Eternal Hope in a Troubled World

Dear Partners, Friends and Family,

In Corinthians 13, it tells us that three things remain forever! They are Hope, Faith and Love. Christmas time speaks of these three things more than any other time of the year. Christmas is a time when the majority of people start to wind down their year by focusing on spending time with their families. As we believers know, Christmas represents a season of giving, joy and celebration.  But to us who believe, it is so much more than this. Christmas commemorates the birth of God's Son, Jesus, the Saviour of the entire world. God gave us the gift of His Son so that through Him, we might receive God's gift of eternal life. Not just eternal life in the future, to come, but eternal life birthed in our spirit by the Spirit of God now.  

Jesus is the reason for this season! He is the Hope of the whole earth, and through Him, you can have life everlasting. A guarantee that your best is still to come, and by faith in Him, that is Jesus, you can have the blessing of Abraham and all that it represents now.  

This blessing gives us eternal hope in a troubled world. It puts faith into the believer to receive all that God is, and all God has. Good things has God in store for His people, and we can receive those good things. All we need to do is ask the Father (your heavenly Father) in His name.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."  Hebrews 13:8.

The Bible definition of peace is – more than just the absence of conflict. It is taking ACTION to restore a broken situation. It is more than a state of inner peace and tranquility; it's a state of wholeness and completeness. Nothing missing, nothing broken. Think of the High Priestly Prayer. 

"Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: "The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." Numbers 6:23-27

Think of the Blessing of Abraham!

"And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:29

Biblical peace is not something we can create on our own. It is a fruit of the Spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law" Galatians 5:22-23.

The word 'peace' appears 237 times in the Old Testament. It first appears in Genesis 15:15. 

"Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age" Genesis 15:15

The Hebrew word translated 'peace' is 'Shalom', it means:- completeness, soundness, and welfare. It comes from the root word "Shalam", which means to make amends or make whole or complete.

Jesus did this for us. Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times!

"Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; The fear of the Lord is His treasure. Surely their valiant ones shall cry outside, the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste, the traveling man ceases. He has broken the covenant, He has despised the cities, He regards no man"" Isaiah 33:6-8.

You can see from the above scripture that when the world is in troubled times and under the attack of darkness, as it is at present, it needs God's wisdom and knowledge.  In these times, more than ever, we need to put our hope in God and His Word. He is the strength of our salvation, and He is our treasure.  

Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" John 16:33.

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" Romans 8:37.

"I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father" 1 John 2:13

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" 1 John 4:4.

"Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5

You were born again to win, born to overcome! You are a winner! You are an overcomer! Yes, you are! Because the greater one lives in you, and greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world!

You are called to reign and rule in life through Jesus Christ!

"For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ" Romans 5:17.

You are called to make a difference. The only way you can make a difference is to be the difference. You are the salt of the earth! Matthew 5:13.

Jesus is the reason for the season! He has promised that He will return!  At the end of the book of Revelation, Jesus says, "He is coming quickly." Our response to that statement must be, as it states in Revelation 22:20, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." The last verse in the book of Revelation says, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." 

It says in Isaiah 9:7, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

What stands out to me in this verse is the words' increase', 'peace', 'judgment', 'justice' and that last line 'the zeal of the Lord will perform this'. Don't you just love this scripture? It is jammed packed, with life, goodness, hope and God is zealous to perform His Word and establish it, in our lives.  His Kingdom reigns overall!  

Friends, family, get ready for peace, justice and increase. God is on our side.  I dare you to believe this! I dare you to decree thisI dare you to believe that you are heading into the best year ever! Regardless of what is happening around you or in the world, look at what is in you and upon you. Lift up your eyes to the hills and praise the Lord!  Keep your eyes on Jesus and decree and declare peace and increase are yours, in His name. 

Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem means 'house of bread'. Remember, Jesus said, "I am the true bread that has come down from heaven."  

I like to think about the plans and the purposes of God. It says in Jeremiah 29:11, 'God has a plan and a purpose for our lives, that is all good and ends in a future filled with hope, where your dreams are all fulfilled (my translation and expansion)!' We do not have to fear the present or the future. We can live in a place of peace and safety by trusting in the Lord and His plan for our life.  

Remember, to love one another, forgive one another and to believe and ask for the best for each other.  Let’s spread God’s love, which He gave us all to share through Jesus Christ and the precious Holy Spirit.  Remember to say a prayer for those less fortunate than ourselves, and where possible, sow a seed to help someone have a special Christmas.
 
God believes in you. He believes in your family.  He created family.  He has a special plan for your life, His love plan.  He wants to give your life purpose and meaning.  God wants to put His faith in your heart and give you hope for a better day.  God wants to prosper you.
 
Remember this, God’s Word never fails. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 ‘Faith hope and love, these three last forever and the greatest of these is the love of God’.
 
Jesus, who came in the fullness of time, because of God’s great love for all mankind, is the reason for the season.  He gave His life for us all that we may enjoy the riches of His goodness for all eternity.
 
Kerrie, myself and all the team at World Harvest Ministries and Fire Church Brisbane, are praying constantly for you and your family.  We want you to personally experience in many practical ways, His love and peace.  We are believing for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 2023, that is going to be one the greatest revival years we have seen.  Let’s believe where sin has abounded that grace will much more abound.  Jesus is still Lord, and He has a great love plan for your life! 
 
Wishing you all, “A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year”!  From every one of us at Fire Church Brisbane and World Harvest Ministries.

Please continue to stand and partner with us in 2023, so that together we can REACH MORE, WIN MORE, DO MORE AND LOVE MORE FOR JESUS!

God bless and much love,

Ps. Shaun & Kerrie, Ps. Cherise and Team

World Harvest Ministries

Please share this update with anyone you believe would be blessed by it. Tell others about our ministry and help us to connect with your friends and family.

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