Romans 15:13 Abounding in Hope

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Romans 15:13 is a wonderful prayer that Paul wants every believer to experience. Yet very few of believers can legitimately claim to be filled with all joy and peace in believing and abounding in hope. A common factor among those who are depressed is that they lack hope. Discouraged people and those who are apathetic about life also lack hope. A medical report says depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020. There is a solution. The God of hope wants us to be filled with all joy and peace in believing, so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

1. The source of this abundant hope is in the God of hope. God is the source or giver of hope. He is also the object of our hope. Biblical hope is certain because it rests on God's promises. So if we are lacking hope, we know where to find it: Seek the God who is the source of all true hope and put our hope in Christ as our Savior and Lord.

2. The foundation for this abundant hope is to be filled with all joy and peace. Paul does not pray that we will have just a little bit of joy and peace trickling into our life now and then. Rather, he prays that the God of hope will fill us with all joy and peace so that we will abound in hope. Paul wants our “jugs” of joy and peace to be overflowing so that we are continually abounding in hope in God. Let's ask God to fill us to the brim with His joy and peace and hope. The biblical joy is an inner delight in God and His sure promises that gives us comfort and contentment in every trial. It comes from knowing that our sovereign God will work all things, including tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword, together for our good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28) Biblical peace comes from taking all of our anxieties to God in thankful prayer (Phil. 4:6-7)

3. The human means of this abundant hope is to keep believing in God and His Word. Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of God. To have and increase in abundant hope, I must believe and keep on believing in God and His Word.

4. The divine means of this abundant hope is the power of the Holy Spirit. 
God the Father is the God of hope. The object of our hope is Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. The power for joy, peace and abundant hope comes from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's power is the resurrection power that gives new life to dead sinners. The Hope Spirit opens our minds so that we can understand the truths of God's Word. The Hope Spirit is the power that produces His holiness in us as we walk in dependence on Him. It is the Holy Spirit who produces in us His fruit of joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we abound in hope.