Our Resolute Hope Podcast

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.

Guest Ernest Rafique of Abounding Grace Ministries in Pakistan (agmpak.org) shares the challenges and opportunities that the message of graces faces in that region.

There are nearly sixty ‘One Another’ commands in the New Testament.  We’re to love, honor, welcome, forgive, be kind to, comfort, care for, and encourage one another.  And yes, these imperatives apply even during divorce.

Divorces often are battlegrounds, leaving wives, husbands, and children wounded and deeply scarred.  But Christ’s life enables us to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, no matter the circumstances.

God Himself is a divorcee.  And in Jeremiah 3:8, He shows us the pattern for doing it with honor and respect.  But despite this, He is always willing to forgive, reconcile, and restore.

We all are familiar with Malachi 2:16, ‘God hates divorce’.  But do we understand what the original text really says?  What He hates is the treacherous and violent act of putting away a wife without a written divorce decree.

Accurate translations of key passages fail to support the rigid injunctions against divorce that many claim.  Instead, they reveal God’s compassionate heart against the helpless and His desire to restore and redeem them.

For centuries, the church’s attitude toward divorce was based on incorrect translation of the original Greek and Hebrew.  As a result, it left no room to consider any of the myriad painful circumstances, aside from abandonment and adultery, that fuel divorce.

Historically, the church has recognized only two justifiable reasons for divorce:  adultery and abandonment.  But have we misunderstood what Jesus taught?

God’s original intent was that marriage, one man and one woman, would last a lifetime.  But just because He made husband and wife one doesn’t mean they wouldn’t ignore the Spirit, walk in their flesh, and do serious harm to their relationship.

The word ‘anti’ can mean against or in opposition to, or it can have a more subtle meaning – in place of.  This compels us to ask ourselves two difficult questions:  In which ways am I acting against Christ, and which things in my life do I allow to take His place?