INTRODUCTION, Tomorrow is President’s Day, a day where we as a nation stop to reflect on the 43 men who have led our country as President. From George Washington to George W. Bush, each man has left a mark on the country.
Some have gained notoriety for their decisions, while others have been noted for their actions. Many were able to communicate a powerful message through their speeches.
q Men such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan were able to communicate their message as well as their leadership through the spoke word.
q But no man was more effective in communicating his vision then Abraham Lincoln. He was president during one of the darkest times in America – During our Civil War. In fact, he once said, Many times he was driven to his knees in prayer because he sensed it was the only place to go.
q Elton Trueblood, in his book, “Abraham Lincoln, A Spiritual Biography” said that faith of Lincoln was one of the greatest attributes, which helped him lead the country.
q Lincoln’s belief in God’s providential care was what gave him a hope the union would be saved. In fact in 1862, at his “State of the Union” address he spoke to congress about the hope he is saw in the country. Realizing the nation had to become more aggressive if there was going to be a union – he spoke to congress about the need to spend more money and to bring the war to a close.
q In that speech he made this quote – “GENTLEMEN, THE TIME HAS COME WE WILL EITHER VALIANTLY LOSE OR NOBLY WIN THE LAST GREAT HOPE OF EARTH”
q AS a result of the speech congress appropriated more funds, called more men into service and within 2 years victory was secure. WHY?
q THE LAST GREAT HOPE OF EARTH.
Hope is an interesting word. Allan K. Chalmers – The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. Hope is a fascinating word. It is a positive word it is active word, it is a word for dreamers – AND FOR THE CHRISTIAN, HOPE IS AN ETERNAL WORD
We are in a series entitled God’s Treasures. We are looking at the precious treasures from God found in the 8th chapter of Romans.
q Forgiveness – No Condemnation
q The Holy Spirit – The one who dwells in our life
q TODAY – We will see the 3rd treasure – OUR ETERNAL HOPE.
READ TEXT ROMANS 8:18 – 27
There is not a person in the room who does not need hope
q Bodies are failing because of disease – HOPE
q Decisions have been made which have brought consequences – HOPE
q Fears are before us – HOPE
q Your Future is uncertain – HOPE
q Your situation may seem overwhelming – HOPE
q Your faith may be weak – HOPE
This morning Paul gives us 3 reasons why believers have hope.
1. We have hope because of creation’s anticipation
Before we can look at the creations anticipation we must understand the context of our hope. In vs. 1 Paul writes, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
q Present sufferings – What was happening in Rom in 57 ad, which brought Christians suffering?
q 8 years before Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome – Many Jews were Christians and so as result of the Jews being removed from Rome so were many Christians.
q The expulsion forced them to sell their property and leave their homes and businesses. They became nomads in the Roman Empire.
q But in 56 ad, they were allowed to return to Rome, unfortunately many were destitute, for many the only job available was that of a servant to Roman Pagan, who did not share the values of the Christians. FELT HOPELESS
q They also suffered for their faith – NOT BUY THE ROMANS – But by the Jews who refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah.
q So with their material world in disarray and their Christian faith questioned they indeed were experiencing suffering
q Paul says our suffering does not compare – COMPARE – Paul uses a banking word; much like an accountant uses debits and credits. Debit side may look dark – But the credit side – there is no comparison. TO THE GLORY THAT WILL BE REVEALED.
q How do we know?
2. Creation anticipates the revealing of the sons of God
a. Currently creation groans because of sin.
When Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God’s command, not only mankind but also the earth and all the rest of the world was cursed and corrupted. After the Fall, God said to Adam, because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, “You shall not eat from it”; cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. (Gen. 3:17–19)
Before the Fall, no weeds or poisonous plants, no thorns or thistles or anything else existed that could cause man misery or harm. But after the Fall, the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it.
Decay, disease, pain, death, natural disaster, pollution, and all other forms of evil will never cease until the One who sent the curse removes it and creates a new heaven and a new earth
b. The creation does not simply groan hopelessly, rather creation has an eager anticipation. Something better is coming.
2 Pet 3:13, But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Rev 21:1-4
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
3. Not only is there anticipation from creation – there is eager expectation from us.
Rom 8:23-25
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
a. The “First fruits of the spirit”
As Christians we are aware of the sinful nature of this world and are spirit sensitive, that is the spirit dwells in us, John 16:8, When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
b. As long as we are in this body we are prone to the spiritual struggle. Because we have the spirit we are not in bondage to sin, but as long as we live in this life we must be mindful of our struggle with sin.
c. Our hope is found in verse 23 we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Paul is saying there was a point when you were saved “Received the first fruits”, but there is another point a future time where you will be saved – adopted into the family, with all the rights and privileges of a son – the redemption of our bodies.
d. Redeemed – to bought with a price – Because we are bought with a price our bodies will be changed – Listen to the words of 1 Corinthians 15:51-58
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
THERE IS OUR HOPE
What a wonderful salvation we share as believers in Christ…
q Because of our salvation we are free from the penalty of sin, because Christ died for us
q Because of our salvation we are free from the power of sin, because we died to Christ in our baptism
q Because of our salvation we someday will be free from the presence of sin, when we are delivered from this world – that is our hope!
3. Yet there is one more reason for our hope.
THE SPIRIT’S SUPPLICATION Read verses 26-27:
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
This is the message of hope – Prayer is the cornerstone of communication with God
Jer 33:3, ’Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Ps 116:1-2, I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
BUT ACCORDING TO THESE VERSES, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO PRAY
q Devastated by a loss
q Confused about a direction
q Distraught or we feel the situation is hopeless.
Note the work of the Spirit
a. The Spirit intercedes for us – When we do not know what to say or how to pray, Because of our humanness, and our openness to sin and doubt the Spirit comes along side us and prays for us. This gives us hope, for even when we cannot pray to God there is one who will intercede for us.
b. Groaning which cannot be uttered (lit. unspeakable) – this is not a vocal language to the human ear, but rather communication between God and the Holy Spirit. This groaning can best be described as the divine language for our spiritual welfare.
c. He prays in accordance to the will of God. – There are no mixed motives, no hidden agendas. Paul says when you do not know what to pray – there is one who will pray for you and he always prays in God’s will.
This is our Hope
q Bodies are failing because of disease – HOPE
q Decisions have been made which have brought consequences – HOPE
q Fears are before us – HOPE
q Your Future is uncertain – HOPE
q Your situation may seem overwhelming – HOPE
q Your faith may be weak – HOPE
All Creation waits in anticipation
All Believers look forward in eager expectation
And when we are not able to talk with God The Spirit makes Supplication.
THERE IS OUR HOPE.
Someone has defined hope with the acrostic – HE OFFERS PEACE EVERLASTING
But without that hope there is no peace
Just as hope is a beautiful word for the believer there is a word which is tragic to the unbeliever – HOPELESS
Friends we either have an ENDLESS HOPE OR A HOPELESS END
Today decide
You can leave here today with Hope.
