OK we are getting some where...
At least we are able to begin speaking about the place of hope in this life.
There are so many issues that arise out of this.
I think a lot of bad theology comes out of not appreciating the Character and Love of God.
First off we all need to have brokenness of heart so that whatever life throws at us we weather the storm with our faith intact. That does not mean we expect bad things to happen.
Yes we see the Apostles all but one heading in this life to a hideous death - but this was God's appointing and grace was given for the occasion - this was their calling and most likely not ours.
We forget for example Joseph of Arimathea who was a successful tin merchant and bought the gospel to the UK.
God wants win the lost by how we live - returning to our first love and displaying the Love of the Kingdom to the lost. Jn 17:21.
Jesus comforts John by reporting back that the Kingdom has in fact arrived and that his work was not in vain.
The kingdom is where Jesus reigns this is where Love is and that is what the world is looking for.
Maybe lack of expectation is coupled to the muting of the prophetic.
Here am I at 74 working with the local university to develop products.
I am completely unqualified - never passed the school exams, yet dialogue on Zoom with academics from all over NZ.
A lady who I had never met before at a prayer meeting about 25 years ago stopped me as I was coming in the door - she had her bible open at Prov 8:12 - she said "you are an inventor and the body of Christ need you. I have waited 25 years for this door to open and it is now.
I never lost hope - this came from the prophetic.
Regarding the promises, I have a friend, now a Pastor who visited farms in our South Island that were struggling with cattle aborting - Being a messianic Jew he stood with the farmers reminding God that such matters were a result of the curse of the law which was broken for us in Christ - and saw dramatic results.
This illustrates that being passive and even fatalistic can rob us of good outcomes in this life. We are raised up with Him in heavenly places in this life - but we act like poor servants.
Sorry this is a long post and may seem to be a ramble.
Just to be clear I am not advocating 'Name it Claim it" but Jesus wants us blessed according to His will and purpose and we can miss it through bad theology and unbelief.
