2. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope Romans 4:16-25

3. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope  Hoping Against Hope Abraham contemplated what he could see His body as good as dead (since he was about 100) The deadness of Sarah’s womb

4. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope  Hoping Against Hope He believed in what he did not see He and Sarah would have a child and that all the promises dependent on that would be fulfilled He did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God

5. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope  Hoping Against Hope Why?? He was fully assured that what God had PROMISED He was ABLE also TO PERFORM He placed faith in God’s promises because he placed faith in God’s power, the power to Call into being what does not exist Give life to the dead

6. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope  Hoping Against Hope Why?? God’s POWER to Call into being what does not exist Heb 11:3; Jer 10:12; Rom 1:20; 2 Pet 3:5 Give life to the dead Heb 11:17-19; Js 2:21-23; Gen 2:7; Eze 37:7-14; Mt 22:29 If God had the power do those things, then He was able to perform what He promised and give them a child!

7. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope This was written for us, too! Rom 4:22-25  Hoping Against Hope We contemplate what we can see We are all under sin and fall short of God’s glory Rom 3:9,23 We are as hopeless in regard to righteousness as Abraham and Sarah were in regard to childbirth!

8. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope This was written for us, too! Rom 4:22-25  Hoping Against Hope We believe what we can not see- We have been forgiven of our sins as God has promised.

9. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope This was written for us, too! Rom 4:22-25  Hoping Against Hope Why believe we are forgiven? Our faith in God’s power- faith in a God with power to create and power to resurrect from the dead Our faith in God’s power from His fulfillment of promises to Abraham, especially the resurrection of Jesus Acts 3:25-26; Rom 4:24-25; 10:9-10; 6:3-4; Col 2:12-13

10. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope This was written for us, too! Rom 4:22-25  Hoping Against Hope We contemplate what we can see Death is the end of life, we bury our loved ones and they return to the dust; we expect the same for ourselves; all appears hopeless as Abraham and Sarah having a child!

11. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope This was written for us, too! Rom 4:22-25  Hoping Against Hope We believe in what we cannot see The dead will not remain in the grave, but will rise!

12. Placing Faith in the Power of God Believing in God’s Promises and Hoping against Hope This was written for us, too! Rom 4:22-25  Hoping Against Hope Why believe in the resurrection? Our faith in God’s power- faith in a God with power to create and power to resurrect from the dead God exerted His power in raising Jesus from the dead 1 Cor 6:14; 15:20-23 God’s creative power lets us know He has power to do it 1 Cor 15:35-44; 50-58

13. Have we placed our faith in God’s power? Do we believe in the promises of God and hope against hope? Do our works continually show that we believe? Do you need to express your faith in God’s power and in His promises through confession of Jesus, repentance, and baptism?