"YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE" (Outline)
December 6, 2009 -
ADVENT 2 -
Romans 15:4-13
INTRO: One often associates the word hope with the future. Today’s verses describe the word hope as one of the present gifts God gives to every believer. Notice the words in our verses for today: endurance, encouragement, joy, peace, trust,, and hope. Believers know their future is certain. God would have every believer remember that hope is also God’s gift for us right now, today. "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints" (EPHESIANS 1:18). Pray the Lord God Almighty opens every eye and heart today to know, believe, confess, and live in God’s hope.
"YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE".
I. By the endurance in God’s word.
II. Be an encouragement for others.
I. "YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE" BY THE ENDURANCE IN GOD’S WORD
A. The believers in Rome were on the edge facing persecution at the hands of the government.
1 . Romans opened with encouragement for believers. All were saved by grace through faith.
2. Verse 4. Believers were encouraged by the truth of God’s word from the very beginning.
3. These believers would have hope as they endured in the truth of God’s word and promises.
B. Verse 5. Paul prays for these believers to be united. Their unity is found in following Christ.
1 . Verse 6. Following Christ to the end of their lives would bring them to praise God.
2. As they faced the lions and gladiators each believer endured with the hope they had in Christ.
C. Verse 7. Remember that in Rome Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians were worshiping together.
1. Two different nations, two different peoples now accepting of one another because of Christ.
2. Christ accepted these sinners into his kingdom as his brothers. They could also accept others.
3. Verse 8. The Savior of all mankind came as servant for all of mankind: God’s enduring truth.
D. Christ the King comes as a Servant. This is only one of the many miracles we celebrate at Christmas (and our entire lives). The King of kings gives up his throne of glory to be born in Bethlehem. The Creator comes to serve his creation. Why? Do we deserve saving? Hardly. Can we buy salvation? No. That is the point. We need the sinless sacrifice of the servant Jesus. God freely gives. God miraculously provides eternity. We have hope. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst" (1 TIMOTHY 1:15). Yes, we are the worst of sinners. Daily our minds are filled with evil thoughts. Wicked words flow from our mouths.
E. There is only place to put our hope. There is only one Person to provide us hope. We know ourselves fairly well. Time and again we put trust in our own plans. We hope all too often and all too much that our ways are better than God’s ways. The opposite is always, true. God’s ways are higher than man’s ways. Time and again we put our hope in the advice of experts or friends. Time and again their wisdom falls short or is even wrong. Our hopes are dashed. All worldly hopes always fall short. This is not the case with divine hope. "Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (ISAIAH 40:31).
F. Our hope grows and overflows through the endurance in God’s word. God’s word is the only truth that sets us free. God’s word reminds each sinner that only through the precious blood of Christ is there forgiveness. Hope overflows. In our society today hope is at a premium. The news constantly, only offers hopelessness and is filled with despair. As believers living in the light of Christ "you may overflow with hope!" This is exactly what our world desperately needs. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (COLOSSIANS 2:6,7). Thankfulness overflows with hope.
"YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE" by the endurance in God’ s word.
II. "YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE" to BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OTHERS
A. Endurance, encouragement, and hope: such are the gifts God gives to believers for life.
1. Verse 9. Jesus came to be the Savior of all nations. Jew and Gentiles praise God’s mercy.
2. Even the Gentiles, thought to be unclean and untouchable, belonged in God’s kingdom.
B. Verse 10. The Gentiles would rejoice in God’s salvation for them, along with (Jews) all believers.
1. Verse 11. The Gentiles would praise the Lord. All peoples, nations would praise the Lord.
2. Verse 12. The Gentiles (all nations) would have their hope in the Lord.
C. Verse 13. Here is Paul’s wish / prayer for these believers. Hope would bring joy, peace, and trust.
1. How often these believers would remember these words when facing the lions or gladiators.
2. Each believer was an encouragement to the next as they went to their certain deaths, for Christ.
D. "You may overflow with hope" is the encouragement discovered in the verses of today’s text for our Christian lives. Rejoice, be happy, live lives of praise to be an encouragement to others. God would have each of us do this daily. God would have us do this especially in these wicked, wicked days of darkness, despair, and hopelessness. The challenge for the believer is to have that light always point to God, not ourselves. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, mat they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (MATTHEW 5:16). May others praise God for your overflowing hope!
E. With lives of joy and thanksgiving and overflowing with hope others will be blessed. It is that time of year when some would try to take the Christ out of Christmas. They can try but it will not happen. In
the midst of this Christmas season our hope is to be evident to all. All too many get frustrated with the hustle and bustle of this season. All too many miss the joyous point of a humble King born in a sleepy town called Bethlehem. This is our joy our hope our reason for celebrating. This is the reason that our nation stands out among all of the nations in this world. "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy" (PSALM 126:2,3). You may overflow with hope. Do not be ashamed of God’s great blessings. Our lives are to be an encouragement.
F. At times it can take some effort to let our light shine. But this is what God expects. After all, our loving Lord has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light to declare his praises. In today’s world people are always watching the actions of others. Sadly, they often watch closely only to find fault. As believers we will want to overflow with hope. With hope as the centerpiece of our Christian lives people will notice. Eventually someone may even be encouraged to us why we have such hope in such a hopeless world. It is at that time that God has chosen us to glorify our heavenly Father. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 PETER 3:15). Overflow with hope!
CONC.: For the believer hope is truly God’s gift to us for today, the present. Hope is God’s gift not only for us but also for the benefit of others. Hope is God’s gift to us for others who think life is hopeless. "You may overflow with hope". Through the endurance in God’s word we fill our hearts and souls and lives with the hope God wants us to have. The hope God wants us to have brings us joy and peace for the benefit and encouragement of others. For there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with hope. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (ROMANS 5:5). "YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE". Endure in God’s word to know and value his truth. Be an encouragement for others. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
ADVENT 2 rdgs:
MALACHI 3:1-4;
PHILIPPIANS. 1:3-11;
LUKE 3:1-6; (PSALM 24)
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