GET YOUR HOPES UP

Easter changes EVERYTHING

(Jesus speaking) Because I live, you also will live – John 14:19b

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead – since he was about a hundred years old – and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. – Rom 4:18-21

When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said HE would do. And so Abraham was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, “You’re going to have a big family, Abraham!” Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, “It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.” Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what He had said. – Rom 4:18-21 MSG

Get your up

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. – Luke 18:17

– faith… Not faith

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead – since he was about a hundred years old – and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. – Rom 4:18-21

A man with leprosy came near to Him. Kneeling in front of Jesus, he said, “Master, if You want, You can make me whole again.” Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. – Matt 8:2-3

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and anyone who comes to Me I will never turn away. – John 6:37

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him – John 6:44

All scripture is from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted