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Tiffany Ann Lewis: Hang Onto Hope


by Tiffany Ann Lewis
Oct 28, 2012

Steve ShultzFrom the desk of Steve Shultz:

I appreciate hearing messages of hope for the Body... because we NEED them. This is a great word of hope from Tiffany Ann Lewis for those who've been struggling to hold onto it... let it encourage you to move forward in ALL God has for you.

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HR

 

Tiffany Ann LewisHope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

The days that we are living in now require that we hang onto hope like never before. But what exactly is Biblical hope and how do we hang onto it? Let's take a look.

In Hebrew, there are two primary words for hope: yachal (pronounced ya-khal; Strong's #3176), which is the root word in the Scripture above, and tiqvah (pronounced teek-vah; Strong's #8615), which we'll discover later in this article. Although they are different words, they share similar meanings: to wait, to hope, and to expect.

This reveals that Biblical hope involves expectancy, not wishful thinking. Biblical hope consists of waiting for the Lord to accomplish His perfect will in our lives and earnestly expecting Him to come through for us. For example, in last month's "Manna," Are You Expecting?, I shared with you that my daughter is expecting and will soon be delivering my first grandchild. She is not expecting a giraffe or an elephant, she is expecting a baby girl. Similarly, as Believers hoping in God, we should be expecting that which God has promised us in His Word will be delivered.

Unfortunately, when you are waiting (and waiting some more) and haven't seen the fulfillment, it's easy to become depressed and discouraged. As our text reveals, our heart can become heavy or sick. Tragically, we may even give up the hope of ever experiencing the fullness that God has for us.

Can you identify? Have you been in the waiting room for an extended period of time and find yourself losing hope? If so, I pray that this message is an encouragement to you from the Lord.

From Surviving to Thriving

Let's take a look at the word translated as "deferred" in Proverbs 13:12. In Hebrew the word is mashach (pronounced mah-shakh; Strong's #4900) and means: draw, drag, or seize. With that meaning in mind, I find it no coincidence that in John 10:10 Jesus speaks of the enemy of our soul as a thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy us. The enemy is trying to drag the hope right from our heart! Some of the ways he successfully does that is through doubt, worry, and fear. That is why it is so important to hang onto our hope. Yet, how do we do that? How do we hang onto hope especially when our heart is sick, weak, and defeated?

Scripture gives us some insight in the second chapter of Joshua through the encounter with the harlot Rahab. Interestingly, this is also where the first appearance of the other word is in the Bible I mentioned earlier that means hope (tiqvah). In case you are not familiar with the story, let me give a very brief overview.

In a mighty display of His strength, God rescued the children of Israel from 400+ years of bondage in Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. The wilderness is a dreadful place, yet they survived, nay, they thrived because God was providing what they needed as they journeyed toward their promised land.

News must have gotten around the region about Israel and their God. I'm sure that folks were talking about this group that was wandering around the desert with a cloud cover by day shielding them from the sun and a pillar of fire warming them by night as they moved toward the Promised Land. Well, Jericho was part of the land God wanted them to possess. Can you imagine what it must have felt like to a resident of Jericho watching this group coming toward your home with God leading the way? It must have been terrifying.

Enter Rahab, a harlot who lived in Jericho. Israel sent spies into Jericho to search out the land. Rahab hid them from the king, protecting them from certain death. In return, the spies promised to protect Rahab and her family if she tied a scarlet cord in her window and stayed inside the house. However, if she didn't follow their instructions, they wouldn't be responsible if Rahab and her family were destroyed when the walls came tumbling down.

...unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. Joshua 2:18-19

I underlined the word "line" regarding the scarlet cord Rahab tied in her window because this red thread was Rahab's rope of hope! The word "line" is tiqvah (hope). She didn't just tie a rope in the window...she bound her future in her hope in God!

Can you imagine how heartsick Rahab could have become waiting in her house watching God's army marching toward her town? I bet the enemy of her soul was trying to defer her hope and cause her to doubt that the sign of faith, which she placed in the window, would save her. Nevertheless, she waited on the Lord and kept that rope in her window and her hope in God. As a result, she and her family were saved from the destruction of Jericho. Hallelujah!

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). Something supernatural happens as we wait on the Lord. As we wait upon the Lord, we connect to His strength, His grace, His power, and His might. Faith arises in our weak human heart and empowers us to be still and hang onto hope.

I don't know what type of destruction you may be facing today, but I know that the enemy wants to drag your hope away. He wants you to doubt you will ever see the goodness of God manifested in your life. Beloved, hang onto Jesus, He is your rope of Hope. "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil" (Hebrews 6:19).

I know it's hard at times, but please don't give up. Do what Rahab did: Hang onto hope and you will see the salvation of the Lord. Amen and Amen.

Tiffany Ann Lewis
Dancing with the Flame of the Lord Ministries

Email: tiffanyann@tiffanyannlewis.com

Tiffany Ann Lewis is a prophetic worship leader and Bible teacher with a unique focus on Biblical Hebrew, and whose heart has been passionately awakened by a God who sees us in our shortcomings, loves us in spite of it all, and calls out to us so we can live (Ezekiel 16). Her vision is to create an atmosphere in worship where we can meet with God face to face, where the Spirit of God moves freely, releasing emotional, spiritual and physical healing, and igniting a passion for our Heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus. Tiffany Ann has been ministering for over 10 years in prophetic worship throughout the Body of Christ. She worships with her family at Northway Church in Malta, New York, where she serves on the worship team.

ElijahList Prophetic Resources
Get Ready Get Ready - Hope is on the Way!
by Bobby Conner and Kris Vallotton
2-set Teaching
$15.00
Order the CD
$10.00
Order the Download

 

cd Transcendant Beauty
by Tiffany Ann Lewis
$10.99

Music Download
Order the Download
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