What Genuine Faith Produces

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13

Our God is a God of hope: He gives hope, inspires hope, and in Him, we possess the hope of eternal life, and eternal joy. Hope in the Bible is always 100% sure, unlike the promises of man. Therefore, we are assured of our hope. Paul asks the Lord of this hope to fill the Christians in Rome with joy and peace in believing.

Genuine faith produces hope. Paul prays that this faith in them will produce joy. In trials and tribulations, joy is oftentimes absent, but the Christian who possess hope by faith is joyful because although he does not see the situation, he sees the God behind the situation. This sight produces joy because the individual Christian knows the trial will not last. The trial seeks to build Him, strengthens his faith, leads him to the next level of growth and has been permitted by God for his good. His faith in the ever-loving Father produces joy in the Christian that glows within him and is able to sustain him as he goes through the difficult times.

Genuine faith produces peace. Paul also prays that the this genuine hope-producing faith in the Roman Christians will also produce peace. Paul asked the Lord to give this peace to the Christians as they go through trials. Peace refers to a calmness within the Christian despite the storms outside. It is God’s enabling of the Christian to face tough times with a gentle, submissive and quiet attitude that is beyond the understanding of onlookers. Other people will panic and be anxious in difficulties but the child of God, who knows the God of hope, will be peaceful in these times. Paul also asks for a peace between the brethren in the local assembly. Satan seeks by all means to break the unity of the Spirit within the local church by attacking the bond of peace between God’s people. That bond is the love of Christ that binds Christians together. This bond is broken by suspicion, evil thinking, jealousy, unkindness or words of gossip that do not edify each other. In the book of Romans, the older Christians were acting uncharitably when they brought up unimportant issues that were stumbling the younger Christians. Paul asks for the peace within the local church between the brethren, that as they have faith in the Lord of Hope, it will produce peace in the local church.

Paul was also praying that the result of the joy and peace in the believers would further strengthen the believers in the hope they have in the Lord. How is this possible? It is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing we can do without the help of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing that will be lasting and permanently helpful without His empowerment. There will be no souls saved, no Christian growing, no families restored, no reconciliation, no joy or peace without the power of the Holy Ghost.

Dear Christian, do you have joy in the Holy Ghost? Is there peace in your homes and in your hearts? Are you filled with hope? Are you dependent on the Holy Spirit for His power and enablement?

Lord, may the faith we have in You bring us bring joy, peace in our hearts and between brethren, as you empower us by Your Spirit.

Written by: Pastor Johnny Tan
Edited by: Timothy Lee
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons