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Nathan Hempel’s sermon explores the deep connection between joy, hope, and prayer, framing them as interconnected realities in the Christian life. He argues that a secure foundation in God’s promises, as outlined in Romans 8, is the cause for our joy and the confidence with which we approach prayer. The sermon also examines how a vibrant, biblical hope should be an active, compelling force in our daily lives.
[00:00:00]The sermon is titled “Our Cause for Joy, Hope, and Prayer,” focusing on the symbiotic relationship between joy and prayer, where drawing near to God through prayer increases joy, and joy fuels prayer.[00:01:11]Nathan references a quote from Brother Joseph: “joy and prayer is indicative of personal revival” and “joy is the air and the balloon of a Christian’s life.”[00:02:50]He references 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (“rejoice always… pray continually”), noting that while fasting is intermittent, prayer should be a continual discipline, like spiritual breathing.[00:05:10]Romans 8 is presented as the foundation for our joy and prayer, providing assurance of our standing with God and hope of redemption, which allows us to approach God with confidence instead of condemnation.[00:06:16]Nathan reads the entirety of Romans 8.[00:11:44]The first key point from Romans 8:1 is that there is no condemnation for those in Christ, and a spirit of condemnation after prayer is a red flag, as the Spirit convicts unto life, not despair.[00:13:42]From Romans 8:5, our focus is a barometer: a carnal mind is set on fleshly things, while a spiritual mind is set on the things of the Spirit.[00:14:51]Romans 8:6-7 shows the result: to be spiritually minded is life and peace, while to be carnally minded is death and enmity against God.[00:15:37]Romans 8:14-17 assures us we are children and heirs of God, having received a Spirit of adoption, not bondage to fear.[00:16:45]Romans 8:23 gives the hope of the future redemption of our bodies, a hope those living by the flesh do not possess.[00:17:32]Romans 8:26 and later verses reveal that both the Holy Spirit and Jesus intercede for us, which is a great comfort.[00:18:46]Nathan contrasts the carnal life (condemnation, death, bondage, fear, no security, no intercessor) with the Spirit-led life (peace, life, liberty, security in God’s good plans, divine intercession, future hope).[00:21:43]Shifting to Luke 14, Nathan discusses the Parable of the Great Banquet, noting it critiques the exclusive view that only the “best” (like the Pharisees) enter heaven, showing instead that God invites the poor, lame, and outcast.[00:25:54]The initial guests’ hopes were in material things (land, oxen, a wife), but those who enter the feast are the destitute, whose hope is heavenly.[00:26:38]Biblical hope is expectant and actionable in the present; we are to be “heralds” of the coming kingdom, incarnating and sharing our hope in a way that compels others.[00:28:39]Citing Hebrews 11:1, Nathan explains that faith is the “substance” or underlying reality of our hope; a true hope is a lived reality expressed through our daily lives, not a vague future desire.[00:30:35]In summation, a strong hope and assurance from scriptures like Romans 8 is the foundation for joy and prayer. If prayer is difficult, revisiting this foundation can rebuild the discipline, which in turn deepens our assurance.
Scripture References
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
- Romans 8
- Luke 14:15-24
- Hebrews 11:1
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