http://bible.com/events/608342
April 28
More Than Me: More Hope
John 10:10 (The Message)
We are living in between two tensions:
The wonder of ME….
-I am a miracle of God
-I am created with gifts, talents & abilities
-I am created in the image of God
The problem of ME…
-Sin separates me from God
-Sin prevents me from experiencing God’s best for my life today
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Augustine
Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
Peace with God….
-The opposite of justification is condemnation
-Condemnation is what we deserved because of sin
-Justification means we are made righteous
Access to God…
-We used to depend on what we can do for ourselves
-Now we depend on what God can do for us
Hope of the glory of God….
-Things I place my hope in…
Who I Am (My abilities)
What I Do (My accomplishments)
My People (My relationships)
My Stuff (My finances, possessions, etc)
-The reality: ME has no real capacity to hope
Our hope is not founded in me
Our hope is founded in God’s Glory
Peace with God – takes care of the past
Access to God – addresses the present
Hope of the glory of God – speaks to the future
Romans 5:3-4
Suffering
-Suffering seems contradictory to hope, but suffering is actually a gateway to HOPE
-“Hope itself is like a star – not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” -Charles Spurgeon
Perseverance
-When you are willing to endure, resistance builds strength
Character
-Through suffering something beautiful is produced
-“Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted” Matthew 5:4
Hope
-Hope is the product of something else – it doesn’t appear out of nowhere.
Suffering
Perseverance
Character
Hope
Romans 5:5
The Hope of ME can fail
The Hope of God cannot fail