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Romans 15:8-13 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
I really appreciate the privilege of being able to talk about this wonderful topic today.
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! Why don't you turn with me to Romans chapter 15.
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! I'm going to be reading from verses 8-13.
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Romans 15, 8-13.
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For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised
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to show God's truthfulness in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs
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and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.
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As it is written, therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.
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And again it is said, rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.
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And again, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.
1:00
For the serious reader of the Bible, there should be no question
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that hope is a foundational part of the gospel message.
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And as such, it's a foundational part of the Advent season.
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The genesis of hope is first observed in the Garden of Eden.
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There God promised our first parents that they could expect Him to remedy their fallen condition.
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Eve's seed would one day crush the serpent's head.
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Later, as the Israelite nation and religion and culture developed,
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hope was reaffirmed and strengthened through the many prophetic oracles.
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And that hope reached its peak in the period between the Testaments
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and was focused on the coming or Advent of the Messiah of Israel.
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But the question for us this morning is not whether hope has a role in the Advent message,
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in the gospel.
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The question for us this morning is,
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how much does hope affect our ongoing experience of the gospel?
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How much does Advent hope form our values?
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How much does it impact our daily decisions?
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And how much does it shape our life and the life of the church?
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There appears in Scripture to be something about the experience of hope
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that God intended as a means to aid Christian growth and unity.
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It was God who built hope into the Israelite faith.
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And it is God who continues to inspire hope in us now.
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During the Advent season, we remind ourselves about the coming of Christ.
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It certainly is a time to reflect on the baby in the manger.
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But it's also a time to rekindle hope in His second Advent.
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And it needs to be rekindled.
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In our advanced and comfortable and pleasure-filled world,
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it's easy to lose sight of our hope.
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So if our anticipation has waned,
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if our hope has dimmed,
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our growth and witness will be stunted.
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But I don't believe God just wants us to regain a dimmed hope.
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I believe this morning He wants it to abound in us.
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And that is the message of today's passage.
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Romans 15 is a chapter that gives a glimpse of God's intent for hope.
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It shows us
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that God wants you and I to experience a life that abounds in hope.
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A life that abounds in Advent hope.
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I think that's something quite different from the simple assumption
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that someday Jesus is coming back and heaven's going to be a great place.
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Instead, it is a vital, living, purifying, worship-inspiring hope
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that shapes all of our life
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while we eagerly anticipate and wait for Christ to return.
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From verses 8 through 13,
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I'd like to point out three aspects that we can glean
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regarding Advent hope
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and what it means for our lives today.
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First of all,
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Advent hope means
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that you can trust God
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to keep His promises.
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You can trust God
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to keep His promises.
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Really, this is the basis,
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the foundation
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for everything else.
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Look at verse 8 again.
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For I tell you that Christ became a servant
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to the circumcised
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to show God's truthfulness
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in order to confirm the promises
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given to the patriarchs.
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So here we see one of the many reasons
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why Jesus came.
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It's highlighted here in this verse.
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His coming
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simply demonstrates
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God's truthfulness.
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God can be trusted
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in what He says.
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He spoke to the fathers
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of the Israelite nation
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promising them
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that He would bring salvation to the world
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through them.
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The birth,
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the life,
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the death,
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the resurrection of Jesus
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demonstrated,
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among many other things,
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demonstrated that God
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keeps His word.
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God's promises
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can be trusted.
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Now, even though the word hope
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doesn't appear in this verse,
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it is the theme of the paragraph.
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And it's implied by the mention
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of the word promises.
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hope is generally defined
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in the world
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as an expectation
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of something desired.
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And it's important
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to have those components,
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expectation and desire.
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Because there is a difference.
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It's not just a desire,
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it's a desire that has
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an element of expectation to it.
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It's kind of interesting.
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Esther reminded me,
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she was my translator in Italy
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for three years
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as I was,
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would go to the markets
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or preach or whatever.
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She always happened to be with me.
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And she reminded me last night
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that this concept was real difficult
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because there isn't a distinction
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between wish and hope
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in Italian.
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And it was difficult
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for people to understand that.
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But that's important here
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because it does have
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this sense of expectation
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with it.
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Now, I understand
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that sometimes we use
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the word hope
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to express doubt.
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I hope so.
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You know,
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what are we saying?
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I don't know
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if that's going to happen.
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No way.
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But that's not
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what it normally means.
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It does have
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a sense of expectation.
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Hope is a common
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and powerful theme
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in the modern world,
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even though it might not be
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the biblical definition.
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It's often used
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to emphasize
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the possibilities
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of human potential.
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I don't know
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how many movies you watch,
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but there's a scene
8:58
in the theory of everything.
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You know,
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have you seen
9:02
any of you
9:03
familiar with that?
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The story of
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Stephen Hawking's life.
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And
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during a lecture
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in the movie,
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he began taking questions
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and a man rose
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and asked,
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knowing that
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Hawking didn't believe
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in God,
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did he have some kind
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of philosophy
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of life
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that helped him?
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And
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after
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giving a short
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description
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of the apparent
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insignificance
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of human existence,
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he then said this,
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however bad
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life may seem,
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there is always
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something you can do
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and succeed at.
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While there is life,
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there is hope.
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And at that point,
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the audience stood up
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and broke out
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in this amazing applause.
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You know,
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wow, yes,
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that's so true.
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He was quoting
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Roman orator
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Marcus Cicero.
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And, you know,
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you could look at that
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and say,
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yeah, okay,
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there's,
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from whatever
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perspective
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you're looking at,
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there's truth
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to that,
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but that's
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not the
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biblical idea.
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It is
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the hope
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of the world.
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It is the
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philosophy of the world
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which says
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there really is
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no meaning
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to the universe.
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But even though
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we're insignificant
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and even though
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we have real problems,
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we should hope
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for something.
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We should hope
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for something better
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and,
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as is the theme
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of many of
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modern science movies,
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together we can face
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any obstacle
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in hope of survival
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or for a better world.
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And when you think
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about what
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they're really saying
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is that
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the hope
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we're supposed
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to have
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is just
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impossibility.
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That something
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could be possible
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if we join together
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or if we work hard,
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if we do
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what
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good
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human beings
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have evolved
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to do.
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The problem
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is there's no
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assurance
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at all.
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No assurance
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that the expectation
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is anything
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more than
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mere possibility.
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And because of that
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many philosophers
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today have argued
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that there really
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is no
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reasonable
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basis for hope.
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And to live
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with hope
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is to live
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with an illusion.
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And yet
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people continue
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and will continue
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to hold on
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to this kind
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of hope.
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I think it's
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interesting what
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one self-proclaimed
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American agnostics
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one said,
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he said,
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I suppose
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it can be
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truthfully said
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that hope
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is the only
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universal liar
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who never
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loses
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his reputation
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for veracity.
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Did you get that?
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I had to read it
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twice.
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I suppose
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it can be
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truthfully said
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that hope
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is the only
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universal liar
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who never
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loses
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his reputation
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for veracity.
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At least
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he was being
12:33
honest.
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And people
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will continue
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to hope
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this way
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because
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it's all
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they have.
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hope
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but it's
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quite different
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from
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the biblical
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portrayal
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of hope.
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And you can
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see a quote
12:50
in your
12:51
bulletin
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Daniel
12:53
Caudry.
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Now what
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is hope?
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But the
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expectation
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of those
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things
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which God
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has promised.
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And we
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find in the
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scripture
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that
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it defines
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hope
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in this
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way.
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Two parts.
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First
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an
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expectation
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of something
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desired
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which includes
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something
13:20
promised
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and two
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a certain
13:24
future
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reality.
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A
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certain
13:29
future
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reality.
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It's not
13:32
just a
13:33
possibility.
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It's
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something
13:35
promised
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by a
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truthful
13:37
God
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confirmed
13:39
by the
13:40
coming
13:40
of
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Christ.
13:46
Advent
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hope
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assures
13:48
us
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that God
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keeps his
13:50
promises
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and you
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can trust
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him
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to keep
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all of
13:55
them.
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Now
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not only
13:59
does
13:59
Advent
13:59
hope
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mean you
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can trust
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God
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to keep
14:02
his
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promises
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but
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abundant
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Advent
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hope
14:05
means
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you
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have
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inherited
14:07
the
14:08
same
14:09
promises.
14:10
You
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have
14:10
inherited
14:11
the
14:11
same
14:11
promises.
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That's
14:12
his
14:13
point
14:13
here
14:13
in
14:14
these
14:14
verses.
14:14
!
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God
14:45
in
14:45
order
14:45
that
14:45
so
14:46
here's
14:46
a
14:46
second
14:46
reason.
14:47
Why
14:48
did he
14:48
come?
14:49
Why
14:49
did he
14:50
become
14:50
a
14:50
servant?
14:52
He
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did
14:53
so
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to have
14:56
mercy
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on us.
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It was
14:59
God's
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mercy
15:00
that
15:01
included
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you
15:03
and me
15:05
in the
15:06
messianic
15:07
hope.
15:08
Paul
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says
15:09
elsewhere
15:10
in
15:12
Ephesians
15:12
that
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the
15:14
Gentiles
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were
15:15
once
15:15
strangers
15:16
to the
15:17
covenants
15:17
of
15:17
promise
15:18
having
15:19
no hope
15:21
and without
15:22
God in
15:22
the world.
15:23
Chapter
15:23
2
15:23
verse
15:24
12
15:24
But
15:25
now
15:26
they
15:27
have
15:27
been
15:27
brought
15:28
near
15:28
by
15:29
God's
15:29
rich
15:30
mercy
15:31
chapter
15:32
2
15:32
verse
15:32
4
15:33
and
15:33
through
15:34
the
15:34
blood
15:35
of
15:35
Christ
15:36
2
15:36
13
15:37
Now
15:38
Paul
15:38
could
15:38
have
15:38
just
15:39
said
15:39
Jesus
15:40
came
15:40
to
15:40
save
15:41
the
15:41
world
15:41
but
15:44
I
15:44
like
15:44
the
15:44
way
15:44
he
15:44
says
15:45
it
15:45
here
15:45
he
15:45
says
15:45
it
15:45
in
15:46
a
15:46
way
15:46
that
15:46
highlights
15:46
our
15:47
response
15:47
we
15:50
will
15:50
glorify
15:51
God
15:51
for
15:52
his
15:52
mercy
15:52
and
15:54
then
15:55
he
15:55
quotes
15:55
four
15:55
Old
15:56
Testament
15:56
prophecies
15:57
to
15:57
demonstrate
15:58
this
15:58
in
15:58
verse
15:59
9
15:59
we
16:01
see
16:01
that
16:03
he
16:03
indicates
16:03
that
16:04
something
16:05
has
16:05
changed
16:05
in
16:06
the
16:06
world
16:06
and
16:09
God
16:10
is
16:11
now
16:11
worshipped
16:12
among
16:12
all
16:13
the
16:13
nations
16:13
and
16:15
in
16:15
verse
16:15
10
16:16
scripture
16:17
calls
16:17
on
16:18
the
16:18
nations
16:18
to
16:18
rejoice
16:19
with
16:20
the
16:20
people
16:21
of
16:21
God
16:21
the
16:22
Jewish
16:22
people
16:23
and
16:24
in
16:24
verse
16:24
11
16:25
to
16:25
worship
16:26
the
16:27
Lord
16:28
then
16:29
in
16:29
verse
16:29
12
16:29
we
16:30
see
16:30
the
16:30
reason
16:30
another
16:32
quote
16:32
from
16:32
Isaiah
16:33
and
16:34
there
16:34
we
16:34
see
16:34
that
16:34
the
16:35
messianic
16:35
root
16:36
of
16:36
Jesse
16:36
comes
16:37
to
16:37
establish
16:38
his
16:38
reign
16:39
over
16:40
all
16:40
people
16:41
and
16:42
he
16:43
himself
16:43
becomes
16:44
our
16:44
hope
16:45
I
16:47
think
16:47
it
16:48
was
16:48
always
16:48
God's
16:49
intent
16:49
to
16:50
include
16:50
us
16:51
it
16:54
was
16:54
always
16:54
God's
16:55
intent
16:55
to
16:56
include
16:56
the
16:56
nations
16:56
in
16:57
his
16:57
plan
16:57
even
16:57
though
16:58
for
16:58
a
16:58
time
16:58
he
16:59
isolated
17:00
what
17:01
looked
17:01
like
17:01
his
17:01
affections
17:02
on
17:02
one
17:02
particular
17:03
people
17:04
and
17:04
gave
17:04
them
17:04
promises
17:05
and
17:05
worked
17:06
with
17:06
them
17:06
and
17:07
judged
17:08
and
17:08
had
17:10
mercy
17:10
on
17:10
them
17:11
and
17:12
yet
17:12
it
17:12
was
17:12
his
17:13
promises
17:13
to
17:15
the
17:15
patriarchs
17:16
!
17:16
that
17:16
included
17:16
us
17:17
to
17:20
those
17:21
of us
17:21
who
17:21
believe
17:22
in
17:22
Jesus
17:22
we
17:23
inherit
17:24
the
17:24
same
17:25
promises
17:25
and
17:26
we
17:26
see
17:26
that
17:26
in
17:26
Ephesians
17:27
3
17:27
we
17:28
are
17:28
now
17:28
joint
17:30
heirs
17:30
and
17:31
partakers
17:32
of the
17:33
promise
17:33
in
17:34
Christ
17:34
Jesus
17:35
through
17:35
the
17:35
gospel
17:36
verse
17:36
6
17:36
of
17:37
chapter
17:37
3
17:38
so
17:40
the
17:40
triumph
17:41
the
17:43
promise
17:43
of
17:43
triumph
17:44
the
17:45
blessing
17:45
of
17:46
Abraham
17:46
the
17:48
messianic
17:48
heritage
17:49
!
17:50
the
17:50
righteousness
17:51
that we
17:52
receive
17:53
by
17:53
faith
17:53
the
17:54
resurrection
17:55
from
17:55
the
17:55
dead
17:56
new
17:57
glorified
17:58
bodies
17:58
and
17:59
eternal
17:59
life
18:00
in
18:00
the
18:00
kingdom
18:00
of
18:01
God
18:01
belong
18:01
to
18:02
you
18:02
and
18:03
me
18:03
as
18:03
well
18:04
now
18:07
what is
18:08
this
18:08
hope
18:08
what
18:09
what are
18:09
we
18:09
talking
18:10
about
18:10
when we
18:10
we
18:11
say
18:12
we
18:12
have
18:12
hope
18:13
we
18:15
have
18:15
hope
18:15
in
18:15
these
18:16
promises
18:16
and
18:18
yet
18:19
reading
18:19
them
18:20
it's
18:22
perhaps
18:23
difficult
18:24
to
18:24
understand
18:24
exactly
18:25
what
18:25
is
18:26
involved
18:26
here
18:26
and
18:26
I
18:27
think
18:27
that's
18:28
the
18:28
point
18:29
hope
18:31
is
18:31
a
18:31
glimpse
18:31
into
18:32
the
18:32
future
18:33
a
18:33
glimpse
18:34
at
18:34
what
18:34
God
18:34
has
18:35
provided
18:35
and
18:36
yet
18:36
God
18:36
wants
18:37
us
18:37
to
18:38
understand
18:39
that
18:39
glimpse
18:40
and
18:43
I
18:43
believe
18:44
that's
18:44
what
18:44
the
18:44
apostle
18:45
prays
18:45
in
18:45
Ephesians
18:46
chapter
18:46
1
18:46
verse
18:47
18
18:47
when
18:47
he
18:47
says
18:48
in
18:49
his
18:49
main
18:49
amazing
18:51
prayer
18:52
in
18:52
chapter
18:52
1
18:53
having
18:53
the
18:54
eyes
18:54
of
18:54
your
18:55
heart
18:55
enlightened
18:56
that
18:57
you
18:57
may
18:57
know
18:58
what
18:58
is
18:58
the
18:59
hope
18:59
to
18:59
which
19:00
he
19:00
has
19:00
called
19:01
you
19:01
that's
19:02
Paul's
19:02
earnest
19:03
and
19:03
sincere
19:03
prayer
19:04
and
19:05
I
19:06
believe
19:06
therefore
19:06
God's
19:07
desire
19:09
for you
19:10
this
19:10
morning
19:10
God
19:13
wants
19:13
your
19:13
eyes
19:14
to be
19:14
opened
19:15
God
19:16
wants
19:17
you
19:17
to
19:17
see
19:18
more
19:18
clearly
19:19
than
19:19
ever
19:19
before
19:20
your
19:21
hope
19:21
what
19:22
it
19:22
is
19:23
he
19:23
has
19:23
planned
19:24
what
19:24
it
19:24
is
19:25
he
19:25
has
19:25
promised
19:26
to
19:26
you
19:26
so
19:29
that
19:29
it
19:29
might
19:29
have
19:30
an
19:30
impact
19:30
on
19:30
you
19:31
now
19:31
understanding
19:33
this
19:33
requires
19:34
enlightenment
19:35
because
19:36
we
19:36
really
19:36
can't
19:36
comprehend
19:37
it
19:37
we
19:38
have
19:38
little
19:39
to
19:39
compare
19:40
it
19:40
to
19:40
in
19:40
this
19:40
world
19:41
but
19:42
we
19:42
do
19:42
have
19:43
the
19:43
passages
19:43
in
19:44
scripture
19:44
that
19:44
give
19:44
us
19:45
a
19:45
glimpse
19:45
and
19:45
there
19:46
are
19:46
four
19:47
that
19:48
are
19:48
particularly
19:49
linked
19:50
to
19:50
the
19:50
word
19:51
inheritance
19:51
in
19:52
Mark
19:53
chapter
19:53
10
19:53
it's
19:54
linked
19:55
to
19:55
the
19:55
eternal
19:56
kingdom
19:56
of
19:56
God
19:57
in
19:57
Hebrews
19:57
chapter
19:58
1
19:58
it's
19:58
linked
19:59
to
19:59
salvation
19:59
in
20:00
Luke
20:01
chapter
20:01
10
20:02
it's
20:02
linked
20:03
to
20:03
eternal
20:04
life
20:04
and
20:04
1
20:05
Peter
20:06
3
20:06
it's
20:06
linked
20:07
to
20:07
the
20:07
grace
20:08
of
20:08
life
20:08
it's
20:09
associated
20:10
with
20:10
Jesus
20:10
return
20:11
called
20:11
the
20:12
blessed
20:12
hope
20:13
in
20:13
Titus
20:13
chapter
20:14
2
20:14
we are
20:15
told
20:15
that
20:15
we are
20:16
heirs
20:16
of
20:17
God
20:18
in
20:20
Galatians
20:21
4
20:22
and fellow
20:22
heirs
20:23
with
20:23
Christ
20:24
in
20:25
Romans
20:25
chapter
20:26
8
20:26
whatever
20:28
this hope
20:29
is
20:29
it's
20:29
located
20:30
in
20:31
the
20:31
new
20:31
heavens
20:31
and
20:32
the
20:32
new
20:32
earth
20:32
according
20:33
to
20:33
Isaiah
20:33
66
20:34
and
20:35
2
20:35
Peter
20:36
3
20:36
and
20:37
Revelation
20:38
21
20:38
it's
20:39
typified
20:40
as a
20:41
mansion
20:41
in
20:41
heaven
20:42
in
20:42
John
20:42
14
20:43
as a
20:43
building
20:44
not
20:44
made
20:44
with
20:44
hands
20:45
in
20:45
2
20:46
Corinthians
20:46
5
20:47
as an
20:47
eternal
20:48
city
20:48
in
20:49
Hebrews
20:49
chapter
20:50
11
20:50
the
20:53
quality
20:53
of this
20:54
inheritance
20:54
is made
20:55
clear to
20:56
us
20:56
in
20:56
1
20:56
Peter
20:57
where
20:57
he
20:57
says
20:58
that
20:58
it is
20:58
imperishable
20:59
it's
21:00
undefiled
21:01
it's
21:02
unfading
21:02
and it's
21:03
kept
21:04
for you
21:05
in
21:06
heaven
21:06
and
21:09
Paul
21:09
I think
21:10
exasperated
21:11
with how
21:11
to describe
21:12
it in
21:12
2nd
21:12
Corinthians
21:13
4
21:13
just
21:13
says
21:14
an
21:14
eternal
21:15
weight
21:16
of glory
21:17
beyond
21:18
all
21:19
comparison
21:20
how
21:24
do
21:25
you
21:25
describe
21:27
that
21:27
I
21:31
think
21:31
it's
21:31
difficult
21:32
and
21:33
we
21:33
have
21:34
to
21:34
admit
21:34
with
21:34
Paul
21:34
that
21:35
even
21:35
though
21:35
we
21:35
are
21:36
told
21:36
these
21:36
things
21:36
we
21:36
really
21:37
don't
21:37
know
21:37
what
21:38
it
21:38
will
21:38
be
21:39
like
21:39
to
21:40
live
21:40
there
21:40
to
21:41
live
21:41
in
21:41
this
21:42
kind
21:43
of
21:43
life
21:44
one
21:46
way
21:46
to
21:46
look
21:46
at
21:47
it
21:47
is
21:47
negatively
21:47
there
21:49
will
21:49
be
21:49
no
21:49
impure
21:50
thoughts
21:50
or
21:50
motives
21:51
no
21:52
fears
21:52
or
21:53
worries
21:53
no
21:54
loneliness
21:54
no
21:55
orphans
21:56
no
21:56
stillborn
21:57
babies
21:57
no
21:58
maintenance
21:59
no
21:59
slums
22:00
no
22:01
need
22:01
of
22:01
police
22:02
no
22:02
prisons
22:03
no
22:05
planes
22:06
no
22:06
trains
22:07
no
22:07
cars
22:07
no
22:07
high
22:08
tone
22:08
sound
22:09
of
22:09
the
22:09
sirens
22:09
no
22:10
bad
22:10
news
22:10
booze
22:11
or
22:11
bars
22:12
if
22:13
you're
22:13
familiar
22:13
with
22:13
the
22:13
Isaacs
22:14
no
22:16
political
22:16
parties
22:17
no
22:17
corrupt
22:18
officials
22:18
no
22:19
misunderstandings
22:20
no
22:20
war
22:21
no
22:21
conflicts
22:22
of
22:22
any
22:23
kind
22:24
and
22:25
as
22:26
it
22:26
says
22:26
in
22:26
revelation
22:26
21
22:27
no
22:27
death
22:28
no
22:28
mourning
22:29
no
22:29
crying
22:30
nor
22:30
pain
22:31
and
22:31
suffering
22:32
now
22:35
that's
22:35
enough
22:35
to
22:36
get
22:36
me
22:37
excited
22:37
but
22:40
think
22:40
further
22:40
about
22:41
that
22:41
what
22:43
are
22:43
the
22:43
possibilities
22:44
of
22:44
living
22:45
in a
22:45
perfect
22:46
world
22:46
a
22:46
perfect
22:47
universe
22:47
where
22:48
everyone
22:48
is
22:50
righteous
22:50
to
22:53
be
22:54
able
22:54
to
22:54
explore
22:55
the
22:55
wonders
22:56
of
22:56
God's
22:56
creation
22:57
without
22:57
the
22:58
limitations
22:59
of
23:00
the
23:02
curse
23:02
to
23:04
enjoy
23:04
the
23:05
depths
23:05
of
23:05
God's
23:06
goodness
23:06
and
23:06
power
23:07
and
23:09
apply
23:09
his
23:10
wisdom
23:10
in
23:12
our
23:13
reign
23:13
because
23:14
that's
23:15
what it
23:15
says
23:15
will be
23:16
ours
23:16
we will
23:17
reign
23:18
with
23:18
Christ
23:19
or
23:22
consider
23:23
the
23:23
possibilities
23:24
of
23:24
utilizing
23:25
brand
23:26
new
23:26
bodies
23:26
that are
23:27
not just
23:28
these
23:28
old
23:28
bodies
23:29
restored
23:29
to
23:29
health
23:30
but
23:32
completely
23:33
new
23:34
bodies
23:34
wonderfully
23:35
designed
23:36
for a
23:37
grander
23:37
and eternal
23:38
life
23:38
and you
23:41
put your
23:41
brain
23:42
around
23:42
that
23:42
and try
23:46
to imagine
23:47
what it
23:47
means
23:48
that God
23:48
himself
23:49
God
23:50
himself
23:51
the
23:52
sovereign
23:53
all
23:53
powerful
23:54
good
23:55
merciful
23:56
gracious
23:57
loving
23:58
beautiful
23:59
one
24:00
is
24:01
our
24:02
inheritance
24:03
!
24:05
He
24:05
is
24:07
our
24:08
inheritance!
24:10
Well
24:11
our
24:11
understanding
24:12
is certainly
24:13
limited but
24:14
we do
24:16
know
24:16
that it
24:17
is way
24:17
better
24:18
than what
24:19
we could
24:19
ever
24:19
have
24:20
here
24:20
we
24:22
knew
24:23
we do
24:23
know
24:24
that it
24:24
belongs
24:24
to us
24:25
as well
24:26
and we
24:28
should
24:28
and we
24:28
should
24:28
gratefully
24:29
and
24:30
eagerly
24:31
anticipate
24:31
it
24:32
God
24:34
wants
24:35
you to
24:35
know
24:35
the
24:36
value
24:37
set
24:37
your
24:38
mind
24:38
on
24:39
eagerly
24:40
anticipate
24:40
what he
24:41
has
24:41
promised
24:42
promised
24:42
because
24:43
he has
24:44
promised
24:44
it
24:45
to
24:45
you
24:45
so
24:47
Advent
24:48
hope
24:49
means
24:49
one
24:50
you can
24:50
trust
24:51
God
24:51
to keep
24:51
his
24:51
promises
24:52
two
24:53
that
24:54
you
24:54
become
24:55
an
24:55
heir
24:56
of the
24:56
same
24:56
amazing
24:57
promises
24:58
and
24:59
finally
24:59
Advent
25:00
hope
25:01
means
25:01
you
25:02
can
25:02
live
25:02
free
25:04
from
25:04
the
25:04
attachments
25:05
of
25:05
this
25:05
world
25:06
while
25:06
you
25:06
eagerly
25:07
wait
25:07
for
25:08
those
25:09
promises
25:10
to be
25:10
fulfilled
25:11
look at
25:12
verse 13
25:12
the
25:14
apostle
25:14
concludes
25:15
his
25:16
thoughts
25:16
by
25:17
proclaiming
25:17
a
25:17
blessing
25:18
on
25:18
the
25:18
church
25:19
may
25:20
the
25:21
God
25:21
of
25:21
hope
25:21
fill
25:22
you
25:22
with
25:23
all
25:23
joy
25:24
and
25:24
peace
25:24
in
25:25
believing
25:25
so
25:26
that
25:26
by
25:27
the
25:27
power
25:27
of
25:28
the
25:28
Holy
25:28
Spirit
25:28
you
25:30
may
25:30
abound
25:31
in
25:32
hope
25:33
Paul
25:38
begins
25:38
this
25:39
verse
25:39
this
25:40
blessing
25:41
by
25:42
referring
25:42
to the
25:43
father
25:43
in a
25:43
unique
25:44
way
25:44
the
25:44
God
25:45
of
25:45
hope
25:45
that
25:49
might
25:49
be a
25:49
little
25:49
confusing
25:50
to us
25:50
what
25:51
does
25:51
that
25:51
mean
25:51
we
25:51
can
25:52
understand
25:52
the
25:52
God
25:53
of
25:53
love
25:53
because
25:54
he's
25:54
full
25:54
of
25:54
love
25:55
or
25:55
or
25:56
what
25:59
other
25:59
ones
26:00
are
26:00
there
26:00
I'm
26:01
ad
26:01
living
26:01
here
26:01
I
26:02
better
26:02
not
26:02
do
26:02
that
26:02
the
26:05
God
26:05
of
26:06
hope
26:06
what
26:07
he
26:07
appears
26:07
to me
26:08
to be
26:08
saying
26:08
is that
26:09
God
26:09
is the
26:10
originator
26:11
of hope
26:12
not that
26:12
he
26:13
hopes
26:14
necessarily
26:15
I don't
26:16
know
26:16
I've
26:17
never
26:17
thought that
26:18
through
26:18
very well
26:18
why
26:20
would
26:20
he
26:21
but
26:23
but
26:23
but
26:24
it
26:24
does
26:24
appear
26:24
and
26:25
the
26:25
context
26:25
seem
26:26
to
26:26
support
26:26
that
26:27
he's
26:27
talking
26:28
about
26:28
God
26:28
as
26:29
the
26:29
originator
26:30
the
26:30
one
26:30
who
26:30
inspires
26:31
hope
26:32
in us
26:32
in
26:34
creating
26:34
this
26:35
world
26:35
a
26:36
world
26:36
that
26:37
would
26:37
experience
26:38
great
26:38
suffering
26:39
he
26:41
mercifully
26:41
allows
26:42
us
26:43
a
26:44
glimpse
26:44
of
26:45
his
26:45
ultimate
26:45
plan
26:46
to
26:46
remedy
26:46
the
26:47
situation
26:47
and
26:49
that
26:49
expectation
26:50
helps
26:51
carry
26:52
us
26:52
through
26:52
doesn't
26:54
it
26:54
and
26:55
it
26:55
keeps
26:55
us
26:55
humble
26:56
so
26:57
that
26:57
we
26:58
can
26:58
make
26:58
or
27:00
so
27:00
that
27:00
he
27:00
can
27:01
work
27:01
in
27:01
us
27:02
and
27:02
through
27:03
us
27:03
now
27:05
the
27:05
apostle
27:06
invokes
27:06
this
27:07
God
27:07
of
27:07
hope
27:08
to
27:08
increase
27:08
our
27:09
own
27:09
hope
27:09
but
27:11
instead
27:11
of
27:12
just
27:12
saying
27:13
may
27:13
God
27:13
give
27:14
you
27:14
greater
27:14
hope
27:15
he
27:15
lets
27:15
us
27:16
see
27:16
how
27:16
God
27:16
would
27:17
do
27:17
that
27:17
it's
27:18
a
27:19
process
27:19
it
27:21
involves
27:21
increased
27:22
joy
27:23
and
27:23
peace
27:24
connected
27:25
to
27:25
faith
27:25
and
27:28
that
27:28
increase
27:28
enables
27:31
the
27:31
Holy
27:31
Spirit
27:32
to
27:32
make
27:32
hope
27:33
abound
27:34
in
27:34
us
27:35
so
27:37
it's
27:37
not
27:37
just
27:37
something
27:38
I
27:38
can
27:38
say
27:38
hey
27:39
hope
27:39
more
27:39
and
27:40
that
27:40
happens
27:40
God
27:41
does
27:42
a
27:42
work
27:42
in
27:42
us
27:42
hope
27:43
really
27:44
doesn't
27:44
originate
27:45
from
27:45
us
27:45
if
27:48
your
27:48
hope
27:48
is
27:49
has
27:49
dimmed
27:50
you
27:52
won't
27:52
be
27:52
able
27:53
on
27:53
your
27:53
own
27:54
to
27:54
restore
27:54
it
27:55
God
27:55
needs
27:56
to
27:56
do
27:56
that
27:56
and
27:57
there's
27:58
a
27:58
process
27:58
that
27:58
involves
27:59
and
27:59
it
27:59
requires
27:59
us
28:00
to
28:00
humble
28:00
ourselves
28:01
before
28:01
him
28:02
without
28:05
a doubt
28:05
though
28:06
this
28:06
is
28:07
God's
28:07
will
28:07
for
28:07
us
28:08
he
28:08
wants
28:09
our
28:09
faith
28:09
to
28:10
abound
28:10
but
28:12
what
28:12
does
28:12
that
28:13
mean
28:13
what
28:14
is
28:15
the
28:15
difference
28:15
between
28:16
hoping
28:16
and
28:18
abounding
28:18
in
28:18
hope
28:19
how
28:21
do
28:21
you
28:21
measure
28:21
that
28:22
that
28:23
difference
28:23
I
28:25
don't
28:25
think
28:26
he's
28:26
saying
28:26
the
28:27
more
28:27
hope
28:27
the
28:28
more
28:28
you
28:28
hope
28:28
for
28:28
the
28:29
more
28:29
you'll
28:29
get
28:29
I
28:30
don't
28:30
think
28:31
that's
28:31
what's
28:31
implied
28:32
here
28:32
but
28:34
I
28:35
believe
28:35
it's
28:35
a
28:35
measure
28:36
of
28:36
hope
28:36
that
28:36
happens
28:37
right
28:37
now
28:38
in
28:38
this
28:38
life
28:39
it
28:41
has
28:41
to do
28:42
with
28:42
the
28:42
degree
28:42
of
28:43
expectation
28:44
that
28:44
you
28:44
have
28:45
for
28:45
what
28:45
God
28:45
has
28:45
promised
28:46
if
28:47
hope
28:48
is
28:48
an
28:49
expectation
28:49
of
28:50
what
28:50
is
28:50
sure
28:50
to
28:51
come
28:51
then
28:51
abounding
28:52
hope
28:52
is a
28:53
greater
28:53
and
28:53
eager
28:54
anticipation
28:55
of
28:55
it
28:56
and
28:57
that
28:57
degree
28:58
can
28:58
be
28:58
measured
28:59
in
28:59
our
28:59
attachment
29:00
to
29:01
what
29:01
we
29:02
have
29:02
now
29:03
Jesus
29:08
describes
29:09
something
29:10
like
29:10
this
29:10
in
29:10
terms
29:11
of
29:11
treasure
29:11
in
29:12
Matthew
29:12
6
29:12
he says
29:13
for
29:13
where
29:13
your
29:14
treasure
29:14
is
29:14
there
29:15
your
29:15
heart
29:15
will
29:16
also
29:16
be
29:17
and
29:19
I
29:19
think
29:19
the
29:19
more
29:19
you're
29:20
attached
29:21
to
29:21
this
29:21
world
29:22
and
29:22
the
29:22
things
29:22
of
29:22
this
29:23
world
29:23
the
29:23
less
29:23
will
29:24
be
29:24
your
29:24
expectation
29:25
of
29:25
what
29:25
is
29:26
to
29:26
come
29:26
that's
29:26
just
29:27
natural
29:57
your
29:58
attachment
29:59
is
29:59
then
30:00
is
30:00
observed
30:01
in
30:02
what
30:02
you
30:02
value
30:03
in
30:04
your
30:04
daily
30:05
decision
30:05
making
30:06
and
30:07
in
30:07
your
30:07
lifestyle
30:08
typically
30:11
when I teach
30:12
on a
30:12
passage I
30:13
discuss
30:13
the context
30:14
of the
30:14
passage
30:15
early
30:15
but
30:17
you might
30:18
notice I
30:18
didn't
30:19
here
30:20
I waited
30:21
till now
30:21
because I
30:22
believe it's
30:23
significant
30:24
to this
30:24
last
30:25
point
30:25
in
30:27
chapter
30:28
14
30:28
and
30:29
the
30:29
first
30:29
part
30:30
of
30:30
15
30:30
the
30:30
apostle
30:31
Paul
30:31
is
30:32
addressing
30:32
a
30:33
problem
30:33
that
30:33
was
30:33
taking
30:34
place
30:34
in
30:34
the
30:35
church
30:35
some
30:36
people
30:37
were
30:37
despising
30:38
others
30:38
for
30:38
their
30:39
opinions
30:39
about
30:40
what
30:40
they
30:40
could
30:41
or
30:41
couldn't
30:41
eat
30:41
seems
30:43
like
30:43
a
30:43
petty
30:44
kind
30:44
of
30:45
thing
30:45
but
30:45
it
30:45
was
30:45
huge
30:46
and
30:48
disrupted
30:48
the
30:48
harmony
30:49
and
30:49
unity
30:49
of
30:50
the
30:50
church
30:50
and
30:53
Paul
30:53
cites
30:53
the
30:54
example
30:54
of
30:54
Jesus
30:55
in
30:55
15
30:56
3
30:56
where
30:57
he
30:57
says
30:57
Jesus
30:58
did
30:58
not
30:58
please
30:59
himself
30:59
and
31:01
he
31:01
cited
31:02
that
31:02
to
31:02
encourage
31:03
stronger
31:05
believers
31:05
those
31:06
he called
31:06
strong
31:07
believers
31:07
to bear
31:08
with the
31:08
failings
31:09
of the
31:10
weak
31:10
in order
31:14
that
31:14
we might
31:16
live in
31:16
harmony
31:17
with one
31:17
another
31:18
verse 5
31:19
chapter 15
31:20
and
31:21
glorify
31:22
God
31:22
together
31:23
with one
31:23
voice
31:24
in
31:24
verse 6
31:25
so
31:28
I am
31:29
confident
31:29
that
31:30
Paul
31:31
had
31:32
unity
31:32
in his
31:33
mind
31:34
also
31:34
when
31:35
he began
31:36
talking
31:36
about
31:37
this
31:39
hope
31:39
and
31:41
he
31:42
appears
31:42
to see
31:43
hope
31:43
as an
31:44
important
31:44
factor
31:45
in how
31:45
we live
31:46
and relate
31:47
to one
31:47
another
31:48
it
31:50
has
31:50
an
31:50
effect
31:51
on
31:52
how
31:52
you
31:52
treat
31:53
one
31:53
another
31:53
it's
31:55
not
31:55
just
31:56
some
31:56
wish
31:57
for
31:57
the
31:57
future
31:58
but
31:58
it's
31:58
it's
31:59
a
31:59
virtue
32:00
that
32:01
changes
32:02
the
32:02
way
32:02
I
32:03
live
32:03
if
32:04
I
32:04
have
32:04
it
32:05
and
32:05
if
32:05
I
32:05
have
32:06
it
32:06
in
32:06
abundance
32:07
then
32:08
it
32:08
will
32:08
really
32:08
change
32:09
the
32:09
way
32:09
I
32:10
live
32:10
that
32:17
makes
32:17
sense
32:18
when
32:20
together
32:21
we
32:21
value
32:21
the
32:22
coming
32:22
world
32:22
more
32:23
than
32:23
this
32:23
one
32:24
we
32:25
become
32:25
free
32:25
from
32:26
trying
32:26
to
32:26
find
32:27
our
32:27
security
32:27
and
32:28
happiness
32:29
here
32:29
and
32:31
are
32:31
free
32:31
to
32:31
give
32:32
and
32:33
care
32:33
for
32:34
others
32:34
we're
32:36
free
32:36
we're
32:37
not
32:37
attached
32:37
our
32:38
hands
32:38
are
32:38
free
32:38
we
32:39
can
32:40
give
32:40
because
32:41
we
32:42
we
32:43
have
32:43
no
32:43
loss
32:44
when
32:46
you
32:46
compare
32:46
what
32:47
we
32:47
have
32:47
to
32:48
what
32:48
we
32:48
will
32:48
have
32:49
we
32:50
can
32:50
give
32:50
everything
32:51
because
32:51
we
32:51
haven't
32:52
lost
32:52
anything
32:53
if
32:53
God
32:54
is
32:54
our
32:54
inheritance
32:55
he'll
32:57
take
32:57
care
32:57
of
32:57
us
32:58
here
32:58
it
33:02
is
33:02
a
33:03
bounding
33:03
hope
33:04
that
33:04
inspires
33:04
greater
33:05
faith
33:06
it
33:07
is a
33:07
bounding
33:07
!
33:07
hope
33:08
that
33:08
vitalizes
33:09
loving
33:09
church
33:10
community
33:11
Colossians
33:12
1
33:12
3
33:12
through
33:13
5
33:13
it
33:14
is
33:14
abounding
33:14
hope
33:15
that
33:15
frees
33:16
disciples
33:16
to lay
33:17
aside
33:17
personal
33:18
dreams
33:19
and worldly
33:20
ambitions
33:20
to live a
33:21
life of
33:21
sacrifice
33:22
on the
33:23
mission
33:23
field
33:23
and it
33:25
is abounding
33:26
hope that
33:26
frees a
33:27
person from
33:28
self
33:28
absorption
33:29
it's no
33:32
wonder that
33:32
hope is a
33:33
recognized
33:34
remedy for
33:34
all kinds
33:35
of depression
33:36
let me
33:42
conclude by
33:43
summarizing
33:44
what we've
33:45
seen
33:45
these
33:50
passages
33:50
give us
33:51
a glimpse
33:52
of God's
33:54
intent for
33:54
advent hope
33:55
God wants
33:58
you to
33:58
experience
33:59
a life
34:00
that abounds
34:02
with it
34:02
according to
34:04
this passage
34:05
it means
34:06
you can
34:06
trust God
34:07
to keep
34:07
his promises
34:08
it means
34:10
in Christ
34:11
you have
34:12
inherited
34:13
all of
34:15
his promises
34:15
and it
34:17
means that
34:18
you can
34:18
live
34:19
a Christ
34:20
glorifying
34:21
others
34:22
oriented
34:23
life
34:24
now
34:24
while you
34:25
eagerly
34:26
wait
34:26
for the
34:27
fulfillment
34:28
of those
34:29
promises
34:30
I
34:34
remember
34:35
early on
34:37
in my
34:37
Christian
34:37
life
34:39
that
34:41
hope
34:43
was a
34:44
very big
34:45
and significant
34:46
part of
34:47
the Christians
34:48
I came
34:50
to be
34:50
associated
34:51
with
34:51
during the
34:52
Jesus
34:53
movement
34:53
in the
34:54
California
34:55
in the
34:56
early
34:56
70s
34:57
it
35:01
had
35:02
its
35:02
kinks
35:03
its
35:04
quirks
35:05
its
35:05
weirdnesses
35:06
I
35:07
did a
35:07
lot of
35:08
my
35:08
shopping
35:08
at
35:09
Maranatha
35:09
Village
35:10
if you
35:13
needed
35:13
tires
35:13
you could
35:14
go to
35:14
Maranatha
35:14
Tire
35:15
there
35:18
was
35:19
even
35:19
started
35:19
a food
35:20
company
35:20
called
35:20
Maranatha
35:21
Foods
35:21
and today
35:22
you can
35:22
go to
35:23
Costco
35:23
and get
35:24
Maranatha
35:24
almond
35:25
butter
35:25
but
35:29
besides
35:29
the
35:30
quirks
35:30
there
35:33
was
35:33
an
35:33
anticipation
35:35
there
35:36
was
35:37
continual
35:39
discussion
35:41
about
35:41
Jesus'
35:42
return
35:42
and
35:44
it
35:44
bred
35:45
a
35:45
vibrancy
35:46
and a
35:46
desire
35:47
to
35:47
grow
35:47
and a
35:48
desire
35:48
to
35:49
live
35:50
entirely
35:51
for
35:51
him
35:51
and I
35:56
think if
35:56
there ever
35:57
was a
35:57
time for
35:58
vibrant
35:58
hope
35:59
it is
35:59
now
36:00
most
36:02
Christians
36:02
will agree
36:03
that hope
36:04
is a
36:04
virtue
36:05
but few
36:06
see
36:06
really see
36:08
the need
36:09
to seek
36:09
and possess
36:10
an abounding
36:12
hope
36:12
and yet
36:14
this is
36:14
God's
36:15
will for
36:15
us
36:15
this is
36:16
what he
36:16
wants
36:17
and so
36:19
I would
36:19
simply
36:19
say
36:20
may this
36:21
be your
36:21
prayer
36:22
as well
36:23
during this
36:26
Advent season
36:27
and really
36:28
for the rest
36:29
of your
36:29
life
36:29
let's pray
36:31
together
36:31
again