MOUNTAIN OF FIRE AND MIRACLES MINISTRIES

DENVER BRANCH, COLORADO

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY SERIES

THEME: REVELATION OF HOPE

MESSAGE I: The Comfort of the Scriptures

By Sister Nimota Kelani

Text: Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” KJV.

Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” NIV.

The above scripture talked about the “comfort of the scriptures” that would lead to hope. For me personally there are many scriptures in the bible that gives me hope but one particular scriptures stands out. Revelation 13:10 “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” This verse ministered to me a lot when I was going through the crucibles of life. It was a scripture that has comforted me many times.

The bible speaks about the condition of humanity, that we are all sinners, Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” and that the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23 (a).

The struggle for humanity’s salvation is expressed by Paul when he said, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Romans 7:24. The only one that can rescue is Jesus Christ; as confirmed in the bible Romans 6:23(b) “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Because of His unconditional love for humanity, Christ was willing to come to this world, live as a human being, and die the death that we should die. The scripture points us to the hope of salvation that we can have in Jesus because of His sacrifice in our behalf.

Let Us Look At Some Scriptures To See What Hope Is Presented In Them:

1. Romans 3:26 “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” The hope in this verse is that He justified us as soon as we believed in Him.

2. I Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

The hope that: He died to make atonement for the sins of the whole world.

3. John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”

The hope that: The spirit of truth will guide us into truth.

4. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness:”

The hope that: the scriptures will be our guide, the promise of righteousness through instruction for correction.

5. Luke 18:29-30 “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”

6. I John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

There is the promise of eternal life for all those who believe in Christ and carry their cross to follow him.

At the cross, Jesus, the one through whom all things were made (Colossians 1:16 “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”), bore in himself the penalty for our sins. Jesus died in our place, suffered in our stead. Why Would Christ Have Gone through So Much, for us if there wasn’t something incredibly worthwhile at the end of it for us? What is at the end, and what hope does it offer to us?

Let me close by sharing this story that I read with you. Four World War II fliers, was shot down, floated for 21 days on a small life raft in the middle of the Pacific. They had no water or food. However, when their thirst got so bad, it rained, and they caught the rain and drank it; when their hunger became unbearable, seagulls landed on the rafts, and they caught the bird and ate them.

When finally rescued, they were interviewed, separately; each was asked the same question: “To whom do you attribute your survival?” All the men gave basically the same answer; there was a New Testament in the raft, which they read everyday. And the book gave them hope to press on, even when things looked hopeless.

Brethren, what you are going through now is nothing compared to the hope that is available for you in Christ Jesus. You must cast all your cares and burdens unto him the author and the finisher of your faith. You must make the bible your food and eat it daily because there is life in the word.

Let us rise up for prayer:

1. My Father, who reign upon the heavens of my life, arise, let the darkness in my

heavens, die, in the name of Jesus.

2. Oh God! Arise and place me in my right location, in the name of Jesus.

3. My Father, if I have been diverted from my land of promises, relocate me by fire, in

the name of Jesus.

4. Everything done against me to spoil my joy in this year, be destroyed, in the name

of Jesus.

5. I receive the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, in the name of Jesus.

6. O Lord, as Abraham received favour in your hands, let me receive your favour so

that I can excel, in the name of Jesus.

7. Lord Jesus, deal bountifully with me this year, in the name of Jesus.

8. It does not matter whether I deserve it or not, I receive unquantifiable favour from

the Lord, in the name of Jesus.

9. Every blessing God has distributed to me in the year will not pass me by, in the

name of Jesus.

10. Father Lord, disgrace every power that are out to steal your programmed for my

life, in the name of Jesus.

11. Every step that I take this year shall lead to outstanding success, in the name of

Jesus.

12. I shall prevail with man and with God, in the name of Jesus.

Nimota Kelani Page 1 3/12/2008