Are You Full?
Romans 15:13
Mitchell Skelton, Minister
Midway church of Christ
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
We are filled with Joy
An example of Joyful believers (Acts 8)
“And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.”
Philip proclaimed Christ. Acts 8:5
Great Joy filled the city. Acts 8:8
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”£ 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39)
The eunuch’s faith caused him to rejoice.
We are filled with Peace
This Peace comes from our new standing.
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus” (Romans 15:5) - Peace for those IN CHRIST
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1) - Justification brings Peace.
Enemies of Peace.
Fear - comes from weak faith.
“He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” (Matthew 8:26)
Frustration - comes from life’s struggles.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
We abound in Hope
Definition: Vine - “Hope describes the happy anticipation of good.”
The Hope of eternal salvation. Romans 15:8–12
“but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:23–25)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3–4)
Without faith there is no Hope.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith Fills, Unbelief Kills
The emptiness in your life can be filled.
1. JOY, 2. PEACE, 3. HOPE.
There are consequences of unbelief:
We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:9–12)
And without faith it is impo