Hope And Peace, A Call To Repentance, A Call To Return

2023.03.26.Sermon Notes. Hope and Peace – A CALL to REPENTANCE, A CALL to RETURN.

William Akehurst, HSWC

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:1-5; Hosea 6:1-3; James 1:2-4; James 1:12

Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 6:33; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17;

John 6:1–14; James 4:3; 1John 5:14-15; Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 4:7

DIVINE POWER IN US

Galatians 4:6 (NLT) And because we are HIS children, GOD has sent the SPIRIT of HIS SON into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

BIG IDEA: Hope and Peace. Because the love of GOD has been poured out in our hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT who was given to us by GOD. We Glory in tribulations. Tribulations>perseverance>character>hope>LOVE.

GOD allows us to go through “stuff”, unpleasant “stuff”, so that we will return to HIM and to Stand Stronger in HIM in our daily walk, developing into WHO HE has Called us to BE.

KEY POINTS (ROMANS 5:1-5)

JUSTIFIED by FAITH

PEACE with GOD through JESUS

ACCESS TO GRACE GRANTED THROUGH FAITH

HOPE for GOD’s GLORY brings JOY.

GLORY, (wonder and amazement) in the trials and TRIBULATIONS we experience.

Which produces PERSEVERANCE (dedication, determination, endurance, resolution) in us. Developing our CHARACTER (who we are, how we react and act, how we measure up and stand fast upon HIM).

Which leads to our HOPE (faith, believing, waiting, looking beyond today and toward a promised future).

To experience the LOVE of GOD toward us, that with that same LOVE, we might LOVE OTHERS.

GOD’s LOVE poured out in our hearts by HOLY SPIRIT whom HE, GOD, has placed in our hearts. Further confirming Galatians 4:6.

Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Illus. JESUS feeds the five thousand.

Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14

After JESUS preached and taught, the crowd was hungry. The disciples said to send them away, but JESUS told the disciples to feed them. Gathering the 5 loaves and 2 fishes, the 5000 were fed to their full.

JESUS fed them spiritual food of repentance, then HE took care of the physical need.

Isn’t that what JESUS said…

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

But with the feeding of the 5000, it was…

Not only what JESUS did,

But what JESUS allowed the disciples to do…

To feed the people, to give to others…

Out of GOD’s LOVE for all people. John 3:16-17

GOD is telling us to return to HIM, to seek HIM, HIS Righteousness, and HIS Kingdom first…then HE will provide everything else we need.

HE simply wants us to COME and RETURN to HIM.

A CALL TO REPENTANCE

Hosea 6:1-3

1 Come, and let us return to the LORD;

For He has torn, but He will heal us;

He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

2 After two days He will revive us;

On the third day He will raise us up,

That we may live in His sight.

3 Let us know,

Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.

His going forth is established as the morning;

He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

New Living Translation (NLT)

1 “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds.

2 In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.

3 Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”

THE LORD allows us to be broken down, so that we will return to HIM.

So that HE can rebuild us.

HE is the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me into YOUR WILL.

What HE has allowed to be torn, pruned off, etc. HE will heal

What HE has allowed to be wounded, broken, and injured, HE will bandage, bind up, clean up, and mend.

After 2 days in the tomb, JESUS rose from the dead on the 3rd day.

When we come back to the LORD, we too will be revived and raised from death to life through JESUS.