Our Overflowing Hope (Believing Hope)

Intro

Good morning. We are now on our 4th week for this 1st month of 2022 with the theme Believing Hope and most of us are still confined in our homes due to the restrictions our government imposed on this time of pandemic. Yet we still cling on to the hope that God will carry us through these situations in our nation and in our own personal lives.

But then, last week we were exhorted by our dear pastor that God is the Great I Am and that He has many names that we can claim and declare in our lives. Though this pandemic has brought us poverty, pain, problems and many more, yet God’s grace and mercy has been part of our lives in order to experience His hope. And not just hope, He see to it that we have…

Our Overflowing Hope Ang ating Nag-uumapaw na Pag-asa

Romans 15:4-13

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of Your name.” 10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol Him.” 12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in Him the Gentiles will hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Settings:

The Jewish Christians are on the verge of persecutions by the Romans themselves. We remember how barbaric the Romans were during those times of persecutions of every Christians where they were place in dungeons only to be fed to Lions. And Paul exhorted them to have the hope that they need in order to overcome their fear and that this hope can only be found from God Himself. Alongside with these Jewish Christians, the Gentile Christians were with them worshipping together in the temple. However, there were frictions between these 2 Christian groups were Paul exhorted them to be in unity so that they may experience an overflowing hope.

Our nation is on the same situation right now. We have many fellow citizens who have many indifferences in our principles especially in this pandemic situation. However, God is telling us to be united, to be in one accord and that is to experience His overflowing hope!

How to have our overflowing hope?

We need to…

1. Hear His Word – v4 Pakinggan natin ang Kanyang Salita

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

The only way to overcome fear is by faith and through His active and living Word in us. Apostle Paul said that the Scripture written in the past was to promote endurance and encouragement so that they may have an overflowing hope.

Likewise, he mentioned in his letter to Timothy about the purpose of the Word of God and that is why he mentioned to the Romans about the encouraging and enduring purpose of the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

John 21:25 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

What would be God’s purpose for not writing down all the works of God besides that this whole world would not be able to contain it? Because God believes that His written word is already enough to give us hope and power in order to sustain us while we live.

God’s Word is there for us in order to sustain us in every situation, every need, every longing. The Psalmist say in Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”