Posted September 27, 2016 under Videos

Is there such a thing as a Person who is a Hopeless Case?

CONVERSATIONS:

Have you ever seen anyone as too hopeless for salvation? Someone you care about but seems too difficult, cynical, hard-headed or hard-hearted, too different; or someone you consider as too "bad" or too "good", too "up there" or way "beneath you" -that you have given up trying to share Christ or even praying for him? Have you ever felt -in so many words -- that they are outside the reach of God?

Jesus was incensed with the scribes and Pharisees, supposed spiritual leaders in Israel at that time, "For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in." (Mt. 23:13) As witnesses for Christ, our task is to usher people into the Kingdom, not shut the door of heaven in their faces with our judgments, fears, and apprehensions.

The Gospel is Good News! It needs to be shared with joy by people who have been liberated by it. Joy stemming from hope is what should overwhelm us, instead of fear or apprehension. The word of God affirms it, "Anyone who is among the living has hope" (Eccl. 9:4) And if the word of God says anyone, He means anyone. Praise the Lord! What can you do then?

Stop judging others and doubting that they can be saved. Trust that the Lord is at work in the lives of others. Our God is mighty to save! Isaiah 59:1 says, "Behold, the LORD's hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear."

Obey the Lord's promptings: *Pray for them. *Be open to others. Walk alongside them. *Listen to them. Be sensitive to the Spirit's leading and to the opportunities He opens for you to share the Gospel with them. *Love them as Christ loves and do not give up -just as God and His people did not give up on you. Keep praying. Keep sharing as the Spirit gives you opportunity.

Is there anyone God has impressed upon you to pray for or share Christ with that you have hesitated to do so because you think, in one way or the other, they are hopeless?

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Which of these will you act on today? List some steps you will take this week:

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Now what if you feel that you are hopeless?

Do you feel that you are beyond saving? That you have sinned so much that God could not possibly set you free without you earning it? That is the power of God's grace. Proof of the hope Christ gives to the hopeless is seen in the thief crucified beside Him who had no chance of turning his life for the better as he served that death sentence. Putting his faith in Jesus at that moment, Jesus replied "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in paradise." (Lk. 23:39-43) If you feel hopeless, turn to God. He will never disappoint.

Or maybe you are a believer, but you feel that you have disappointed God too many times that there is no hope for you. Remember to put your faith in God's word, not in your feelings. Paul said with certainty, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:6). Do not give up on yourself, since God never will. Our hope is all God's doing!

Have you ever thought of yourself as hopeless? Why, if ever?

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How should Philippians 1:6 change the way you see yourself in light of the hope we have in Christ?

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Let's pray:

Thank You, Heavenly Father, that our hope in You is real, purchased by Christ with His own blood. We rejoice at the truth of Your word and of Your promises and we stand on them. No one is too bad, too good, too difficult, nor too different that he or she is outside the reach of Your grace. Thank You for the hope we have in You: for the power of the Gospel to save, and for the powerful Holy Spirit who is at work in us and in those You are saving. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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