1 00:00:00,900 --> 00:00:05,200 There are many Among Us where this is not our home 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,300 congregation, you have traveled from other places. 3 00:00:08,300 --> 00:00:12,800 Some of you are going through as Dad said, and we're so glad to 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,400 be here. And what brings us together this 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:21,000 morning is the blood of Christ. He joins us together so that we 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,600 could come and honor him. As we later on, will honor him 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:29,800 around the Lord's Supper, but we also glorify the same God, the 8 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,700 one true God and give him our worship this morning, and it is 9 00:00:34,700 --> 00:00:38,400 indeed a blessing to be here and to worship together. 10 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,300 No matter where you are, where you come from, to be able to 11 00:00:42,300 --> 00:00:46,500 come, and to do just that, I don't think our brother for the 12 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:48,700 song that we just sang. It. 13 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,300 It leads into what we're going to talk about this morning about 14 00:00:52,300 --> 00:00:55,200 this hope and this Blessed assurance that we have and how 15 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,800 we can Rejoice within that assurance and that hope that God 16 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:05,500 has promised us, you know, it says here, Romans 12 and 12, 17 00:01:05,500 --> 00:01:11,700 this is simple phrase, by Paul to rejoice, in hope, to rejoice, 18 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:14,600 in Our Hope. And throughout scripture, you 19 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:19,100 will going to find all kinds of scripture telling us to be full 20 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:22,000 of joy or to rejoice in various things. 21 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,900 We're told to rejoice in the Lord. 22 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,200 We're told to rejoice in the resurrection. 23 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,300 We're told to rejoice in the god of hours of our Salvation. 24 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:34,400 And there are other things you can find the scripture where it 25 00:01:34,408 --> 00:01:38,300 says, rejoice in this or rejoice in that. 26 00:01:38,900 --> 00:01:42,700 But Paul tells us here in the context of what we're going to 27 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:46,700 talk about. About is to rejoice in Hope. 28 00:01:48,700 --> 00:01:51,400 And so, let me ask you a question regarding that, we're 29 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,800 told to do that. Well, how do we do that? 30 00:01:55,900 --> 00:02:00,900 And in what circumstances in our life and how do we apply it to 31 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:04,600 our lives so that we can rejoice in Our Hope. 32 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:08,500 And so to begin this morning, I want to I've always fill it 33 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:12,100 helpful to look at the context in which this particular 34 00:02:12,100 --> 00:02:15,800 exhortation is written in and so I'm going to go back a little 35 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:21,500 bit here in this chapter 2 verse number 1 were it talks about us 36 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:25,100 being transformed and setting apart of being set apart. 37 00:02:25,700 --> 00:02:28,900 From others in this world. And you look here, the very 38 00:02:28,900 --> 00:02:31,500 first two verses of this chapter. 39 00:02:31,700 --> 00:02:35,800 It says I beseech you therefore Brethren by the mercies of God, 40 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:42,000 he says that you present your bodies, a Living Sacrifice, holy 41 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:46,300 acceptable, to God, which is your reasonable service. 42 00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:51,000 And then he says, do not be conformed to this world, but be 43 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,500 transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove. 44 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,300 Prove what is that? Good and acceptable and perfect 45 00:03:00,300 --> 00:03:06,100 will of God and so when we read that and and proving what is 46 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:09,900 good and proving, what is acceptable improving the perfect 47 00:03:09,900 --> 00:03:14,200 will of God, that's a challenge but that that falls on us. 48 00:03:15,700 --> 00:03:19,400 And we do it through that transformation that happens 49 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:25,600 within our lives. And so, because of that, it's a 50 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,300 goal for each one of us. And as we put our effort in to 51 00:03:28,300 --> 00:03:32,300 accomplish in accomplishing this, Paul actually gives us 52 00:03:32,300 --> 00:03:35,300 another chap our challenge within this context here. 53 00:03:35,700 --> 00:03:38,900 And so we're going to read on in verse number nine. 54 00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:45,200 Now about rejoicing, in this hope, He says, let love be 55 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,300 without hypocrisy abour. What is evil cling to what is 56 00:03:50,300 --> 00:03:55,900 good, be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love 57 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,400 and honor giving preference to one another not lagging. 58 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:05,600 In diligence, fervent in spirit serving the lord rejoicing in 59 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,900 Hope, patient. In Tribulation continuing, 60 00:04:08,900 --> 00:04:12,800 steadfastly in prayer, Distributing to the needs of the 61 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:19,100 Saints given to hospitality is. So when you look at the practice 62 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:23,300 of rejoicing in hope within the context, that Paul puts it in 63 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:33,500 here, the underlying principle Is love. when you look at verse 64 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:38,400 9, Tells us the love. Let our love, be genuine. 65 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,100 Don't let your love toward others. 66 00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:44,600 Be shallow, don't let it be fake towards other people. 67 00:04:45,700 --> 00:04:49,600 And we see how a boring evil and holding fast to what is good, 68 00:04:49,700 --> 00:04:52,500 how that is essential to us? Showing love. 69 00:04:53,300 --> 00:04:56,700 And then you look here at verse number 10 and it intensifies 70 00:04:56,700 --> 00:04:59,500 that call to love with the strong words of family, 71 00:04:59,500 --> 00:05:03,600 affection to love one another with Brotherly Love of with 72 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,800 brotherly affection. And so, and it also shows us how 73 00:05:07,900 --> 00:05:12,300 loving how us loving to give honor to others rather than to 74 00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:16,200 get honor upon ourselves. How that's all part of Love to. 75 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,400 And so when you look at what he says in verse number 12 and 76 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:25,200 these surrounding verses we have the dominant theme of Love 77 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,900 ringing within our minds and that's the essence of the will 78 00:05:27,900 --> 00:05:31,300 of God when you go back to what we read in verse number 2. 79 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:35,200 And that's why we must be transformed in the renewing of 80 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:41,100 our minds to know that end each situation, what love looks like 81 00:05:41,700 --> 00:05:45,100 and how sometimes it's not easy, because you're dealing with all 82 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:46,800 kinds. Kinds of people, you're dealing 83 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:52,100 with all kinds of personalities. And yet our love has to show in 84 00:05:52,100 --> 00:05:56,600 various ways in various forms to all kinds of people and so how 85 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,800 much of a deep transformation we need to find and follow the way 86 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,700 of love. And this chapter is all written 87 00:06:04,700 --> 00:06:09,500 to help us do just that And so when you look at this idea of a 88 00:06:09,508 --> 00:06:13,900 rejoicing of in Hope among the other things that are mentioned 89 00:06:13,900 --> 00:06:18,100 here in verse number 12, it tells me that all of this is for 90 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:24,600 love. Rejoice in Hope, be patient in 91 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:30,400 Tribulation be constant in prayer, all for the sake, of 92 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:33,500 loving each other, and loving our enemies as we opted. 93 00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:37,500 And so, in this way Christ, who is the ground? 94 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:41,000 Who is the goal of adult, he becomes more visible and more 95 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,300 real and more convincing in the world and within our lives. 96 00:06:44,900 --> 00:06:48,000 And so that's kind of the context of which all of this is 97 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,900 written. And the overall theme a Guarding 98 00:06:52,300 --> 00:06:57,400 this and so I want to be a giga begin talking about this hope. 99 00:06:58,300 --> 00:07:02,200 Now, when you think of the word hope there is a difference 100 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:07,200 between worldly, hope and that of biblical hope bit of a 101 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,700 worldly. Hope is for example, something 102 00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:15,300 that that we wish would happen. But there is an uncertainty, if 103 00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:19,700 it will happen or not, And so, when you're driving to work 104 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:23,200 tomorrow morning, we all wish that there's not going to be any 105 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,500 traffic that we're going to have to deal with when we go to work 106 00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:30,000 in the morning. And so we hope that that will 107 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,200 happen. But we have no idea if that will 108 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,900 happen or not, it's uncertain because there are so many 109 00:07:35,900 --> 00:07:40,300 different variables in that you have no idea who's going to be 110 00:07:40,300 --> 00:07:43,300 on the road. You have no control over who, 111 00:07:43,300 --> 00:07:45,100 who was there and who was not there. 112 00:07:45,500 --> 00:07:47,900 And because you've got no control over it. 113 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:53,900 There is that uncertainty? And so in that sense, we desire 114 00:07:53,900 --> 00:07:58,400 for something to happen but we have no idea if it will happen 115 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:02,300 or not and that's worldly hope but when you talk when you look 116 00:08:02,300 --> 00:08:05,600 at the hope that is mentioned in the bible, it's something that's 117 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,500 very opposite to that of worldly hope. 118 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:13,600 In fact, biblical hope is it's a confident expectation. 119 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,700 Its Desire with the expectation that we know it's going to 120 00:08:17,700 --> 00:08:20,800 happen. And we're we know for certain 121 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,700 that it's going to happen and it's a hope that we know that we 122 00:08:23,700 --> 00:08:27,700 will obtain something and that we expect it to be fulfilled. 123 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,500 And so biblical hope is the expectation or it's the 124 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:37,000 anticipation of something that is absolutely certain and you 125 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,200 know why we have that kind of hope that were certain that it's 126 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,700 going to happen. It's because it's promised by 127 00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:48,300 God. That's why. 128 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,700 And we know God is faithful to his promises, isn't he? 129 00:08:55,900 --> 00:08:59,200 Then when God says something is going to happen, it's going to 130 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:03,300 happen. And that's why we have this 131 00:09:03,300 --> 00:09:08,400 expectation and the certainty in the hope that is told to us 132 00:09:08,900 --> 00:09:12,400 within the scriptures. I find Peters words and first 133 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,300 Peter to be very helpful about this hope and it says here, 134 00:09:16,300 --> 00:09:22,600 First Peter chapter 1, I want to read here verses 3 through 9 He 135 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,300 says, blessed be the God and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ 136 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:33,300 who according to His, abundant Mercy, has begotten us again to 137 00:09:33,300 --> 00:09:37,100 a Living Hope. How is it? 138 00:09:37,100 --> 00:09:40,600 How is that possible? We says how it's possible as you 139 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,300 continue on reading, it's through the resurrection of 140 00:09:43,300 --> 00:09:46,600 Jesus Christ from the dead. That's how it's possible. 141 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:51,000 And then continuing on in verse number four, to an inheritance 142 00:09:51,100 --> 00:09:55,700 Incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away. 143 00:09:55,700 --> 00:09:59,700 Reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God, 144 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:02,600 through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed. 145 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:07,100 In the last time I like this phrase and I like the assurance 146 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,800 that Paul gives us here about our hope. 147 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,100 He said it's a Living Hope And it's because Jesus rose from the 148 00:10:14,108 --> 00:10:17,300 grave because without the resurrection, there would be no 149 00:10:17,300 --> 00:10:19,900 hope. But what about this hope will 150 00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:23,100 Peter says it's the hope of it of inheriting Heaven. 151 00:10:24,100 --> 00:10:25,900 That's what it is for. All of us. 152 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:32,100 It's that Assurance of going to heaven because Jesus rose from 153 00:10:32,100 --> 00:10:37,400 the grave and you read on about about this Grand truth. 154 00:10:38,100 --> 00:10:42,300 And this realization that we have because of the death burial 155 00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:46,000 and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we had this hope. 156 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,600 And now how do we react to it? We'll look. 157 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,000 Here is a continues on a verse. Number 6, in this, what do you 158 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,800 do? He says, you greatly Joyce, 159 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,000 though, now for a little while, if need be, you have been 160 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,900 grieved by various trials that the genuineness of your faith 161 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,900 being much more precious than gold, that perishes though it is 162 00:11:05,900 --> 00:11:11,300 tested by fire, may be found to praise honor and Glory at the 163 00:11:11,300 --> 00:11:16,800 revelation of Jesus Christ whom having not seen you love. 164 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,400 Though. Now you do not see him yet 165 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:28,400 believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of Glory. 166 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:31,500 Receiving the end of your of your faith. 167 00:11:31,900 --> 00:11:34,400 And what is that? He says it's the salvation of 168 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:40,200 your souls that's what it is. And when you read that and read 169 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,600 what Peter says about how we react to the realization that 170 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,800 we've got this Living, Hope I love Paul's attitude, I love the 171 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:55,000 tone that he gives here. Because he tells us what we had 172 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,000 this hope. He says, rejoice in that, be 173 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,600 excited about that. Rejoice. 174 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,200 That you have been given this great gift from God. 175 00:12:07,100 --> 00:12:10,400 But when you look at the overall context here of what she writes 176 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,300 about, do you see the overall theme Here? 177 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:21,400 The overall theme. Is that you rejoice when you're 178 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:27,100 having a bad time? Rejoice, when you're being 179 00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:30,900 tested by fire. You rejoice in your hope when 180 00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:36,000 you're having a bad day. It's on days like that, it could 181 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,300 be on occasions in the circumstances circumstances like 182 00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:42,300 that, that it's just easy to give in and just lose the battle 183 00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:47,400 for that moment. Yes, it's easy to wipe the wave 184 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,900 the white flag. What if you give up? 185 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:54,700 You can't rejoice in that Canyon. 186 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:00,800 You can't you see rejoicing in hope during the tough times. 187 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,800 Well, that tends to be the next level in Christianity. 188 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:09,000 That's when you mature, that's when you see those trials in the 189 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:14,100 overall picture at that moment. That's where the growth happens, 190 00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:17,200 that's when you take your stand in the truth and that's when you 191 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,500 feel proud and you feel great for your accomplishments and you 192 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:25,000 pray and you think God for the opportunity for going through 193 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:29,300 whatever it Was because it made you a better person and it made 194 00:13:29,300 --> 00:13:33,500 you a stronger servants for God at that time. 195 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:40,000 Young people. It's going to it's going to 196 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,100 happen when you're being attacked or challenged by the 197 00:13:42,100 --> 00:13:44,300 teacher or classmate because your faith. 198 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,500 It's going to happen when you're challenged about. 199 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:50,700 If there's a God and if he created this world in the 200 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:55,200 universe, it's going to happen when you're challenged about 201 00:13:55,200 --> 00:14:00,600 what constitutes a family. And your stand that God only 202 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,900 intended for a man and a woman to become married. 203 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:07,800 It's going to happen when you faced with peer pressure to do 204 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:12,100 something unwise or wrong. And I'll admit to you. 205 00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:15,700 Those are some tough and difficult times. 206 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:20,600 And sometimes we just want to take a step back because we 207 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,500 don't want to create controversy. 208 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,000 We don't want to lose influence, we don't want to lose friends. 209 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,600 And so in those moments of struggle or pressure, would you 210 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,300 have the choice and you have the choice to stand strong and feel 211 00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:37,900 great about the end result, or you also have the choice and 212 00:14:37,900 --> 00:14:41,700 walk away without any reason to Rejoice A New Hope in your 213 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:44,600 faith. Those are the two choices you 214 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:48,700 have. And Paul says, the similar thing 215 00:14:48,900 --> 00:14:51,100 back, what we read. And we've already said, said, 216 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,600 seen this already here in 12 and verse 12 of Romans, he said 217 00:14:55,600 --> 00:15:00,100 rejoicing in hope he said patient in Tribulation, but also 218 00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:05,100 continuing steadfastly in prayer. and so Paul gives us the 219 00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:08,200 formula to not just rejoice in the hope during the tough times, 220 00:15:08,300 --> 00:15:11,400 but in Durham, through those times and pray during those 221 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:18,400 times to pray, I like the end results when you go back here to 222 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:23,500 1st Peter 1. he says, if you endure through the tough times, 223 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,200 He says you're going to have a joy within you, that's going to 224 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:31,900 be so great. Inexpressible is what he says. 225 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,700 And the ultimate reward. Heaven. 226 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:45,000 That's the ultimate reward. We've all gone through some 227 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:49,100 tough times. One of the toughest times for 228 00:15:49,100 --> 00:15:52,900 me, was when I lost my job, I was out of the job for about 229 00:15:52,900 --> 00:15:55,700 about eight months. That was those were some 230 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:59,000 stressful times and a lot of prayer, a lot of effort, trying 231 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:04,200 to find trying to find a job, but that phone call came one 232 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:09,500 afternoon. Offering me the job and the joy 233 00:16:09,700 --> 00:16:14,700 that just overtook me and the prayers thanking God. 234 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,800 Those are one of the highlights of This Joy. 235 00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:24,300 And there are other things that might that you might relate to, 236 00:16:24,300 --> 00:16:27,800 or greater things that has happened in your life to bring 237 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,100 such joy to your life. But even through even through 238 00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:34,600 whatever we experience, even some of the highlights of my own 239 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:41,000 life of God's blessings, something greater is there, and 240 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,400 that's God's promise to save me in the end if I'm faithful to 241 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:50,400 him. And you and I we can rejoice in 242 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:52,500 that hope of entering through the Gates of Heaven and 243 00:16:52,500 --> 00:16:57,400 experiencing eternal life with God and so Peter and Paul of the 244 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:01,400 words that we have read so far, tell us to rejoice in that very 245 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,599 hope especially in those tough times. 246 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,400 It's so there's the exhortation. And how do we do this? 247 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:12,599 How do you obtain of strength? How do we, what do we look to? 248 00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:16,900 For for strength of the hope that we have. 249 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,300 Well, there are things that help us. 250 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,800 And for one thing, I believe that the first and the foremost 251 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,900 thing of how we obtain or strengthen our hope is to look 252 00:17:26,900 --> 00:17:29,300 to the scriptures for help and for guidance, and for 253 00:17:29,300 --> 00:17:32,700 encouragement. You will care what it says in 254 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:38,100 Romans 15 and verse number 4. He says, for whatever things 255 00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:41,700 were written before were written for our learning that we through 256 00:17:41,700 --> 00:17:43,900 the patience and comfort of the scriptures. 257 00:17:46,100 --> 00:17:51,400 Might have hope. The things that we read in 258 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:55,700 scripture down when Paul writes these things to the Brethren 259 00:17:55,700 --> 00:17:58,900 here, he's talking about the things of the Old Testament. 260 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,000 But when we look to the Old Testament, even the things that 261 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,800 with written within the New Testament, will they were 262 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:08,500 written for a reason. They are it so that we can learn 263 00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:12,900 from them, they were written, so that we could we it reveals 264 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:15,900 God's will to us. They were written to encourage 265 00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:18,500 us in our life. They were written to give us 266 00:18:18,500 --> 00:18:20,600 hope. And so now, Naturally. 267 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,300 When you think about it, the more we're in scripture, the 268 00:18:23,300 --> 00:18:25,900 more Our Hope can be strengthened and we just can't 269 00:18:25,900 --> 00:18:29,200 neglect God's word and expect to have a strong hope and expect to 270 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,400 be able just to have all the instruction and the guidance to 271 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,800 face the trials of life. And the reason why is because 272 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:40,000 our faith and hope they come from Reading God's word. 273 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:47,400 They do. and so, when you read the scriptures, You and I each 274 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:51,400 one of us can have a confident expectation of Heaven because of 275 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,000 seeing the nature of God, through the Biblical, history of 276 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,700 what we read about, how he interacted with people through 277 00:18:57,700 --> 00:18:59,700 time. And the promises that he gave 278 00:18:59,700 --> 00:19:03,700 God's people through time, you can read the thousands of years 279 00:19:03,700 --> 00:19:08,700 of God at work and seeing his plan and seeing his promises and 280 00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:11,600 you could also have an assurance and confident hope in Jesus 281 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,400 being the Messiah. After reading, about all the 282 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:18,700 prophecies, Of old concerning the Messiah and how all those 283 00:19:18,700 --> 00:19:21,200 were fulfilled through Jesus Christ. 284 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:29,200 And so remember, The Bible is the source of your hope and it's 285 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:33,300 nothing that is within us. It is not of any wisdom that 286 00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:36,800 anyone of us have that could bring this this kind of hope. 287 00:19:37,300 --> 00:19:42,100 Then from what we can see in the scriptures, another thing that 288 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:45,000 can help our hope is to look at the resurrection of Jesus 289 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,600 Christ. In fact, the resurrection of 290 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,500 Jesus Christ is we've already alluded to gives us that ability 291 00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:54,900 to rejoice in Our Hope. And I don't know about you. 292 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,000 If you want to get me excited upon something, you talk about 293 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,900 the resurrection that is that's one of the big ones. 294 00:20:01,900 --> 00:20:04,300 That's one of the highlights that you could read about in 295 00:20:04,300 --> 00:20:07,800 the, in the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 296 00:20:08,900 --> 00:20:15,600 It is all great news for you. And I and so because of the 297 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,200 Resurrection, we can be assured that we're going to have a 298 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,700 victory in the end because Jesus was a victory over the grave. 299 00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:26,600 Paul talked about how sad and he talked about how hopeless it 300 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,600 would be. If Jesus had not risen from the 301 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,900 dead things would be much different for you and I if it 302 00:20:32,900 --> 00:20:35,900 did not happen. In fact, you look here in 1st 303 00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:39,000 Corinthians chapter 15. It says there in verse number 304 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:42,400 12, now of Christ is preached that he has been raised from the 305 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,200 dead. How does some among you say? 306 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:46,400 But there is no resurrection of the Dead. 307 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,900 That was one of the problems here in Corinth and Paul is 308 00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:52,500 addressing that where people were saying he didn't, he didn't 309 00:20:52,500 --> 00:20:54,700 rise from the dead, there was no Resurrection. 310 00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:58,500 And because of that, he's going to address several things that 311 00:20:58,500 --> 00:21:02,700 if that were true, there would be some things that would be 312 00:21:02,700 --> 00:21:06,100 evidence because of that, he says, but if there is no 313 00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:08,900 resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 314 00:21:09,100 --> 00:21:14,400 And if Christ is not risen, number one, Our preaching is 315 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,100 empty, and your faith is also empty. 316 00:21:19,300 --> 00:21:23,400 He goes on to say yes and we are found false Witnesses of God 317 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:28,100 because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he 318 00:21:28,100 --> 00:21:31,500 did not raise up. If in fact the dead do not rise 319 00:21:31,700 --> 00:21:34,900 for. If the dead do not rise, then 320 00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:39,100 Christ is not risen and if Christ is not risen he says your 321 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:44,200 faith is futile but not only that he says you are still in 322 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,700 your sins. If there was no resurrection of 323 00:21:46,700 --> 00:21:49,400 Christ. Then also those who have fallen 324 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,700 asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have 325 00:21:52,700 --> 00:21:56,000 hope in Christ. We are all men the most pitiable 326 00:21:58,300 --> 00:22:02,500 That would be the facts if there were no Resurrection. 327 00:22:05,300 --> 00:22:12,100 And if the tomb was not empty. But the tomb is not empty. 328 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:21,800 And so, because it's not empty. He says we Rejoice because of 329 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:26,400 it. And that gives us a great reason 330 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:32,400 for us to rejoice in Our Hope. I love absolutely love. 331 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:37,400 What the writer of Hebrews chapter 6, says regarding a 332 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,100 reason or another reason to rejoice in Our Hope. 333 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,300 He says here, Hebrews chapter 6, beginning of verse number 13. 334 00:22:47,500 --> 00:22:51,500 Bro, when God made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear 335 00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:58,000 by no one greater he swore by himself saying surely blessing, 336 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,800 I will bless you and multiplying, I will multiply 337 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,800 you. And so after he had patiently, 338 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:09,200 endured he obtained. The promise for made indeed 339 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,500 swear by the greater and a note for confirmation is for them and 340 00:23:12,500 --> 00:23:16,300 end of all dispute. Thus God, determining the show 341 00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:18,600 more button to lead to the The Heirs of Promise, the 342 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:24,500 immutability of his counsel confirmed, it by an oath that by 343 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:30,000 two immutable things in which number one, it is impossible for 344 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:34,200 God to lie, we might have strong consolation who have fled for 345 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,600 Refuge to lay hold of the Hope set before us. 346 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:43,100 This hope, he says, we have as an anchor of the Soul. 347 00:23:43,900 --> 00:23:47,400 That's a key phrase. Our hope is an anchor of the 348 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,000 Soul, both sure. And steadfast and which enters 349 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,700 the presence behind the Ville where the 4Runner has entered 350 00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:58,500 for us even Jesus having become our high become high priest 351 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:04,000 forever according to the order of Melchizedek and when you read 352 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,900 what is what we just see here in Hebrews chapter 6, do you hear 353 00:24:07,900 --> 00:24:10,800 the certainty? Do you hear the confidence that 354 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,800 we have? because of this hope, but 355 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:19,100 because of what God has done, I mean, you you look at God's 356 00:24:19,100 --> 00:24:22,300 track record and he has promised, and he has kept them 357 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:25,500 all. And another thing is that God 358 00:24:25,500 --> 00:24:30,700 can't lie And so when he has promised us a reward in heaven, 359 00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:34,000 our hope is based on a truth and we know that God's going to keep 360 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,400 his word regarding that very thing. 361 00:24:36,500 --> 00:24:38,000 And notice what is said about this. 362 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:41,000 Hope again, it is an anchor of our soul. 363 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,200 It's what motivates us to be a servant. 364 00:24:44,700 --> 00:24:47,300 It's what motivates us to never give up. 365 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,600 What a Blessed Assurance we have, don't we? 366 00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:54,800 And all the more reason to rejoice in the hope that is 367 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,200 promised to everyone of us today. 368 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,200 And as we wrap things up here this morning, I want to mention 369 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:09,200 one last thing. We read a bit from Peter and 370 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:15,300 Paul about rejoicing and I hope. And when you look at what those 371 00:25:15,300 --> 00:25:20,000 men went through for the cause of Christ, When you look at the 372 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:25,400 persecutions that both of those guys endured, it was horrible, 373 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:31,100 was it? They were threatened to death. 374 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:34,600 Paul on one. Occasion was stoned. 375 00:25:36,900 --> 00:25:41,300 By an angry mob, almost died left for dead outside. 376 00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:47,000 The, the, the walls of the city or the gates of the city, but 377 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:52,500 those guys went through all that, Because of the hope. 378 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:01,500 It was because of Jesus. And it was because of this 379 00:26:01,500 --> 00:26:04,500 surance, that they knew that they had. 380 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:12,000 Because God was faithful. To what he was promised. and so, 381 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:15,200 when you read about the experience of just these two 382 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:20,700 guys, specifically, in the book of Acts, if you want to be 383 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:23,300 encouraged, read the book of Acts regarding this thing in 384 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:27,200 this life and when you read about that experience and then 385 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,000 those two guys in particular, saying rejoice, in the hope that 386 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:36,700 you've got, Those are words of experience and those are men who 387 00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:42,500 know what they're talking about. Because they had that assurance 388 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,600 that they were going to go to heaven because of the life that 389 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:50,900 they had lived. They show us how to rejoice in 390 00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:56,200 Our Hope. And as I leave these teachings 391 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,300 to you this morning, I want to leave you with this one verse in 392 00:26:59,300 --> 00:27:04,700 Romans, 15 and 13. Now, the May the god of Hope. 393 00:27:05,900 --> 00:27:09,700 Fill you with all joy and peace in believing? 394 00:27:10,700 --> 00:27:15,700 That you may abound in, Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 395 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:23,400 And that's what God does. And that's the Blessed assurance 396 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,600 that we have. When this life is over. 397 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:30,800 Be thankful that you serve a god? 398 00:27:32,100 --> 00:27:36,600 Who is faithful and is good to you and gives us that promise. 399 00:27:39,100 --> 00:27:43,300 And rejoice in that every day that you live in whatever, 400 00:27:43,300 --> 00:27:46,000 circumstance that comes your way. 401 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:50,000 And I hope that with these things that we've seen here, 402 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:53,500 this morning that you've been encouraged, that you've been 403 00:27:53,500 --> 00:27:57,700 lifted up. And there are things that I need 404 00:27:57,700 --> 00:28:02,900 to work on. So I Rejoice even more because 405 00:28:02,900 --> 00:28:06,900 of the god. That is so good to me and 406 00:28:06,900 --> 00:28:12,000 blesses me in so many ways. And I'm looking forward. 407 00:28:13,300 --> 00:28:17,000 To the hope. Where my faith becomes sight. 408 00:28:18,500 --> 00:28:21,700 It's going to be great. And you're looking forward to 409 00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:27,000 that too, aren't you? Maybe you're here and you've 410 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:34,400 never become a child of God. there's a there's a realization 411 00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:38,400 that if you have not become a child of God, if you have not 412 00:28:38,700 --> 00:28:43,200 obeyed, the gospel of Christ, There's no hope. 413 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:50,200 There's no hope but you can change that understanding about 414 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:54,600 God's grace, how he sent his son down to this world and he lived 415 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:58,500 the life that he lived and he was perfect and he was sinless. 416 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:01,200 Yet he bore your sins on the cross and was the ultimate 417 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:06,200 sacrifice for your sins. How he died and was buried and 418 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:08,200 was resurrected on that third day. 419 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:14,400 Because of that and because our obedience to that very thing, we 420 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:18,400 can have hope and we can have our sins washed away and we 421 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:20,400 could be added to the Lord's church. 422 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,900 That's something that the Lord does it obedience to that and 423 00:29:24,900 --> 00:29:27,300 understanding that and repenting of your life. 424 00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:31,200 And that confessing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 425 00:29:31,500 --> 00:29:34,300 And then be baptized for the remission of your sins. 426 00:29:34,700 --> 00:29:37,200 That happened to those people there in Acts chapter 2. 427 00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:41,000 And it specifically says that the the Lord added them to his 428 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,700 church is not something that we do that. 429 00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:46,000 We add you to the church. It's the Lord that add you to 430 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,600 the church in obedience to his will and Obedience of the Gospel 431 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:54,500 of Jesus Christ. And then you'll have that hope. 432 00:29:55,700 --> 00:29:58,200 That God has promised, the faithful. 433 00:30:00,100 --> 00:30:02,700 Take advantage of that. If you've never done it, take 434 00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:06,400 advantage of the goodness and mercy and love of God. 435 00:30:07,300 --> 00:30:12,600 If you've never done that, if you have become a child of God, 436 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,300 maybe you've messed up. Maybe there are things in your 437 00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:19,300 life that you just need to make things right with God. 438 00:30:20,300 --> 00:30:23,900 Whatever it is, understand that God always gives us another 439 00:30:23,900 --> 00:30:28,000 chance because he is so merciful and forgiving. 440 00:30:29,700 --> 00:30:31,500 That's the kind of God whom we serve. 441 00:30:33,900 --> 00:30:36,600 We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the 442 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:42,300 Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 443 00:30:42,300 --> 00:30:45,400 would like any additional information, or you would like 444 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,600 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 445 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:53,000 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 446 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:57,000 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 447 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:02,300 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 448 00:31:03,300 --> 00:31:06,800 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 449 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:07,700 honored guest.