Richard Maisenbacher
I had a vision a week ago where we as believers were lined up to enter the fire. We had smiles on our faces and we were looking forward to entering it; even though most of us have felt scorched from the fire and maybe have eliminated the “fire lyrics” from our song list! Upon reflection, I knew this fire was a great thing and we were looking forward to it, so I looked up “fire” with the positive definitions in Barbie Breathitt’s Dream Symbology Dictionary. It said Fire: Holy Spirit – the holiness of God. Cleansing anointing, angels, purification, baptism, passion that burns in one’s heart, love, burns away wood, hay, and stubble, revival, the presence of God, glory, He’s an all-consuming fire. This all represented a relationship with God which was going to bring good things for His body!
Then the Lord highlighted Romans 5:3-5:
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 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.”
Tribulation can mean trouble or pressure (either literally or figuratively). Paul uses the word exult which means to boast in our trouble even though culturally we do not do much of that. However, we probably ask God why He might be punishing us or question His sovereignty. It appears to me that the enemy has battered all of us quite a bit with accusations of “Why is there so much trouble that we are walking through?” Implying it is God’s or our own fault!
Paul then states that trouble brings about perseverance. Paul’s knows affliction from being in the fire (Holy Spirit). We will know Him intimately as we embrace the flames of the Holy Spirit. We do not know what God’s comfort or encouragement will be until we have gone through a few afflictions. We cannot experience perseverance, character, and hope if we run from all our challenges. Those that love Him will have challenges in this world. Perseverance means for us to stay in place. He puts us in a position and asks us to stand…not to surrender ground to the enemy. We stand until God brings reinforcements. He abides with us. He shares the struggle and fight. Without some tests there is no opportunity to succeed.
With proven character that we have walked through, we now have hope. A Greek (Western) definition of hope is that it projects the good I desire into an uncertain future. In the Hebraic (Eastern) hope has a context of trust and it is directly tied to the promises of God. Believers participate in the promises as a community. The future is not up to us alone but encompasses the purpose of the community of believers. My hope is not just up to me. That’s why Paul is able to say: hope does not disappoint. In the Greek view, my future expectations can be disappointed by reality. Hebraically, we can never be disappointed because God will bring us into our destinies.
There is freedom and relief in the Hebraic view of hope. I don’t have to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. Paul says this hope cannot disappoint because there is nothing I can do to prevent its arrival. Hope is walking out His covenant with a community of believers embracing the covenant exchange. We give ourselves…. He imparts Himself and His love to us….and we receive all of Him!
In His Covenant Love,
