Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Text this evening: v13
• Abounding hope
• We do not know this everyday
• We have worries and troubles
• The text given to the Roman Christians was his experience
• He knew many trials
• He abounded in hope through the Holy Spirit
• Paul rejoices that the gospel has gone to the Gentiles (v9-12)
• Paul has given them instructions on secondary matters
• Paul's real desire for the Church: to be filled with joy and peace in believing
• A form of benediction (v13)
• There are many reasons why we can be brought low
• Example of Spurgeon
• "Hope deferred can make the heart sick" - Proverbs
• Not seeing souls saved
• Trials
• Our own personal sin
• Paul wants to encourage God's people
• He has taught them some hard things
• He wants to encourage them
• He ends in this glorious way
• Knowing joy and peace
• Is it just for the good times?
• Example of Henry Martin
• Example of shipwreck with the apostle Paul
• Do we believe the word of God for ourselves?
• The unexpected can show how strong or weak we are
• v13 - is this a prayer or desire?
• Both a prayer and a desire
• An earnest desire ...
• ... for all Christians 
• Do we pray like this for others?
• Paul is also acknowledging that we run on half-empty (or empty)
• We desire it when we need it
• We can be weak in faith, troubled, anxious, struggling & limping along, wounded
• The answer is to turn back to God
• We must believe this is His desire for us

Hope

• An emphasis on hope
• v13, v12, v4
• We live in a world without hope
• We have the answer - a God of hope
• The Gospel saves us and gives us a firm foundation - our lives are now anchored in Jesus Christ
• We have a promise of heaven
• God will complete the work He has started in us
• We have a living hope [in Jesus Christ]
• The Scriptures give us hope
• v4
• Examples of Joseph, Daniel, Job
• v3 - Psalm 69:9
• The Christian hope is based on the solid foundation of the Scriptures
• Paul references the Scriptures
• If you are struggling return to the word

Prayer

• Looking at Paul's prayer:
• The Kingdom of God is not about food, drink and religious observance
• It is about the fruits of the Holy Spirit
• Paul does not recommend any earthly activity ...
• ... but that they would experience the fruits of the Holy Spirit
• That they would know more of God
• That they would put God at the very centre of their lives
• John writes "I write these things that your joy may be full"
• Signs that you are children of God
• Joy comes from God
• Joy is bound up with thanksgiving
• The disciples were rejoicing as the gospel was advancing (even though there was persecution)
• Psalm 5:11
• We need to believe - "joy and peace in believing"
• Paul understands the disciples are facing persecution
• They can still know joy unspeakable
• It is in faith that they will not joy and peace
• Let us not grieve and quench the Holy Spirit
• Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Closing Remarks

• Paul's desire for his people
• God's desire for His people also