During this journey of faith, the church must once again put their hope in God. The most important part of this journey is to return to God’s word. This means not only do you read God’s word, but you also believe and obey because you have put your hope and faith in His word. Colossians 1:21 “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Paul also said 1 Corinthians 15:2 “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” Many in the church spend a lot of time telling you why you shouldn’t put your hope in God’s word. They don’t come out and say that exactly but what they do is distort what God actually states or they tell you it doesn’t mean what it says, or they say God doesn’t do that anymore. They then promote their own ways, and many have joined them in the wrong direction. When talking about Paul’s letters, Peter said, 2 Peter 3:16 “He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” Jeremiah 23:36 “You must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God.” Micah 3:9 “Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right; 10 who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. 11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” Jeremiah 5:30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” This is still happening throughout the church.

    Everything changes when we put our hope in the Lord and His word. Isaiah 40:31 “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Psalm 130:7 “Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” Psalm 33:4 “For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Take the time to read Psalm 119. Here a few verses about putting our hope in God’s word. If you do not have hope in God’s word, you will not have faith. Psalm 119:1 “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands. 32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. 43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. 57 You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words. 74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. 81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 89 Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. 97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. 120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 160 All your words are true. 169 May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word.”

     When we put our hope in the Lord, we are trusting God with our life. When we put our hope in the word of God, we choose life, not death. Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Your life depends on whether or not you are following God’s word. There is a lot of noise and many voices to listen too. Make sure you know the true voice of Jesus and not the voice of satan masquerading as Jesus. John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” How do you know the voice of Jesus; read your bible. Jesus said John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”