The Hope You Need vs. The Hope You Have.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Well good morning Village welcome. You can go ahead and have a seat this morning. [0:03] I’ll say a special hello and welcome if you’re new here we’re glad to have you and if this is [0:08] your first time here maybe you’ve been just a few weeks I want to say a special hello and we’d love [0:12] to get to know you a little bit better. There’s a few different ways that could happen as you came [0:16] in the doors this morning you received a handout and in that handout is a connect card. If you fill [0:20] that connect card out and put that in the offering baskets later on in the service we’ll get you any

[0:24] information you may have checked off on that card by email this week and we’d love to connect with [0:28] you that way and answer any questions you may have. The other way that you can connect with us is [0:32] every week five minutes after the service in these chairs right over here we’ve got intro [0:36] to the Village. If you’re hanging out over there one of the leaders of the church will be here [0:39] they’d love the chance to talk to you there get to know you a little bit better and of course [0:43] again answer any questions that you might have about the church. A few quick announcements this

[0:47] morning I want to let you know about things that are happening. If you didn’t see the baby balls [0:51] as you came in there we are raising money right now for the Pregnancy Resource Center of Metro [0:54] Richmond and helping them as they advocate for life in Richmond so you haven’t grabbed one of [0:58] those yet grab one of those on your way out fill that with cash checks anything that you feel led [1:03] to give this week and bring that back over the next few weeks to help support them and their [1:08] cause there to help advocate for life and encourage women who are going through unplanned pregnancy.

[1:12] So love to see us all participate in that. The other big thing we’ve got going on right now of [1:17] course it’s about to be Easter week. Easter’s coming up it’s a huge Sunday for us invite everyone [1:21] you know that is just a time in our culture when people come to church and so invite your friends [1:26] invite your neighbors invite people out to be a part of our Easter celebrations right here next [1:30] Sunday same service times 8 45 10 30 a.m. The other thing that’s kind of part of Easter week for us [1:35] is Tenebrae. Tenebrae is Thursday night before Easter from 7 to 8 p.m. and what this is is kind

[1:40] of the counter to Easter where we’re going to come in and celebrate the resurrection. Tenebrae is [1:44] where we focus on the cross and what Jesus did there. It’s a very cool time if you’ve not been [1:49] part of a Tenebrae service before we have reflective worship some scripture reading. It’s a really [1:53] good time as a church family there is child care for infants through pre-k and children older than [1:58] that we encourage come into the service and experience that with us. There’s no groups that [2:02] week so that you’ll be freed up on your schedule to participate in Tenebrae so we really would love

[2:06] to see everyone out this Thursday at 7 p.m. Right now I want to do something a little bit different [2:12] I want to introduce some special guests to you so if Arc and Rachel if you would come join me on [2:16] stage here this is Arc and Rachel Crownover and what they are they are missionaries with the [2:22] International Mission Board and they’re about to head over to Germany for three years there to do [2:27] work over there growing God’s kingdom and planning churches and so a lot of times you know we give [2:32] money to Lotte Moon Mission Offering as part of every dollar actually that comes in at Village

[2:37] Church ultimately goes to the International Mission Board to support thousands of missionaries all [2:41] across the world and that’s really cool but sometimes it’s nice to actually have names and [2:45] of people that we’re supporting and so we kind of wanted to introduce them to you a little bit [2:49] here just happened to be that they were in town for this this month before they’re about to be [2:53] sent out actually Wednesday I guess they’re headed over to Germany so we got to know them and that [2:57] was a pretty cool process so we had lunch with Arc this week and just his passion for church planning

[3:02] and the gospel is is just evident and we’re excited for what God’s going to do with Arc and [3:06] Rachel and their whole family they’ve got two kids so we’re excited for that and what we actually [3:11] would like to do is be a prayer partner church for them and what that means is that we’re going [3:15] to commit to pray for them as they’re over there they’re going to send us updates on how they’re [3:19] doing and we’re going to pray for specific needs that will certainly arise as they go over there [3:23] I’d love if we had more time to hear more of their stories and everything and more of what they’ll

[3:28] be doing the basic gist of it is they’re going to be seeing evangelical churches planted amongst the [3:32] German people which is so awesome but there’s just no time for that this morning we’re also [3:36] commissioning the Mexico team later on in the service which I’m also really excited about [3:40] but what I want to do here now is just pray for them pray for them let them know they’ve got a [3:44] church back in the states that is going to be in prayer for them and so I know that you guys will [3:48] will join me in that but you’ll get updates as we go you can get updates on the city and the

[3:52] international missions group in your village groups we’ll send out updates regularly on [3:55] on how Arc and Rachel and the Cows are doing so right now if you would just join me in prayer [4:01] as we pray father I just want to thank you that you gave us the opportunity to meet Arc and Rachel [4:07] thank you for what you’re doing in their life and and God we just want to pray right now for [4:12] for what you have in store for them God first we pray for all the logistics and details that are [4:16] going to have to happen with this big move for them and their family over these next few weeks

[4:19] God we know your hand is in that but God we just pray for them for this mission that you have have [4:25] for them to spread the gospel and advance the kingdom God encourage them keep them them joyful [4:31] in what they’re doing and God keep them faithful just just in spreading the gospel and in telling [4:35] many people as possible about your love God we want to pray for their children right now [4:40] we pray that these next three years would just strengthen the faith of their kids and they would [4:45] come back more and more in love with you God but more than anything father we pray for the hearts

[4:50] of the German people we pray for what only you can do God we pray that you right now will be working [4:54] in people that need to know you so prepare a place for them God to serve and work and God we [5:01] pray that you would take their their just willingness to go God and use that use that [5:06] to advance your kingdom we pray for salvation we pray for redemption God change people’s hearts [5:11] draw them to you through what Arch and Rachel do God to your glory and we pray this in Jesus name [5:17] amen thanks guys all right go ahead and have a seat welcome to Village Church if this is your

[5:23] first time here my name’s Steve I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church and as always I am [5:28] thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you this morning if you have your Bibles go [5:33] ahead and open them to Romans chapter 5 we’re going to be starting in verse 1 today but before [5:39] we get that get to there I would just want to mention two things to you the first thing is is [5:43] that in your handouts is a card that says the 233 fund and if you weren’t here with us last week I [5:50] just want to explain to you what that’s all about we are right now under contract getting ready to

[5:56] close on a new building to move our operations and our Sunday worship gatherings to a different [6:03] location that’s larger than this location as we have outgrown this one and we have all the funding [6:10] that is needed for a down payment and to get into all that but we want to be wise and good [6:17] stewards of the finances that God has blessed us with and we want to restock our reserve funds [6:23] and so over the next year we’re setting a goal throughout the rest of 2015 to raise $100,000 [6:31] first to restock our reserve funds just to be wise stewards to always have something in savings

[6:37] but also as any of you that have purchased a home and moved into a new home know there are some fees [6:44] that you don’t always know you’re going to have but as you’re moving in you realize oh I got to [6:49] pay for this I got to pay for that I got to pay for the other thing and so we undoubtedly will [6:54] incur some of those fees and so part of this is also going to go into just the expenses that we [7:01] know are going to be there when we move in and some of you I realize have the financial means [7:07] to either today or over the next couple of weeks give a one-time gift towards the 233 fund and by

[7:14] our crack creative team came up with 233 because it’s 233 North Courthouse Road is the new building [7:21] that we’re going to be moving into I’m on that team but it’s really creative but some of you [7:29] have the financial means just to give a one-time gift and we’re thankful for that and we encourage [7:33] you that as its tax season as refunds are going to be coming in if God lays on your heart to [7:39] some of that to give towards this please do we believe that we’re in this mission together [7:46] and so you’re giving as an act of worship God has told us that where your treasure is there your

[7:52] heart will be also that doesn’t mean you attempt to move your heart and then your treasure is going [7:56] to follow that means you move your treasure and then your heart will follow into a life of worship [8:02] and so if that’s you and you have those means please give but some of you maybe many of you [8:08] aren’t in that type of financial situation as I’m not in that type of financial situation so what [8:13] my wife and I have done is that we have filled this card out and committed to give a specific [8:19] amount over the next year above our regular offerings and throughout the next 10 months

[8:25] we’re slowly going to give towards that goal and so if that’s you I want to encourage you to take [8:30] this card and maybe take it home today maybe spend the next week or maybe in a couple of weeks [8:34] with your family praying as to where God would have you sacrifice for his mission [8:39] and then fill that out as a couple or as a family or even as an individual and then over the next [8:46] few weeks as the offering basket comes by slip this into that offering basket and we’re going [8:51] to total that up so that we can know what to expect over the next year and one thing I want

[8:56] to encourage you in is realize that we’re living the mission together that God has put us in an [9:02] amazing situation to move us to a larger location that’s ready for us and to a location that’s [9:08] even more convenient to even more areas in metro Richmond and so he’s enlarging our capacity not [9:15] for us but for more people that aren’t here yet to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and so in large [9:23] part this invitation is for you to be a part of what God’s already doing and what God wants to do [9:29] and so today and over the next couple of weeks cast that vision preach the gospel to yourself

[9:36] and preach the gospel to your family that we are a people who are called to live the mission of [9:41] Jesus and this is just the beginning of living that mission so be generous in the way that you [9:48] give towards the mission of Jesus secondly I want to talk to you a little bit about Easter [9:52] next Sunday morning we’re going to be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and as always we [9:57] that here at Village Church we’re going to be preaching the gospel what’s different about next [10:02] Sunday first is that this is a time when the culture around us even the unbelieving culture

[10:08] marks out as a time that they’re going to attend the church service that means your neighbors your [10:13] friends your family your co-workers many of them are looking for a place to go to church on Easter [10:19] Sunday and Easter unlike any other time during the year is a time where if you put that invitation [10:25] out there you’re more likely to get a yes you know God’s really been working on some of you to [10:31] have those conversations with your friends your family your co-workers and maybe you’ve been a [10:36] little reserved maybe you’ve been a little timid but you know God wants you to go into that

[10:41] conversation be bold for the gospel well this is an easy way for you to start those conversations [10:48] this is the easiest time of the year for you to put those invites out there and so what I want [10:54] you to do is I want you to catch a vision and just begin to build a dream and understand that [11:00] we are a people who need to live as those who want their friends who want their family who want their [11:09] co-workers to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and I want you to begin to understand that that is to [11:17] the greatest driving desire in your every day and so I want to encourage you I want to urge you and

[11:24] I want to exhort you this week to step in to those environments have those conversations [11:32] put those invites out there because here’s the key you don’t know what God’s going to do through it [11:38] but I can tell you one thing’s for certain God’s going to put the gospel into people’s ears next [11:43] Sunday morning and so those people that you know need to come to faith in Jesus Christ quite frankly [11:49] they need to be here and the only way that they’re going to get here is if you invite them [11:56] I believe that God has put you specifically into people’s lives so that they can come to faith

[12:04] through God using you as his tool and this week understand that God’s called you to do that [12:12] and so step into that step out in faith this week and put those invites out there [12:18] Easter is a great opportunity for mission and what I want to do right now is I want to spend [12:24] a little bit of time praying specifically for Easter Sunday so pray with me our father [12:30] Father we are so thankful that you are a God who has given us life in Jesus you’ve given each and [12:42] every one of us an opportunity to come to faith in Jesus and Lord you’ve given many of us faith

[12:49] and Lord my prayer is that you would use us this week and beyond as your ambassadors [12:57] for Jesus Christ and that we would be used by you to put others into an environment where they [13:05] will have an opportunity to place their faith in Jesus Christ Lord and I pray this week that [13:10] you would give us a vision that you would give us opportunity Holy Spirit convict us [13:17] open our eyes to the opportunities that we have each day to give your gospel to people [13:25] and Lord we have a very simple opportunity an opportunity where we can invite a large group

[13:31] of people to hear your gospel and it’s my prayer that we would all answer that call [13:39] Lord use us and bless everything that goes on this week from the tenebrae service [13:46] to Easter Sunday where your gospel will be preached where your praises will be sung [13:53] where people will follow you in believers baptism we will preach your gospel in word [14:00] and deed Lord may you bring people who need to hear it in the name of Jesus Christ I pray [14:09] amen you know last Sunday we looked at the hope that believing the promises of God gives us

[14:17] specifically we looked at the hope that Abraham had that God would deliver on his promises and [14:22] he really had a choice in his life he could believe in the hope that God gave him through [14:28] the promises that God had made or he had the choice to believe in the hope that was based on [14:33] the reasoning of man on what was possible Abraham was really really old Paul tells us and he was [14:41] past childbearing years and his wife had been barren for years and she was also elderly both [14:47] even in biblical times were way past childbearing years and so by the reason of man they did not

[14:54] have the potential of having children but God came into Abraham’s life and he said Abraham you [15:00] are going to have a child through Sarah and more than that through that birth I’m going to give [15:07] you a great nation and more than that through that nation I’m going to bless all of the nations [15:13] and the text tells us that when God made that promise in Abraham’s life that Abraham believed [15:19] God more than he believed what other people would say was possible even more than his reason alone [15:27] said was possible Abraham believed God and God counted it to him as righteousness this wasn’t a

[15:36] pie in the sky belief but instead Paul gives two reasons last Sunday at the end of Romans 4 [15:40] why Abraham believed it first text says that his faith was completely reasonable because God has [15:48] the power to give life to the dead so God could give them a child and we saw that promise of [15:56] giving life to the dead was fully realized when Jesus Christ himself rose from the dead [16:01] then he goes past that and he says this God not only has the power to give life from the dead but [16:05] he can do all of those things because he has the power to speak into existence things that do not

[16:12] exist and so if you have a God with that type of power he has ultimate power he has ultimate [16:19] authority and then he has ultimate control and all of that leads to an ultimate hope that trusts [16:28] that God can do anything that he says he’s going to do and this hope that God has given us through [16:37] his promises is not a subjective hope that is forced by our simple wants and desires but instead [16:44] it is based on specific promises that God has made to us and in Abraham’s life it was based on the [16:51] specific promises that God made into Abraham’s life you know God doesn’t always make clear

[16:58] how he’s going to get us to his promises what that journey is going to look like but what is [17:05] certain what can be fully trusted and what Abraham trusted is that God would bring him to that [17:13] destination where his promises were true and so our life must be the same thing but our hopes are [17:21] often driven by our feelings our hopes are often driven by our simple wants in this material world [17:28] but God wants us to have greater hope that is based on his vision for a life that brings him [17:34] glory and all of the promises of God as we saw at the end of Romans chapter 4 must drive us

[17:42] to see and follow all that God has promised us in Jesus Christ and that is what Paul is going [17:50] to begin to flesh out and explain at the beginning of Romans chapter 5 so take a look in Romans [17:56] chapter 5 starting in verse 1 the text says therefore now when you see that he’s driving you [18:03] back so that everything that he’s going to say is based on what he previously said and so he [18:10] goes back and he says since God delivered on all of his promises to Abraham since God has risen [18:17] Jesus Christ from the dead since God has taken all of your sin placed it on Jesus given you

[18:24] salvation given you the hope of a right relationship with God since that is true since we have been [18:32] justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through him we have also [18:40] access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God [18:50] not only that so what Paul’s saying there he’s not limited just to what we’ve already talked [18:55] about he says it goes further he says but we rejoice in our sufferings that’s the hard part

[19:05] knowing that suffering produces endurance endurance produces character character produces hope [19:12] and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts [19:19] through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us the first thing I want you to notice about this [19:26] passage in verses one and two is that peace with God is what the gospel is about peace with God [19:35] is what the gospel is about what Paul’s about to do is he’s about to build your hope he’s about to [19:41] take you into a journey in life in which you understand what hope is about and so he begins

[19:47] with the greatest hope and he wants you to understand that peace with God is the greatest [19:53] gift that you can ever have in your life it is what our faith is staked in and so he wants you [20:01] to understand that through the gospel you gain something that is certain you gain something that [20:07] is greater than any other thing that you could ever gain in this life you gain peace with God [20:14] and that is what all of the book of Romans thus far has been about first the fact that we do not [20:20] naturally have peace with God and the reason we don’t have that is because we are sinners

[20:27] we’ve sinned against God therefore we do not have a right relationship with him we actually [20:33] deserve God’s wrath our lives in sin place us in war with God you know he really unpacked that [20:42] over a long period of text you know for a couple of months there it was getting pretty hard to [20:48] preach because every week I was just coming in telling you you are a dirty rotten sinner [20:54] and you deserve God’s wrath you know it’s not easy to sit through and I realize that but imagine [20:58] being in my shoes it’s not easy to preach on week in and week out but Paul wanted to spend that much

[21:04] time so that we would understand something very very clearly and that is that we are a people [21:11] who have rebelled against God we were created for a specific purpose and that is to worship God [21:17] find our satisfaction in God and show the world around us everything that God means to us because [21:23] he and he alone deserves glory and we have failed greatly at that but then in Romans chapter 3 [21:35] Paul brings us to this great place where we see what peace with God actually looks like not what [21:42] Paul said I want to remind you real quick in Romans 3 23 he says for all have sinned and

[21:48] fall short of the glory of God I love Paul’s a lot like a preacher is that he will take chapter [21:53] after chapter after chapter talk about something and then sum the whole thing up in one phrase [21:57] that’s pretty much what Paul does in Romans 3 23 he sums up chapters one two and all of three [22:02] he says for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God you’re supposed to give God glory [22:08] guess what you haven’t done it none of you but then look at this he says and are justified by [22:14] his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a

[22:21] propitiation by his blood to be received by faith this was to show God’s righteousness because in [22:29] his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins so this is you’re in a place where you do [22:36] have peace with God you’ve sinned against him you’ve fallen short of his glory and you deserve [22:42] God’s wrath but God responds in a remarkable way God responds to that war with love

[22:52] through the sacrifice that Jesus Christ gave us on the cross he took our sin this is in divine [23:00] forbearance God passed over our sin Jesus served as our propitiation remember that term means that [23:06] he is our way from God’s wrath to God’s favor because there’s nothing that we can do about [23:13] this war there’s nothing we can do to remedy our sin on our own but Jesus God himself came down [23:21] lowered himself in the deepest depths of suffering that man could ever know [23:25] and he absorbed God’s wrath he took it onto himself made himself the sacrifice for you

[23:33] he took your sin and through that Paul wants you to understand in chapter 5 verses 1 and 2 [23:40] he has given you something that you cannot get yourself he’s given you peace with God [23:49] and that peace is what the gospel is about that’s what the gospel earns you but it’s a peace that [23:57] you can never lose because Jesus himself stands as the guarantee that you have of that peace [24:07] and it’s something that is great to hear but it’s also something that strikes at our pride [24:14] it’s very hard because you can never lose your peace with God if you trust in Jesus

[24:19] if you have faith in him but it’s not based on anything that you’ve ever done [24:23] or anything that you will ever do it’s not because you’re smarter than anyone else [24:29] it’s not because you’re shrewder than anyone else God doesn’t love you because you are smart [24:36] he doesn’t love you because you’re so pretty he doesn’t love you because you’re so tough [24:40] He doesn’t love you because you’re so obedient. He doesn’t love you because you are just so good. [24:45] He loves you because of Jesus. And that is the guarantee of your peace with God.

[24:54] And that is where you need to stake your hope in life. That is where you need to fix your gaze. [25:02] That is where you need to put your trust. That is where you need to put your hope. [25:06] Because then he says something pretty amazing in verse two. He says that through Jesus, [25:10] we have access by faith. We stand in this grace. So in other words, we stand. We are not movable. [25:17] We can’t lose it. It is secure. But then he says, [25:21] and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. I want you to understand that a lot of times

[25:28] when we use the word hope, we use it as kind of this wishful thinking.

[25:35] Your house is burning down. You look at it and you say, I hope I don’t lose.

[25:43] Or you are waiting for somebody and I hope they show up. There is not enough money to pay the bills [25:49] and X isn’t equal in Y. The budget is not balancing itself out. And you say, [25:54] I hope some money shows up in the mail tomorrow. That is kind of pie in the sky hope. You are not [26:00] basing it on anything. You are trying to put out enough positive vibes so a good thing happens. [26:06] But in the original language, that is not what Paul is saying when he says, [26:11] we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. It is a term that specifically means it is a hope

[26:17] that is based on a certainty. It is a hope that is based on something that backs up the reality of

[26:27] hope. This is not a hope of wishful thinking. This is not a hope of positive vibes. This is [26:35] a certain type of hope that is based on the merit of Jesus Christ. This hope is as certain [26:44] as the gospel of Jesus Christ is and it is based on the reality that God has said is so. [26:50] So standing in that type of hope, standing in the grace of the hope of the gospel gives you

[27:00] unshakable joy. Paul is saying that this hope is so certain, your stance with God is so solid [27:10] that you can never lose it. We gain this peace with God, but that peace with God [27:18] also gives us the peace of God about our lives. There is a need in our lives to focus on the facts [27:26] of faith. Faith in Jesus brings a factual basis upon which you can know with certainty [27:36] that you have peace with God. It is not based on you. It is based fully on Jesus. Therefore, [27:43] it is certain. Therefore, it is factual. Therefore, you have to understand that your

[27:48] joy in life must be based on the hope that peace through Jesus brings into your life. [27:57] Think about it. What else could your hope for life be based on? It could be based on comfort. [28:05] It could be based on leisure. It could be based on health. It could be based on a whole host of [28:12] things that you do not have a guarantee that they will be here tomorrow.

[28:20] Your hope is unshakable. It is a foundation in Jesus Christ that you cannot lose. But too often [28:28] we place the hope of our lives on things that aren’t certain. We place hope in things that we [28:38] want right now. We place hope that this specific situation will work out in this specific way. [28:46] But the question that we need to begin to ask ourselves is what if it doesn’t work out the way [28:50] that we want to? Is our hope in God then dashed? You see, friends, if you base all of your hope [29:02] in the way specific situations in this life will turn out, you do not have unshakable joy.

[29:09] You have a foundation that is very shaky and could lead to devastation. Your hope is about [29:16] something bigger than that. Your hope needs to be set in peace with God. Because when tough times [29:25] come, when hard situations happen in your life, when trials come, you need peace of God that is [29:32] peace with God that cannot be taken away. So that no matter how hard the times get, you know [29:39] that the promises of God will be delivered upon in the end. You don’t know how God’s going to [29:46] get you there, but you know God is going to get you there no matter how things shake out in your

[29:52] everyday life. Even if you don’t reach the financial windfall and the check never shows up in [29:59] your mailbox, hadn’t showed up in mine yet by the way either. When it doesn’t show up, you look at [30:07] it and you say, thanks be to God, I still have unshakable joy because my joy is not based on [30:11] finances, my joy is based in Jesus. When you’re struggling with health and it doesn’t seem like [30:20] it’s going to get any better, you can say thanks be to God in Christ Jesus that no matter what [30:25] he will deliver on his promises. Why? Because I have peace with God.

[30:30] Peace with God leads to peace of God in any and all situations in your life. Why? Because number [30:38] two, suffering will happen and it has a purpose. Suffering will happen and it has a purpose. [30:47] My hope today is to prepare you. Some of you right now

[30:56] are in suffering. Some of you are currently going through a hard time that you don’t know how it’s [31:03] going to pan out. Some of you are headed that way, but all of you are in one of those two places.

[31:14] I want you to understand that suffering will happen in each and every one of our lives. I don’t [31:20] know the specifics. I don’t know how it’s going to happen, but I do know based on what Christ has [31:29] told us and what the rest of scripture tells us, all of us will suffer in our lives and Paul means [31:35] to prepare us for that. And so I want you to understand that any time suffering comes into [31:41] your life, you can maintain that unshakable joy because that unshakable joy is not based on the [31:50] suffering of this life. That unshakable joy is based on the eternal promises that God has given

[31:56] us in Jesus Christ. That peace with God. Look in verse three. Here’s how I know because Paul says [32:03] not only that, you see Paul wants us to understand that verses one and two tell us something beautiful [32:08] about the peace that we have with God, but each and every one of us know Monday morning is coming.

[32:17] Each and every one of us are going to go to a life where I say, well, I know I have peace with God, [32:22] but I need help in this situation. I know I have peace with God, but I need healing here. I know I [32:31] have peace with God, but I need money here. I know I have peace with God, but I need this relationship [32:37] restored there. I know I have peace with God, but it seems like every single person in my life [32:43] is against me. I know I have peace with God, but this, but that, but the other thing. God, I need [32:50] you now. I don’t need you later. And here’s what Paul says. He says not only that. So Paul’s going

[33:01] past that peace with God in heaven and he’s saying, no, no, no, it’s right now. He says not only that. [33:08] But we rejoice in our sufferings. That’s crazy.

[33:16] That does not sit well with me because suffering and rejoicing are opposites. Are they not? [33:23] You rejoice when you win the big game. You rejoice when you find that $20 bill in the couch.

[33:34] You don’t rejoice when hard time. No, your hard times come. Well, thank God that’s good.

[33:42] But I want to caution you before I get into it. I want you to understand that when Paul says [33:46] we rejoice in our sufferings, he’s not telling you we walk around looking for suffering.

[33:53] All right. Paul’s not talking about a lifestyle in which you deny pleasure and you just walk [33:58] around looking for ways that you can suffer. Well, I need to suffer a little bit so I can [34:02] rejoice. So, honey, we’re getting rid of the bed. Let’s go to Home Depot and get some plywood.

[34:08] Honey, we need to rejoice in our suffering. So all the food that I like, throw it away. [34:12] All the Brussels sprouts, the squash, everything that I hate, go get it. [34:16] And some of you are like, that’s delicious. There’s something wrong with you.

[34:21] It’s disgusting. Gross. My wife’s with you. She loves that stuff. Something wrong with my wife. [34:29] She’s over there. She’s OK.

[34:34] Paul’s not saying you walk around and look for vials of communicable diseases and say, [34:39] I’m going to drink that so I can suffer and learn how to rejoice. That’s not what Paul’s [34:42] talking about. What Paul is saying is, is, man, you go through life. You go through all the new [34:47] times and you go through all the authors. And what you’re going to see is the Gospels, the only ethic [34:52] in the world that teaches you how to deal with every situation in life. It helps you deal with [34:59] what do you do when the harvest is plenteous? How do you maintain your sacrifice and your

[35:05] generosity with God when you have much? But it also says, how do you maintain your joy in the [35:12] Holy Spirit when the harvest looks like a famine and you’ve got nothing on your side? That’s what [35:18] this verse is talking about. Paul’s not saying look for suffering. Paul’s saying it’s going to [35:23] feel like suffering is looking for you. If you look for it, you’re crazy. But it’s going to find [35:33] you. It’s going to come. You’re going to suffer. Anyone that preaches a gospel absent suffering [35:41] is not preaching the gospel. Paul wants us to understand when suffering enters into our lives

[35:51] that the only way that you can understand how rejoicing and suffering happens is if you are [35:57] finding your joy in the unshakable joy of what it means to have peace with God through faith in [36:03] Jesus Christ. Because when he says a shocking statement like you’re going to rejoice in [36:10] suffering, he’s speaking it into the lives of people who are already there. And he wants you to [36:17] understand that suffering comes into our lives to mature our faith. Look at what he says. He says, [36:25] you rejoice. In the world would I do that, Paul? That’s nuts. Because rejoicing produces endurance

[36:33] through suffering. And when you suffer, you endure. You learn about faith. And what kind of faith is [36:39] building? Because what happens often in our lives is the hard times come. The trials come. We don’t [36:44] know how to deal with it. So we look at God and we say, God, are you mad at me? Because guess what [36:49] the world will tell you? Because our world has no category for suffering. Our culture around us [36:58] will tell us that suffering can never ever be good. Suffering can never ever be helpful. If God [37:07] loves you, you have much. If you don’t have much, there’s something wrong with your relationship

[37:11] with God. That’s a lie. And this text proves it. Because Paul is saying that God through Jesus [37:22] Christ comes into this world and he turns our incessant desire to avoid and deny and redefine [37:32] suffering right on its head. And he began on the cross because Jesus runs headlong into suffering [37:42] to gain our salvation for the joy that was set before him.

[37:52] Friends, you have to understand that God has turned the curse of suffering upside down. [38:00] You say suffering exists because of sin. That’s absolutely true. It does. But on the cross,

[38:10] Jesus Christ turned suffering around and put grace into suffering. And God has taken suffering [38:18] and applied it to his grace. Therefore, there is grace in suffering. I want you to understand [38:26] something right now and your faith will depend on this. Jesus Christ and what he’s done on the [38:32] cross and when you put your faith in that, it means literally that God has no wrath left for [38:40] those who are in Jesus. None. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, God has said that Jesus [38:50] has absorbed every ounce of his wrath for you for all time. Therefore, no matter what comes into

[39:01] your life, I can give you one guarantee about it. It is not if you have faith in Jesus, it is not [39:10] the wrath of God. Never. A follower of Jesus will never experience suffering because of God’s wrath. [39:20] God does not have wrath for you. God does not have condemnation for you. God has nothing [39:25] but his grace for the rest of your days. That’s the gospel. That’s the promise that he has made. [39:35] But suffering will come regardless. But it is not because God is angry with you. Therefore, [39:42] everything that God brings into your life can be trusted to be for your good. Even suffering.

[39:55] Everything that enters into your life, especially suffering, must be viewed through [40:00] faith to understand that he is drawing you closer in dependence on him. Because our response to [40:08] suffering is fine. I will distance myself from you God because you do not seem to be very happy [40:14] with me right now. But that endurance for that to really happen, that means suffering when it comes [40:20] in, it makes you cling to God. It makes you realize more and more how much faith you need in him. [40:26] It makes you realize more and more how dependent you are in him for all of your life, for every

[40:32] moment. And this is the endurance that suffering produces. Look at what the half brother of Jesus [40:39] says in James 1. He says, starting in verse 2, he says, count it all joy my brothers when you meet [40:45] trials of various kinds. Don’t you love how inclusive he is there? He’s not just a trial of [40:52] this kind, various kinds. He’s talking. He’s saying, some of you are going to get very sick.

[41:01] Some of you are going to have terminal illness. Some of you are going to have financial hardships. [41:04] Some of you are going to have relational hardships. Some of you are going to have [41:07] people lie about you. Some of you are going to have people that you love turn their back on you. [41:11] Some of you are going to go through a life where your children forsake you. Some of you are going [41:14] to go through life where a spouse forsakes you. James says, various kinds.

[41:21] You do not know what Monday morning is going to bring. Neither do I. But he says, [41:28] count it all joy. There’s only one way you can do that and that is if your joy is unshakable.

[41:40] Too many of us have a faith in Jesus where our joy is determined on how good today was.

[41:49] The joy of God through Jesus Christ is bigger than that. It’s based on the cross. [41:53] He says, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. That is a synonym [41:59] for endurance. Then he says, suffering comes to test us. That means it’s part of our discipleship. [42:07] He says, and let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking [42:15] in nothing. Do you see what he did there? He’s saying that if you do not have trials, you cannot [42:22] be made complete. He says, if you do not have trials, you’re lacking. That tells me they’re coming.

[42:35] They’re coming. But also understand that suffering only has meaning in light of the gospel. [42:42] The gospel proclaims that your life has purpose. Therefore, there’s no wasted suffering. [42:49] Apart from Jesus, though, suffering terminates on itself. It just is. It has no meaning. [42:57] You suffer, then you die. When you view suffering apart from faith in Jesus, there’s only pain. [43:05] You suffer. And the greatest hope that you have is that your suffering will be temporarily relieved [43:11] until it returns again. And then you die. That’s why there’s no life apart from Jesus,

[43:18] because nothing has meaning. But in Jesus, even your suffering has meaning. And we believe that [43:24] because God promises it. In Jesus, trials are promised to grow you closer in relationship with [43:32] God. To believe more and more peace with God gives you the peace of God. That it doesn’t get worse [43:39] than this world. After this, heaven. That endures you. If you have a hope that is bigger than this [43:47] world, then you have a hope that can endure you through this world. Because no matter how much [43:54] suffering I go through in this world, the worst thing that could happen to me is I die and then

[43:58] I experience resurrection. And then I see the face of Jesus. And then the book of Revelation tells me [44:05] that he’s going to wipe away every tear. And in his right hand are pleasures forever more.

[44:12] So what that means is, is that if I have faith in Jesus, this world is as bad as it will ever get. [44:18] Because in eternity, I have hope. In eternity, I have God. In eternity, I have heaven.

[44:25] But if I do not have hope in Jesus, if I do not have faith in him, if I do not have that unshakable [44:31] joy, here’s the harsh reality. This world is as good as it will ever get.

[44:42] That suffering will only get worse because in the end, hell.

[44:52] Suffering produces a furthered hope for heaven. And it tells me that it will be worth it all. [44:59] When the only hope that you are clinging to is temporary reprieve from small scale suffering [45:06] without any of the hope of the relief from eternal suffering that Jesus gives you, [45:12] you have idols for a heaven here without Jesus. It would be unloving for God to give you that [45:21] because it wouldn’t produce an enduring faith that builds godly character. [45:27] It would be hateful for God to relieve you from the very thing that will make you cling to him

[45:34] more and more for faith. Every good gift, every relief, every reprieve that God gives us in this [45:42] world is for his glory. And because he is bringing us closer and closer to himself. But if any [45:49] reprieve from any ounce of suffering would distance me from God and lessen my hope of glory, [45:55] it would not be loving for God to take it away.

[46:01] Friends, when trials, trials enter your life, look for grace in them.

[46:11] Ask yourself questions when trials come. How is God teaching endurance in this?

[46:21] So how is he teaching you to endure through this specific trial, through this specific suffering? [46:29] How is God building my character through this? How is God guiding and building my hope in this? [46:37] When you do that, you can rejoice in it because you know where your hope is and that can never [46:45] be taken away.

[46:51] Thirdly, this morning, the reason it can never be taken away [46:54] is because the hope of God’s love is only found in the gospel. The hope of God’s love [47:01] is only found in the gospel. Look in verse five.

[47:07] He’s told us that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces [47:14] hope. It’s probably not the definition you’ve given to discipleship in your life, [47:20] but that’s the one that God’s giving us through Paul right here.

[47:24] And then he says, and hope does not put us to shame. It’s a bold statement.

[47:35] Because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who’s been given to us. [47:42] And God’s love must be defined by Jesus. You see, God’s love is defined by the work of Jesus. [47:50] You know, this week is the week that we spend in anticipation to celebrate the resurrection. [47:56] And throughout this week, we have a view of the way that he got to the resurrection. [48:01] He got to the resurrection through the cross. He got to the resurrection through suffering [48:08] and dying for our sins on the cross. And the cross stands as a monument to God’s love.

[48:16] So your definition of God’s love needs to be based in the cross. [48:21] Because when we enter into suffering without a view of the cross, we despair about God’s love.

[48:29] Think about the way in which this world defines the love of God by the very questions that they ask. [48:36] When suffering comes, they point to it and say, would a loving God really allow that?

[48:44] Would a loving God really bring that into your life? If God loves you so much, [48:51] then why are you enduring this? If there’s a loving God, then why does that exist in this world? [48:58] But that’s what you have to do when you do not have the concrete definition of the cross for [49:04] God’s love. Because when you do not have the cross to point to, your best definition of God’s love [49:11] can only be based on how today went. But when we enter into suffering with faith in Jesus, [49:20] we know that God is love. Therefore, we trust and our hope is not just limited to relief,

[49:29] but in a future hope in which everything will be made whole and right in the kingdom of God. [49:36] He is our hope. Jesus is that kingdom.

[49:42] Friend, these are hard words, but I want you to understand something. [49:48] That you need more hope than just that your specific situation will get better.

[49:59] You need a bigger hope than that. Because some of you right now, your hope in God is defined

[50:08] by today.

[50:12] By a lunch that you’re about to have, by a doctor’s appointment that you’re about to go to, [50:18] or by a business meeting that you’re headed into tomorrow.

[50:23] And your definition of God’s love and your hope of God is based on how that specific situation turns out.

[50:33] But I want to prepare you.

[50:37] Not every situation in this life is going to go the way that you want it to.

[50:47] Sometimes it’s going to feel like there are more bad days than good in this world.

[50:53] But friend, if you’re placing all of your hope and all of your definitions in God’s love in one specific situation, [50:59] my fear for you is something that’s going to happen at some point. [51:02] You will be devastated when it doesn’t work out the way you want to do.

[51:08] Your faith will be shaken to your knees. And that is why God does not want us to put our faith in just today.

[51:18] God has given us a concrete thing to look at so that we can have a definition of love that is unshakable. [51:28] A joy that cannot be taken. You need to determine right now.

[51:37] You need to determine before you enter into hard times. [51:42] You need to determine before suffering comes what your definition of God’s love will be or you will be devastated in life.

[51:55] Because let me tell you and let me caution you that when you attempt to define God’s love in the midst of suffering, [52:00] it’s the most difficult thing you will ever do. Because that is when the enemy gets in your ear and makes you question it.

[52:10] That’s why verses 1 and 2 come before verse 3.

[52:18] Because God wants you to have a definition of His love before you enter into suffering. [52:24] Because God knows that the only way that you will rejoice in your suffering is if you have determined in faith before your suffering.

[52:34] Jesus saves.

[52:37] Friends, some of you right now are in the midst of suffering and you know exactly what I am talking about. [52:42] You are struggling right now. You are questioning God’s love. You are questioning your hope. [52:48] Because you are in the middle of suffering and you are like, I can’t define God’s love by anything else. [52:53] And I want you to understand that yes, you can. It will be more difficult. [52:59] But God’s promise right here applies to you where you are right now. [53:04] He says your suffering produces hope. And if you will place your faith in Jesus right where you are,

[53:10] you will begin the step of endurance and full dependency on God.

[53:18] How do I know that? Because here’s what Jesus said to His disciples in John 16 verse 33. [53:23] He says, I have said these things to you. He has been in verses 14, 15, and 16. [53:29] He’s been preaching a message to a very small group, His disciples. [53:34] He’s told them, He says, I’m leaving. But it’s to your advantage that I leave so that I can send the Holy Spirit. [53:39] The Holy Spirit is going to remind you of everything I’ve ever taught you. [53:42] And He says, you need to abide in Me. And when you abide in Me, you will produce fruit in your life.

[53:49] He’s telling them, I’m for you. [53:54] And He says, I have said these things to you that in me, you may have what? Peace. [53:59] What kind of peace? Peace with God that turns into the peace of God. [54:05] Why do they need peace? In the world, you will have tribulation.

[54:16] Jesus doesn’t look to His disciples like some would make us think and look to them and say, [54:21] You have peace with Me so that you can avoid tribulation.

[54:26] You have peace with Me so that you can deny that the tribulation is real. [54:31] You have peace with Me because it’s not really tribulation. [54:34] No, He says, you need peace with Me because it’s coming.

[54:39] And let me tell you, in the disciples’ lives, it came.

[54:46] And in your life, it is coming.

[54:51] And then He makes the greatest promise that I think is in all of Scripture.

[54:57] It’s preceded by these words, take heart. [54:59] What He’s saying is, He’s saying, it’s going to be difficult and you’re going to have doubts in those hard moments. [55:04] But He says, but take heart. I have overcome the world.

[55:11] There’s no greater promise.

[55:14] He’s saying the world can never take the peace with God that Jesus gives you. [55:22] He tells them that tribulation will come.

[55:28] In those moments, you’ll say, well, what good has my faith done me? [55:31] And Jesus will look at that moment and He says, I’ve overcome the world. [55:38] Even if the world kills you, you’ve got Me.

[55:43] Friends, a large theme in this section of Romans is hope.

[55:48] Paul is attempting to drive your hope away from the wrong things and place it in the ultimate thing, the gospel of Jesus Christ. [55:57] We live in a world that struggles with what to say about suffering. [56:04] In sin, suffering is used by many as a reason to not trust God. [56:11] But the gospel teaches us that suffering is the greatest reason to trust God.

[56:22] Because He gives it purpose. [56:25] Not only that, even when we don’t know the why of suffering, we can’t say that God doesn’t love us because Jesus lowered Himself into the deepest depths of suffering. [56:36] The deepest depths of physical suffering, the deepest depths of mental suffering, the deepest depths of spiritual suffering on the cross.

[56:45] In every moment of suffering in my life, no matter what I’m going through, Jesus can always look at me and say, I understand.

[56:56] Not only that, but He alone has the victory over it and will ultimately deliver us into that eternal joy. [57:06] So in every moment of suffering, I take it to God. [57:10] And I say, God, what do I do with this? And sometimes God will relieve it. And sometimes God will say, it is my will.

[57:18] But because of the cross, I trust Him. Because of the cross, I believe Him. [57:25] And because of the resurrection, I have a legitimate thing to point to and say, it can never get so bad that God can’t resurrect me. [57:38] Friends, trust that right now.

[57:43] And you will have a faith that can endure you and will endure you to produce godly character and following Jesus, that will produce hope, that has unshakable joy.

[58:01] As a band comes up,

[58:07] God has not forsaken us.

[58:12] He never will.

[58:16] Why do I believe that? [58:18] In light of the many things that I see happening in the world, in light of many things that we see happening in each other’s lives.

[58:27] I believe it because of the cross. [58:29] And every week, we intentionally confront each other with the cross. [58:39] The bread represents the broken body of Jesus. The cup represents His shed blood.

[58:47] When Jesus went to the cross, He suffered and He died for our sin. And these elements represent the price He paid. [58:56] If you are a follower of Jesus, if you have placed your faith in Him, I want to invite you to one of the six stations around this room. [59:05] But as you come, understand, you are coming to be confronted with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. [59:11] And as you do it, as you eat and drink, do it in hope. [59:18] And hope that what Jesus did and what Jesus promised are unshakable.

[59:26] Trust Him. [59:28] When you’re ready, come.

[59:32] Right now, I’m going to ask the Mexico Mission team to join me on stage for just a moment. [59:39] One of the great things about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it is not limited to us. [59:46] It’s for the entire world. [59:48] At the beginning of the service, we prayed for a couple that’s going to spend the next few years in Germany. [59:54] Because the gospel is for the Germans. [59:57] This next week, we’re going to send a team to Mexico.

[60:00] Because the gospel is for Mexico. It’s for the whole world. [60:03] And this past year, we sent one of our members down to Oaxaca, Mexico to serve and minister with the missionaries that are already on the ground there. [60:12] And we’re sending a team this next week down to assist her, as well as the missionaries down there, to continue their work, to join them in what they’ve already got going on down there in Mexico. [60:24] And I am so thankful and grateful that you guys have answered God’s call to go. [60:31] Because that’s step one. [60:33] And that’s why it’s called each and every one of us to go with the gospel.

[60:37] And they’ve stepped up in this first step of obedience. [60:41] And the next step comes when they get there to obey. [60:45] And so I just wanted to take a moment to thank them. [60:48] And then number two, I want to commission them out by praying for them as a church. [60:54] I want all of us to pray together. [60:56] Now you guys need to do it quietly. I’ll be the one doing it out loud.

[60:59] But join me. If you want to put your hands out and pray for them, you can. [61:03] I’ll put your hands out in a certain way. [61:04] But please join me over the next few moments and pray to commission them and send them to the nations. [61:11] Let’s pray. [61:13] Our Father, thank you.

[61:18] Lord, you constantly give us reminders of what our mission is. [61:23] Our mission is to find joy in your gospel for the hope of the whole world coming to the gospel. [61:28] And Lord, I thank you for placing it in the heart of this team right here to answer your call to go. [61:38] And Lord, they’re going this week. [61:40] And I pray that you would equip them for step two. [61:45] And that is that when they are there, that they will obey you and be used by you and submit to the callings that you will give them while they’re there.

[61:55] Lord, I pray that they would help the missionaries. [62:00] Lord, I pray that you would give them a work to do that will continue past when they’re there. [62:09] And Lord, I want to pray right now for those divine appointments that I know that you have for them while they’re there. [62:15] I pray that you would give them boldness. A boldness that maybe they’ve never experienced before. [62:20] Or that when they’re having conversations that you will bring to their memory as you’ve promised to do your gospel. [62:30] And Lord, they will have words. They won’t depend on themselves, but they’ll depend on you for strength.

[62:35] Lord, I pray that much fruit would be born out of their trip to Oaxaca. [62:43] And Lord, those people that have been unreached, I pray that you will use them to begin an effort to reach them. [62:49] I pray that you may even use them in ways they don’t even fathom that you will use them. [62:55] But they will be open because they know that you are a God that will protect them. [63:01] And I pray that because of that, that you would help them to risk for your gospel.

[63:07] Lord, I do pray that you would get them there safely, that you will bring them home safely. [63:12] But because of their trust in you, I pray that they would not just play it safe. [63:17] That they would not just be quiet, but that they would go down there with an attitude of expectancy that you will work through them.

[63:28] Lord, I pray and thank you for the rejoicing that we will do. [63:32] The stories of your grace that will be told.

[63:37] To your glory, Jesus. Amen. Thank you. [63:41] Right now, the ushers are going to come around with the offering baskets. [63:45] If you are new here, don’t feel obligated to give this morning. [63:49] This is an act of worship by people who call Village Church home. [63:53] Who give generously to the needs that we have in this church. [63:57] But as we sing right now, sing as people who are grateful for the cross.