavery.

Moses’ ministry began not with him but with a gathering of faithful saints.  Midwives, parents, and sister – all powerless slaves in Egypt’s eyes – laid well his foundation of faith.  And they showed that, with God, no one is every really powerless.

A life filled with rejection, hardship, and suffering.  But despite this, Joseph persevered in his faith.  Even when God allowed him to become rich and powerful, Joseph remained steadfast, his eyes riveted on God and His promises.

Calculating.  Conniving.  Scoundrel.  Jacob certainly started out rough on his journey of faith.  But his life ended well, showing that hard lessons learned the hard way still bear fruit for Father’s kingdom.

Quiet.  Steady.  Resolute.  These words describe the life-long faith of Isaac  And because of this, he was able to trust His God despite watching his personal wishes for his two sons get completely derailed.

Abraham’s journey of faith culminated in his willing obedience to lay down that which was most dear to him – his only son Isaac.  God’s promise had found its home in Abraham, and it led to rich reliance on God’s trustworthiness and power to do what He had said.

Sarah’s faith was most evident when she trusted God for something that seemed impossible:  conception in a barren womb.  And when His promise became reality, her faith so blossomed that became the spiritual mother of all who trust Christ by faith.

Faith in God doesn’t always yield immediate results.  Though His promises are sure, sometimes we must be willing to walk away from all we know and wait steadfastly for God to fulfill all He has promised.

Effective faith requires assurance ( a settled confidence) and conviction (an inner certainty), both of which Abraham had.  Believing God, he put feet to his faith and followed the Lord to Canaan.

Patience, endurance, and steadfast devotion to God.  All are hallmarks of Noah’s faith, by which he condemned the world and safeguarded the line of Messiah.

Faith in God can feel difficult, particularly when He invites us to walk with Him through the unknown.  Noah’s walk with God, and his resultant faith, equipped him to do just that.

Enoch’s faith is based on everyday things all of us can do.  He walked with God, he spoke God’s truth, and he left a Godly legacy.

Faith in a God he couldn’t see – that’s the story of Abel, the foundation of his righteousness.  Such faith never comes alone.  It’s always followed by acts of worship and obedience.

Pastor Frank and Dr. John continue their conversation with Ernest Rafique of Abounding Grace Ministries in Pakistan (agmpak.org), focusing on the growing partnership between ORH and AGM.