Rejoice In Hope - Brian Osburn

There are many Among Us where this is not our home

congregation, you have traveled from other places.

Some of you are going through as Dad said, and we're so glad to

be here. And what brings us together this

morning is the blood of Christ. He joins us together so that we

could come and honor him. As we later on, will honor him

around the Lord's Supper, but we also glorify the same God, the

one true God and give him our worship this morning, and it is

indeed a blessing to be here and to worship together.

No matter where you are, where you come from, to be able to

come, and to do just that, I don't think our brother for the

song that we just sang. It.

It leads into what we're going to talk about this morning about

this hope and this Blessed assurance that we have and how

we can Rejoice within that assurance and that hope that God

has promised us, you know, it says here, Romans 12 and 12,

this is simple phrase, by Paul to rejoice, in hope, to rejoice,

in Our Hope. And throughout scripture, you

will going to find all kinds of scripture telling us to be full

of joy or to rejoice in various things.

We're told to rejoice in the Lord.

We're told to rejoice in the resurrection.

We're told to rejoice in the god of hours of our Salvation.

And there are other things you can find the scripture where it

says, rejoice in this or rejoice in that.

But Paul tells us here in the context of what we're going to

talk about. About is to rejoice in Hope.

And so, let me ask you a question regarding that, we're

told to do that. Well, how do we do that?

And in what circumstances in our life and how do we apply it to

our lives so that we can rejoice in Our Hope.

And so to begin this morning, I want to I've always fill it

helpful to look at the context in which this particular

exhortation is written in and so I'm going to go back a little

bit here in this chapter 2 verse number 1 were it talks about us

being transformed and setting apart of being set apart.

From others in this world. And you look here, the very

first two verses of this chapter.

It says I beseech you therefore Brethren by the mercies of God,

he says that you present your bodies, a Living Sacrifice, holy

acceptable, to God, which is your reasonable service.

And then he says, do not be conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove.

Prove what is that? Good and acceptable and perfect

will of God and so when we read that and and proving what is

good and proving, what is acceptable improving the perfect

will of God, that's a challenge but that that falls on us.

And we do it through that transformation that happens

within our lives. And so, because of that, it's a

goal for each one of us. And as we put our effort in to

accomplish in accomplishing this, Paul actually gives us

another chap our challenge within this context here.

And so we're going to read on in verse number nine.

Now about rejoicing, in this hope, He says, let love be

without hypocrisy abour. What is evil cling to what is

good, be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love

and honor giving preference to one another not lagging.

In diligence, fervent in spirit serving the lord rejoicing in

Hope, patient. In Tribulation continuing,

steadfastly in prayer, Distributing to the needs of the

Saints given to hospitality is. So when you look at the practice

of rejoicing in hope within the context, that Paul puts it in

here, the underlying principle Is love. when you look at verse

9, Tells us the love. Let our love, be genuine.

Don't let your love toward others.

Be shallow, don't let it be fake towards other people.

And we see how a boring evil and holding fast to what is good,

how that is essential to us? Showing love.

And then you look here at verse number 10 and it intensifies

that call to love with the strong words of family,

affection to love one another with Brotherly Love of with

brotherly affection. And so, and it also shows us how

loving how us loving to give honor to others rather than to

get honor upon ourselves. How that's all part of Love to.

And so when you look at what he says in verse number 12 and

these surrounding verses we have the dominant theme of Love

ringing within our minds and that's the essence of the will

of God when you go back to what we read in verse number 2.

And that's why we must be transformed in the renewing of

our minds to know that end each situation, what love looks like

and how sometimes it's not easy, because you're dealing with all

kinds. Kinds of people, you're dealing

with all kinds of personalities. And yet our love has to show in

various ways in various forms to all kinds of people and so how

much of a deep transformation we need to find and follow the way

of love. And this chapter is all written

to help us do just that And so when you look at this idea of a

rejoicing of in Hope among the other things that are mentioned

here in verse number 12, it tells me that all of this is for

love. Rejoice in Hope, be patient in

Tribulation be constant in prayer, all for the sake, of

loving each other, and loving our enemies as we opted.

And so, in this way Christ, who is the ground?

Who is the goal of adult, he becomes more visible and more

real and more convincing in the world and within our lives.

And so that's kind of the context of which all of this is

written. And the overall theme a Guarding

this and so I want to be a giga begin talking about this hope.

Now, when you think of the word hope there is a difference

between worldly, hope and that of biblical hope bit of a

worldly. Hope is for example, something

that that we wish would happen. But there is an uncertainty, if

it will happen or not, And so, when you're driving to work

tomorrow morning, we all wish that there's not going to be any

traffic that we're going to have to deal with when we go to work

in the morning. And so we hope that that will

happen. But we have no idea if that will

happen or not, it's uncertain because there are so many

different variables in that you have no idea who's going to be

on the road. You have no control over who,

who was there and who was not there.

And because you've got no control over it.

There is that uncertainty? And so in that sense, we desire

for something to happen but we have no idea if it will happen

or not and that's worldly hope but when you talk when you look

at the hope that is mentioned in the bible, it's something that's

very opposite to that of worldly hope.

In fact, biblical hope is it's a confident expectation.

Its Desire with the expectation that we know it's going to

happen. And we're we know for certain

that it's going to happen and it's a hope that we know that we

will obtain something and that we expect it to be fulfilled.

And so biblical hope is the expectation or it's the

anticipation of something that is absolutely certain and you

know why we have that kind of hope that were certain that it's

going to happen. It's because it's promised by

God. That's why.

And we know God is faithful to his promises, isn't he?

Then when God says something is going to happen, it's going to

happen. And that's why we have this

expectation and the certainty in the hope that is told to us

within the scriptures. I find Peters words and first

Peter to be very helpful about this hope and it says here,

First Peter chapter 1, I want to read here verses 3 through 9 He

1 Peter 1 · chapter mention

says, blessed be the God and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ

who according to His, abundant Mercy, has begotten us again to

a Living Hope. How is it?

How is that possible? We says how it's possible as you

continue on reading, it's through the resurrection of

Jesus Christ from the dead. That's how it's possible.

And then continuing on in verse number four, to an inheritance

Incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away.

Reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God,

through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed.

In the last time I like this phrase and I like the assurance

that Paul gives us here about our hope.

He said it's a Living Hope And it's because Jesus rose from the

grave because without the resurrection, there would be no

hope. But what about this hope will

Peter says it's the hope of it of inheriting Heaven.

That's what it is for. All of us.

It's that Assurance of going to heaven because Jesus rose from

the grave and you read on about about this Grand truth.

And this realization that we have because of the death burial

and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we had this hope.

And now how do we react to it? We'll look.

Here is a continues on a verse. Number 6, in this, what do you

do? He says, you greatly Joyce,

though, now for a little while, if need be, you have been

grieved by various trials that the genuineness of your faith

being much more precious than gold, that perishes though it is

tested by fire, may be found to praise honor and Glory at the

revelation of Jesus Christ whom having not seen you love.

Though. Now you do not see him yet

believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of Glory.

Receiving the end of your of your faith.

And what is that? He says it's the salvation of

your souls that's what it is. And when you read that and read

what Peter says about how we react to the realization that

we've got this Living, Hope I love Paul's attitude, I love the

tone that he gives here. Because he tells us what we had

this hope. He says, rejoice in that, be

excited about that. Rejoice.

That you have been given this great gift from God.

But when you look at the overall context here of what she writes

about, do you see the overall theme Here?

The overall theme. Is that you rejoice when you're

having a bad time? Rejoice, when you're being

tested by fire. You rejoice in your hope when

you're having a bad day. It's on days like that, it could

be on occasions in the circumstances circumstances like

that, that it's just easy to give in and just lose the battle

for that moment. Yes, it's easy to wipe the wave

the white flag. What if you give up?

You can't rejoice in that Canyon.

You can't you see rejoicing in hope during the tough times.

Well, that tends to be the next level in Christianity.

That's when you mature, that's when you see those trials in the

overall picture at that moment. That's where the growth happens,

that's when you take your stand in the truth and that's when you

feel proud and you feel great for your accomplishments and you

pray and you think God for the opportunity for going through

whatever it Was because it made you a better person and it made

you a stronger servants for God at that time.

Young people. It's going to it's going to

happen when you're being attacked or challenged by the

teacher or classmate because your faith.

It's going to happen when you're challenged about.

If there's a God and if he created this world in the

universe, it's going to happen when you're challenged about

what constitutes a family. And your stand that God only

intended for a man and a woman to become married.

It's going to happen when you faced with peer pressure to do

something unwise or wrong. And I'll admit to you.

Those are some tough and difficult times.

And sometimes we just want to take a step back because we

don't want to create controversy.

We don't want to lose influence, we don't want to lose friends.

And so in those moments of struggle or pressure, would you

have the choice and you have the choice to stand strong and feel

great about the end result, or you also have the choice and

walk away without any reason to Rejoice A New Hope in your

faith. Those are the two choices you

have. And Paul says, the similar thing

back, what we read. And we've already said, said,

seen this already here in 12 and verse 12 of Romans, he said

rejoicing in hope he said patient in Tribulation, but also

continuing steadfastly in prayer. and so Paul gives us the

formula to not just rejoice in the hope during the tough times,

but in Durham, through those times and pray during those

times to pray, I like the end results when you go back here to

1st Peter 1. he says, if you endure through the tough times,

He says you're going to have a joy within you, that's going to

be so great. Inexpressible is what he says.

And the ultimate reward. Heaven.

That's the ultimate reward. We've all gone through some

tough times. One of the toughest times for

me, was when I lost my job, I was out of the job for about

about eight months. That was those were some

stressful times and a lot of prayer, a lot of effort, trying

to find trying to find a job, but that phone call came one

afternoon. Offering me the job and the joy

that just overtook me and the prayers thanking God.

Those are one of the highlights of This Joy.

And there are other things that might that you might relate to,

or greater things that has happened in your life to bring

such joy to your life. But even through even through

whatever we experience, even some of the highlights of my own

life of God's blessings, something greater is there, and

that's God's promise to save me in the end if I'm faithful to

him. And you and I we can rejoice in

that hope of entering through the Gates of Heaven and

experiencing eternal life with God and so Peter and Paul of the

words that we have read so far, tell us to rejoice in that very

hope especially in those tough times.

It's so there's the exhortation. And how do we do this?

How do you obtain of strength? How do we, what do we look to?

For for strength of the hope that we have.

Well, there are things that help us.

And for one thing, I believe that the first and the foremost

thing of how we obtain or strengthen our hope is to look

to the scriptures for help and for guidance, and for

encouragement. You will care what it says in

Romans 15 and verse number 4. He says, for whatever things

were written before were written for our learning that we through

the patience and comfort of the scriptures.

Might have hope. The things that we read in

scripture down when Paul writes these things to the Brethren

here, he's talking about the things of the Old Testament.

But when we look to the Old Testament, even the things that

with written within the New Testament, will they were

written for a reason. They are it so that we can learn

from them, they were written, so that we could we it reveals

God's will to us. They were written to encourage

us in our life. They were written to give us

hope. And so now, Naturally.

When you think about it, the more we're in scripture, the

more Our Hope can be strengthened and we just can't

neglect God's word and expect to have a strong hope and expect to

be able just to have all the instruction and the guidance to

face the trials of life. And the reason why is because

our faith and hope they come from Reading God's word.

They do. and so, when you read the scriptures, You and I each

one of us can have a confident expectation of Heaven because of

seeing the nature of God, through the Biblical, history of

what we read about, how he interacted with people through

time. And the promises that he gave

God's people through time, you can read the thousands of years

of God at work and seeing his plan and seeing his promises and

you could also have an assurance and confident hope in Jesus

being the Messiah. After reading, about all the

prophecies, Of old concerning the Messiah and how all those

were fulfilled through Jesus Christ.

And so remember, The Bible is the source of your hope and it's

nothing that is within us. It is not of any wisdom that

anyone of us have that could bring this this kind of hope.

Then from what we can see in the scriptures, another thing that

can help our hope is to look at the resurrection of Jesus

Christ. In fact, the resurrection of

Jesus Christ is we've already alluded to gives us that ability

to rejoice in Our Hope. And I don't know about you.

If you want to get me excited upon something, you talk about

the resurrection that is that's one of the big ones.

That's one of the highlights that you could read about in

the, in the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is all great news for you. And I and so because of the

Resurrection, we can be assured that we're going to have a

victory in the end because Jesus was a victory over the grave.

Paul talked about how sad and he talked about how hopeless it

would be. If Jesus had not risen from the

dead things would be much different for you and I if it

did not happen. In fact, you look here in 1st

Corinthians chapter 15. It says there in verse number

12, now of Christ is preached that he has been raised from the

dead. How does some among you say?

But there is no resurrection of the Dead.

That was one of the problems here in Corinth and Paul is

addressing that where people were saying he didn't, he didn't

rise from the dead, there was no Resurrection.

And because of that, he's going to address several things that

if that were true, there would be some things that would be

evidence because of that, he says, but if there is no

resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.

And if Christ is not risen, number one, Our preaching is

empty, and your faith is also empty.

He goes on to say yes and we are found false Witnesses of God

because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he

did not raise up. If in fact the dead do not rise

for. If the dead do not rise, then

Christ is not risen and if Christ is not risen he says your

faith is futile but not only that he says you are still in

your sins. If there was no resurrection of

Christ. Then also those who have fallen

asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have

hope in Christ. We are all men the most pitiable

That would be the facts if there were no Resurrection.

And if the tomb was not empty. But the tomb is not empty.

And so, because it's not empty. He says we Rejoice because of

it. And that gives us a great reason

for us to rejoice in Our Hope. I love absolutely love.

What the writer of Hebrews chapter 6, says regarding a

Hebrews 6 · chapter mention

reason or another reason to rejoice in Our Hope.

He says here, Hebrews chapter 6, beginning of verse number 13.

Hebrews 6 · chapter mention

Bro, when God made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear

by no one greater he swore by himself saying surely blessing,

I will bless you and multiplying, I will multiply

you. And so after he had patiently,

endured he obtained. The promise for made indeed

swear by the greater and a note for confirmation is for them and

end of all dispute. Thus God, determining the show

more button to lead to the The Heirs of Promise, the

immutability of his counsel confirmed, it by an oath that by

two immutable things in which number one, it is impossible for

God to lie, we might have strong consolation who have fled for

Refuge to lay hold of the Hope set before us.

This hope, he says, we have as an anchor of the Soul.

That's a key phrase. Our hope is an anchor of the

Soul, both sure. And steadfast and which enters

the presence behind the Ville where the 4Runner has entered

for us even Jesus having become our high become high priest

forever according to the order of Melchizedek and when you read

what is what we just see here in Hebrews chapter 6, do you hear

Hebrews 6 · chapter mention

the certainty? Do you hear the confidence that

we have? because of this hope, but

because of what God has done, I mean, you you look at God's

track record and he has promised, and he has kept them

all. And another thing is that God

can't lie And so when he has promised us a reward in heaven,

our hope is based on a truth and we know that God's going to keep

his word regarding that very thing.

And notice what is said about this.

Hope again, it is an anchor of our soul.

It's what motivates us to be a servant.

It's what motivates us to never give up.

What a Blessed Assurance we have, don't we?

And all the more reason to rejoice in the hope that is

promised to everyone of us today.

And as we wrap things up here this morning, I want to mention

one last thing. We read a bit from Peter and

Paul about rejoicing and I hope. And when you look at what those

men went through for the cause of Christ, When you look at the

persecutions that both of those guys endured, it was horrible,

was it? They were threatened to death.

Paul on one. Occasion was stoned.

By an angry mob, almost died left for dead outside.

The, the, the walls of the city or the gates of the city, but

those guys went through all that, Because of the hope.

It was because of Jesus. And it was because of this

surance, that they knew that they had.

Because God was faithful. To what he was promised. and so,

when you read about the experience of just these two

guys, specifically, in the book of Acts, if you want to be

encouraged, read the book of Acts regarding this thing in

this life and when you read about that experience and then

those two guys in particular, saying rejoice, in the hope that

you've got, Those are words of experience and those are men who

know what they're talking about. Because they had that assurance

that they were going to go to heaven because of the life that

they had lived. They show us how to rejoice in

Our Hope. And as I leave these teachings

to you this morning, I want to leave you with this one verse in

Romans, 15 and 13. Now, the May the god of Hope.

Fill you with all joy and peace in believing?

That you may abound in, Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And that's what God does. And that's the Blessed assurance

that we have. When this life is over.

Be thankful that you serve a god?

Who is faithful and is good to you and gives us that promise.

And rejoice in that every day that you live in whatever,

circumstance that comes your way.

And I hope that with these things that we've seen here,

this morning that you've been encouraged, that you've been

lifted up. And there are things that I need

to work on. So I Rejoice even more because

of the god. That is so good to me and

blesses me in so many ways. And I'm looking forward.

To the hope. Where my faith becomes sight.

It's going to be great. And you're looking forward to

that too, aren't you? Maybe you're here and you've

never become a child of God. there's a there's a realization

that if you have not become a child of God, if you have not

obeyed, the gospel of Christ, There's no hope.

There's no hope but you can change that understanding about

God's grace, how he sent his son down to this world and he lived

the life that he lived and he was perfect and he was sinless.

Yet he bore your sins on the cross and was the ultimate

sacrifice for your sins. How he died and was buried and

was resurrected on that third day.

Because of that and because our obedience to that very thing, we

can have hope and we can have our sins washed away and we

could be added to the Lord's church.

That's something that the Lord does it obedience to that and

understanding that and repenting of your life.

And that confessing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And then be baptized for the remission of your sins.

That happened to those people there in Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

And it specifically says that the the Lord added them to his

church is not something that we do that.

We add you to the church. It's the Lord that add you to

the church in obedience to his will and Obedience of the Gospel

of Jesus Christ. And then you'll have that hope.

That God has promised, the faithful.

Take advantage of that. If you've never done it, take

advantage of the goodness and mercy and love of God.

If you've never done that, if you have become a child of God,

maybe you've messed up. Maybe there are things in your

life that you just need to make things right with God.

Whatever it is, understand that God always gives us another

chance because he is so merciful and forgiving.

That's the kind of God whom we serve.

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