Part 2: The Perseverance of Hope
Notes
Transcript
Memory Verse
Memory Verse
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
Introduction
Introduction
In the days of digital shopping there is a scenario that is becoming altogether common:
Place your order online and pay, receiving an approximate delivery date
Receive an email confirmation from the company confirming your order, payment, and approximate shipping date
Wait, wait, wait
Receive an email from the company letting you know the product has shipped and providing the tracking number of the shipment
Wait, wait, wait
Receive an email from the shipping carrier informing you that your shipment will be arriving the next day
Wait, wait, wait
Receive an email from the shipping carrier is in your neighborhood and giving you the option to track the carrier’s movement
Wait, wait, wait
Finally receiving your product, shredding the packaging and enjoying the spoils of digital shopping
This whole process plays out over the course of a week or less…much faster than ever before. But still much slower than we want. We live in an age of instant gratification and few have learned the discipline of delayed gratification.
We don’t like to wait.
Which actually works against us when it comes to the area of hope. Remember our definition? Hope is the confident expectation of a better future. We want to leap over the present and have that future now. But that is not the way hope works.
Transition
Transition
In his letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul underscored the future and waiting aspects of hope, encouraging his readers to persevere.
Instruction
Instruction
Worth the Wait
Worth the Wait
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
Sufferings is the most general term for anything that a person deems suffering, including unfulfilled affections of the mind or passionate desires.
Glory represents the wonder of the thing eventually attained.
The general assumption is that our hope would be directed only toward things of high value. Things meaning anything
"The best things in life are free. The second best things are very, very expensive." —Coco Chanel
The specific assumption is that our greatest hope is directed toward the everlasting glory that awaits us in God’s presence
Waits is the problem. It is not something we get yet.
Waiting Is Labor
Waiting Is Labor
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Fruitful Struggle
Fruitful Struggle
Paul likens waiting to the cyclical pains and strains of being in labor. It’s an interesting allusion for a man to make since we do not experience it first-hand. But it seemed appropriate to him since the struggle eventually produces something of great value.
Groan carries the idea of a non-linguistic vocalizations; somethings just cannot be put into words!
Firstfuits of the Spirit
Firstfuits of the Spirit
The first-fruits in this sense is what we have received in advance of receiving everything promised: it is both
a down-payment of what is to be received and
an early sample to whet the appetite and promote waiting for the full delivery
Because the first-fruits is a reference to the Holy Spirit who indwells us, their is the added advantage of being enable to wait.
Waiting Is Positive
Waiting Is Positive
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Again we are confronted, in very plain terms, with the future-oriented nature of hope. Hope is the confident expectation of a better future, not necessarily a better present. But how we await that future makes all the difference.
Waiting with Eagerness
Waiting with Eagerness
If you think eagerness implies a positive attitude, you are correct. But more than that, the word implies an expectant attitude (one that has un constantly on the look out for what we are waiting for)
Waiting with Perseverance
Waiting with Perseverance
If you think perseverance sounds hard, you are correct. This idea brings us back down to earth as we endure the labor of pressing on toward as yet unmet desire.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The waiting part of hope can be hard. It is no wonder that so many lose hope, we are ill-equipped to wait. But waiting is not idle, and that may be where we miss out. We have agency in waiting.
We work to remain positive as we look for what the future holds
We work to bring about what the future holds, at least as much as it depends upon us
Hope waits for a better future and it helps bring it to pass.
Application
Application
Remembering that a better future is promised by our Heavenly Father to all who are in relationship with Him, there are really only two questions to ask:
Are you entered into relationship with God as your Heavenly Father through Jesus’ work and sacrifice on your behalf when He died on the cross, in your place, and for your sins?
What better future has your Heavenly Father shown you that you need to positively wait for and patiently work toward? That is a question only you can answer and a hope only you can have.