From the desk of Steve Shultz:
If you are needing a word of HOPE, this one by Kathi Pelton is for you. As I read through her word I was reminded of what we are told in Colossians 3: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
We can so easily put our hope in the things of this world and an earthly kingdom if not setting our focus on "things above" as Kathi Pelton explains here. She has walked through a refining process the last few years and shares so well what she's learned and gone through. That's one of the things I love about the Body – we can glean from one another's experiences.
Here are some awesome resources on HOPE which we all need:
Kathi Pelton:
What is My Hope In?
"Remember the word and promise to Your servant on which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction, that Your word has revived me and given me life." –Psalm 119:49-50
The Unshakeable Kingdom
The past few years I have been aware that many of you have struggled to maintain hope during times of what appears to be great loss and confusion. I know that not every Believer has experienced this, but I would dare to say that a good number of you reading this have either experienced loss, confusion or some sort of intense storm in the past few years. I am not talking about merely the normal struggles of living on planet earth, but unusual struggles that have shaken you in ways that you did not know that you could be shaken.
I am one of those people too! Over the past three years I have gone through many stages of shakings that have taken me through deep refining and deep conflict, as well as deep resolve. Just this week I have been pondering the question:
"What is my hope in?"
Is my hope in God coming through with earthly provision? Is my hope in promises fulfilled? Is my hope in having peace and joy due to good circumstances coming my way? Where is it? I really had to look deeply and honestly at these questions. Are they bad things to hope in? No! But have they been the foundation of my hope and joy in my life? These issues were consuming a lot of time in my mind and emotions which alarmed me. Finally I had to take it a step further – was my hope founded in the earthly realm or in the Kingdom of God? To my sorrow I found great mixture in the answer to that question as I examined my heart.
We are all looking for comfort and stability. If our foundation and hope is in this earth and its stability then we are on sinking ground. But, if our foundation and hope is in the Kingdom of God then it is a Kingdom that cannot be shaken; therefore neither will we be shaken. Though everything shakes around us we will find ourselves standing firm. The mixture in my heart of wanting to put one "foot of hope" on earthly kingdoms and one foot in the Heavenly Kingdom was causing me to live off-balance.
Does this mean that God will not give us good things on earth? Of course not! It means that when we put both feet on the foundation of the Kingdom of God we will not fall when earthly things are shaken. Our comfort comes from the fact that the Kingdom of God will not fail and that is where we are to live and put our hope.
Deliverance from Other Kingdoms
"And Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah, and said to the Israelites, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, It was I who brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. But you have this day rejected your God, who Himself saves you from all your calamities and distresses; and you have said to Him, No! Set a king over us." –1 Samuel 10:17-19
God is doing the same thing today. He is delivering His people from all the "kingdoms of this world" that have caused us to live in slavery and oppression. The kingdoms of this world are continually changing and being shaken but His Kingdom is secure and unshakable.
Jesus is the KING of His Kingdom! He is the only one who can save us from all of our calamities and distresses. Our King Jesus rules with mercy and justice and will never betray us or let us down. Let us not live in the belief that there is hope or security in any other kingdom, for all other kingdoms will pass away except His.
There are demonic kingdoms that attempt to lure God's people to live in the grip of their oppression. These demonic kingdoms can rule in our hearts by causing us continual strife and discontentment. These kingdoms and rulers set up "camp" in the earth and cause us to demand an earthly king that will tell us how to live and what to do. But we have the Holy Spirit who leads us in truth and sets us free to move and have our being in the counsel and wisdom of His leading.
We can hear together and move together in unity under the counsel of one King. But the mixture of living in other kingdoms is continually getting in the way of that unity that only exists in the Kingdom of God. There are places in our hearts that still want this earthly kingdom to work for us and make our lives better. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to put both our feet in His Kingdom – this is where we will find stability and hope.
On Earth as it is in Heaven
"Our Father, who is in Heaven, holy is Your name. Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven..." –Matthew 6: 9-10
As we place our feet and our hope in the Kingdom that cannot fail then we can see our King's will be done here on earth, just as it is done in Heaven.
"Remember the word and promise to Your servant on which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction, that Your word has revived me and given me life." –Psalm 119:49-50
When we have our feet securely in the right Kingdom we can hear and receive the promises and words that He has spoken over our lives. We can receive comfort and consolation in the midst of our earthly afflictions because His word gives us hope and security even as we dwell here on this mission field called earth. Remember, our true home is His Kingdom and as lawful citizens we can bring His Kingdom and culture here.
There are many promises that the Lord has spoken directly to my family that we still await the fulfillment of. As the Lord has allowed us to face many storms and afflictions over the past few years, we have begun to find our joy in the King and His Kingdom rather than merely in the fulfillment of earthly promises. The fulfillment of those promises will be used to allow us to see His will accomplished on earth, but they are not the source of our hope, security, stability and joy.
We can now be joyful in the waiting and in the fulfillment of His words spoken to us. We are comforted by His promises but not miserable in the waiting for the fulfillment of them on earth.
Let us rejoice for His Kingdom cannot be shaken and will never fail. He is King and all other kingdoms will pass away.
Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries/Compassion Arise
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net
