Sermon Tone Analysis

Turn to and read Romans 5:1-6.

Pray.

Rejoice In Hope

Vs. 1 tells us that...

We’ve been justified by faith.

To explain this just a little further we just have to look ahead a few verses...

Romans 5:1 continues to tell us the glorious truth that...

We have peace with God.

We see this explained a little further in Romans 5:10-11:

But, it gets even better because Romans 5:2 tells us that...

We have access to the grace of God.

This truth is beautifully explained for us in Hebrews chapter 4:

We have all of this because Christ died for the ungodly.

Amen?

Praise the Lord?

Can we rejoice in these truths?

While all of that is wonderful - and they are the things that we tend to rejoice about - they are not what I desire to focus on this morning.

The word “rejoice” that we have in Romans 5:2 is found two other times in Romans chapter 5.

In the passage that we read this morning - Romans 5:1-6 - the word is actually used twice.

Now, I understand that the English word “rejoice” is not used twice in this passage but the original Greek word is used twice in this passage.

Any idea what English word it is?

While you think about that for a moment, allow me to share an illustration:

In high school, when I played basketball, our coach would always tell us, “Any team can beat any other team on any given night.”

He would tell us that, especially right before we played against opponents who were bigger or better than we were.

However, I was strange in the fact that I believed what our coach told us and the fact that I enjoyed playing against guys who were bigger than me and better than me.

One such school that we played was Walnut Ridge Christian School out of Waterloo, Iowa.

I recall one game in particular that we played against them in 1988.

I still have the scar from that game!

With 34 seconds to play, we were down by one point.

We ended up winning the game by several points.

Have you figured out the word?

In Romans 5:3 we are told...

The word “glory” in vs. 3 is the same word “rejoice” in vs. 2. So, as Paul says...

Rejoice in Hope

…he also says...

Rejoice in Tribulations

Just as I would get excited about the challenge of facing teams who were bigger and better than us, we should get excited about facing tribulations!

The words, “rejoice” and “glory” literally mean to brag or to boast: “Look at the tribulations that God is allowing me to go through!”

How would you define “tribulations?”

We probably would have as many definitions for “tribulations” as there are people in this room.

For that reason, allow me to define it and see if any of these definitions apply to you:

Trouble - agitation, disturbance , confusion

Distress - extreme pain, either of body or mind

Oppression - hardship, misfortune, cause for misery

Affliction - a state of pain, grief

Burdened - loaded with weight

All of those words can be used in the definition of “tribulations.”

Do any of those words “hit home?”

Knowing that many of you would probably think, “What I’m going through cannot be considered a tribulation,” I wanted to make it a little more personal especially as, this past week, I have considered what some of our church family has experienced recently:

The Rutledge’s have endured the suffering of seeing Skip’s father experience seizures without any obvious cause.

Joe & Dianne White - For those of you who know Joe & Dianne, there’s no need for explanation.

We all can agree that they have been carrying a heavy burden.

Bill & Dee Crawford have carried a heavy burden as they have watched Bill’s parent’s health gradually decline.

Matt & Carol Myers have watched Matt’s brother have been electrocuted and suffering.

I think that could be described as “extreme pain.”

Allen & Kay Moulson, in trying to sell their home, have experienced some agitation and confusion.

Miles & Andrea Gibson have experienced the misfortune of being forced from their home.

Dwaine Roach has endured some “affliction” these past several months while experiencing three different automobile accidents.

This is just a small sampling of the tribulations that our church family have recently experienced.

Before looking at the reason for our rejoicing in tribulations, I want to share two thoughts to help us have the right perspective of tribulations.

Tribulations are personal.

No one can define tribulations for anyone else.

What one person considers a tribulation may not be a tribulation to someone else and vice versa.

Also, no one can truly experience the tribulation that someone else is going through.

Yes, Galatians 6:2 does command us to bear one another’s burdens, it goes on to say in just a few verses after that...

Illustration: Recently, Dan & Kelly Bishop lost their newborn daughter.

Even though individuals have tried to help, they must go through that tribulation for themselves.

That’s why we are commanded, in Romans 12:15...

Tribulations are personal.

But also...

Tribulations are spiritual.

Job lost his wealth; he lost his family; he lost his health.

All of those are “physical.”

But at the core, everything that Job faced was spiritual in nature.

Why?

Because tribulation require a faith response which we’ll understand better in just a moment.

For now, though, understand that if we do not respond to tribulations in faith, we will respond in the flesh and that will never lead to good results!

Tribulations are personal.

Tribulations are spiritual.

Now, the...

Reasons for Rejoicing

Look back at Romans 5:3-4.

(Read)

Tribulation worketh Patience.

The word “worketh” means to accomplish; result in; bring about; produce.

The word “patience” means steadfastness; endurance; perseverance.

It literally means “to stay under.”

In high school, we would have basketball practice several days a week.

Sometimes we would have morning practices at 6 AM.

Our practices consisted of things such as “Turn on the Whistle” and “Suicides.”

Practices were not meant for our enjoyment.

But, in order to play in the game on Friday we would have to “endure” practice.

If we didn’t practice, we didn’t play.

Tribulations are never fun.

But, to fully experience everything that God has for us, we must endure!

Tribulations worketh Patience and...

Patience worketh Experience.

The word “experience” means to examine; to test.

It also means proven character!

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. once said, “The test of your character is what it takes to stop you!”