• "THE KEY TO A JOYFUL, PRODUCTIVE LIFE"
• Romans 12:12 “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (KJV)

• INTRODUCTION
• I suppose that we all have known Christian who go through life...Looking like they were "weaned on a pickle"
• Useless for any good work when things were going rough for them
• But we have also known Christians who are the opposite... Joyful, steadfast in doing good
• Even though they are experiencing the same kind of hardships
• Why the difference?
• I believe that the joyful, steadfast Christian has found the secret expressed in the Scriptures
• One place this "secret" is found is in Romans 12:12...
• As we consider this verse, there are several observations we can make. First...

• THE JOYFUL LIFE IS BASED ON HOPE
• MANY HAVE THE WRONG CONCEPT CONCERNING "JOY"...
• That joy is a matter of personal temperament (one's heredity)
• That joy is a matter of circumstances (one's environment)
• But how can that be when being joyful is enjoined upon us all?
• It is a command, a duty - 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Philippians 4:4
• Commanded even when things are rough - 1 Peter 4:13

• THE JOYFUL LIFE IS BASED ON HOPE
• TRUE JOY IS ABLE TO RISE ABOVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE...
• Seen in the example of the Hebrews - Hebrews 10:34a
• Also in the example of Christians in Asia Minor - 1 Peter 1:6

• THE JOYFUL LIFE IS BASED ON HOPE
• THIS IS BECAUSE THE KEY TO JOY IS "HOPE"...
• Notice our text: "rejoicing IN HOPE"
• It should be easy to see how hope is the source of joy in our lives...
• A student, in hope of enjoying summer vacation, is happy as he thinks about it
• Likewise, it was the strong hope of the Hebrews that gave them joy despite the seizure of their property - Hebrews 10:34
• Again, the source of the Christians' joy in Asia Minor was their hope of salvation - 1 Peter 1:5-6

• THE JOYFUL LIFE IS BASED ON HOPE
• TO BE JOYFUL IN LIFE, WE MUST HAVE HOPE!
• If Christians are not joyful, it is because they are not full of hope!
• And that is only because their minds are so preoccupied with things of this life
• It appears that they are just religious enough to be miserable!

• THE JOYFUL LIFE IS BASED ON HOPE
• TO BE JOYFUL IN LIFE, WE MUST HAVE HOPE!
• If they spent more time contemplating the hope we have as Christians, joy would automatically follow!
• Of course, hope is based upon faith - Hebrews 11:1
• And faith comes from the Word of God - Romans 10:17
• But if people do not read the Word, their faith is weak, their hope is shallow, and their joy is minimal.

• THE JOYFUL LIFE IS BASED ON HOPE
• If we let God's Word produce the faith necessary for a strong hope, then we too can have that joy which will help us no matter what the circumstances.
• This leads us back to our text, where we wish to make another observation...

• A LIFE OF JOYFUL HOPE WILL BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATIONS
• FIRST, LET'S DEFINE OUR TERMS...
• "patient"
• Means more than simply enduring, forbearing, or putting up with something.
• It also takes in the thought of activity despite the hardship, i.e. working through the trial.
• It is continuing to do good, regardless of the trials.
• Not just sitting there, but also refraining from doing something bad.

• A LIFE OF JOYFUL HOPE WILL BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATIONS
• FIRST, LET'S DEFINE OUR TERMS...
• "tribulations"
• These could be trials suffered for the cause of Christ
• Or those common to all (sickness, death, etc.)
• Paul is therefore talking about pressing on in doing good despite hardships

• A LIFE OF JOYFUL HOPE WILL BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATIONS
• THE KEY TO SUCH PATIENCE IS "JOYFUL HOPE"...
• This can be illustrated in several ways...
• The ATHLETE
• Why does he or she endure the hardships of training?
• The joyful hope of attaining victory!
• The PILGRIMS
• Why did they endure the hardships of sailing across the ocean?
• The joyful hope of finding freedom from religious oppression!

• A LIFE OF JOYFUL HOPE WILL BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATIONS
• The COLLEGE STUDENT
• Why does he or she endure the hardships of study and examinations?
• The joyful hope of a successful career!
• The EARLY CHRISTIANS
• Why did they endure persecutions, pressing on in their faithfulness to Christ?
• The joyful hope of their inheritance in heaven! - Hebrews 10:34

• A LIFE OF JOYFUL HOPE WILL BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATIONS
• Does this not explain why some Christians do not remain steadfast when things get rough?
• They do not have the "joyful hope" necessary
• And why not?
• Their minds are so preoccupied with worldly things!
• One last observation I would like to make, based on our text...

• OUR LIVES WILL BE AS HOPEFUL, JOYFUL, AND PATIENT, AS THEY ARE PRAYERFUL
• "CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER" IS ESSENTIAL!
• The relationship between prayer and the joyful life is implied elsewhere in the Scriptures
• Notice 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• If we pray without ceasing, we can rejoice always!
• OUR LIVES WILL BE AS HOPEFUL, JOYFUL, AND PATIENT, AS THEY ARE PRAYERFUL
• For in proper prayer, we are constantly reminded of our HOPE (the source of joy and patience)
• In prayer, we should be made constantly aware of the REASON for our hope (forgiveness of our sins through Jesus' blood)
• In prayer, we should be made constantly aware of the OBJECT of our hope (to one day be with God eternally)

• OUR LIVES WILL BE AS HOPEFUL, JOYFUL, AND PATIENT, AS THEY ARE PRAYERFUL
• "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!" IS THIS POSSIBLE?
• Not if we mean formal words of supplication and petition
• But prayer does not always have to be with formal words - cf. 1 Chronicles 5:20 ”cried out in battle”
• Prayer can also be:
• A mental attitude of devotion
• An unspoken reference to God in all that we do

• CONCLUSION
• Are our lives as joyful and productive as they should be?
• If not, then let God's Word sink into our hearts: “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Romans 12:12"
• Do this and we will more likely "rejoice in hope" and be "patient in tribulations"!
• Have You learned the key to joyful living?

By Carey Scott from an outline by Mark Copeland

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