The H.O.P.E. of the Resurrection

Scripture: Phil. 3:7-11

For if Jesus was raised over 2,000 years ago – what good is that to me today?!
Even people who believe in the “fact” of the resurrection – are they changed? – Delaware crossing? Gettysburg Address?
Today we are going to see – why the power of the resurrection is just as important to us today as >2,000 years ago!!!
Each letter in the word “H.O.P.E.” will show how this “resurrection power” impacts our lives today!

“H.O.P.E.” of the Resurrection

H = Heartaches are Removed

1. When it comes to hope there are two kinds of people: those who have it and those who don't.
a. ( I Thess. 4:13 ), “We do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep [physically dead],
that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have not hope.”
1) For many people the most “hopeless” situation is death!!!
2) “Death” can take many forms; death of a career (lose a job), death of a relationship (infidelity)
3) “Grief” is the appropriate response to all those who are “without hope.”

b. ( I Thess. 4:14 ), “For if we believe Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have
fallen asleep in Jesus.”
1) Being “informed” leads to “belief” in God's power to raise people from the dead!
2) If God can do this – then there is no such thing as a “hopeless situation”!

2. Notice then – the source of our hope – is our faith in the power of God.
a. ( Matt. 17:20 ), “Truly I say to you, if you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you.”
1) We believe God can move mountains – because He moved the stone (resurrection).
2) When we believe in the power of the resurrection - there is no reason for us to grieve…,
( Jn. 16:21-22 ), “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep & lament, but the world will rejoice; you
will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy … I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and
no one will take your joy away from you.”
3) Thus, our faith in the God of the resurrection – gives us a hope that removes our heartaches!!!

O = Occasion for Hope is Found in Jesus

1. The timing for our hope is found in Jesus.
a. ( Jn. 11:21 ), “Martha said to Jesus, ‘If You had been here, my brother would not have died.'”
1) Haven't we all had those, “where were You God when I needed You” moments?
2) “Where was God when my child died of SIDS? My parent had a heart attack? My spouse…?
3) ( vs. 23-24 ), “Jesus said to her, ‘You brother shall rise again.' - Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again
in the resurrection on the last day'” – Martha gave her timing – but it wasn't Jesus timing!!! 4) Martha is probably thinking, “Don't give me religious platitudes, I'm in pain NOW !”

b. Martha saw resurrection as a future “event. – Many who come to church 1-2/year see it the same way.
1) But Jesus wants us to understand – resurrection isn't about an “event” – but about a “Person”!
2) ( Jn. 11:25-27 ), “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection & the life; he who believes in Me shall live
even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. – Do you believe this?' She
said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.'”
a) Martha got the point, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
b) True biblical HOPE is faith in Some- ONE and not some- thing !!!
3) When our hope is found in God and His timing – then there are no hopeless situations!!!

P = Power that is Greater than Our Past

1. Have you ever considered how many of the problems we have come from our past?!!!
a. In Phil. 3:10 , Paul says, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection….” – Yet why does
Paul say that he needs this power? – It is because of the things from his past…
1) His nationality – ( v. 5a ), “circumcised the 8 th day of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin.”
2) His religion – ( v. 5b ), “a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the law, a Pharisee.”
3) His religious activities – ( v. 6 ), “as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to the R. in the law, found...

b. Notice the things in his past (both good/bad) – are seen as an anchor holding him back.
1) Some rest on their laurels & never move forward – others let bad things keep them immobile.
2) Well, “your past may explain you – but it doesn't lock you in!!!”
3) So Paul says, ( v. 7 ), “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for
the sake of Christ. [the “good” stuff – Gal. 1:14 , “…I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my
contemporaries, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.” ].
4) ( v. 8 ), “ More than that, I count all things [“bad” stuff] as loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but
rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.”

c. The power of the resurrection – moves us beyond our past into a better tomorrow, ( Phil. 3:10 )!

E = Eternal Life (Rom. 6:1-4)

1. We are not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying – In this world we are in the land of the
dying going to the land of the living!!!
a. Eternal Life Begins with a Resurrection… OURS!
1) The greatest problem that we have… is us!
2) ( Eph. 2:1-2 ), “You were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you formerly walked....”
3) None of these things ( “…course of this world … prince of the power … spirit ) excuse us before God

b. While we were spiritually dead – at the moment of our salvation - God “resurrected” us to spiritual life!
1) ( Eph. 2:4-6 ), “But God being rich in mercy with the great love with which He has loved us, - even
when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (for by grace you have
been saved), - and raised us up with Him and seated us together with Him in the heavenly places in
Christ.”
2) So when did this resurrection to spiritual life take place? – Rom. 6:3-4!!!
3) It is after our baptism that our lives truly change: We are saved – because of the power of
Jesus resurrection, ( quote I Pt. 3:21 ), “Baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from….”