2. Stephen Mason 27 th April 2014 Carlisle Christian Fellowship

3. FAITH HOPE LOVE

4. * but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. * 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. * 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. * 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

5. * Matthew 17:20 And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. Matthew 17:20 * Romans 5:1 [ Results of Justification ] Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1 * 1 Corinthians 15:17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17 * 2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 2 Corinthians 5:7

6. * 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen * 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible

7. * Abel – better sacrifice * Enoch – Pleased God * Noah – heeded the warning * Abraham – * left for a strange land * accepted the promise of a son * Tested to offer Isaac * 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth but as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

8. * Isaac – blessed Jacob * Jacob – blessed the sons of Joseph & of Exodus * Moses – as a babe, Passover, Red sea, wilderness * Joshua – Jordan, Jericho * Rehab – scarlet thread * 32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of …….

9. * 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. * 39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect

10. * The Sun will come out tomorrow….. * Every Cloud has a silver lining……. * Hope beyond ……

11. * Job 5:16 “So the helpless has hope, And unrighteousness must shut its mouth. Job 5:16 * Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. Job 13:15 * Job 14:7 “For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail. Job 14:7

12. * Psalm 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5 * Psalm 119:166 I hope for Your salvation, O Lord, And do Your commandments. Psalm 119:166 * Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes. Proverbs 10:28 * Isaiah 57:10 “You were tired out by the length of your road, Yet you did not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewed strength, Therefore you did not faint. Isaiah 57:10

13. * Lamentations 3:24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:24 * Matthew 12:21 “And in His name the Gentiles will hope.” Matthew 12:21 * Acts 23:6 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” Acts 23:6

14. * Romans 5:4 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.. Romans 5:4 * Romans 8:24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. Romans 8:24

15. * Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer Romans 12:12 * Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

16. * 1 Corinthians 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:19 * 2 Corinthians 1:10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us 2 Corinthians 1:10 * Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. Galatians 5:5 * 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 * Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil Hebrews 6:19

17. * What is there to say…. * Love is the heart of our relationship with God * Our Faith and our Hope are found in the love of God * Our Faith and Hope are about relationship not temporal pleasure * But when the promise is fulfilled, when the hope is revealed there is no need for * faith * because we see it and live in it * Hope * Because we experience it * But Love continues for ever and our love is made complete, pure and incorruptible

18. * Faith maintains our hope * Hope longs for THE promise fulfilled * Love is the motive – to be with God * And with these three we know and experience the love of God and are motivated to share that Love

19. The Joy of the Lord….. ….. Is it happiness?