Title: Live with Dream, Hope and Courage
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, and by this we have obtained evidence by the forefathers. By faith we know that the world was created by the word of God, so that things seen were not made out of things that are visible… (syncopation)… Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 11:1-6
In ancient Greece, one of the punishments given to prisoners was to keep doing one thing over and over again. It is a punishment that inflicts frustration and pain, incapable of having dreams, hopes, and courage. We can feel the happiness of life only when we boldly move forward in search of the vision and purpose of life that God gives us.
1. God's Love Plants Dreams
We can get dreams from God's love. God's love comes to us and instills dreams in us who are frustrated. When the love that He sent His only begotten Son to be a sacrifice on Calvary for me, who is a lump of sin, comes into our hearts, it touches our hearts and plantes dreams in our hearts.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Love is therefore not a noun. It is a verb. It is love that is put into action. God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins and clothe us with salvation. The amazing thing is that God never gives up or forsakes to the end. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Do not love money, but be content with what you have, for he himself said, I will never forsake you nor forsake you.”
Romans 8:38-39 “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. It cannot be,” he says. It's great love. He wants to take care of you until you die.
In John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you may go and bear fruit, and that your fruit may abide, that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will receive it.” Says.
2. The Holy Spirit and Hope
When the Holy Spirit comes, He gives us hope. When the Holy Spirit operates, a new life and a new world are created. When there is emptiness, chaos, and darkness over the depths, the Holy Spirit is at work to bring new order, life, and beauty to it. Because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit who brings light to darkness, order to disorder, life to death, and victory to defeat, the Holy Spirit appears and works in such a place.
Acts 2:1-4 says, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all gathered together in one place, and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a rushing, strong wind, and filled the whole house where they were sitting, and they saw them splitting like tongues of fire, each And they came to rest on the men one by one, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Where the Holy Spirit operates and works, the church will stand, saints will be born, a new civilization will arise, order will be created, and a beautiful life will be born. Changing North Korea is also changing through the work of the Holy Spirit. If we pray and evangelize, the gospel changes North Korea. When the gospel enters and the wind of the Holy Spirit blows, there is no choice but to change. Although invisible to the naked eye, the Holy Spirit is the most fundamental force that changes lives. When the wind of the Holy Spirit blows, the Holy Spirit will completely change politics, economy, education, and culture. When the Holy Spirit operates, the church will stand where it operates, the saints will gather, and the glory of God will appear.
John 16:13 says, “But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own, but will speak only what he has heard and will make known to you things to come.” When the Holy Spirit comes, the Holy Spirit fills us with hope. Tomorrow will be better than today, the next month will be better than this month, the next year will be better than this year. It is to make the soul prosperous, in all things well, strong, and life, and overflowing with the hope of having it abundantly.
3. Faith in the Word gives courage
We cannot do anything without courage. It is only when you have faith that you can do things bravely. If we believe in the word of God who made heaven and earth, we can have a strong and courageous heart. A person's heart cannot be trusted because it is unfathomable, but if you believe in the words of the Bible, you will become bolder. Romans 10:17 says, “Therefore faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
The Word is the seed that produces faith. Reading the Bible creates faith. Listening to sermons builds faith. When we have faith in our heart, faith overcomes anxiety and fear in our heart.
Isaiah 41:10 says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, yea, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Therefore, it is faith that overcomes anxiety and fear in the heart.
Hebrews 11:1 3 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It did not happen because of it.”
William Clark of the United States was a world-famous botanist and agronomist. He was the dean of the College of Agriculture at Massachusetts State University, and in July 1876, he was invited as the first principal of the Sapporo Agricultural School in Japan. On the day he arrived in Japan, the Japanese scholar who met him asked, "What kind of baggage is this?", pointing to the unusually large one of his belongings, and he replied, "It's a Bible." Hak-gwan said that the Bible cannot be taught in Japan. Then the doctor said that he would go back to America. We invited a world-famous agronomist, but it is difficult. In the end, Bible education was not allowed during class time, but allowed after school. But eight months later, when too many people accepted Jesus, Dr. Clark was expelled from Japan. His farewell speech was the famous "Boys be Ambitious!"
Our heart is a repository that can accommodate dreams, hope, and courage to build a new world. When we look to Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, we can have this treasure of our hearts. Love, hope, and faith are all fruits of the cross of Calvary. I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will live with love, hope, and faith.
-Prayer-
Living God!
Help me to live a victorious life with the dream, hope, and courage you gave me on the cross with Jesus as the Savior of my life.
I pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.