Charles Mario Fraticelli
January 27, 1929 to
August 21 2009


Hope that Does Not Disappoint!

Prov 13:12 NIrV) Hope that is put off makes one sick at heart. But a longing that is met is like a tree of life.

First of all, I want you to know that over the next couple of days I may not be able to send out Today's Word due to the death of my father in law. If you do not receive it, you know why. Please pray with me that God be glorified in my Father in laws memorial services This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon tells us that hope that is put off (other translations say "deferred") makes one heartsick. In other words, there is a deep disappointment that can be birthed - from the inside out - in a person that has been waiting for something for a long time, to no avail. Some have been so disappointed, so often, that that have become disillusioned.

But the Good News is that there is a Hope that does not disappoint and that is the Hope that is birthed in our heart by God. A few messages ago I mentioned Romans 15:13, where Paul said, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Not only does Paul call God the "God of Hope," but his prayer for the believers at Rome was that they would literally abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is supernatural hope and his prayer for them came after much teaching on this Godly hope. In the first chapter Paul lets the believers in Rome know that he dearly wanted to visit them, but he was unable to, so he sent this letter to teach them (Jews and Gentiles alike) about salvation, faith, redemption, justification, righteousness, and hope. In the fourth chapter Paul taught them (and us) about the unwavering faith of Abraham - a man that stood on a promise of God for 25 years.

Paul explains that Abraham hoped against hope; meaning that he maintained his Godly hope, even when all human hope was gone. Humanly speaking, Abraham and Sarah should have given up their hope to have a child. Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was 90 when God told them that they were still going to have the baby.

Sarah had been barren all her life and Abraham's body was also - by this point in their lives - humanly dead. But they maintained their hope and they continued to believe in a God that could turn hopeless situations around. And do you know what happened? They had that baby, even after all human hope had dissipated. This is the backdrop for this fifth chapter. Paul opens: "Therefore," this is a connection back to chapter four and the faith of Abraham, "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." This is the peace that Abraham had while he was waiting on God, a peace that enables us to keep hope alive.

Paul continues, "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." This is not human hope. This is not limited hope. This is a hope that is birthed by God Himself in us. Paul continues, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Paul had been through many challenges himself and he explains that challenges should not cause believers to give up and throw away our hope, but rather the opposite is true. As believers, the challenges we face can actually help to develop perseverance, character and hope! And then the fifth verse is the big one.

Paul said, "Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." We can be assured that we will not be disappointed when we walk with God, because we know that He loves us. So what does this mean to you? Solomon tells us that when our longing is met, when we receive our payday, the experience is like a tree of life. As a believer, rooted and grounded in the love of God, you know that your payday is coming. Your hope, in God, is worth having and you will not be disappointed!





Father, my hope is not based upon the economy, the dollar, or anything else in the world. My hope is based upon my relationship with You and I now that this is a hope that never fails and never disappoints. I, like Abraham, build up the ability to hope against hope. You are my God of Hope and I know that the manifestation of Your promises in my life is just a matter of time. I remain steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, while I wait on You! And I wait with a smile on my face and a song in my heart! In Jesus' name. Amen!