Overflowing Hope
God helps us live in hope through His word (v. 15:4)
God helps us live in hope through His Church (v. 15:5-11)
God gives us hope through His Son (v. 5:12)
God gives us overflowing hope through His Spirit (v. 15:13)
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Hope.
Where is your hope?
There are probably some of you here today that have come and you aren’t feeling a lot of hope in your life right now.
Maybe you don’t even know why you came to church today because what is the point.
Nothing is changing. Life is bad, and it isn’t changing and you feel there is no hope.
Maybe you have had your hope in things that let you down.
Maybe you have had your hope in the wrong things.
Maybe you have had your hope in God, but what you expected God to do, didn’t happen.
Where is your hope?
Maybe you have lost hope or are afraid to put your hope in anything for fear of being disappointed.
Well, today, I want to give you hope and help you to live in hope because hope is absolutely essential for life and for living.
Wharf rats drowning illustration
I read about this experiment that some behavioral scientists did once with some rats.
These behavioral Scientists put some Wharf Rats in a tank of water, and observed them to see how long they would survive before drowning. The average time was 17 minutes. Then, they repeated the experiment, but this time they "rescued" the rats just before the point of drowning, dried them off and returned them to their cages, fed them, and let them play for a few days, and repeated the drowning experiment.
This time, the average survival time for these rats increased from 17 minutes to 36 hours! The scientists explained that phenomenon by pointing out that the second time around, the rats had HOPE. They believed that they could survive this, because they had done so before.
Hope is essential to life.
Hope is essential to living. Living with hope can truly change things going forward.
And that is not just true for Rats!
Eugene Lang gave hope
Self-made millionaire, Eugene Lang, who had received some help to go to college, wanted to be able to help those who were like him, coming from underprivileged backgrounds.
When he was giving the commencement speech to those graduating 6th grade at PS121 in East Harlem, the same school he had attended years earlier, “he promised the 62 graduates that he would help finance the higher education of any in the group who stayed in school and finished high school and wanted to continue on to college.
At that time, the high school they would be attending had a dropout rate of 60% and on average only 2 students from PS 121 went on to college. That is about 3%.
This was in in 1981. By 1985, when these kids were in their sophomore year, all 62 were still in school. It turns out that 90% of them graduated high school and 70% went on to college with half of those completing a degree!
http://www.beyondphilanthropy.org/reviews/wise_givers_eugene_lang
What explains the change?
Those kids now had hope for a different life.
Before, it seemed they had no hope at all.
They could graduate High School, but then what?
To the streets?
To drugs?
To dealing?
Before, they did not experience any hope that things could be different.
But now they had hope and that hope helped them to live a better life in the present in hopes of an even better life in the future.
Hope.
Sometimes it is tough to have hope.
There are so many things that are seeking to rob us of hope.
An economy that continues to sputter
Maybe it is a relationship that is difficult
Maybe it is an illness or continued illness in your family
Maybe it is struggling through some difficult financial situations
Satan will seek to use many poor circumstances to try and rob us of hope.
How do we live in Hope?
So how do we live in hope, even when we are facing struggles in life?
How do we live in hope, when we don’t have a Eugene Lang around?
Well, we have something better than a Eugene Lang.
We have Jesus Christ, and He has offered us hope not just for a college education, but for eternity!
1 Peter 1:3-4
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In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you.
Now that is awesome. We have that when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior by believing in Him.
The most famous verse of the Bible is John 3:16
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Jesus tells us
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
We have this eternal life not based on what we do, but solely based upon our belief in and receiving of Jesus Christ.
But how do we live in this hope when our circumstances are so bad?
Well, Eugene Lang found that even though he promised these kids a college education and that was helpful and provided hope, he also put in place a few other things to help them live in that hope.
According to the website that gives the history of Lang’s foundation, it says
“As he got to know his "Dreamers," Lang realized they needed more help than he could give all 61 of them on his own. He hired a full-time Program Coordinator, Johnny Rivera, and enlisted the support of a local community-based organization to provide services and support to the children through high school graduation. At the same time, he maintained close personal relationships with all the Dreamers.”
http://www.ihaveadreamfoundation.org/html/history.htm
Eugene Lang may not have known it, but he took a play right out of the Bible in helping those kids live in the hope he had provided, but giving them support to help them continue to live in that hope.
Transition
While Jesus Christ has provided us with the hope of eternity through his death and resurrection from the dead, he has provided us with support to live in that hope as we endure the struggles of life.
What is that support that He has given us to help us live in hope?
Turn with me to Romans 15:4-13
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We are continuing on in our New Testament Challenge series as we look at what the New Testament says about hope and how we can live in it.
In our text today, Paul is writing to the church at Rome and he is encouraging the church amid some struggles they were having relationally as the church was reaching more people and different kinds of people from different backgrounds with different cultures.
The church began largely as a Jewish sect, but now Gentiles were coming into the church and people were struggling with different ways of doing things and different cultural practices and these relational challenges were robbing the church of their hope. They were so focused on the problems, that they were not experiencing hope.
Let’s read what Paul writes to the church beginning in Romans 15:4
Romans 15:4-13
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth 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, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name."
10 Again, it says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."
11 And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples."
12 And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."
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.
Pray
In the verses we just read, Paul writes to encourage the Christians in Rome who are discouraged by some of the changes and relational challenges that are going on in the church and even though they have the hope of eternity, so Paul reminds them of some things they have to help them live in hope.
In verse 4, we see that
God helps us live in hope through His word
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Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
It is through reading God’s word, that we see and are taught about how God has been faithful to His people, even amid difficult circumstances.
It is through reading his word that our circumstances don’t necessarily change, but that he gives us strength and encouragement to stand in the hope that we have.
Earlier in the letter to the Romans, Paul writes
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Romans 5:2-5
we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us,
As we receive the encouragement of his word, we are strengthened to stand and persevere amid suffering, even to rejoice in the midst of it.
Through His word, we are reminded of His promises.
Through His word, we are told of His faithfulness to the generations of old.
Through His word, we can be encouraged to live in hope, rejoicing in our sufferings.
But to continue in the hope we have, you must be in His word.
This world teaches that we don’t need God or his word. Instead we can grow in wisdom and knowledge of this world and that is what will give us hope.
Debate – Evolution vs. Creation
On Tuesday I had the opportunity to watch a debate on evolution vs. Creationism.
It amazes me that people can be so opposite in their interpretation and understanding of the same evidence that is presented. Sometimes it is so baffling that it is discouraging.
Well, the next day, on Wednesday, Our New Testament Challenge readings were Romans 1-3.
And God used his word on that day to again remind me and encourage me.
Romans 1:21-22 spoke to me that morning.
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21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…
There will be people in this world who reject God and they may claim to be wise in the eyes of themselves and the world relying on their own abilities to interpret things apart from God, and they may think those who believe in God are foolish, but it is really their hearts that have been darkened and their thinking which has become futile because of their rejection of God.
God has revealed Himself clearly through creation and our consciences and the reminder of his word encourages me and helps me to stand with my hope secure in Him!
Transition
God helps us live in hope through his word, but also,
God helps us live in hope through His Church (v. 15:5-11)
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Romans 15:5-11
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth 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, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name."
10 Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."
11 And again,"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples."
Paul talks about having a spirit of unity and accepting one another.
As we do that in the church,
as we love one another,
as we accept people who are different than us,
as we praise God together for his mercy and love for us,
we build relationships that help us to stay focused, be encouraged, and have hope.
Now there is always a challenge in accepting people as the Lord accepts us.
Sometimes we confuse being accepting with condoning sin.
The Jewish Christians were struggling with the Gentile Christians about what they had to do to be part of the church.
Did they have to get circumcised?
Did they have to adhere to the dietary laws?
If they didn’t, could they really be part of the community of faith?
All of these differences could destroy the church and the building up of the believers in hope.
But Paul tells the Jewish Christians that God has always declared that He would bring the Gentiles to faith.
And Paul quotes from the Historical books, the law, the writings and the prophets to make his point to the Jewish Christians that God’s plan was always to include the Gentiles so they should accept them too.
Application
How does this apply for us today?
God’s desire is that all people come to a knowledge of the truth and to repentance, even people that aren’t just like us.
The church is made up of all kinds of different people and we need to accept people with their differences and be in unity with them.
This doesn’t mean that sin is condoned. It does mean that we have a clear understanding between what is sin and what is preference and what brings glory to God and what doesn’t.
It also means that those of us who are mature, in unity and love, walk alongside those who are sinners, recognizing that we too are sinners and that we grow in unity together.
Church is not about us or others, but about God
So often we are looking for what we are going to get out of church in regards to the teaching and the musical worship experience. Church is about us worshiping and glorifying God. It just so happens that as we do that, He works in us to keep changing us.
I think there comes a time in our lives when we are going to be learning little new information, but it is still very important to be part of the church and the fellowship of believers because God uses the church, his bride, and the relationships among His people to bring hope and encouragement.
Don’t let differences in people, or that people are not just like you, be the cause for not being part of the fellowship of the church, because one of the ways that God helps strengthen you and keep you standing strong in hope is through the church and the fellowship of His people.
The author of Hebrews says
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Hebrews 10:23-25
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Transition
So God helps us through His word and through His church, to remind us of the hope we have, but we must remember that our hope is only found in His Son
God gives us hope through His Son (v. 5:12)
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Romans 15:12
"The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."
Our hope, our only hope, is through Jesus Christ.
Paul tells Titus
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Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
While our blessed hope is yet future, we can live in that hope and it affects how we live and how we experience life, only because of what Christ has done for us.
As I read at the beginning of this message,
1 Peter 1:3-4
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In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you.
The hope we have for the future and the hope we live in is solely because of Christ and His payment for our sins through his death and resurrection.
In Christ alone our hope is found!
But even though our hope is found only in Christ,
God gives us Overflowing Hope through His Spirit (v. 15:13)
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Romans 15:13
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.
It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that those who trust in Jesus have, that our hope cannot just help us endure, but that it can overflow from our lives and we can thrive with that overflowing hope!
Well, isn’t overflowing hope a waste of hope?
I mean if we overflow our gas tanks or a glass of milk, it makes a big mess.
Isn’t overflowing hope a waste?
No, not in this case.
As the Holy Spirit fills you with hope as you grow in faith through the word, through the fellowship of the church, through having your eyes fixed on Christ and the salvation He has given you now along with the inheritance that can never perish spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you, that hope you have overflows so that it can spill on to others.
As you interact with others in this world and
live in the hope that you have, and
speak to them of the hope that you have
it overflows so that they want what you have!
As you endure and persevere through difficult circumstances with the hope of Glory, people see that and want what you have even if that means their circumstances are not great.
That is because hope is essential to life and to living.
If you have great circumstances in life but no hope, you really won’t be living.
All we have to do is look at so many famous people who would seem to have all kinds of great circumstances, but struggle with life and living.
Live in the hope that Christ gives and overflow in that hope through the power of the Holy Spirit to see others come to trust in Christ through God’s work in and through you.
When you are living in that hope, and it is used to lead others to that hope in Christ, it will continue to overflow in you and strengthen you so that even in the trials and challenges and sufferings of this world, you can continue to live in hope and have that hope overflow.
Conclusion
Do you have hope today? Is your hope overflowing?
Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior?
If not, then that is the step into hope you need to take.
But if you have trusted him, and are not experiencing the hope He gives, then maybe you are not taking advantage of the things he has given us to help us live in that hope.
Get in His word.
Connect to the church, the body, in real relationships, through small groups and Bible studies and serving.
And as God pours out that hope in you, share that and experience the overflowing hope of the Holy Spirit as He uses you and continues to use you to serve His kingdom!
Let’s pray.
