THE GOD WHO CANNOT FAIL YOU (4)

The God of Faithfulness4. THE HARVEST: A HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINTLet us see what God’s character produces in a human life:“3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3–5 NKJV).Paul describes a chain reaction, and every link in the chain depends on the faithfulness of God:Tribulation → Perseverance → Character → Hope.Notice what tribulation does not produce. It doesn't produce hope directly. Suffering by itself doesn't make anyone hopeful – it makes people bitter, numb, or afraid. What transforms tribulation into perseverance is the settled conviction that the One allowing the tribulation is faithful. Tribulation plus a faithful God equals perseverance. Perseverance, sustained over time, forges character – tested, proven, deepened character. And character, resting on God's character, flowers into hope.Why This Hope “Does Not Disappoint”Verse 5 gives the engine of the whole process: hope does not disappoint “because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”The Greek word for “poured out” is vivid – it's the word for a torrent, an outpouring that can't be contained. It's the same verb used at Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out (Acts 2:17–18, quoting Joel).Every time you have sensed God's presence, that was the Spirit whispering, “He is faithful.” Every time you have found strength you didn't have — “He is faithful.” Every time you have had your prayer answered - “He is faithful.”If God was faithful enough to give His Son for you while you were His enemy (Romans 5:8), what could possibly make Him unfaithful to you now that you are His child? Paul makes exactly this argument: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).Whatever hope we have in God does not disappoint because His love never fails. His love is our assurance that He will never leave us or forsake us. He will never, in any situation, so our hope in God will not be disappointed.THREE WALLS AND A DOORGod's faithfulness is …1. The foundation of His throne. It is not an activity of God; it is His nature. Righteousness and justice undergird everything He does, and love and faithfulness go before Him. You are not hoping in a possibility; you are leaning on a Person whose reliability is seen in reality.2. Covenant - solid, not performance-based. “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that has gone out of my lips.” Your worst day does not revoke His oath. His commitment to you is anchored in Himself, and He cannot disown Himself.3. Practically proven in the wilderness. Forty years of manna, un-worn garments, un-swollen feet, and power to produce wealth – His faithfulness shows up in shoes and bread and paychecks, not just in theology.4. The soil where hope grows. Tribulation, when it meets a faithful God, produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, a hope that does not disappoint – because the love of God has been poured out into your heart by the Holy Spirit. God’s love cannot fail; He won’t fail; our hope will be fulfilled.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

神绝不让你失望（四)

信实的神4. 丰收：不至失望的盼望让我们来看一下，神的本性会在人的生命里结出怎样的果子：“3 不但如此，就是在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的；因为知道患难生忍耐， 4 忍耐生品格，品格生盼望； 5 盼望不至于失望，因为所赐给我们的圣灵将神的爱浇灌在我们心里。”（罗马书 5:3–5，新雅各王钦定版）保罗描述了一条反应链，每一环都仰赖神的信实：患难 → 忍耐 → 品格 → 盼望请注意：患难不会直接生出什么来。患难本身不会直接带来盼望。苦难本身并不使人有盼望，苦难只会让人生出苦毒、麻木或惧怕。能把患难转化成忍耐的，是一份确凿的信念：容许患难临到我们的那位神是信实的。患难加上信实的神，才生出忍耐。长久持守的忍耐会塑造品格 —— 经过试验、被印证、更深沉的生命品格。而这份立足于神之本性的品格，最终会绽放为盼望。为何这盼望“不至于失望”第 5 节解释了整根链条的动力：盼望不至于失望，是因为“所赐给我们的圣灵将神的爱浇灌在我们心里。”这里译作“浇灌”的希腊文单词很有画面感 —— 它指的是波涛汹涌、无法拦阻的倾倒。五旬节记载圣灵浇灌下来时，用的也是这个动词（使徒行传 2:17–18，引自约珥书）。每当你感受到神的同在，就是圣灵在轻声对你说：“祂是信实的。”每当你得着本来没有的力量，这也是在告诉你：“祂是信实的。” 每当你的祷告蒙应允，这同样是在印证：“祂是信实的。”如果说，当你还是祂仇敌的时候，神都已经信实到为你舍去祂的儿子（罗马书 5:8）了；那如今你已是祂的儿女，还有什么能使祂向你失信呢？保罗正是这样论证：“神既不爱惜自己的儿子，为我们众人舍了，岂不也把万物和祂一同白白地赐给我们吗？”（罗马书 8:32）我们对神存有的一切盼望都不会落空，因为祂的爱永不改变。这份爱就是我们的确据：祂总不撇下我们，也不丢弃我们，在任何境遇中都是如此。所以我们对神的盼望必不至于失望。三面墙和一扇门神的信实是……1. 祂宝座的根基。这不是神偶尔做出的举动，而是祂的本性。公义和公平托住祂一切所行，慈爱与信实行在祂面前。你所盼望的不是一种可能性；你所倚靠的这一位，祂的可靠是在现实中能明明看见的。2. 立约的稳固，不建立在人的表现之上。“我必不毁坏我的约，也不更改我口中所出的话。”哪怕你处在最糟糕的光景中，也不能废掉祂起的誓言。祂对你的承诺锚定在祂自己里面，而祂不能背乎自己。3. 在旷野里被证实的真相。四十年的吗哪、没有穿破的衣服、没有肿的脚，还有赐下得货财的力量 —— 祂的信实不只停留于神学理论，也体现在衣裳、食物、薪水这些日常所需中。4. 盼望生长的土壤。患难若遇上信实的神，就生出忍耐；忍耐生出品格；品格生出不至于失望的盼望 —— 因为圣灵已经将神的爱浇灌在你心里。神的爱永不落空，祂绝不会失信，我们的盼望终必成就。张耀光牧师 新加坡信心教会请访问我们的中文播客,faithchurch.sg/牧师手札/#牧师手札 ... See MoreSee Less