Inspirations of Hope: Messages for the Heart

© 2017 Jimmy R. Stevens. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/17/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5557-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-5556-3 (e)

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KJV

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Contents

Inspiration

The Audacity of Hope (Part 1)

The Audacity of Hope (Part 2)

Thank You

It’s Not Too Rough for God (Part 1)

It’s Not Too Rough for God (Part 2)

God Can Turn It Around

Foreword

Walking in the Realm of Possibilities

Renewal

God Carried You on Eagle’s Wings

God Will Renew Your Strength

Lord Light My Fire

Lessons From the Storm

Family and Leadership

We are Family

What Do These Stones Mean?

Let Us Rise Up and Celebrate

God Gave This Man Relentless Victory

Me and My House

I Am Casting My Vote

Restoration and Healing

God Will Turn Your Scars Into Stars

The Last Miracle

You Can Make it Through the Dark

Go Get Mephibosheth

Praise and Benefits

You are Daily Loaded with Benefits

What Shall I Render For All His Benefits

Grief and Loss

A New Body That Shall Be

Jesus is Lord Over Circumstances

Encourage Yourself

The Suffering Is Over

Strength

Christ Strengthens Me (Part 1)

Christ Strengthens Me (Part 2)

Christ Strengthens Me (Part 3)

Christ Strengthen Me (Part 4)

Christ Strengthens Me (Part 5)

Spiritual Weapons

The Word Is Your Weapon (Part 1)

The Word Is Your Weapon (Part 2)

The Word Is Your Weapon (Part 3)

The Word Is Your Weapon (Part 4)

The Word is Your Weapon (Part 5)

I dedicate this book to the New Covenant Faith Baptist Church family where I have enjoyed many wonderful years of service. You have been the wind beneath my wings. You have surrounded me with love, support, care and understanding.

Preface

All of us need hope to survive the daily troubles, challenges and tribulations of life. Even as Christians, we experience moments when it seems like the night season is so long and we long for the break of a bright new day. Inspirations of Hope is a prescription for these times.

These messages encourage believers to persevere through the night and embrace the new thing that God is doing. Jesus said, In this world you would have tribulations, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. My prayer is that these messages of hope will comfort, encourage and inspire you to stand in the victory of Jesus Christ.

Jimmy R. Stevens

Inspiration

The Audacity of Hope (Part 1)

Romans 4:17-18, As it is written I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.

In 1492 Christopher Columbus an explorer, navigator and colonizer from Italy sailed West on the Atlantic Ocean to declare that the earth was round when everybody else said the earth was flat! Although Columbus’ speculative proposal was to reach the East Indies by sailing westward; yet his daring and bold audacity of hope of exploration led to the discovery of the New World!

In 1904 Mary Bethune wanted to start a college for African American girls but she only had $1.50. She had no desks, she had no ink pens to write with, she had no blackboard and she only had $1.50. Yet her audacity of hope to believe in her dreams has now given birth to the world-recognized Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona, Florida. She said later on, I considered cash money as the smallest part of my resources. I had faith in a loving God, faith in myself and a desire to serve. She became a world-renowned educator, civil and human rights leader, champion for women and an advisor to five US Presidents.

In 1961 President John F. Kennedy had the audacity to say to the nation, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving this goal before the decade: and that is of landing a man on the moon and returning him back safely to the earth. We will do this not because this is easy but because this is hard! Just eight years later, on July 20th, 1969, Astronaut Neil Armstrong said One small step for man and one giant leap for mankind and he stepped upon the surface of the moon.

In 2006 a young US Senator from Chicago, Illinois, talked about the audacity of hope. He believed that a man of color, who had the right credentials, the right education, the support of the people and the favor of God could hold the highest political office in the free world. And on January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. He was reelected for a second term in 2012 and sworn in on January 20, 2013.

God calls all of us to have this audacity of hope. In our text the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Rome. He gives us the prime example of this audacity of hope through the patriarch Abraham. Abraham is considered as The father of faith. There are four points I want to lift from the text.

Promises of God

Abraham had the promises of God! You and I have the promises of God! In Romans 4:17a, God speaks to his potential. God said, I have made thee a father of many nations. Abraham at this time had no children. But yet God speaks to his potential, I have already made you a father of nations. The b part of verse 17 says, And calls those things which be not as though they were. God calls things which are not as though they were.

I remember when I was in grade school the kids started calling me the name Rev. My birth name is Jimmy but they called me Rev. Everybody else had good nicknames, Boo Boo, Horse, Player, Frog, Crazy Man, Booga, and Shep. But they called me Rev. At first I didn’t like it. But it started to grow on me. Rev was my new nickname and I started embracing what they called me. Since they called me Rev. I started more intensively studying the word. When they needed somebody to explain the scriptures they did not go to Superfly or Boo Boo but they came to Rev. Little did I know that they were speaking to my potential what I would ultimately become! For God calls those things which be not a though they were! The word says let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say i am rich! God called Abraham, father.

God speaks to our perpetuity. Notice the c part in verse 18,

According to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. God speaks to our perpetuity! Generations that comes from us. Our seed. Your seed shall be like the stars in the sky! Thank God for his promises.

Participation

Abraham participated through his obedience! There are eight phrases of action in Romans 4:17-21.

• In verse 17, he believed. . .

• In verse 18, believed in hope. . .

• In verse 19, being not weak in faith. . .

• and he considered not. . .

• In verse 20, staggered not. . .

• and strong in faith. . .

• and giving glory to God.

• In verse 21, being fully persuaded. . .

Hope motivates us to participate. The audacity of hope will cause you to participate because you know that He always causes us to triumph! Now I do not want you to believe that because Abraham had this faith that there were no pitfalls, problems, trials and tribulations.

Process

Romans 4:18 is very interesting, Whom against hope: believed in hope. Who against the odds believed in hope. Abraham had no reason to hope. But he kept on hoping, that he might become the father of many nations! Notice the text says, That he might become. We are in the process of becoming. Seven times in Abraham’s faith walk he was tested. He was tried over and over again.

Abraham’s Seven Tests

First, he was tested in the fervor of his faith. He was told to leave his land and his family. Secondly, he was tested in the sufficiency of his faith. When he arrived in the land of promise there was a famine. Would Abraham trust God for his needs? Thirdly, he was tested in the humility of his faith. There was a strive between Abraham herdsmen and Lot herdsmen. But Abraham gave Lot, his nephew, the best part! Fourth, he was tested in the boldness of his faith. When Lot got in trouble could Abraham rescue him? Fifth, he was tested in the dignity of his faith. Would Abraham receive gifts from the King? Sixth, he was tested in the patience of his faith. Would Abraham take the advice from his wife and sleep with Hagar her slave? Seventh, he was tested in the supreme love of faith. Would Abraham offer up Isaac on the altar? He had to go through the process. The word says of Abraham, That he might become the father of nations.

It’s like processing a picture, a photo film. The photographer takes the picture and then goes into a dark room. Takes the film out and dips it in chemicals and then hangs the film up to dry. That is called processing. It is in the dark room that God does His greatest work. God takes you through the process. Romans 5:4, We glory in tribulation knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, And experience hope. And hope maketh not ashamed. Hope does not disappoint. Abram might become. You are in your becoming. All that you have gone through is part of your becoming. That is why God many times does the process in the dark place. God uses adversity, trails and tests.

The Caged Bird

When a trainer tries to teach the caged bird words to sing. The cage bird struggles to learn the melody, rhythm and words because the cage bird is easily distracted. In the full light of day, and in hearing of the music of other voices the caged bird will not sing that song that the Master seeks to teach him. He learns a snatch of this thrill of that, but never a separate and entire melody. But the Master covers the cage and places it where the bird will listen to the one song he is to sing. In the dark, he tries and tries again to sing that song until it is learned. Then he breaks forth in perfect melody.

The bird is brought forth now into the light. The song that he learns in the dark, now he is able to sing it in the light. You see it was in the dark that the cage bird is able to concentrate, learn and grow. Thus God deals with His children. He has a song to teach us, and usually we learned that song amid the shadows of affliction. Faith grows through adversity. It grows through our battles and our beliefs. Faith grows through both our trials and triumphs. Faith grows through both our ups and downs. The audacity of hope grows through the process.

Some people try to speed up the process. That is what Abraham did. He tried to speed up the process. He got with Hagar and produced an Ishmael. Others try to skip the process all together but you have to go through the process. And the Enemy will want to sabotage the process. When someone ask you, Hey what’s going on? Your reply should be, I’m going through the process. Can you imagine what Nelson Mandela went through in 27 years of imprisonment? He was going through the process. God was making him a president in the midst of his process. And when he got out he emerged a better man, and a better human being. He was able to forgive those who imprisoned him and then turn around and sit at the table of brotherhood. Through skillful negotiation he had the audacity to work with those that imprisoned him and together write a new constitution. And he became the Father of South Africa, a rainbow nation and a Champion for freedom.

Performance

Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that what he promised, he was able also to perform. From the initial speaking to Abraham to the performance of the miracle was 25 years. God purposed that a quarter of a century would pass by before He would make real on His promise. That is why the word says, Against hope, he believed in hope.

Notice the word dead in mentioned three times in the text! In verse 17, the dead. In verse 19. . . his own body now dead. . . . in verse. 19 b. . . the deafness of Sarah’s womb." There are three things dead. First, it was a dead situation. Secondly, Abrahams’ body was dead. And thirdly, Sarah’s’ womb was dead. Sometimes that is how God works! He waits for all human possibilities to be dead! He waits for our extremity so it becomes His opportunity. He waits until we have nobody that can help us!. He waits until we call upon Him. God can handle dead situations.

For verse 17 says, Even God, who quickenenth the dead. He is the God of the resurrection. He makes alive again. In verse 19 when Abraham was about one hundred years old was when God started to move. What He promised, He was able to perform.

I Corinthians 15:58, Be ye steadfast and unlovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Galatians 6: 9, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Between the promise and the performance God is perfecting you.

I remember one time in my life I was going through. I was stressed out, tired, weary, with sleepless nights. One night when I went to bed to sleep, God gave me a dream. In the dream there was a house. I walked to the house and opened the door. It was beautiful but it had only one piece of furniture in it. There was only a chair. Then I woke up. I asked myself, What did this dream mean? What did this chair represent? I believe that God was saying that when you walk in hope you don’t have to be stressed out. The chair represented rest. God was saying, Rest in my promises! Rest in my purpose! Rest in my power! Rest in my Provisions! Rest!

What Abraham learned to do was to rest in the Lord. The word rest is the Greek word, anapauo. This word has three different meanings. First, it means to cause or permit one to cease from labor in order to recover and collect their strength. Secondly, it means to give rest, refresh, to give one’s self rest. Thirdly, it means to keep quiet, of calm and patient expectation. Some scriptures where this word rest is used are:

Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he saith unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Hebrews 4:3 "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest. . ."

Hebrews 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

Abraham had the audacity of hope. He was not weak in faith, but strong in faith. He staggered not at the promise. The key was that he gave glory to God. Who against hope, believed in hope.

God was able to perform it. Abraham had hope. And Abraham had faith. And Abraham had love. Have you the audacity to hope?

You have the audacity to believe in the impossible. You have the audacity to see the invisible. You have the audacity to expect the incredible. You have the audacity to dare to trust in the all-powerful God. Have the audacity to speak to your mountain and see them be removed.

The Audacity of Hope (Part 2)

Mark 5:25-34, And a certain woman which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. . . .

Hope is the power that keeps us. The bible teaches us that, Hope is the anchor of the soul. God calls it a lively hope. Hope is faith’s assurance. Faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for. . . . We must always keep hope. And always have the audacity of hope. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had. The gospel of Mark introduces us to a woman. This is an unnamed woman. She was in the crowd as Jesus passed by.

Her Condition

Mark 5:25 states, "This woman had a hemorrhage." He calls it an issue of blood. Everybody has an issue. There are relationship issues. There are financial issues. There are emotional issues. There are spiritual issues. But this woman’s issue was a health issue. She an issue of blood. It was a flow of blood. It was a flow for 12 years. She was a walking miracle because it was a miracle that she had not bled to death. This hemorrhaging went on for 12 long years.

Verse 26 says, She had suffered many things of many physicians and spent all that she had.

She had depleted her financial resources on all kinds of medical treatments. These doctors had tried every conceivable medical advancement of these times. There was nothing that medical science could do for her and she never got better but rather grew worse. Physician after physician tried to help her.

Thank God for our physicians, men and women of training and compassion. They are God’s angels of mercy and care. But this woman had experienced financial ruin. I believe that everybody ought to have health care in a rich nation like the United States of America. No one should be denied health care because of preexisting conditions. Her condition was for so long that she overextended herself with all the medical bills. Also her symptoms even had religious ramifications. Her worship in the temple was stopped because she was considered unclean. But thank God for Hope. Thank God for Hope in God.

Verse 28 For she said. . . .

That word said is in the active tense which means she did not say it once but she kept on saying it within herself. It means to affirm something over and over. She kept saying it. She kept affirming it. Hope began to talk and hope said, If I may touch but his cloths, I shall be whole. (Mark 5:28, KVJ) If I may touch but his cloths, I shall be whole. She had heard of Jesus. And faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Now hope brings her to a new level of trust. Her object would be now to hope in Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5–6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding! In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths.

The Crowd

Verse 27 When she heard of Jesus she pressed from behind through the crowd.

She pressed through. She pressed through every obstacle that stood in her way. She had to get to Jesus. She pressed through her fears. She pressed through her disappointments. She pressed through her despair. And this woman came to an inner confidence. That is what the audacity of hope does. Hope brings you to a confidence.

Romans 5:3-5 "We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worth patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; (hope does not disappoint) because the love of God is shed