Rejoicing In Hope - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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Rejoicing In Hope

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Intro: The Book of Romans is a rich book with a wealth of truths and doctrines.

·        Chapters 1-8 deal with Doctrine.

·        Chapters 9-11 deal with Dispensations.

·        Chapter 12-16 deals with Duty.

The first part of the book explains the Privileges of Grace; the last portion the Practices of Grace.

The first part taught us our Position as a believer; the last part teaches us our Disposition.

After we learned who we ARE; then we are taught what do DO.

One author stated that Romans 12 is shoe-leather Christianity.

This portion of the Scripture is filled with imperative statements.

The understood subject is YOU.

Starting in verse 9, believe I have counted almost 30 specific commands.

A. The Affirmation of Hope

One of the greatest things that separates the believer from the unbeliever is the HOPE that we have.

Before we got saved, we were WITHOUT HOPE.

·        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:

·        1 Thessalonians 4:13 …sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Hebrews 6

·        18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

·        19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

B. The Appreciation of Hope

REJOICE: to rejoice, be glad; to rejoice exceedingly

REJOICING: continual

·        Not we have rejoiced.

·        Not we will rejoice.

·        Not we might rejoice.

But REJOICING – continual…

There is a constant rejoicing in the hope that we have as Christians.

It never gets old.

We never take it for granted.

We cannot allow the devil to rob us of the blessing and joy of THE HOPE that God has given us.

The Apostle Paul prayed for God’s people to ABOUND in HOPE.

·        Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

               C. The Anticipation of Hope

Your current situation might not warrant rejoicing; but what we have in store for us certainly does!

·        If what God has done for you in the past doesn’t excite you… and it should!

·        If what God is doing for you now doesn’t fire you up… and it should!

·        If all that you’ve experienced in your Christian life doesn’t put a spring in your step…

Just thinking about what the future holds should fill your mouth with praise and rejoicing!

We have so many things to rejoice in hope about, that it is almost impossible to list them all.

We do not just have hope in one area of life, or in one thing.

We have many areas to have hope.

The life of the believer should be abounding in hope!

Rejoicing in Hope of…

I. The Consolation of the Soul

No matter what you’re going through, or how bad it gets, God has promised to be there to help you.

·        Psalms 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

·        Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

·        Psalms 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 31

·        23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

·        24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 33

·        18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

·        19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

·        20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

·        21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

·        22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Rejoicing in Hope of…

II. The Culmination of the Sowing

Psalm 126

·        5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

·        6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The command of God gave the believer to sow seed can sometimes be discouraging.

The response of some people might make you second-guess the effort to witness.

You may pray for people and witness to people for years without seeing much happen.

But the Bible is clear – if we will be faithful to sow the seed, God will bring forth the increase.

Paul the Apostle testified of this to the church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 3

·        6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

·        7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

·        8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Galatians 6

·        7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

·        8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

·        9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Rejoicing in the Hope of…

III. The Capabilities of the Scriptures

One of the many hopes that we have to rejoice about tonight is the many things that God’s Word can do for us.

·        Psalms 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

·        Psalms 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

·        Psalms 119:81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

·        Psalms 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

·        Psalms 119:147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

·        Psalms 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I 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.

Rejoicing in Hope of…

IV. The Completion of the Saints

·        Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Rejoicing in the Hope of…

V. The Coming of the Savior

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

·        1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 John 3

·        2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

·        3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.