Text: Romans 15:1-6
Introduction: While hunting, Larry and Elmer got lost in the woods. Trying to reassure his friend, Larry said, "Don’t worry. All we have to do is shoot into the air 3 times, stay where we are, and someone will find us." They shot in the air 3 times, but no one came. After a while, they tried again. Still no response. When they decided to try once more, Elmer said, "I hope it works this time. We’re down to our last 3 arrows." APPLICATION: Larry and Elmer were putting their hope in the advice of others, even though they did not understand that that advice did not apply to shooting arrows.
People in difficult circumstances often rely on advice of friends, neighbors, and experts. Just like Larry & Elmer, they will listen to others, placing their hope in the wisdom and experience of those they trust.
Hope is vital - in fact, it is critical - for our every day survival in life. God understands that.
Romans 15:4 (NASB) 4For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
God’s kind of "hope" could best be described as an attitude of confidence, expectation, and trust.
Job 6:11-13 (AMP) 11What strength have I left, that I should wait and hope? And what is ahead of me, that I should be patient? 12Is my strength and endurance that of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze? 13Is it not that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom is quite driven from me?
Job was saying that if he had Godly hope, he would be confident and he would live expecting good things to happen. Without hope, people huddle up in the corner and die.
Hebrews 6:17-20 (NASB) 17In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Our hope, as Christians, is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ. 1st Corinthians 13 tells us that one of the three greatest gifts that God gives us is hope. Hope is a valuable gift from God. Let us examine how we can get that kind of Hope.
I. We gain hope by perseverance.
A. Romans 15:4 (NASB) 4For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
B. It is God’s good pleasure to give us the desire of our hearts.
1. However, it is God’s practice not to always give us what we want when we want it.
2. Thus, we learn to wait upon God and learn perseverance.
C. Why would God delay fulfilling that which we hope for?
1. One possible reason would be so that we would gain "appreciation" for what He gives when it arrives.
2. For example, when God created Adam, He did not immediately give him Eve.
3. Genesis 2:18 (NASB) 18Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."
4. Then, almost inexplicably, God asks Adam to name all the animals.
5. What?
6. Couldn’t God figure out names for all these creatures?
7. Sure, He could.
8. But God wanted Adam to see and review all the rest of creation BEFORE Eve was taken from his side.
9. Thus, when Adam first sets his eyes on Eve, he declares: Genesis 2:23 (NASB) 23The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
10. God delayed in creating Eve, so that Adam would fully understand and appreciate the value of that he was to receive.
11. Another possibility for God delaying that which we hope for would be our need for purification and strengthening.
12. Romans 5:1-5 (NASB) 1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
13. God’s delays serve to prepare us to handle the responsibilities of our desires and the gifts we receive from God.
14. Many of the things we desire in this life - we are not ready to handle yet.
15. We are not mature enough.
II. Another way to gain God’s kind of Hope is through the encouragement of Scripture.
A. Romans 15:4 (NASB) 4For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
B. Psalm 119:43 (NASB) 43And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I wait for Your ordinances.
C. Psalm 119:81 (NASB) 81My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
D. Psalm 119:114 (NASB) 114You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.
E. Psalm 119:147 (NASB) 147I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.
F. Not only can we hope in His word, but we can obtain hope from His word.
G. There is a Principle that is repeated regularly throughout scripture.
H. It is a description of how almost all the great lives of God’s people went through a 3 stage process.
1. First, there was a vision given of great potential.
2. One man described this as "the birth of a vision."
3. Next, the vision, the hope that was placed in the future of their hope, was destroyed (the death of the vision).
4. Lastly, their was the fulfillment of the original vision.
5. Consider the promise Abraham received that he and his wife would have a son.
6. Abraham believed the promise originally, but when God visited him on the plains of Mamre, Genesis 18:11 tells us "Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing."
7. 9 months later, Isaac was born in fulfillment of the vision.
8. At the age of 17, Joseph received a vision that prophesied he would be a man of greatness.
9. Almost immediately, his brothers began to hate him, and when the opportunity arose - they sought to kill him and ended up selling him into slavery.
10. Later, when his brothers were reunited with him, Joseph calmed their fears that he would seek revenge by saying: "you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."
11. At a very young age, David was given the promise of Kingship by Samuel.
12. Nevertheless, once he was introduced to Saul - when he came close to the throne he had been promised - he spent the next several years running and in exile from a man who sought to kill him.
13. However, in due time, God came through on His promise.
14. In addition, of course, there is the story of Jesus who came to become the King of Israel.
15. However, rejected by the people and plotted against by their leaders, He suffered and died a terrible death.
16. Three days later, everything changed, and the promise was fulfilled.
17. So, we attain God’s kind of Hope by Endurance, by the Encouragement of Scripture… and lastly
III. We attain God’s Hope by true servant hood.
A. Romans 15:1-3 (NASB) 1Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 3For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME."
B. Do you remember what the Disciples always seemed to be arguing about?
1. Who is the greatest?
2. Luke 22:24-27 (NASB) 24And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ’Benefactors.’ 26"But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27"For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? However, I am among you as the one who serves.
C. Servant hood is God’s way of making us great.
D. That is because God created us to be happiest, and most fulfilled, and most at peace, when we learn to serve others.
Illustration: In the town of Port Hope, Canada there is a monument erected, not for the leading citizen who just died, but for a poor, unselfish working person who gave most of his life and energy to help those who could not repay him. Joseph Scriven was born in Dublin in 1820. In his youth, he had the prospect of a great citizen with high ideals and great aspirations. He was engaged to a beautiful young woman who had promised to share his dream, but on the eve of their wedding, her body was pulled from a pond into which she had accidentally fallen and drowned. Young Scriven never overcame the shock. Although highly educated and ready to embark on a brilliant career, he began to wander to try to forget his sorrow. His wanderings took him to Canada where he spent the last forty-one of his sixty-years. He became a very devout Christian. His beliefs led him to do servile labor for poor widows and sick people. He often served for no wages. It was not known that Mr. Scriven had any poetic gifts until a short time before his death. A friend, who was sitting with him in an illness, discovered a poem he had written to his mother in a time of sorrow; not intending that anyone else should see it. His poem was later set to music and has become a much loved Hymn of the Church. It is said to be the first song that many missionaries teach their converts. In polls taken to determine the popularity of hymns and Gospel songs, his poem set to music is always near the top. What was his poem? What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer. Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear; All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.
Conclusion: Romans 15:13 (NASB) 13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Key - to true Hope is to focus on God.
