Chico Alliance Church
April 21, 2002
Pastor David Welch
Title slide
“Navigating Turbulent Times”
Romans 12:12
Review
I. Receive God’s gift of righteousness 1-5
II. Apply God’s gift of righteousness 6-8
III. Understand God’s gift of righteousness in relations to Israel 9-11
IV. Live God’s gift of righteousness 12-15
A. Think and live wisely 12:1-2
B. Think and live wisely concerning the body 12:3-8
C. Think and live persistently and passionately for God’s purpose 12:11
D. Think and live wisely through turbulent times 12:12
Mankind continually tries to rebuild Eden. We work for that utopian environment of pleasure, peace and prosperity. The problem is that we try to reestablish Eden on our own terms. We try to reverse the curse with science or medicine or industry or technology. The truth is, in spite of all our technology and education; man’s basic nature continues to deteriorate the further from God’s ways we drift. We live in a fallen world that will only get worse until Jesus returns to establish His righteous kingdom on earth.
Since the fall of Adam we continue to see evil and pain and calamity in our communities and around the world through the media.
We struggle with doubt and mystery, fear and worry, depression and anxiety, the schemes and onslaught of the enemy, the limitations of physical decay and aging and the prospect of death and the process of dying.
It is unmistakable! We are all touched in some way by these turbulent times.
Jeremiah lamented the turbulence of his times.
My soul has been rejected from peace; I have forgotten happiness.
So I say, "My strength has perished, and so has my hope from the LORD."
Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
How do we stop this runaway train of evil? These are all the things that God said would happen when His creatures reject Him. Just read Deuteronomy 28.
“Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart for the abundance of all things” vs47
We may think that we live in turbulent times now because of recent events. But these things and worse have plagued the world from the day sin entered human history.
Why is there so much pain and evil. We live in a world under the curse of sin and death.
The consequences of sin bring more sin, more pain, and more devastation. Since only Jesus will one day eliminate the presence of evil and pain in our world, we are left to somehow navigate the turbulence and try to survive. Paul addresses this subject in his list of areas requiring renewed thinking leading to transformed living.
Focus on future hope while patiently enduring present problems and continually conversing with God on behalf of ourselves and others.
Rather than lamenting in despair, Paul calls us to rejoice in hope.
Rather than escape, Paul calls us to endure tribulation.
Rather than neglect prayer Paul urges us to persist in prayer.
These are just three of many adjustments to our thinking and living that must be made if we are to successfully navigate turbulent times.
1. Regarding hope - rejoicing
To navigate turbulent times we must maintain a healthy view of the future; eternity. Paul here calls it hope.
What is hope?
Biblical hope is not a complicated concept. It is very close to trust and faith. It describes a sure and settled expectation regarding something or someone.
Expectation, confidence, sense of assurance
The Biblical concept of hope is much stronger than our English usage of the word.
We may hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow. We may hope the Mariners win the World Series. We may hope that our marriage holds together. We may hope we don’t get sick. The degree of certainty of these things can be very low. Because the object of our hope depends on unpredictable weather patterns and frail human effort, our hope for these things is really only a strong desire or wish.
Just as faith is only as good as its object, so hope is only as sure as its object. Confidence in an object or person may increase or decrease with time and experience. We can be fairly certain that it will rain around the 4th of July. We can be certain the sun will come up and go down each day. We can even be certain that our marriage will last given 50 years of experience. Biblical hope focuses on future certainty and a reliable expectation based on the promises of a faithful God who because of His power and character and love for us, cannot fail.
? It is a living hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 1:3-5
Because Christ rose format he dead and presently lives in us, our expectation of life beyond the grave is even more certain.
? It is a steadfast and sure anchor connected to eternity by Christ.
In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so 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. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, Heb 6:17-19
What is the source or basis of Biblical hope?
False basis for hope
Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. Psalm 62:10
A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 1 Tim. 6:17
Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
"For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. Jeremiah 17:5-6
Biblical basis for hope
? Our hope is centered in the Godhead.
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.
The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.
It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD. Lament. 3:17-26
In His name (Jesus) the Gentiles will hope. Matt 12:21
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. Psalm 130:5
O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. Psalm 130:7
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 2 Cor. 1:8-11
Through Christ we are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:21
God willed to make known to us what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.' Jer 29:11-14
Paul prayed for the Thessalonians
constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 1 Thes. 1:3
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, 1 Tim. 1:1
In the midst of devastation, Isaiah called Israel to “Behold your God.” The more we look at Christ the greater the hope.
? The truth of the Scriptures and promises of God produce hope
For 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. Romans 15:4
We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. Col. 1:3-8
In the Scripture we gain an understanding of the promises of God. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would…“Know the hope of your calling” Eph 1
? The power of the indwelling Spirit stimulates hope
Now 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. Romans 15:13
? Endurance leads to intensified hope
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12
Not only does hope motivate endurance but endurance intensifies hope
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about endurance; and endurance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and 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. Romans 5:3-5
? Prayer generates hope in us and others
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, Ephes. 1:18-22
? Realization of God’s grace
O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. Psalm 130:7
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. 2 Thes. 2:16-17
Paul endured a thorn in the flesh by realizing the sufficiency of God’s grace.
What can we expect or anticipate (hope) from God and why?
All creation has hope.
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21
Israel has hope.
Believing Gentiles have hope
The unbeliever has no future hope.
remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephes. 2:12
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 1 Thes. 4:13
The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked perishes. Proverbs 10:28
When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of strong men perishes. Proverbs 11:7
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always.
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:17-18
? Hope of eternal life and inheritance
Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior, Titus 1:1-3
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
? Hope of future grace and glory
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13
For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. 2 Cor. 3:10-13
through 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. Romans 5:2
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 1 Thes. 5:8
For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness... Galatians 5:5
Every believer will become like Jesus. That is a rock solid expectation for those in Christ.
He who began a good work will complete it at the day of Christ Jesus. Jesus left to prepare a wonderful place for all believers. For now, we face tribulation and struggle and weakness and pain and evil at its worst. God promises a future to the one who trusts and hopes in the Lord. Don’t loose heart. Every believer can count on a certain future; eternal life, everlasting bliss. No pain and suffering, perfect relationships, ideal community, sinlessness, peace, joy, love, meaning, purpose, adequacy, health, unbroken restored fellowship with God. Nothing we do in Christ’s name will go unnoticed. God works all things for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Everything good we desire here is a sure expectation for the future through the work of Jesus Christ. Without a Biblical perspective and hope for the future, we cannot survive the present hell.
Some things can only make sense in light of their eternal value. Since renewed thinking regarding the future should result in transformed living. What should we do with this blessed hope?
How should we respond to a proper perception of future expectations?
? Rejoice
rejoicing in hopeRomans 12:12
and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2
The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked perishes. Proverbs 10:28
How blessed(happy) is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Psalm 146:5
Understanding our firm heavenly future should generate and internal joy that shouts to be expressed. Rejoicing is the external expression of internal joy. Future hope is why we can count every circumstance as joy, knowing that even the worst of conditions is inseparably linked to the future eternal glory.
? Walk in purity and passion in the present
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11-14
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3
For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 1 Tim. 4:10
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26
? Wait patiently
The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God.
For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. Psa 9:17-18
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. Psalm 130:5
? Take hold of and hold fast to your hope with courage and strength
But as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. Psalm 71:14
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24
but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. Hebrews 3:6
In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so 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. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, Heb 6:17-19
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; Hebrews 10:23
constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 1 Thes. 1:3
? Keep Looking for Christ
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11-14
Fix your eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of faith and fulfiller of every hope.
? Be prepared to give an account of the hope within.
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you,
yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 1 Peter 3:14-16
Application
Have you lost sight of the future? Are you so absorbed in the trials of the present that you can’t see the future or the future provides no motivation. Like Jeremiah the circumstances drag us into depression? Depression comes from and overwhelming sense of helplessness and hopelessness in life. Have you lost hope? The storm won’t last forever.
Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:4-5
Where does your hope lie? What are you sure about this morning? Will my relationship with God ever improve? Is God even listening or does he care? Does God even exist?
Will I ever really be free? Will my health ever improve? Will I ever make significant impact on this earth? Is it too late for me? Will God accept me? Will Chico ever be full again? Will Chico ever impact our community for Christ?
Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:27-31
Don’t lose heart in doing good. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Look to the heavenly city made without hands. Behold your God. Hope in God.
A Spirit inspired hope can restore a Biblical perspective on your life.
Saturate yourselves in the Scriptures.
Cry out for the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Endure the present.
Pray
Rest in His grace and goodness.
Then…
Rejoice
Walk in purity and passion
Wait patiently
Hold fast
Keeping looking for Jesus
Be prepared to share with others
How do we navigate these troubled times in which we live?
Focus on future hope while patiently enduring present problems and continually conversing with God on behalf of ourselves and others.
Next week we will explore the enduring and the praying aspect of navigating turbulence.
Blessing for Chico
May those who feel helpless and hopeless find abundant hope and sufficient help as you come to the throne of grace that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need!
May God give us a clear and compelling vision of our future hope that dramatically impacts how we live and everything we do in the present!
May God who has plans for our welfare and not our calamity encourage us through the Scriptures and enable us to endure that we might have hope.
Now may the God of hope fill us to overflowing with all joy and peace in believing, so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
