Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
If there was ever a synopsis of what the Christian life should be, it is expressed in today’s passage. It is the love and grace of God that offers us salvation and it is the sacrifice of Jesus that makes that possible but it is the power of the Spirit of God that brings life to our existence. If we are not living in the power of eternal hope, joy, and peace, something in our spiritual lives has gone terribly wrong.
First, Paul describes God as the “God of hope.” To know God is to have hope. Knowing God brings purpose and meaning to this earthly existence. And it is the promise of eternal life that should fill every believer with hope.
Secondly, God is able to fill us with all joy and peace. Everything that makes life joyous is found in God. Perfect peace with God and others is also a byproduct of being filled with God’s Spirit. But it is the avenue by which this joy and peace flows that makes this passage so powerful. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…” It is our faith in God that brings about these wonderful results. When we fully trust Him, we find the hope, joy, and peace that we are so desperately seeking.
Thirdly, Paul gives us the reason for why we should be filled. “So that you will abound in hope…” God wants us to live in hope. And not that we just have hope rather we are to abound in hope. That means that there should be no shortage of this imperative, spiritual asset. And how do we see this hope, joy, and peace abound in our lives? We cannot manufacture it on our own rather it is only available to a life yielded to the power of the Spirit of God. Consider some of these passages revealing this spiritual power:
- God is able to exceed our expectations
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…
Ephesians 3:20
God can do far more abundantly beyond what we can ask or even think. And how does Paul say that God exceeds our expectations? He does so by the power that works within us…” It is the power of the Spirit that brings about these extraordinary outcomes.
- God’s power is toward us
…and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Ephesians 1:19
God’s power is demonstrated toward those who believe in Him. That means that if we find ourselves belonging to Christ by faith, we have that power available to us. It is through God’s power toward us that we begin to live extraordinary, uncommon lives.
- God gives strength to those who are weary
He (God) gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait (expectantly) for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:29-31
It is part of God’s character and nature that He desires to give us spiritual strength. He gives strength to those who are tired and He gives power to those who lack might. This is God’s nature. So those of us who wait (expectantly) for God, we will find new strength. When we feel as if we cannot continue or go on, He will come to the humble and fill us with new strength. This is what Christians are to expect.
- We should experience spiritual renewal every day
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
As we get older, we begin to feel things that we did not experience in our youth. But as our bodies begin to age, our spiritual lives are to continue to grow in strength. That is because the power of the Spirit of God within exceeds that which is going on in our physical bodies. Paul reminds us that we are to experience daily renewal. And how does this renewal take place? It is by yielding to the power of the Spirit of God.
- Jesus predicts this spiritual power
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:37-39
Anyone who is spiritually thirsty can come to Jesus. And when we do, we receive the Spirit. And it is the Spirit that allows us to experience rivers of living water flowing from our lives. And this spiritual fountain flows from our innermost being. This is to be the life experience of every believer in Jesus Christ.
Are you living with hope, joy, and peace? Are those attributes abounding in your life? If not, call on God today and receive the life-giving power that only comes from the presence of God in our lives!
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