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Revelation of HopeRomans 15, 1 John 1, Proverbs 24, Matthew 6, 1 Corinthians 15

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Background

Introduction: Hope. It helps you get up in the morning, right? In our sinful world, the Bible gives us hope. It gives us hope of a better world and a better life. Is there more to hope than that? Is there a "hope" element for life right now, right here? Let's jump into our lesson and find out more!

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I. Hope in History A. Read Romans 15:1-3. Romans 15:1-3 (NIV)

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

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I. Hope in History

In Romans 15:1-3. What obligation do the strong have towards the weak?

1.Can you give me an example of this?

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I. Hope in History

B. Read Romans 15:4. (NIV)

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

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I. Hope in History

In Romans 15:4.

1.What hope do these texts give us about our weaknesses?

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I. Hope in History

In Romans 15:4.

1.When we are strong we are to help others because of the example of Jesus. But, more fundamentally, this teaches us God's attitude of being strong for us. He believes the strong should "bear with" the failings of the weak, and that is His attitude towards us! That gives us hope in our weakness.

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I. Hope in History

On what can we base this conclusion?

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I. Hope in History

Paul directs us to the Bible (v4). Over and over again we see the heroes of the Bible show weaknesses. God works with them through those weaknesses. That gives us hope.

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II. Hope in Forgiveness

A. Read 1 John 1:8-10 (NIV)

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

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II. Hope in Forgiveness

A. In 1 John 1:8-10. How many are without sin?

B. How does sin make you feel?

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II. Hope in Forgiveness A. Read 1 John 1:8-10. How many are without

sin? (None!)

1.How does sin make you feel? Sin has stages. At first we enjoy it. (Why

would we sin if we did not like it?) Later, we see the harm it does, we realize that

it displeases God, and guilt sets in. Most likely sin does not end up the way we thought it would and we end up feeling rotten inside.

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II. Hope in Forgiveness

2.Will God forgive us from our sins?

3. Is it hard to accept that we are forgiven?

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II. Hope in Forgiveness

2.Will God forgive us from our sins? (This text says He will.)

a. Is it hard to accept that we are forgiven?

It makes me so grateful. And, yes, if the sin is serious enough, it is hard sometimes to truly accept forgiveness.

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II. Hope in Forgiveness

3.The text (v9) says God is "faithful and just" to forgive us.

What is "just" about God's forgiveness?

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II. Hope in Forgiveness

3.The text (v9) says God is "faithful and just" to forgive us. What is "just" about God's forgiveness?

It seems very "unjust" that Jesus suffered and died for my sins instead of me!

This word "just" connotes God's righteousness. God is faithful to His nature of helping us - the weak - by dying for our sins.

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II. Hope in Forgiveness

4.What is God's goal for us?

5. Is that also your goal?

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II. Hope in Forgiveness

4.What is God's goal for us? To "purify" us from our sins. v9

5. Is that also your goal? We have hope in the fact of

forgiveness and the prospect of living a more holy life.

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom A. Read Proverbs 24:13-14. 13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;

honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom A. Read Proverbs 24:13-14. I thought I would also include the

verse that says sweetness is good for you!

What is like honey for the soul?

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom Wisdom

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom 1.Why is wisdom so good for us?

2.Is the converse true, that if you have no hope you are not wise?

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom 1.Why is wisdom so good for us? It gives us hope. It makes life

sweeter.

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom B. Read Proverbs 24:15-16. 15 Do not lurk like a thief near the

house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place;

16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom B. Read Proverbs 24:15-16. Why do you think the text mentions

the righteous man falls "seven times?"

Seven is the perfect number. It seems to me this is a perfect calamity - a complete disaster.

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom 1.Why does the righteous man rise

again?

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III. Hope in the Gift of Wisdom 1.Why does the righteous man rise

again? Because this is a continuation of the

discussion about hope. A righteous man rises after a perfect calamity because he has hope. A wise man believes in God and trusts in Him. That gives him the ability to move forward after disaster. He is not alone.

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IV. Hope in Trouble

A. Read Psalms 33:16-17. 16 No king is saved by the size of his

army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for

deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

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IV. Hope in Trouble

A. Read Psalms 33:16-17. Does this sound right to you? This

seems just the opposite of what we just learned.

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IV. Hope in Trouble Read Psalms 33:18-22. 18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who

fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

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IV. Hope in Trouble

1.Read Psalms 33:18-22. What is God's point? (The horse was the cutting edge military weapon. Warriors on these huge beasts (which moved with great speed and had big teeth)were a frightening sight to troops who had not seen them before. God tells us that vast armies and the most advanced weapons are no match for those whose hope is in God.)

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IV. Hope in Trouble a. Is God's message of hope only about giving

us eternal life? (Look again at Psalms 33:19. It tells us that God keeps us alive in famine.)

b. Look again at Psalms 33:18. Do you want God watching over you?

i. What is the basis for our hope? (God's "unfailing love!")

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IV. Hope in Trouble

B.Read Psalms 37:25-26. Have you seen the children of righteous people begging for bread?

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IV. Hope in Trouble

1.Are these two verses connected? Or, does God have a separate message for us in each verse? (God seems to say that those who are righteous are generous and lend freely. A person who is generous to others will never be short of food.)

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IV. Hope in Trouble

a.Why are the children of the righteous mentioned? (It could be that wealth is passed on. Or, that people remember the generosity of the parents and are willing to help their children.)

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IV. Hope in Trouble

b.Recall we just learned that God watches over us with His "unfailing love." The generosity of the righteous parents reflects that love to others.

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IV. Hope in Trouble

D.Read Matthew 6:24. Is Jesus still talking about making deposits in heaven's bank? If so, what additional message is Jesus' giving us? (If you are devoted to increasing your wealth, that is inconsistent with an attitude of generosity.)

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IV. Hope in Trouble

E.Read Matthew 6:25-27. Why do these verses start out with "therefore?" (They follow the statements about money that Jesus previously made.)

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IV. Hope in Trouble 1.Is Jesus saying "Don't worry, laying down and sleeping

some more is fine?" (No. Jesus is saying that putting the Kingdom of Heaven first, making deposits in the heavenly bank, will allow you to make heavenly bank "withdrawals" here.)

2.Read Matthew 6:33. Does this text make "money" sense to you now?

3.What has this to do with hope? (You deposit your money in your heavenly account because of your hope and trust in God's financial system.)

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V. Hope Eternal A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:50. Will our assets

here transfer to heaven? (Humans and their stuff do not transfer to heaven.)

B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-55. How do we transfer to heaven?

C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:57-58. Who gives us the victory? (Jesus.)

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V. Hope Eternal

1.What are we doing in the meantime?

2.Do you see the "deposit in the heavenly bank" theme repeated here? (Being fully devoted to the work of the Lord is not a wasted effort. God gives us the victory, but He expects us to be helping in the effort.)

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V. Hope Eternal

D. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13. What does Paul want to give us? (Hope.)

E. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18. On what do we base our hope of eternal life? (The words and resurrection of Jesus!)

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V. Hope Eternal

A. Friend, God's word gives us hope. He gives us hope in our daily spiritual life. He gives us hope in our daily physical life. He gives us hope for life eternal. Will you join those who live in hope?