Alan Fong
Dec 26, 20173 min
Today’s Verse:
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. ~Romans 15:13
What is hope to you? For most of us, we think of hope as that thread we hold onto when there is uncertainty. We consider hope our outlook that future events will have a blessed and better outcome. To the student who has completed and turned in a final exam, hope is the desire that he got the answers right and will get a good grade. To a job applicant who has done a positive interview, it is the optimism that a new opportunity might be his. To the person who is waiting for the results of an important medical test, it is an anxiety that the tests come out well and that minimal medical follow up is needed. For those who are at a place in life where there are more questions than answers, it is the driving force that says, “I have to keep going.” What is hope to you? This morning the Apostle Paul teaches us powerful truths concerning hope.
We see the divine ESSENCE.
“Now the God of hope…” What an encouragement! God is the Father of hope. Hope for the Christian is not an anticipation with uncertainty, but rather an anticipation of something good that will occur. God is the Father of hope through His Word. We can trust God’s Word for us. Through faith and trust, we learn that we can abide in the Lord with the hope that He has everything under control. God is also the fountain of hope. A fountain is a refreshing water source. When we come to the Lord with our burdens, anxieties, and heartache, He gives us the hope we need to help us take the next step. He refreshes us with instruction and inspiration. The essence of true hope is found in God.
We see the delightful ELEMENTS.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” The believers at Rome were going through uncertain times. They needed to know how hope could be real in their lives. Paul prayed that they might be filled with hope. Hope is to permeate our souls and entire lives. Then, he describes the characteristics of this hope. Hope consists of joy and peace. Joy and peace are the fruit of the Spirit. Joy and peace are the utmost in spiritual satisfaction. It is the ability to be at peace with our circumstances and how God is at work. It is rejoicing that God is for us and not against us. Then, he said “believing.” Hope is nestled in a surrendered faith in God for the circumstance we are in. Believing is anticipating God has the best outcome for me.
We see the dynamic ENABLEMENT.
“That ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” We are too weak and temperamental. Our hope is fickle and can be up and down. The God of hope undergirds and enables us through the power of the Holy Ghost. The hope that sustains us is through the Holy Ghost. He shows us the promises upon which we can rely. It is this power that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think! The Holy Spirit renews us and replenishes us each day so that our hope does not diminish.
We see the deluxe ENCOURAGEMENT.
When the God of hope is at work in us, our hope is one that abounds! Paul was praying that these believers would abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. God does not want our hope to be a flicker: He wants it to be a raging inferno within us. The hope that God gives us is the light at the end of the tunnel, the needed light for our next step, and the resolve that all things work together for good to them that love God. Let your hope abound!
Don’t be hopeless! There is hope through the God of all hope. Where there is God, there is hope!
Have a hope-filled God Morning!