10-15-06 Having hope sharing hope

10-15-06  Rom 15: 1-7 “HAVING HOPE, SHARING HOPE”

Last week we talked about “Look at Yourselves First” in Rom 14

We were to;  Judge your own actions first.

                     Do not cause a stumbling block for anyone.

                     Be a blessing to others.

                     Do not destroy, or tear down, a Christian brother or sister.

                     Know what is right between you and God.

                     Do what is right and have no grey areas.

This week we are going to go into Rom 15:1-4 and learn about “HAVING HOPE, SHARING HOPE”. 

Rom 15: 1-4    1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him 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.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 

V1  Paul’s concern that weak and strong Christians live in harmony, carries over from chap 14 right into chap. 15.

REF Galatians 6:2  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

“HAVING HOPE, SHARING HOPE”, assist others with burdens.

V 2 Paul also urges us as mature believers that we are not to please ourselves but to build up the faith of weaker Christians.

1 Corinthians 10:24   24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

“HAVING HOPE, SHARING HOPE”, build up others for good.

V3  If Christ, the very Son of God, did not order his life so as to please himself, how much more should we forget all personal advantages and follow His path as the Suffering Servant (Jesus Christ).

REF Ps 69:9, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 

“HAVING HOPE, SHARING HOPE”, serve others, please God.

V 4 contains a principle of great significance for the twenty-first century believer. Everything that was written in Scripture in earlier times (in this case the Old Test.) was written for us.

The Old Test. is full of examples where many endured and encouraged others.  Not only did it serve the needs during its own time and day but it is still relevant in our modern world TODAY. 

2 Tim 3: 16-17 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The difficulties of today are bearable because God in his Word tells us of a better time yet to come.

For us to separate our self from Scripture is to turn a deaf ear to the voice of our Heavenly Father.

“HAVING HOPE, SHARING HOPE”, learn from past and present.

Read your BIBLE!

The Hope that is being referred too, is Jesus Christ which was  referred to back in v3.

The Jesus Christ that took all the insults, abuses, beatings, and finally was crucified on a cross for each one of us, is the one that we look to for hope and life. The One that also shows us God the Father.

Jn 14:6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

By having that hope in Jesus Christ for our lives, we will also want others to have that same hope for life.

“HAVING HOPE, SHARING HOPE”, Having Jesus, Sharing Jesus.

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