September 2023

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is the substance of “things,” but we also need to understand that “hope” is a very important part of the faith connection. Sometimes people say, “You don’t get anything by hoping.” And that’s true to a certain extent, because there is no substance to “hope.”

But “hope” is a very important partner to faith. “Hope” is the goal-setter. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith is the substance of “things”—what things? The things you “hoped for.” What do we hope for? We hope for the things that God has promised and already given to us!

That’s why the Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” God is not pleased when we don’t enter into the provisions that He has made and given to us. Some things we will never enter into except through faith. God’s willingness is multiplied to us through the knowledge of God. We must know what God has given, or we can’t have faith in that promise.

The Apostle Peter said, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His Divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:2-3)

“Hope” is necessary! “Hope” is a partner to faith! You are reading this letter at this very moment because you hope to receive some insight into hope and faith. But “hope” alone will not give you that insight. Yet, if it wasn’t for “hope,” you wouldn’t have opened this letter!

When the sick some into a prayer line, they hope to be healed. If they didn’t have “hope,” they wouldn’t come for prayer. Since faith is the substance of things “hoped” for, then there must be some “hope,” or there wouldn’t be anything for faith to give substance to. This will explain to you why some failed to receive their healing even though they were saying all the right things. It could be that they gave up hope.

God’s Word gave Abraham “hope!” As the Apostle Paul quotes God to us, he said, “As it is written, ‘I have you a father of many nation’ before him who he believed, even God Who quickens (makes alive) the dead, and calls 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 your seed be.’” (Romans 4:17-18)

When there was no natural “hope”, Abraham still believed in “hope”. There are people today who have no “hope” medically speaking. Doctors have done all they can do. When the doctor says there is no “hope” medically speaking, then Go to the Word of God and get you some supernatural “HOPE”.

Abraham decided to agree with God. That’s what we’re doing when we make a decision to confess the Word of God. We’re coming over to God’s point of view by saying what God declared about us.

Some people say, “There’s no hope, so you might as well give up!” You can always find “hope” in God’s Word—physical, financial, and spiritual! When your situation seems to be “hopeless,” God’s Word is your “HOPE!”

“HOPE” is your goal-setter! If you don’t set a goal you don’t know where you’re going—then how will you know when you get there? You don’t know where you’re going, and it’s obvious that you won’t know when you get there, but when God’s Word is the goal, it gives you direction.

God is not finished with you, so whatever you do, don’t give up, don’t cave in, and don’t quit! God will keep His Word and His Covenant to you. I also want to encourage you to spend time each and every day, praying in the Holy Spirit, stay in faith, stay in the Word, keep speaking the right things and making the right confessions of faith, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and remember “God loves you; we love you and JESUS IS LORD!”

In the Service of Our King,

Darrell G. Harrelson