Sheryl Brady - Hope for Hard Times

All right, Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 12. The Bible says, «Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that easily ensnares us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.» Now, that’s how you’re going to run the race: looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. To understand the first line that says «therefore» or «wherefore,» whatever your Bible says, we also—therefore we also. To really understand what that line means, you have to go back and read chapter 11. That’s why I told you to take the time to go back this week and read chapter 11, but I’m going to trust you to do that.

Galatians 6:9. One verse of scripture you all know; you could quote it. We’ve heard it a million times, probably, but I’m going to say it again for your hearing today, and I’m praying that the word bypasses just your hearing but gets into your spirit. The Bible says in Galatians 6:9, «And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint or if we do not lose heart.» So today, I want to spend the next few moments talking about losing heart. Losing heart is a dangerous thing, and we’ve been through some stuff. If you could have lost it, you probably would have lost it; but by the grace of God, we are standing here today, and I am grateful for that.

For the next few moments, I just want to talk from the subject: Hope in the Hard Times. Hope, for you shall reap if you faint not. Hope in the hard times. Does anybody know what it’s like to be in hard times? Hard times that come at you so fast you don’t know what to do or where to turn? They can come out of nowhere and wipe you out if you’re not ready, but God said today there’s hope in the hard times. I don’t know who I’m talking to or who might be listening, but there is hope in your hard times. So today, all I’m going to do is encourage you in the Word. Is that okay? Is it okay if I encourage you in the Word today? Look at somebody next to you and tell them, «Be encouraged! There’s hope in the hard times.»

Father, today I thank you for your Word, and I know that your Word comes to bring life. The hearing of your Word, God, brings us faith. I ask, God, that you would just move in this room. You know every situation; you know every person, every trouble, and every tear. You know who’s been reaching for you; you know who’s been trying to run. But, Lord, today I pray that as I cast this Word out, it becomes a net that pulls us all together, and that, God, people will leave here encouraged, knowing that your Word was sent to heal us on so many different levels. Have your way today, and we’ll give you the praise for it in Jesus' name. Somebody say amen.

On your way down, just holler, «Hope in the hard times! Hope in the hard times!» If you don’t know what hard times are, just download this message after church because you will need it at some point in your life. In our text, the Apostle Paul is an amazing man, number one. The Apostle Paul is reminding us, those of us who are part of the body of Christ, that the call to consistency and the call to steadfastness must accompany our Christian profession. We cannot walk around professing to be Christians while having no stability in our lives and no consistency in our walk. In other words, what he’s saying to us is this: If you are going to call yourself a Christian, there ought to be some consistency to you. There ought to be some steadiness in you; there ought to be some stability in you, some immovability. There ought to be some dependability about you. If you are a believer—let me back up and work on that for a minute because y’all are pretty quiet. If you’re going to call yourself a believer, and if you’re going to call yourself a beacon of hope, and if you’re going to call yourself a disciple of Christ, then when the storm comes and it begins to rage, everyone around you can fall apart; but there must be something in you that says, «I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able.»

If you’re constantly falling down with the crowd, going with everybody else, and letting everything take over, then that’s just a sign that you need to anchor yourself in God. You need to anchor yourself in His Word, and you need to ask God to give you that spirit of stability. He is also exhorting us and telling us that we need to make sure that holiness is a personal pursuit. Holiness—we don’t hear about that today, but you’re looking at a pastor who believes that we are to walk holy before the Lord. It doesn’t mean we’re perfect, hello, but we ought to at least attempt. Come on! I said we ought to at least attempt. It’s quiet in here.