The God of Hope

The God of Hope

Romans 15:13

Wednesday, December 26, 2007 Kenneth Bent

GT Church on the Rock

Beaumont, Texas

Kenneth Bent

Romans 15.13: (NASB)

13Now 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.

The word “fill” is in the Optative mood – a mood of wish or desire for the future – not many optatives in the NT compared to OT.

Work Backwards in the text:

1) All done by the power of the Holy Spirit

2) The Purpose is to abound in HOPE

3) Mechanics – This is Accomplished by being filled with all joy and peace through Faith (Believing)

4) Source: This all comes from the God of HOPE

How do we get this?

First, the God of hope.

To be in abundance of joy and peace we must be IN HOPE.

Hope: Elpis (Greek: elpiV) “a confident expectation”….Confidence in what isn’t seen…related to faith.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

1 Timothy 1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

1 Timothy 4:10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Second, the Word of Promise.

Hope (confident expectation) develops through Faith in the Word of God. No daily Word, not feeding Faith…No Hope!

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Faith in God and His Word PRECEDES the development of HOPE

Galatians 5:5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.

Hebrews 11:1 ¶ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

1 Cor. 13.13, 1 Thess 1.3, and 1Thess 5.8 – all group Hope with Faith and LOVE but in EACH OCCURANCE, FAITH IS MENTIONED FIRST!

Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

1 Peter 1:13 ¶ Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

We are Not to trust in things of the world…

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

We must not trust in ourselves:

2 Corinthians 1:8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

2 Corinthians 1:9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

Third, the Spirit of power.

Fullness includes Joy and Peace:

Ephesians 3:19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge— that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

True Joy and Peace only come thorough a vital, living relationship with God through Jesus Christ

John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Joy & Peace are fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Once you are filled with joy and peace in believing, you are able to help others:

Romans 15:14 ¶ I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

“competent to counsel” - putting proper things into the minds of others (nouthesia – gk)