August 3 2014 Hope - The Inspiration Of The Church And Life

THE INSPIRATION OF THE CHURCH AND LIFE

Romans 15:1-13

The difference between faith and hope:

Faith: Tends to deal with the details of life.

Hope: Deals with the largeness of life itself.

Hope is a confident anticipation of good things to come with the corresponding effort to reach and attain them.

The Streams of Hope

1. The Dark Stream of Hope

Romans 15:4 – For everything was written to teach us, that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have hope.

2. The Light Stream of Hope

Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. The Bridge Between Endurance and Hope

Romans 15:4 – Through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 5:1-5

Perseverance means active endurance.

Psalm 33:18 – The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing peace.

• Hope comes from His character.

Hebrews 6:17-19 – Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath.  God did this, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope, an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

• Hope comes from His control.

2 Chronicles 16:9 – For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

The Substance of Hope

Vs. 13 – Fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.

The Supply of Hope

Vs. 13 – So that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• He gives us surviving power.
• He gives us reviving power.
• He gives us standing power.
• He gives us driving power.
• He gives us arriving power.

Are you looking for hope?  Then grab hold of the rope of Hope.  It is as strong as God’s character and as long as your faith.

February 23 2014 The Choice To Rejoice

The Choice To Rejoice 

Galatians 5:22 – The fruit of the Spirit is joy.

Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice always in the Lord. I will say it again rejoice.

Three Reasons to Rejoice

1. We have hope.

Romans 5:1-2 – Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access, by faith into this grace in which we now stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope.

2. God has a purpose.

Romans 5:3 – We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance.

Verse 4 – And perseverance character, and character, hope.

James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Verse 4 – Perseverance must finish its work, making you mature and complete, not lacking anything.

3. Understand God is with us.

Romans 5:11 - We all rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ who has made us good friends.

Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you, your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire you will not be burned.

Four Steps to Inner Joy

1. Develop the attitude of gratitude.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ.

Psalm 28:7 – My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

2. Strengthen joy by giving.

Acts 20:35 – It is more blessed to give than to receive.

2 Corinthians 9:7 – God loves a cheerful giver.

3. Increase joy through service.

Mark 8:35 – For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospels will save it.

Ephesians 6:7-8 – Serve whole heartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not man, because you know the Lord will reward everyone whatever good he does.

4. Learn to share Christ with others.

Luke 15:10 – There is rejoicing in heaven when a person comes to faith in Christ.

Romans 10:1 – How I wish with all my heart that my own people might be saved how I pray to God for them.

Jesus said – I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm, I will come to you.