Faith, Hope and Love

Life is about relationships. And in whatever relationship I find myself in, if that other person or even myself adds to the demise of that relationship - do I get freaky about it, do I react with my old way of thinking about it?

Rest assured that if I have really put my faith, my trust, my hope and my love into one particular thing I will definitely be dismayed and discouraged; and I’m not called to that as a child of God.

I love the song by Bob Dylan, "Everything Is Broken" from his album Oh Mercy. People say, “Ah he’s not a Christian any more” but listen to what he’s saying, he’s preaching right there, he’s teaching in a song. It says,

Broken lines, broken strings

Broken threads, broken springs

Broken idols, broken heads

People sleeping in broken beds

Ain’t no use jiving

Ain’t no use joking

Everything is broken

Broken bottles, broken plates

Broken switches, broken gates

Broken dishes, broken parts

Streets are filled with broken hearts

Broken words never meant to be spoken

Everything is broken

Seem like every time you stop and turn around

Something else just hit the ground

Broken cutters, broken saws

Broken buckles, broken laws

Broken bodies, broken bones

Broken voices on broken phones

Take a deep breath, feel like you’re chokin'

Everything is broken

Every time you leave and go off someplace

Things fall to pieces in my face

Broken hands on broken ploughs

Broken treaties, broken vows

Broken pipes, broken tools

People bending broken rules

Hound dog howling, bullfrog croaking

Everything is broken

Life can be difficult if I place my faith, hope and love in anything else but God. I’m to trust God with my expectation of the fulfillment of what the Apostle Paul says, “The greatest of these is love!”

The fulfillment of God’s love will be accomplished in my total self being affirmed, accepted & acknowledged! We use the term “love” in such general ways but it also means, “I’m acknowledged!” Even though I am imperfect; even though I have fallen short, God says, “You’re acknowledged! You’re affirmed! I recognize you.” All these expressions are within that word, “love.”

That’s why a lot of people have a hard time believing church folk that say, “I just love ya with the love of Jesus” but if they don’t affirm, acknowledge and recognize that person, then that person won’t experience that love; they won’t know how to release it or relate to it.

What is it when we speak of love? We’re speaking of affection, security, acknowledgement, affirmation and recognition. I’m recognized! Even when we think back to the beginning when Cain brought his offering – he wanted to be recognized! But because of the way he brought the offering God said, “I can’t!”

Acceptance, acknowledgement, affirmation, security – these are aspects of fulfillment - which mean, “I am now whole.” That’s why relationships are so important and to bring relationships or whatever it consists of so that people are recognizing it and they’re accepting and releasing love.

A lot of people have never learned to accept the love that God has given them and so, guess what? They can’t love anybody else. And God is saying, “Here it is, take it, it's yours!” “But no,” we say, “I have to get it by these other means!”

We all do it in different ways: one does it, “ I lose weight” another, “I do it by being successful in business,” another does it by doing something else. There are many ways instead of coming to God and saying, “I’ve done all these things, I teach all these things, I’ve done all this; and I look to people, places and things to get it and I still haven’t gotten it; and because that is happening I don’t really know how to love people! I don’t know how to accept them right where they’re at.”

Until they learn that God accepts them right where they’re at; and loves them where they’re at they’re gonna have a hard time with other people. So they are always fighting, it’s a struggle, it’s a contest, it’s a competition!

Heavenly Father, we thank You that, as we look to You, as we put our faith, hope and love in You, then we overcome the world. That we have the victory over this world that is perishing. We are conquerors, that we are more than conquerors! No matter what we see falling apart around us, we can say Lord, thank You! I don’t have to fall apart. I don’t have to be part of it.

I can be Your answer, I can be part of the healing process because I’m allowing You to heal me. I’m receiving and I’m healing, I’m learning to receive Your love. Therefore I can give it greatly, because I greatly receive from You what You have for each and every one of us.

Father it’s not that we don’t pray for these people or the world but Father we pray that if we ask for anything, it’s that they come to know You, the power of Your might and the power of Your love! the power of the Cross! the power of the Holy Spirit! the power of the Blood!

That they become to know that. That they come to receive You, a free gift from You. That people may come to know that You are a Mighty, Awesome God! We pray and ask these things in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen!


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Everything Is Broken

Copyright © 1989 Special Rider Music by Bob Dylan, 
Album Design by Christopher Austopchuk

Album cover & Lyrics retrieved from http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/everything-is-broken 

For FREE audio downloads of Pastor Vince's full sermons go to www.aboundingloveworshipcenter.com