HOPE FOR THE FALLEN TREE

TEXT: JOB 14:7-9 (NKJV)

"For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. 

Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, 

Yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant."

 

PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT: 

Your extremity is certainly not the end of your life. Though weeping may endure for a night, joy will surely come in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Your state will not be like this for ever (Psalm 103:9).

INTRODUCTION:

 A common saying that the down fall of a man is not the end of his life, holds sway for the reality of consistent and persistent hope in God, despite the seasons of our testing as  believers in Christ. No matter how hard the testing season is, there will always be a beaming light at the end of the tunnel.

DIVISIONS:

1. There is hope for the hopeless (Job14:7). Considering the imagery of being cut down here, one would have thought and concluded that every  hope for the survival of that tree is gone. Why? Because it was cut down. Just like Job's friends thought, concluded and chided him that his own is finished, because of his predicaments---the lose of wealth, the lose of his children and the lose of his health (Job 11:13-20). Zophar the Naamathite, one of JOB's friends certainly knew that there is hope for Job (Job11:18-19). In Leviticus 26:3-13 stated that obedience to doing the word of God and keeping his commandments produces abundance of rain and peace for the people of God.

 

2.There is hope for a change ( Job14:114; 13:15). It takes determination and consistent trust in God to wait for your time of change. Do you know something? The harder the challenge, the stronger is the outstretch of God's hands towards you for deliverance. No wander, King David boldly stated in Psalm 23:4 that , "Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil...". He was boldly hopeful that he was not going to be swallowed by the shadow of death because he believed that God's presence, his rod and staff are with him and this was his comfort. What a wonderful man of Earnest expectations. I don't know how and what you're passing through right now. But what I do know is that if you're hopeful, and truly and firmly trust in the God of heaven who rules the earth in his sovereignty, you will celebrate your victory over any dark hour of your life. Do you know why ? Because God will not leave you alone in your predicaments. Hear His word through prophet Isaiah 43:2 which has this to say, " When thou passet through the waters, I will be with; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee". Carry the name of Jesus with you, anywhere you go, and yours will be a testimony.

3. There is hope for the righteous. By the way, who is the righteous? Is it one that speaks in tongues, yet, hates his brother, sister, neighbour, and even making enemies? No! The righteous is a man, a woman, a boy or a girl who maintains and conforms to high standard of morality and spirituality ( Proverbs14:32, Genesis 49:18-19, Psalm 16:11). The righteous has the assurance of deliverance from every evil work (11 Timothy 4:18).

 ILLUSTRATION: Once upon a time, there was a Christian woman who was a Secretary typist in an office at a university. She was hotly illicitly advanced constantly by her boss in the office, but she kept turning down the boss. So, one day the boss facilitated her removal from work. Very fervent a Christian as she was, she immediately rushed to her pastor with a sack letter and presented it to her pastor with this word "Man of God see the reward of my tenacity in Christ's word and what it has earned me". Receiving the letter from her, the pastor said to her, sister go and trim up  the light of your hope and be ready to return to your place soon. She believed the word spoken by the pastor, and the following week she was called by the panel of enquiry in her work place. After all said and done, she was called back to her work. Hope does not make ashame. Truly, there is hope for the righteous.

4. There is hope for the Barren (1 Samuel 1:12-19, Genesis 21:1-3, 17:15-16). God is God of fruitfulness. Fruitfulness is one of the glories of your destiny (Genesis 1:28, 9:1,7). 

5. There is hope for a captive. Esther and her nationals, including her uncle, Mordecai,  were carried captive to Persians, but even in captivity in the sight of God, and because of her unshakable hope in the God of Israel she was highly cherished and favoured. She became a Queen in the land of her captivity, just like Daniel and Joseph (Esther 2:8-9, Genesis 41:40-46, Daniel 2:46-49, Amos 9:14).

APPLICATION: 

 Been drawn to the footnote of life because of the reason of your current encounter with your complicated situation. Let me assure you that if you rekindle your lamp of faith, trust and hope you  have in the Lord God of your salvation, your testimony will come speedily. Remember that we are saved by hope (Romans 8:24).

Conclusion: Stop leaving as one that has no hope. Just lay hold upon the hope and be hopeful. The fallen tree will rise again.

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Prayer points:

1.Oh God cause my fallen tree to sprout again and to yield.

 2. Lord, let not my tender branch cease to yield.

3. Let my change come, so that my enemies maybe put to shame.

4. Givee me the grace to be righteous and remain righteous continually.

5. Make me fruitful in all its ramifications----- socially, spiritually, psychologically, philosophically, economically and avocationally.

God bless you richly as you remain in the Lord for your salvation and reconciliation to God.

A message of hope from God through His bondservant, Pastor Dr Jude O.D. Ekele, JP, Cert, Dip., B.A.Ed., B.A, M.A, D.min

TOPIC: THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE (1)

TEXT: Titus 2:13-14 

"Looking for that blessed HOPE, and the  glorious appearing of the great God and our saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

                    

PREFACE:

Living in the midst and moment of uncertainty, confusion, crisis and terrible pandemic, one may tend to lose hope, courage and fortitude. But then, is all hope lost when we certainly know that our Redeemer is yet alive and that He holds the whole world in His hands? No! We can't lose hope, for He is readily alive and has not abandoned us , even, in a second. That's why the Christian's hope is chosen as a topic for our bible study series, in May, 2020. May you be richly blessed as you follow me on this lane.

The key Truth:

The Christian's hope is a practical confidence he or she has in the rule and purpose of God, which find their  goal in the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the age.    

                    

THE PROMISES TO GOD'S PEOPLE:

GOD IS WORKING in history. The Christian is confident in the righteousness of God, which is working through the events of this world towards the final glory that must eventually follow the ministry and suffering of Jesus Christ. It is His personal return that will usher in the new age.

Resting on the predictions of the Old Testament, the promises of Christ and the conviction of the Apostles, the Christian is assured of the sovereign control of God to the end of time (Isaiah 11:1-9).

 THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S PURPOSES:

GOD'S purposes will certainly be fulfilled, no doubt about that. Let us hinge our faith on His unfailing purposes based on promises. Evidentially, the preaching of the Apostles demonstrated the Christian belief that the return of Jesus, to make all things new, would be the ultimate fulfilment of His work of salvation.

For the believer, the appearance of Christ will come as the longed-for conclusion and perfection of the salvation already won through the sacrifice of the cross, hallelujah! Amen! (Acts 3:17-21,Romans 8:18-23).

THE DEFEAT OF GOD'S ENEMIES: 

The outcome of the conflict between good and evil is already settled. How do I know? Yes, it's settled at the death and resurrection  of Jesus Christ which subsequently ensured the defeat of sin, death and all the powers of evil including corona virus and its efficacies.

But it will not be until Christ's public and powerful return in glory that God's  righteousness will be finally upheld. God's victory will then be evident to all (Philippians 2:9-11, 1Corinthians 15:24-26).

A LIVING HOPE:

The hope of every Christ's believer is a living hope. This hope is never faltered. It cannot be extinguished by any power, circumstance, situation, harassment, turmoil and intimidation. The reason is that, it is Christ who fills the Christian with the confident expectation the Bible calls 'hope'. All the New Testament passages which describe the last things focus their attention on Him.

It is in the resurrection of Jesus that we find particular encouragement. Our living hope is that like Him we too shall rise from death to enjoy the new heaven and the new earth from which death and decay are banished. Christ's followers await a new body, incorruptible and powerful. Glory to God! This body will relate to the old existence, but Paul tells us that it will be significantly different ( 1Peter 1:3-5, 1Corinthians 15:20-23, 51-55).

    

A STEADFAST HOPE:

Christian's hope is a steadfast hope. Unfortunately majority of so many professed Christians today are not Christians because this virtue of Christian steadfastness is not seen in them . How can a so called Christian easily punt off his Christian faith because he cannot endure sound teaching, rebuke or reproof. No unteachable person is a Christian. Christians are Christ's disciples disciplined for righteousness. The quality of christian hope is that it imparts courage and patience for the present. It is not a vague desire for better times, nor is it a resigned and passive submission to life's problems while we wait for a new tomorrow.

I want you to know that the hope we are talking about here, is that which is centred in Christ and it has kept the Church through the ages during persecution and hardship. It is the hope that demolishes fear, intimidation, enticement and that transforms pessimism into godly and practical optimism (1Thessalonians 1:3, Romans 8:24-25).

     

A PURIFYING HOPE: 

Our hope as Christians is hope in the return of Jesus Christ in the future which should have a deep effect on the way we live now. Ours is not the hope of the curious who look only for the details of signs and dates while remaining detached and unaffected.

To the Christian, Christ's return is a reality. As a result of this, let your priorities, decisions, and lifestyles be inevitably shaped by the thought of His sure coming. Do you have a score to settle with God, your neighborhood or intra score? Please, do it before it is too late. He said he is coming back, and I know it's true and it is nearer than before. Hurry up. Purify yourself, be spotlessly clean (1John 3:2-3, Hebrews 10:23-25, Jude 24-25 and Revelation 22:11-12, 20:12).

POSTSCRIPT: CHRISTIAN HISTORY INDICATES THAT THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE NEXT LIFE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IN THIS. LET THERE BE HOPE AGAINST HOPE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HAPPY NEW MONTH OF HOPE FOR GREATNESS AND IMPACT.

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This message is from God through pastor Dr Jude O.D Ekele, JP, Cert.DCS, B.A Ed, B.A, M.A, Dmin.

The Area Superintendent,

The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Ojo Alaba International Area, Lagos.

(C.May, 2020)