Faith Hope and Love

I Corinthians 13:13

• “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

How important is faith?

A Few Examples• (Heb 11:1-5 NKJV) Now faith is the substance

of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. {2} For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. {3} By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

A Few Examples• (Heb 11:1-5 NKJV) {4} By faith Abel offered to

God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. {5} By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

How Important is Faith?• (Heb 11:6-7 NKJV) {6} But 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. {7} By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

We walk by faith.• (2 Cor 5:7 NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by

sight.

How important is hope?

Paul said that is why he had been put on

trial.• (Acts 23:6 NKJV) But when Paul perceived

that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"

The Sadducees were a party without the hope of a future.

• (Acts 23:7-9 NKJV) And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. {8} For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection; and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

The Sadducees were a party without the hope of a future.

• (Acts 23:7-9 NKJV) {9} Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God."

God is called “the God of

hope.”• (Rom 15:13 NKJV) Now may the God of

hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What is it like to lose

hope?

We have the story as told by Paul.• (Acts 27:20 NKJV) Now when neither sun

nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

They had not eaten for two

weeks.• (Acts 27:33 NKJV) And as day was about to

dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.

Perhaps they were so

distressed that they

could not eat.

Paul had faith. (Acts 27:21-25 NKJV) But after long

abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. {22} "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. {23} "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,

Paul had faith. (Acts 27:21-25 NKJV) {24} "saying, 'Do not be

afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' {25} "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

Words, with the power of life and

death.

Words with the power of life and

death.• (Prov 18:21 NKJV) Death and life are in the

power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Paul’s words had to contain instructions.

• (Acts 27:30-32 NKJV) And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, {31} Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." {32} Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

Paul led by words and example.

• (Acts 27:33-37 NKJV) And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. {34} "Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.”

Paul led by words and example.

• (Acts 27:33-37 NKJV) {35} And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. {36} Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. {37} And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.

Hope for the trials

of life.

How many songs have been inspired by this

story?• When storms around are sweeping.• When upon life’s billows you are tempest

tossed.• When you are discouraged, thinking all is

lost.

We have hope that whether we live or die,

we are the Lord’s (Rom 14:8-9 NKJV) For if we live, we live to

the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. {9} For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Because He lives, we can live

also.

Do you have the hope of the resurrection of the dead?