The Power of Hope

UV 510/10,000 Romans 15 v 13 The power of Hope Rom 15:13 "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." The power of the Holy Spirit is the power of hope. It is like the coach who eggs us on and encourages us to run faster towards the finishing line. On account of our faith in Christ, the God of hope, the One who wants to give us hope and a future, fills us with joy and peace. When we are filled with joy and peace, we are filled with the power of God, the power of the Holy Spirit who brings all things to fruition or fulfillment. Since God is on our side, we are confident we are on the winning side though we need to fight many battles. It is belief that Jesus Christ has redeemed us and transformed us from sinners into winners that continually and produces joy and peace abundantly in our lives. It is hope that keeps us living from day to day: we hope that our work will produce results, that our relationships will improve, that our health improves, that our finances improve, that the national and global economy will improve. It is when people give up all hope that they think of committing suicide. Even if all or any of these hopes fail us, our hope in God will never fail us. It is not enough we have joy and peace but “ all joy and peace” or joy and peace in all things and situations. It is not enough that we have hope but that we should abound in hope. This is what is meant by full assurance – to have abiding joy and peace in our hearts and abounding hope in our minds about the fulfillment of the wonderful promises that God has spoken into our lives as well the goals and desires that we have set for ourselves. God is described as the God of hope and not as the God who brings disappointment, disaster and destruction. He finds no pleasure in taking away our hope but delights in fostering our hope and faith. He is the one who fulfills the purpose of our lives. Without Him, there would be too many empty spaces in our lives that nothing else and no one else can possibly fill. The birth of the Christ child- Jesus was heralded with the message, “ Tidings of great joy!” as it gave hope for the first time of mankind living forever, our sins or shortcomings being completely forgiven. Christ living in us by virtue of our faith is our hope of glory or sharing the abundant, eternal or everlasting blessings and power of God. Everlasting means from beginning to the end and beyond. The evidence that Christ dwells in us is the hope we have, the joy we manifest, the peace we enjoy. As we grow in Christ, the measure of the hope, joy and peace should be growing till we overflow with the spirit of hope, joy and peace. Prateep V Philip