Hope Even in Times of Troubles

Let’s go over the definition hope by the bible again.  Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  This means we are to be in a constant and steadfast position of keeping our eyes on the Lord.  Notice what it says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for” then it ends with “the evidence of things not seen.”   When we are in a time of trouble we’re to be constant and steadfast on the things of the Lord that he will always carry us through it.  So what is the substance we are to have our hope in or (FAITH IN)?  It’s the word of God.  We have to understand that there are times in the natural we will not always see the evidence we are hoping for, but in the spiritual we can be reverting back to the living word of God which is our substance to obtain what we need.  Remember, we have a right as a child of God and we have the responsibility by faith to enter into God’s throne room in a time of need.  Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
 
Let’s look at this from a scriptural stand point.  When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to face the burning fire furnace planned by Nebuchadnezzar they had to have FAITH IN the true Living God to get them through it.  Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  Notice the response out of verse 17; it declares they have faith in God even when the natural evidence can’t be seen in the moment.  So there hope or (FAITH) was in God by the spiritual.  What was the result? Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.  Dan 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.  This is a representation of FAITH in a time of trouble and God will be there.

We can see this again in the book of Daniel with the added feature concerning the promise of Hebrews 4:16 to work in our lives.  Go back and look at Daniel himself going into the lion’s den.  He actually points out that it is God who delivers us from trouble.  Here we are going to see the trickery of the enemy causing a time of trouble for Daniel.  Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.   See Daniel was in such obedience to God.  They couldn’t even find any error within him towards God’s laws.  Dan 6:5-8  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Dan 6:8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.  What is seen here is that these men knew without a shadow of the doubt to truly get rid of Daniel they would have to find fault in him that actually came against God.   Now let’s jump down and see something out of Dan 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.  What is actually being said here?  There are several points.  The main point at this time is to see the words “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” This was not just a faith issue in the believer but now in the non-believer.  We must understand we have to set the example of faith so the non-believers can see it in action.  We have to point out when we are really in a time of trouble that our hope or (FAITH) is that God will deliver us as we serve our Lord in that situation continually or constant and an ongoing relationship with him.  So what did the king end up doing?  Dan 6:18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.   See, this was a big concern with the king.  So, in reality the king entered into Hebrews 4:18 and we will even see it by a response from Daniel.  Dan 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.  This verse gives us the indication that Daniel even entered into the throne room.   Where was Daniels faith?  Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So, Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.  We see the answer at the very end of this verse “because he believed in his God.”

This is all about even when we are in times of trouble; meaning no matter how bad our situation looks to us, we have to believe in the substance (the word of God) so it can be a testimony to those who are struggling with faith or believing how real our Father is.  It’s our action of believing by faith that moves the hand of God for us so he can fully deliver us in our times of trouble and not just by any man.
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Closing with this verse Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. We who believe have a testimony and a good report to give just how the Lord delivers us from our troubles.

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