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REJOICE IN HOPE
A. Introduction: For a number of weeks, we’ve been talking about living with the awareness that there is
more to life than just this life, and that what is ahead far outshines anything we face in this life.
1. Paul the apostle, a man who faced many challenges as he served Jesus, was able to call his troubles
momentary and light because he kept his focus on what is to come in the life after this life. II Cor 4:17—
Our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurable
great glory that will last forever (NLT).
2. We’ve talked much about the glory that is ahead for those who know the Lord. But in last week’s
lesson we asked and began to answer the question: Is there help for us now in this life?
a. If by this question you mean is there a way to stop life’s hardships, the answer is no. We live in
a world that is infused with corruption and death because of sin. There is no such thing as a
problem free, carefree life in this fallen, broken world. Rom 5:12; John 16:33
b. We need to understand that God’s goal in salvation is not to make this life the highlight of our
existence. Even if you have a wonderful life where all your dreams come true, old age and
death take it away.
1. The Lord’s goal in salvation is to permanently deliver men and women from the penalty and
power of sin, abolish death and corruption, restore us to our created purpose as sons and
daughters who are fully glorifying to Him. He and His family will live then in loving
relationship forever in the world He created, made new. Eph 1:4-5; Rev 21-22
2. Jesus incarnated (took on a human nature) and was born into this world to die as a sacrifice
for our sin. He opened the way for us to be restored to God through faith in Him. Right
now, a process of restoration, reclamation, and transformation is underway, but it will not be
completed until the second coming of Jesus. I Pet 3:18; II Cor 3:18
3. The primary help for us now in this life is the hope that comes from understanding what God is
working toward and knowing what is ahead in the life after this life.
a. This hope gives us peace of mind in the present because it assures us that all will ultimately be
well—some in this life and the rest in the life to come.
1. God’s promise to us in this life is that no matter what happens, He is with us, and He causes
everything to serve His ultimate purpose, as He works out His plan for a family.
2. Eph 1:9-11—(God) showed us the mystery of his plan. It was in keeping with what he
wanted to do…It will all come about when history has been completed. God will then bring
together all things under one ruler. The ruler is Christ. We were…chosen to belong to him.
God decided to choose us long ago in keeping with his plan. He works out everything to fit
his plan and purpose (NIRV).
b. The Bible is clear that God often puts off short term blessing (ending your troubles now) for long
term eternal results (salvation and transformation of as many people as possible).
c. Part of God’s provision for us in this life is the assurance that all pain and sorrow is temporary
and that restoration and reunion await us—some in this life, but the majority in the life to come.
B. One of the greatest promises that God has given us in this broken world is that He works all things
together for God. Paul wrote: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28, NKJV).
1. The Bible gives many examples of God bringing good out of bad. The greatest example is the
crucifixion of Jesus. Wicked men inspired by Satan crucified the Lord of Glory. But God used that
event to provide salvation for all who believe on Jesus. Luke 22:3; Acts 2:22-23; I Cor 2:7-8
a. When Paul was in prison, not knowing if he would live or die, he was able to write: Everything that

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has happened to me here has helped to spread the gospel (Phil 1:12, NLT); (and this will turn out for
my salvation and deliverance) for my preservation [for the spiritual health and welfare of my own
soul and avail toward the saving work of the Gospel] (Phil 1:19, Amp).
b. Paul would have been familiar with an account from the Old Testament where one of his ancestors, a
man named Joseph, was also wrongly imprisoned. Joseph was the great-grandson of Abraham, the
head of the Jewish race. Joseph’s brothers, jealous of him, sold him into slavery. Gen 37-50
1. Joseph ended up in Egypt where he was falsely accused of rape and sent to prison. Through a
series of providential events that took place over a number of years, Joseph ended up in charge of
a food gathering and distribution program in Egypt. He was second only to Pharaoh in power.
2. When a severe famine hit that part of the world, Joseph’s plan saved multitudes of people from
starvation (including his own family). And, because Joseph held on to his faith in God
throughout the entire ordeal, multitudes of idol worshippers heard about the Only Almighty God.
They saw in Joseph the effects of his trust in and commitment to God despite his circumstances.
3. When Joseph and his brothers were finally reunited, they feared that he would use his powerful
position to pay them back for what they did to him. But Jospeh’s response to them was: As far
as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high
position I have today so I could save the lives of many people (Gen 50:20, NLT).
A. God did not cause or approve of the wickedness that was done to Joseph. But because God
is Omniscient (all knowing) He knew what would happen to Joseph and saw a way to serve
His ultimate purposes for good.
B. God put off short term blessing for Joseph (ending his trouble before or shortly after it
began), but God was with Joseph throughout, and got him through it.
c. Note Paul’s view of the Scriptures where is account of Joseph’s life is written: Everything written
in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and
encouragement the Scriptures give us (Rom 15:4, Good News Bible).
2. Note something else that Paul wrote in that same letter (epistle) sent to Christians living in Rome. This
letter is Paul’s most systematic presentation of salvation and God’s plan for a family.
a. Rom 5:1-2—Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with
God because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into
this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to
sharing God’s glory (NLT).
1. We pointed out in previous lessons that because of what Jesus has done for us through His
sacrificial death and resurrection, we have been restored to our created purpose as God’s sons
and daughters through faith in Him. This is a glorious position. Ps 8:4-5; Heb 2:9-10; etc.
2. And, God has indwelled us by His Spirit (His glory). We now partake of His very life and
nature. He has begun in us a process of progressive restoration and transformation in us that
will ultimately fully restore us, in every part of our being, to what we were intended to be before
sin damaged God’s family. We will be sons and daughters who are fully pleasing to Almighty
God in character and behavior. II Pet 1:4; I Cor 6:19; II Cor 3:18; Phil 2:12-13; I John 3:2; etc.
3. Ultimately, our bodies will be glorified—raised from the dead and made immortal and
incorruptible, like Jesus’ resurrected, glorified body. Phil 3:20-21
b. Note what Paul wrote next. Rom 5:3-4—This doesn’t mean, of course, that we have only a hope of
future joys—we can be full of joy here and now even in the midst of our trials and troubles (J. B.
Phillips); More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings (tribulation, trials), knowing that suffering
produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (ESV).
1. The Greek word that is translated full of joy and rejoice means to boast. To rejoice means to
gladden or make happy. We encourage ourselves in the midst of hardship by boasting (talking

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with pride and admiration) about who God is and what He has done, is doing, and will do. We
can boast about how God uses tribulation and trials—He’s causing them to serve His purposes.
2. Paul wrote that life’s hardships produce endurance. Produce means to work out or achieve.
Trials provide an opportunity for us to work or exercise endurance (patience).
A. Patience is steadfastness, or staying committed to the Lord despite the hardships and
temptations of life. The Greek word literally means to abide or remain under. Patience is
called a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) because the Holy Spirit is in you to strengthen you and
help you to endure no matter what you face.
B. Paul prayed for Christians: Col 1:11—We pray also that you will be strengthened with his
glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance that you need (NLT).
3. Paul continued in his letter to the Romans: Trouble produces endurance and endurance
produces character. The word translated character means the state of having been tried or
tested. Trials test the genuineness of our faith in God and His goodness.
A. Rom 5:4—Trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval, and his approval
creates hope (Good News Bible); Endurance brings proof that we have stood the test (NEB);
When you remain faithful to God, you glorify Him and are pleasing. This gives you hope
because know that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it (Phil 1:6).
B. Remember, God’s desire for His family is that we become Christ-like in character and
behavior (Rom 8:29). Trials expose un-Christlike traits in us and provide an opportunity to
grow in Christ-like character, with the help of the Holy Spirit in us. This is a primary way
that God uses and brings good out of life’s hardships.
3. Paul understood the importance of exercising patience (endurance) in hard times. He knew how God
uses them, and he saw the hope that we have in the midst of them. Once again, Paul’s understanding of
an account in the Old Testament helped shape his view of reality.
a. Paul was familiar with the Book of Job, an account of a man who suffered great hardship in his life.
Job lost his ten children, his wealth, and his health. But he stayed faithful to God, and all that he
lost was ultimately restored to him. We aren’t going to do a detailed study of Job. But we do need
to make a few comments before we make the point relevant to tonight’s discussion.
1. People try to use the Book of Job to explain why evil happens to God’s people. The book never
answers that question. Job and several of his friends asked why Job encountered these trials at
least twenty times. God never answered their questions.
2. Job experienced these hardships because that’s life in a fallen world. Job’s wealth (7,000 sheep,
3000 camels, 500 oxen teams, 500 donkeys) was stolen by wicked men, his ten children died in a
freak storm, and he got sick. All of that is life in a sin cursed earth. Wicked men and killer
storms are part of life in a fallen world. Sickness affected Job’s body because Job, like
everyone else, was subject to sickness and death due to the first man Adam’s sin.
3. But even under the pressure of his circumstances and the emotional heartbreak he experienced,
and even though his wife urged him to renounce (curse) God and die, Job refused to do so.
b. The New Testament mentioned Job one time, as an example of someone who expressed patience
(endurance) in hard times, and it directs our attention to how Job’s story ended, not why it happened.
1. James 5:11—We call them (the prophets) happy because they endured. You have heard of
Job’s patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of
mercy and compassion (Good News Bible); the Lord’s plan finally ended in good (NLT).
2. What happened to Job is called captivity. Job is a mini story of redemption and restoration. In
the end, God delivered Job from his troubles and restored to him twice what he lost. Job 42:10—
And the Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored his fortunes (Amp).
3. The point for us is this: What Job lost due to life in a broken, sin cursed earth was ultimately

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restored to him, over and above what he lost—some in this life, some in the life to come.
A. His body was healed, he recovered his wealth two times over, and he had ten more children.
But Job didn’t get his first ten children back, and he, like all humans, eventually died.
C. However, when Job left this life, he was reunited with his children. They’re all in Heaven,
enjoying life with the Lord and awaiting their return to earth with Jesus. Job spoke these
words: Job 19:25-26—I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the
earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God (ESV).
4. Paul knew the rewards of patience (endurance), staying faithful to God no matter what the cost. It’s not
how you start out as a Christian. It’s how you finish. Life’s trials can wear you down and erode your
confidence in the Lord.
a. He wrote to Christians who were experiencing great pressure to give up their faith in Jesus: Let us
run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on
whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross
because of the joy he knew would be his afterward (Heb 12:1-3, NLT).
b. Paul lived what he preached. At the end of his life, when he was facing execution for his faith in
Christ, he wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith. Note some of Paul’s last words.
1. II Tim 4:6-8—The time of my death is near. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race,
and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that
the Lord…will give to me on that great day of his return. And this prize is not just for me but
for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return (NLT).
2. Part of the reward that awaits all of us is a crown of righteousness—not a literal piece of jewelry.
The word crown is used figurately to mean the culmination. The culmination of patience in the
race is the reward of eternal life, life with the Lord, when all will finally be made right.
C. Conclusion: No matter how things look or feel in our circumstances, we can be assured, that God is at
work behind the scenes, causing it to serve His ultimate purpose for a family as He brings good out of bad.
1. Keeping our focus on this reality helps us deal with the harsh realities of life in a fallen world. Paul
was able to call his many troubles momentary and light because, he said: I keep my mind on things that can’t
be seen (II Cor 4:18). We can also do this by reminding ourselves who God is and what He is doing.
a. Paul urged Christians to serve the Lord by “rejoicing in hope, (being) patient in tribulation, (and)
continuing steadfast in prayer” (Rom 12:12, NKJV). Paul used a word for rejoice that means to be
cheerful (as opposed to feel cheerful). The Greek word is made up of two words—well and mind.
b. The main way you keep your mind focused on anything is by talking about it. In the midst of life’s
trials, we need to boast or talk to ourselves about who God is and remind ourselves of what He has
done, is doing, and will do. This gives us hope which helps us endure.
2. None of this takes away the sorrow, and tears of life’s tragedies. Nor does it mean that we should feel
happy about life’s hardships. In the context of his many trials Paul talked about being sorrow yet rejoicing
(encouraging himself by praising God). II Cor 6:10; Acts 16:25
a. Paul also had the example of David, a man who experienced much loss and pain in his life. When
he was being pursued by men intent on killing him David wrote: When I am afraid, I will trust in
you. I will praise or boast in your Word (Ps 56:3-4). When David’s infant son died, he
worshipped God—My son can’t come back to me, but I will go to be with him (II Sam 12:20-22).
b. In his most famous psalm David wrote: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Ps 23:6, ESV). As he looked back over
his life, he could see how God had worked for good in his circumstance. When he looked forward
to the life to come, he knew that glory and reunion awaited him in the life to come.
3. When we view our lives from this perspective, we can rejoice in hope no matter what (more next week).