Part III: Abounding Hope in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Sermon Title: Abounding Hope in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Good News Statement: “God replenishes our happiness with hope.”

Preached: Sunday, July 25, 2021 at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NIV): Today’s scripture reading comes from Romans chapter 15 verses  9 thru 13. Listen to what the LORD is saying:

As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” ¹⁰ Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” ¹¹ And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” ¹² And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Introduction:

This morning we are going to continue to play our game of “Guess Who” or “Who Am I” by looking at three individuals who brought laughter into this world. Like last week, if you know the answer before I finish giving the clues, remember to hold them in until I ask “who am I.” Are there any questions?

Here’s our first one. Who Am I? From 1959-1964, I premiered on the ABC Network as a fictional animated character. I was created by Jay Ward and Alex Anderson; and I was named after a car dealer. In 1996, I was ranked #32 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Times. For more than 60 years, I have been immersed in the television world: I have starred in my own television show, appeared in commercials, and made my movie debut in 2018. I share a house with my best friend, Rocky, in the fictional small town of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota. Today, I am pictured as wearing white gloves, though they were once blue; I have yellow-orange antlers, which were brown to begin with; and I have a reddish-orangeish body. Oh, I am also a Moose. Who am I? Bullwinkle J. Moose.

Here’s number two. Who am I? I was born on June 13, 1953, and twenty-two years later I began my path to stardom by first performing stand-up comedy in Detroit to now appearing in movies, commercials, and TV sitcoms. I was arrested in 1978 and imprisoned for drug trafficking and was released from prison in 1981. From my many performances, I would say I am well known for playing the role of a “tool-man,” for playing the role of Santa Clause, being part of a “motorcycle gang,” and for being the voice of a “space-toy”—who repeatedly said, “To infinity, and beyond.” Today, I live by the mantra my mother told me, “Men are alive for lawn care and vehicle maintenance.” Who am I? Tim Allen is correct.

Here’s number three. Who am I? I was born not too long ago. While growing up in small town in Illinois, I was taught how to fly by my older brother who forgot to tell me how to land on my feet, made encouraging signs for my sister, and I lived with a brother who wore shorts all year round. I also began collecting hotwheels, and had my first bike crash—in which my brother asked when the accident happened, “Is the bike okay?” Later on, I moved into the house my parents built. In this house, I learned to play drums, I put a hole in the wall while trying to ride a unicycle, I took up the hobby of juggling, began wearing “fun shocks” to church, accepted letters to attend college and later seminary, learned a lot about upholstery, duct-taped shovels to a 4-wheeler because I was too lazy to shovel the driveway by hand, and I learned a lot about what it means to be a family. Today I have been appointed to lead God’s flock in Oblong, Illinois. Who am I? Me.

This may sound strange, but between Bullwinkle, Tim Allen, and myself there is a common thread that connects us; and this common thread is not doing random things or causing destruction. It is actually happiness that abounds in hope. It is often said that people who are happy live longer than those who are unhappy. In other words, according to psychologists, you should make an effort to be happy about something. As Barbara Ehrenreich explains in her book Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America, “Americans are a ‘positive’ people—cheerful, optimistic, and upbeat: This is our reputation as well as our self-image.” She further goes on to say, “But more than temperament, being positive is the key to getting success and prosperity” in the name of Jesus Christ.

It is through Jesus Christ, Ehrenreich argues, that our happiness comes to fruition. It is through Jesus Christ that our happiness becomes a way of life. It is through Jesus Christ that our happiness revives our soul. It is through Jesus Christ that our happiness cures illnesses and broken hearts. And it is through Jesus Christ that our happiness is replenished and renewed. God replenishes our happiness with hope.

 

 

Opening Prayer: Let us pray…. Lord, Jesus, we know that there are things in our life that have the ability to take away our happiness: to leave us stranded in pain, suffering, and stress. But Lord, we know through you and in you, that your happiness has the power and grace to conquer the sorrow of the heart. And we ask now, that your happiness reside in our lives in a way that replenishes our spirits so that we can continue to do your will. Lord, I ask that my words fall to the ground so that your words will prevail and bring everlasting joy and happiness in all of our lives. In your name we pray, Amen.

 

Body:

Romans 15:13 is a wonderful prayer that Paul, the author of Romans, wants every believer to experience. As a refresher, Paul writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The words of Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, are stirring our hearts, today, to seek to live a more Christ-centered life by means of accepting the abounding hope of happiness: the very happiness that resides within the power of the Holy Spirit.

When you read a verse like that, we must ask ourselves, “Does that verse even come close to describing me? Can I honestly say that my life is filled with all joy and peace in believing? Do I abound in hope?” And, since we all tend to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt in these matters, we need to ask ourselves, “Would my family or good friends describe me as being filled with all joy and peace in believing and abounding in hope?”

To varying degrees we all have fallen short of experiencing that verse and so we can all benefit by thinking about what it means and how we can grow in these qualities. I can’t imagine anyone saying, “I’m not interested in having joy and peace. I don’t want to abound in hope. I’m fine the way I am.” We all want and need these qualities, and yet even among believers, you and me, very few can legitimately claim to be filled with all joy and peace and to be abounding in hope. Seeking God to fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, is just one way God promises to be there guiding you towards happiness. This is a most practical verse for us all as we navigate life’s trials! Let’s explore this verse together:

1. The source of this abundant hope is the God of hope.

By “the God of hope,” Paul means that God is the source or giver of hope. He is also the object of our hope, but here the focus is on God as the source of hope. In Romans 15:5, he describes God as, “the God of perseverance and encouragement.” He gives those qualities to those who seek Him. In 15:33 & 16:20 Paul describes Him as “the God of peace.” He gives peace to His people. Thus if we lack hope, which I’m sure we have at some point, the first place we should look for it is God, who is the source of true hope: the very hope we pray for, the very hope we seek in times of desperation, the very hope that we share with others. Remember, biblical hope is not uncertain, like when I say that I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow because I have plans to be outside or I hope that my parents will forgive me for putting a hole in their wall because my brother told me it was okay to ride my unicycle in the house. Rather, biblical hope is certain because it rests on God’s promises, the very promises that give us perseverance and encouragement to overcome the inevitable.

The word hope in verse 13 links back with hope in verse 12c (citing Isa. 11:10), “In Him shall the Gentiles hope.” Him refers to Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation that comes to all peoples through Him. This means that if you have not come to Jesus Christ as a guilty sinner and put your trust in Him as your only hope for eternal life, then (as Paul puts it in Eph. 2:12), you have no hope and are without God in the world. But God is constantly calling you to have hope in his salvation; therefore, you are never without God because God is with you; therefore, you are never without hope.

So if you’re lacking hope, you know where to find it: Seek the God who is the source of all true hope and put your hope in Christ. Christ is the object of all our hope. He is the Savior who has freed us from condemnation. He has given us eternal life as a free gift. He has abundantly given hope as a means for our happiness. Our hope rests completely in Him and we are to find hope in God the Father. God’s hope is our happiness.

2. The foundation for this abundant hope is to be filled with all joy and peace.

Paul doesn’t pray that you will have a little bit of joy and peace trickling into your life now and then. Rather, he prays that the God of hope will fill you with all joy and all peace so that you will abound in hope and happiness. He piles up these superlatives to show us what God can give us and wants to give us. Have you ever felt empty of joy, peace, or hope? If you have, ask God to fill you to the brim with His joy and peace and hope. He is there waiting to fill you with so much joy, peace, and hope that the access trickles into the lives of your neighbors so that they can experience the same thing that God has given you: everyone deserves to be and feel happy in the presence of God through the hope that they gain through Jesus Christ.

It’s important to understand that the joy and peace that Paul is talking about do not deny the reality of sorrow, grief, or genuine concern. Paul had great sorrow and unceasing grief in his heart over the great number of Jews who were rejecting Christ (9:2), yet he could write about being filled with all joy. Even when things were against him, Paul still found joy. Like Paul, we are called to find joy and happiness where joy and happiness seem obsolete. Have you ever found joy and happiness at a funeral, at the hospital, after falling off a bike? Joy and happiness exist where sorrow and grief reside.

To put this into perspective, think about this: Paul mentions joy 21 times in his letters; the next closest is John with nine times. It’s especially helpful to study joy in Philippians, where Paul was in prison and being wrongly criticized by fellow believers, and yet he was rejoicing always in the Lord. Needless to say though, it’s hard to rejoice always when something tragic and unexplainable happens in your life. Do you have the hope to find joy in the unexplainable like Paul found joy while being in prison?

Now peace. Paul was filled with peace and yet he mentions the daily pressure on him “of concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28). Biblical peace comes from taking all of our anxieties to God in thankful prayer.  As Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests, your prayers, be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Biblical peace is the inner contentment and freedom from crippling anxiety and fear that comes from being reconciled to God and, as much as it depends on us, being at peace with others (5:1; 12:18). As we’ve seen, peace comes through taking every concern to God in thankful prayer. Thus biblical joy is an inner delight in God and His sure promises that gives us comfort and contentment in every trial. It comes from knowing that our sovereign God will work all things together for our good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose (8:28, 35).  Being filled with God’s joy and peace is the foundation or platform that results in abounding in hope and happiness. Joy and peace are God’s promises to each of us that through tribulations happiness is present because God is present with us.

3. To have abundant hope is to keep believing in God and His Word.

In the Bible, hope and faith are sometimes virtual synonyms. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Psalm 71:5, “For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.” So to hope in Christ is to believe in Christ. It is to look to Him alone to fulfill all the promises of God to us. We find those promises in Scripture, which is why Paul said (15:4) that the Scriptures give us hope. Or, as he said (10:17), “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” To have abundant hope, we must believe and keep on believing in God and His Word.

But you may wonder, “How do I get this kind of faith that helps me abound in hope even in the midst of trials?” Part of the answer is to know your God and His ways through His Word. The Word shows God to be faithful to His people in all sorts of trials. After all, we are reminded by Moses, that God will be with us for all generations. Knowing God and His ways through His Word will show you that He is completely trustworthy. Even if you suffer a martyr’s death, He will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).

The other part of having this kind of faith is to choose to believe God in spite of horrible circumstances that seem to be contrary to His promises. After Nebuchadnezzar’s army destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and slaughtered many Israelites, Jeremiah grieved and lamented, but then he directed his thoughts toward God (Lam. 3:21-24), who promised in Romans 4:18: “In hope he believed ….” He chose to believe God’s promise in spite of circumstances to the contrary. Can you do the same thing? Do you have the same hope that Jeremiah had?

The human means of growing in abundant hope is to believe and keep believing in God even though we may question God, even though we may say to God “What if…” or ask “Why” when we appear uncertain. If you remember from last week, I talked about being present for unfortunate life circumstances; but in those events, the people prayed. They prayed for their loved one, for the life that they had, for the memories that will last for eternity, for the hope that they will meet again. Life, life is not always perfect nor is it ever completely perfect, but hope reminds us of what it will be like in the perfect kingdom of God—where we will meet those whom we remember. And we remember, because we believe.

Lastly: Abundant hope is the power of the Holy Spirit.

The power of the Holy Spirit is, of course, nothing less than the power of God that created the universe! He spoke and it was done (Ps. 33:9). The Spirit’s power is the resurrection power that gives new life (John 3:6-8). The Holy Spirit opens our minds so that we can understand the truths of God’s Word (1 Cor. 2:9-13). The Holy Spirit is the power that produces His holiness in us as we walk in dependence on Him (Gal. 5:16-23; 1 Cor. 6:11). The Spirit confirms our adoption as children of God and helps us as we struggle to pray (Rom. 8:15-17, 26). The Spirit strengthens us with power in our inner being so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith (Eph. 3:16-17). The Spirit revives our hope in times of uncertainty. The Spirit reminds us who we are when we ask God, “Who do you say I am.” The Spirit is our connection to the ultimate happiness. The Holy Spirit seals every believer so that we are kept for the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30). And so, as Paul says here, the Holy Spirit is the power who produces in us His fruit of joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we abound in hope as we seek to have our happiness replenished in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died on the cross so that his salvation would guide our hearts in joy, peace, hope, and happiness for yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Conclusion:

In the span of three weeks, together we have answered the question of “Who am I?” You know that I changed my mind several times before accepting God’s call; you know that uncertainty walked by my side when I was a Chaplain; you know that I have experienced moments of tragedy and sorrow; and you have learned about my interests, hobbies, and moments of joy. You have also learned that God is always with you; and that by accepting his presence in your life, you have not only received joy, peace, and abounding hope, but you have gained an eternal happiness that is constantly replenished through the love and comfort of Jesus Christ.

In the conclusion to her book, Ehrenreich noted, “The outlook of life is as bright as the promises of God.” I challenge each and every one of you today, to seek God’s happiness, to give your heart to the Lord, and to invite the Holy Spirit on your journey through life. God is our hope. God promises us to give us all joy and all peace as long as we believe. And as long as we believe, the power of the Holy Spirit will turn our abundant hope into happiness; because God replenishes our happiness with abundant hope.

Closing Prayer:

Let us pray…. Dear Lord, because of your willingness to be part of our lives, we have been given the best gift of all: your Son who gives us hope. Through your Son, we have gained the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to experience joy and peace, and our hope and happiness is eternally replenished. We give you thanks for always being with us and for filling our hearts with your Word. Lord, we are here. We are who we are because of you. Lord, we are hopeful and happy. In your heavenly name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

In a rather famous song the lyrics remind us “Don’t worry, be happy.” Be happy because God is with you! May the God of hope and happiness fill each of you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit go forth in peace and happiness as you serve the Lord. Amen, Amen, Amen.