Hope and Perseverance: Finding Strength in Christ

In the sermon titled "Limitless Sunday Service," the speaker, Pastor Ron, along with other speakers, delves into the profound concept of hope in Jesus Christ and the Christian journey of faith, suffering, and perseverance. The sermon begins with an emphasis on the unwavering and reliable hope found in Jesus, setting the stage for an altar call where individuals can respond to God's word and allow the Holy Spirit to work within them.

Pastor Ron addresses the challenging topic of suffering for Christ, acknowledging that while it is not desirable, it serves a purpose and can profoundly impact others' perception of God. He also discusses the importance of perseverance, humorously relating it to the common struggle of maintaining a diet.

The speakers share personal stories and testimonies to illustrate their points. One story involves a young lady's financial struggle and her decision to tithe, which highlights the importance of placing hope in God rather than worldly circumstances. Another personal account describes a difficult season in the speaker's marriage, emphasizing the value of enduring through hardships.

The presence of God in the church community is highlighted as a significant factor that keeps individuals connected to the church. The speaker describes this presence as tangible and invites others to experience the love of Jesus through the church community.

Pastor Ryan speaks about the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences and reflects on the unchanging character of God, which provides believers with hope. The concept of hope is further explored as something that is developed and built, not merely possessed. The speaker encourages the congregation to come to church with expectation, as those who do so are not left disappointed.

The impact of Limitless Church on the community, especially the youth, is emphasized, with stories of life-changing experiences resulting from simple invitations to church. The speaker also stresses the importance of having a relationship with Jesus to find hope for the future, citing biblical promises of renewed strength and overflowing hope for those who trust in God.

The sermon series "unboxing" is mentioned, which aims to unpack different aspects of the Christian faith. The speaker also discusses the role of the Holy Spirit as a comforter in hopeless situations and the importance of understanding true hope as a confident expectation based on a relationship with God.

The value of suffering and perseverance in building character is highlighted, with the speaker asserting that character becomes unshakeable when it is developed through enduring hardships. Personal testimonies of God's faithfulness are shared, encouraging others to share their own experiences of God's work in their lives.

The sermon concludes with a focus on putting hope into action and the importance of understanding that hope comes from knowing where it originates—Jesus Christ. The speaker also touches on upcoming church events and the significance of participating in community activities.

Key Takeaways:

- Hope in Jesus Christ is not a fleeting emotion but a steadfast anchor that remains constant despite life's storms. It is this divine hope that invites individuals to respond to God's word and experience transformation through the Holy Spirit's work. [01:19:41]

- Suffering for Christ, while inherently challenging, serves a greater purpose by demonstrating the depth of our faith and potentially influencing others' beliefs. It is through witnessing steadfastness in adversity that the reality of God's strength and comfort can be most powerfully conveyed to onlookers. [01:09:04]

- True hope is not based on external circumstances or material wealth but is rooted in the character and promises of God. By understanding and pursuing the character of God, believers can find a hope that transcends the temporal and anchors them in the eternal. [01:18:26]

- The Christian journey is marked not by the absence of suffering but by the presence of divine companionship and purpose within it. As believers navigate through trials, their character is refined, and their testimony becomes a beacon of hope to others who witness God's sustaining power in their lives. [01:07:30]

- The act of giving, whether in tithes, offerings, or service, is a tangible expression of hope and trust in God. It is through these acts of obedience and surrender that believers demonstrate their reliance on God's provision and their commitment to His kingdom. [01:24:30]

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Limitless Sunday Service"

#### Bible Reading
1. **Romans 5:3-4** - "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
2. **Jeremiah 29:11** - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
3. **Isaiah 40:31** - "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 5:3-4, what are the steps that lead to hope? How does each step build upon the previous one?
2. In the sermon, Pastor Ron mentioned a story about a young lady's financial struggle and her decision to tithe. What was the outcome of her decision? [01:23:09]
3. How does Jeremiah 29:11 describe God's plans for us? What are the key elements of this promise?
4. Pastor Ryan spoke about the importance of having an expectation when coming to church. What did he say happens when people come with an expectation? [52:10]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the process of suffering, perseverance, and character development in Romans 5:3-4 relate to the personal testimonies shared in the sermon? [01:13:34]
2. What does it mean to have hope that is "not based on external circumstances or material wealth but is rooted in the character and promises of God"? How does this differ from worldly hope? [01:18:26]
3. Pastor Ron mentioned that suffering for Christ can serve a greater purpose. How can our response to suffering impact others' perception of God? [01:09:04]
4. In Isaiah 40:31, what are the promises given to those who hope in the Lord? How can these promises provide comfort during difficult times?

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced suffering. How did you see God working in that situation, and how did it impact your faith and character? [01:04:18]
2. Pastor Ryan emphasized the importance of coming to church with an expectation. How can you cultivate a sense of expectation in your spiritual life, both in and out of church? [52:10]
3. The sermon highlighted the value of giving as an expression of hope and trust in God. How can you practice this in your own life, whether through tithing, offerings, or acts of service? [01:24:30]
4. Think about the people you surround yourself with. Are they positive influences that help build your character and hope in God? What changes might you need to make in your relationships? [01:17:14]
5. Pastor Ron shared a story about persevering through a difficult season in his marriage. How can you apply the principles of perseverance and hope in your own relationships? [01:13:34]
6. How can you actively share your personal testimonies of God's faithfulness with others to encourage them in their faith journey? [42:18]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to put your hope into action. What specific steps can you take this week to demonstrate your trust in God's provision and promises? [01:25:07]

Day 1: Hope Anchors the Soul
Hope in Jesus is the unshakeable anchor that steadies us amidst life's tumultuous waves, offering peace and stability when everything else seems uncertain. This divine hope is not just a feeling but a transformative power that draws us closer to God and reshapes our lives from the inside out. It is the bedrock upon which faith is built and the assurance that, no matter what storms may come, we are held secure in the hands of the Almighty. [01:19:41]

Hebrews 6:19 - "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain."
Reflection: How does envisioning hope as an anchor change your perspective on the challenges you are currently facing?

Day 2: Suffering with Purpose
Suffering for Christ is a profound testament to the depth of one's faith, serving as a beacon to others and revealing the strength and comfort God provides. It is in the furnace of affliction that faith is tested and proven genuine, and through such trials, believers can demonstrate to the world the transformative power of God's sustaining grace. This purposeful suffering is a journey through which one's character is refined and God's glory is made manifest. [01:09:04]

1 Peter 4:12-13 - "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when your suffering led to a deeper understanding of God's purpose for your life?

Day 3: Rooted in Divine Character
True hope is cultivated in the fertile soil of God's character and promises, not in the shifting sands of worldly circumstances. This hope is a confident expectation that grows stronger as one delves deeper into the nature of God, discovering His unchanging faithfulness and love. It is a hope that looks beyond the temporal to the eternal, providing a steadfast assurance that God's plans are always for our ultimate good. [01:18:26]

Psalm 130:5 - "I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope."
Reflection: What attributes of God's character have you experienced that reinforce your hope in Him?

Day 4: Refined Through Trials
The Christian journey is characterized by the presence of God within our trials, offering purpose and companionship. As we navigate life's challenges, we are not abandoned but are instead accompanied by a divine presence that refines our character. This process of refinement turns our testimonies into powerful narratives of hope, showcasing God's faithfulness and the strength He provides to endure. [01:07:30]

James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Reflection: How can your current trials be seen as an opportunity for character development and a deeper reliance on God?

Day 5: Generosity as an Act of Hope
Giving is a profound expression of hope and trust in God, whether through tithes, offerings, or acts of service. It is a declaration of dependence on God's provision and a commitment to His kingdom's work. This generosity is a practical demonstration of faith, showing that our hope is not in material wealth but in the One who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. [01:24:30]

1 Timothy 6:17-19 - "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."
Reflection: In what ways can you express your hope in God through acts of generosity this week?

Hey, Mty! I didn't even see you; I saw the tattoos and said, "That's Mty!"

Well, good morning, church! How are we doing this morning? [Applause]

Well, I am excited! I am excited! Wasn't that an awesome time in worship this morning? Hallelujah!

Well, good morning! My name is Pastor Keenan, and on behalf of myself and my wife, who is in kids' ministry right now, I want to welcome you. We are excited that you're here this morning.

Normally, we would transition right to our story moment, but I wanted to come up and give you a few announcements. I saw some of us were trailing in a little tardy this morning, so you may have missed the announcements—especially you, Sarah, you just got here!

So, for those of you who came in, we have some really important announcements that I didn't want you guys to miss. I wanted to come up and let you know.

Okay, so the first thing: if you have a kid who's been in kids' ministry this past month, would you raise your hand for me? If you got a kid, say, "My kid has been in kids' ministry this past month." Just raise your hand, raise them high!

Okay, good, perfect! You should have one of these. This is an announcement straight from my wife, so I'm not going to forget it.

Okay, you should have one of these. Next week is Christmas at Limitless, and we have a special performance for our kids' ministry that is going to be amazing! So, make sure that you're here. Bring Grandma, bring Grandpa, bring Great Grandma, bring aunties, bring uncles, bring everybody! But most importantly, bring your child because they are necessary in order for this to happen.

You need one of these pieces of paper so that you can know what time they need to be here. I would hate for you to bring them and service is over; that would not be good. So, this has the instructions on what time they need to be here, their attire, and all these things so that they can have a wonderful performance next week.

Alright, my second announcement: as I said, next week is Christmas at Limitless. Please get here on time; make sure you get a seat. I would hate for you to be standing in the back. I'm going to try to get some chairs for you, but I ain't going to make no guarantees, so get here on time so that you have a seat.

On the 24th, now traditionally, we do not have a Christmas service on the week of Christmas, but we're making some adjustments, and this year we will have a Christmas Eve service. So, if you were like, "What is Limitless going to be doing on Christmas Eve?" we will be here on the 24th. We will have our 9:00 a.m. and our 11:00 a.m. service.

Okay, I know a lot of you were like, "What do you mean you're not going to have church on Christmas?" I was like, "I'm going to be home!" But you're like, "No, you're not!" So here we are: the 24th, we will be here at 9 and 11 a.m.

Now, the 31st, okay, please do me a favor: do not come here on the 31st, okay? There will be no church on the 31st. We will not be here. We are going to spend that time at home with our families, enjoying one another as we bring in the New Year.

We try to do one to two weekends a month where we don't have service so that our volunteers can rest, so that our people can rest, and so that we can enjoy time with our family.

Okay, so the 31st, I don't know where you're going to be, but do not Facebook us, do not YouTube us, don't send an email or knock on the door; no one will be here.

But what I am excited about is the following week on the 7th. A lot of you have been Facebooking and emailing about this: January 7th begins our kids' ministry in our first service! Hallelujah!

So, for some of you who've been wanting to come to the first service—because, as you see, there is a little bit more room in the first service—and you've been wondering about that, please do me a favor. Please join us January 7th, beginning at 9:00 a.m. We will have kids' ministry, which leads me to my very last announcement.

If you have a kid here who is birthed through fourth grade, we have a wonderful kids' ministry that's available for them. We have a whole service; it is not a daycare. You don't just drop your kids off; we have a whole sermon. I believe there's cupcakes today! We have a whole message; they have a worship team, a whole thing that they're doing.

So please take the opportunity and allow your kids to participate in our kids' ministry service.

Alright, and then my very last announcement: normally, I wouldn't be up here because we would transition to our story moment. Every week, we try to tell a testimony of what God has done in the lives of the people here in our church, and this week will be no different.

But before I wanted to let you guys know, remember when I taught a couple of weeks ago and I said, "Hey, if this message has impacted you, we gave you a dare. We said, 'Try this thing called tithing and see what God does, and if He does something amazing, then let us know.'"

And so you see these stories, but we want to share these stories. This is big for us. The Bible in Revelations talks about they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of the testimony.

And so what we want to do is we want to have an opportunity to share those testimonies, right? We heard about what God did in Bianca's life; we heard about what God did in Miss Jim's life, and today you're going to hear another testimony.

If you say, "Hey, God has moved in my life," you know, maybe it's been through a baptism, maybe it's been through somebody inviting me to church, or maybe it's been through a sermon I heard. We want to hear those stories.

And so, Bianca, would you raise your hand? Daniela, would you raise your hand? These two ladies in the front row, they will schedule you. It's painless, I promise you; it's very short. We do all the work; we ask the questions, and we want to be able to share your story not only with our church here but all of those in the city to hear about what God has done.

I remember Bianca told me she said she was at work, and this lady walks in and says, "I was just watching your testimony before I walked in." It's so amazing what God has done, and it's this opportunity to share the love of God in this aspect.

So as you hear this story, be thinking about it. Just say, "Hey, you know what? I want to share what God has done." And I hope that you are blessed by today's testimony from Felix.

Hello, my name is Felix, and this is my invite story. What brought me to Limitless was actually a brother that attends this church; his name is Mike Vrono. Shout out to him!

A little backstory: I used to work at a front desk at a gym, and during that time, during that job, I would just have lots of free time, so I would just do my homework and really just read the Word.

Eventually, we just kept on having conversations, and he would always invite me to church, specifically his church called Limitless. He would always just say how he loved it, how there was a diverse variety of people, and he just mentioned something different about it.

So one day, on a Saturday evening, I just showed up, and right away, I just got introduced and welcomed to this love unlike any other place. I got surrounded by a lot of people just being welcomed, and that's the one thing that really stood out to me: it was the love.

And it wasn't just ordinary love; it's the love that Jesus gives. So it was literally heaven on Earth. We have people from all ages, young and old, that genuinely care about you, that are about your business, but want to elevate you in prayer and want to see your faith build up over time.

So the sense of community was a contributing factor to why I stayed here and have served here ever since. Not even just that, also the presence of God. The presence of God is the thing you notice right away. You just feel this—you're walking in; I would describe it as you're walking into an oil, an anointing oil that's all over the church from every single individual.

What caused me to invite others to Limitless Church was I want people to know who Jesus is. It's not just inviting them to church, but church is one of the places where you will see Jesus come to life. He will use people and show His love through them.

Again, I mentioned the presence of God; it's here in this place no matter what. You know, a verse I want to share is Acts 2:17. The word of the Lord says, "In these last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy; your young men will see visions; your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will turn to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Again, the presence of God is here in this place, and we see it every single Sunday, every single weekend being shown. People come out differently.

I believe Limitless is a church that will not only just impact the community but the community of Woodland and the cities around Woodland. You know, in these last days, it's very important for us to see God, and we start that with the youth. That's the one thing you see at this church: you see youth all over the place.

Don't be hesitant. What do you have to lose to invite people? You know, you're just being used by God in that moment, and that person will either decide yes or no, and that's on them. But eventually, later on in life, they're going to be remembering that one question; they're going to be remembering that one moment where you invited them to church, and eventually, you will become part of their testimony to why they're serving God.

My name is Felix, and this was my invite story. You never know what a simple invitation will do in the life of another person. Mike Vrono, you've been an example of that in every single aspect of your life. You never know what a simple invitation will do.

The Bible says to give honor where honor is due. Felix did it, and I want to do it. Mike, we honor you for your faithfulness in inviting people to the house of God. We honor you this morning. We honor you!

I'm excited to be here this morning! You guys excited to be here?

Yeah!

We're in the middle of a series right now called "Unboxing Christmas." The exciting thing about unboxing Christmas is that it doesn't matter which part of Christmas you unbox; something new comes out, and you learn the beauty of the gift of Jesus and the love of God in a new way from a different angle every time you open up another part of Christmas. You learn the love of God in a new way, and it is an incredible gift that we have in this Christmas season.

Before I get too far down the road, I wrote this down in my notes last night. I do have to shout out: we have a big congratulations to the Woodland Christian varsity football team; they won the state championship last night! So big ups to Woodland Christian! We got some of the families and the young men on that team that come to our church here, and they're faithful in their attendance here, and they are hard workers. I honor you guys; congratulations on the win last night! State championship, man, that's a big deal!

So this morning, we're going to go into week two of "Unboxing Christmas." Say "Unboxing Christmas!"

Unboxing Christmas!

That was very good! First service was cold and quiet. Ain't gonna be how this one's going to be! I'm very excited about this one.

We're going to unbox a different part of Christmas this morning. Last week, Pastor Keenan unboxed what?

Thank you! I was just waiting for you, man!

Yeah, but I mean, I know you know. I'm just making sure they didn't know.

We were unboxing joy last week, and it's a great thing. This week, we're going to be unboxing hope. Someone say hope!

Hope!

Hope is a good thing. Hope is something we all aspire to have. Hope is something that is difficult to attain unless you know where your hope comes from. Hope isn't something you can create for yourself. I promise you, if you try it, you're not going to have hope.

And hope isn't something that the world knows. What the world knows is this word called "wish," and they mix hope and wish together. See, when you wish upon a star, you'll end up having disappointment and disillusionment in your life. But when you have hope in our Savior, it comes with promises and guarantees from the Word of God that will never let you down, and your hope will never be cut off.

This is why we, as Christians, we don't wish; we have hope. My hope is not in my ability to produce; my hope is in Jireh, my provider. You get what I'm saying? My hope is not in my ability to go make something happen; my hope is what God already made happen on my behalf. My hope is not in what I can go find and bring in; my hope is what God says, "Give me, and let me give back." That is my hope this morning.

And if we can understand that as Christians, as believers, that our hope is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ, everything changes. Hopeless situations turn into hopeful opportunities for God to move in your life and begin to unveil His faithfulness to you in the midst of difficulty.

I'm preaching a great sermon; I'm getting way ahead of myself already!

So this morning, we're going to unbox hope, and I brought hope with me to church. If you're wondering if I wrapped this, sure didn't! My wife did; that's why it looks so good. If I wrapped it, it would have been newspaper and duct tape, but my wife did it.

So this morning, we're going to be unboxing hope. We're going to look and see what is inside of hope because hope isn't just a thing you have; hope is something that is developed and built.

And there are three things that the Scripture says in the Book of Romans that help us get to a place of hope. This morning, we're going to unbox it. Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and a desire for a certain thing to happen.

So I'm going to read that again: it is a feeling of expectation. Let me ask you a question: when you come to church, do you come into this place with an expectation, or do you come into this place just to check off the box so you can go home and feel good about yourself for another week?

Honest question! I did that for a long time, so please understand I'm not asking you something that I haven't done already in my life. I would show up to church and sit in the back and listen to the sermon, be the first one out the door so I could go see God. I was in your house; are you happy now? That's how I spent my years through college, just going to church to check a box.

But when I grew up and I understood that when you show up to the house of God with expectation, you don't leave disappointed. See, all throughout Scripture, people will come to the house of God expecting something, and they may not have left with what they wanted, but they left with what they needed every single time.

There's a story of a beggar, a crippled beggar, who sat outside the temple, and he would beg for coins from the people going into the house because he knew they were in a right state of mind. They're there to give God their 10%; they're coming in to get something from God. Maybe I can get a little bit of something from them before they walk in the house so they feel a little more holy as they walk into the presence of God.

And he would sit out there with his hand out and beg for things. He was crippled, and he would beg. One day, he's sitting outside the temple, and he looks at these two men he's never seen before; their names are Peter and John.

Peter and John are walking into the temple, and he goes, "Hey, I need some money! I can't work because I'm crippled; will you give me something?"

And Peter looks back at the man and goes, "I tell you what, dude, silver and gold I don't have, but what I do have, I'm going to give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!"

And that moment, that man's legs got strength in him, and he stood to his feet and began to walk. He walked into the very temple he used to be outside of, and he walked into the house and began to give glory to God for the miracle that happened.

Why? Because he had an expectation! He had an expectation! He showed up looking for something; he didn't know what it was; he just knew he needed something. And he said, "God, I'm going to sit outside of your house, and hopefully, maybe somebody will give me something to fill my belly today."

But what he walked away with that day was a healing and a revelation of his spirit that the God of the universe cares about him. He walked away with something!

So, you see, he showed up expecting. What do you expect when you walk in the house of God? Because hope is a feeling of expectation, not wishing. Expect! I expect this to happen!

Why do I expect it to happen? Because I know what the God of the Bible says; His promises are for sure, and they are yes and amen. And I know that when I pray, I know when I talk to the Lord, I expect Him to answer, and He will answer! That is my expectation!

It is an expectation and a desire for a certain thing to happen. A certain thing, not an ambivalent thing, not a random thing, not a guess that you're going to throw out in the universe—a certain thing to happen.

I hope for a certain thing to take place in my life. There are so many reasons that we're to have hope, and hope is mentioned 316 times in the Bible. Jeremiah 29:11 is just one of them. It says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

You walk in here this morning going, "I don't have a clue what my future holds." I know a lot of people are looking forward to 2024. I'm not looking forward to 2024 because my 2023 was so bad, I don't even want to get to 2024. I don't think that my 2024 has much hope. I don't care about my future; I'm just trying to survive today.

I'm here to tell you that a relationship with Jesus Christ will give you a hope that will guarantee you a future, period! Nothing else matters! A relationship with Jesus gets you the hope that you're looking for when you walk in this place this morning.

Psalm 42:11 says, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."

He says, "Put your hope in God," not put your hope in a government, not put your hope in a family, not put your hope in a job, not put your hope in new friends. He says, "Put your hope in the only one who can give you what you need."

Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint."

You know, sometimes you get tired. Duh! That was an amen moment for some of y'all! Some of y'all are sitting there going, "Amen!" Sometimes you get tired; sometimes you get a little weary; you get a little drained. You've given everything you've got, and you feel like everyone wants more.

I've given everything I have, but they want just a little bit more. Sometimes you get weary, but the Bible says that if you put your hope in God, He will renew your strength.

Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

You know why the power of the Holy Spirit? Because the Holy Spirit is a great comforter, and you know what you need in the middle of hopeless situations? Comfort!

Yeah! Okay, I'm going to preach to this side of the room for a minute. The Holy Spirit is a great comforter; that's what God calls Him. That's what Jesus says: "I will send the comforter to be with you." He is talking about the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a great comforter, and you know what you need in the middle of hopeless situations? You need some comfort!

It's going to be alright; I'm with you! No, Ryan, don't quit; I'm with you! I know this seems impossible; don't give up yet! I know this seems really hard; just trust me; I'm with you!

Ryan, I know you don't think you can go any further; just lean on me, and I'm going to help you get to the finish line! Ryan, I understand that this is difficult and hard, but I promise you, if you'll let me comfort you in difficulty, we'll get to the promise!

Romans 5:3-4—are you guys with me? If you're not, the few of you are! Here we go!

Romans 5 says, "Not only so, but we also glory in our suffering because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character produces hope."

This morning, I want to focus on that last verse. Romans 5:3-4. Let's unbox that for a minute.

Let me say this before we say what hope is: hope that is not in God is not hope; it's a wish. And we don't wish upon a star; we have a hope through the blood of a Savior. Wishing produces disappointment; hoping in God produces faith.

A wish comes from a selfish desire, but hope develops godly character that will last. You need to understand what hope is, so we're going to unbox hope.

This is what I know about hopeless situations: life has a lot of them. Life can easily become depressing and difficult. Life can get to such a place that you see no hope, you feel no joy, you believe there's no hope for a future.

But Paul breaks down what hope is and how we get it. And one more time, before I open this box and show you what's inside of hope, I want to make something emphatically clear to you: the hope we have comes from one place and one place alone, and that is in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Hope comes from one place and one place alone: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, where you say, "God, I'm done doing this thing by myself. I can't do life the way I've been doing it anymore. It doesn't work for me. I'm not getting where I want to get, and I'm not feeling the way I want to feel. I'm not enjoying life the way that you said I should be enjoying it to the fullest."

What do I need? You need a relationship with Jesus to forgive us of our sins and give us an opportunity for a fresh start so we can live for Him, and we will find hope. That's hope!

So let's unbox this thing!

1 Timothy 1:1, Paul writes, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and our hope."

We're clear where hope comes from. It doesn't come from a better job, a better spouse, a nicer paycheck, better friends, or anything you can do for yourself. Hope is from the Lord.

So the first thing that we understand about where hope comes from is this: now, Pastor Ryan, this is not the Christmas message I wanted today! What are you doing?

Welcome to Limitless Church! We're here to take the limits off the way you see Jesus, faith, and the church. I'm not going to sit here and make you feel good; I'm going to sit here and preach truth so you can walk out and live a life that is significant, impactful, and meaningful.

And so that when you hit difficult times and suffering in your life, you'll know how to make it through, and you won't quit. See, here's the thing about a lot of us in life: we don't like suffering. No one likes suffering.

Unless you're a Raider fan, then you love it, apparently! But none of us really like suffering.

Hold on! Say, "Hey, hold on! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Before you start throwing things at me, hold on! I had to; it's low-hanging fruit; it's easy to pick on. But I'm a Seahawk fan, and I get it too, so don't worry about it!

Alright, don't worry about it! Get some Raider fans to be like, "I'm writing you an email; it's going to be really angry!"

The Amplified version of this verse says this: "Let us exalt and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patience, patient and unswerving endurance."

See, suffering is designed as a state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. See, what Paul's writing about isn't suffering because they made a bad life choice; this is suffering because of persecution of his faith in Jesus Christ.

See, a lot of us go through suffering because we made some really bad life choices, and we go, "Oh God, why do you give your toughest battles to your strongest soldiers?" Oh, which, by the way, that's not in the Scriptures; that is not a thing!

That's not a thing! Some of us are so confused: "God, I'm just your strongest soldier; He puts me through it all the time!" No, you just make bad decisions, man! Figure it out!

We don't like suffering; no one wants to suffer. My boys, yesterday, we went and cut down a big oak tree at my friend's house, and I had to cut it up into a whole bunch of little pieces. My boys had to pick it up, throw it in the truck, and then we get home, and they had to get out of the truck and throw it in the side yard and stack it up.

And they were hungry! "Dad, we're suffering!"

You're not suffering; you're hungry! There's a difference! You need to know the difference! This is hard work, and suffering is something entirely different!

You've never known it your entire life because you got a good life because you're raised in my house! You don't even know what suffering is!

Some of us go through some difficult seasons, and we go, "This is too hard; I can't do it! God, I can't handle it! Take it away from me!" And what does God do?

"I'm going to send my Son, who'll be a perfect example. You think you're suffering? Why don't you look up how the disciples lived life after Jesus left? Why don't you look up the way Jesus spent His last few hours alive before He was resurrected?"

See, suffering is taking 39 lashes on the back and then having your beard torn out. Suffering is having a crown of thorns shoved into your head and then having a cross put on your back, and you've got to carry that cross miles to where they would then nail you on that cross.

And on the way to you being nailed to that cross, the people you came and died for, the people that you call friends, the people that said they would follow you to the ends of the Earth, now have abandoned you, are spitting on you and ridiculing you on the way.

And then you get to that hill, and they nail you to that cross, and they're mocking you, saying, "If you are the Son of God, come down from there!" That's suffering!

But suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance develops character, and character is where we get our hope.

"God, I'm suffering! You want to be like my Son? Learn what suffering is! Learn that in the midst of suffering, I'm with you! I'm not going to leave you; I'm not going to forsake you!"

Nobody likes to suffer, and nobody looks for opportunities to suffer. But Paul is correct that suffering is necessary to build toward hope.

That means that you and I may need to go through some seemingly hopeless situations to get to a place where we know the hope is. We don't like to go through those seasons because they're difficult; they're uncomfortable.

But remember that Jesus said in John 16:33—throw that verse up on the screen!

John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!"

Pastor Ryan, why is my life so difficult? Why is it so hard? I gave my life to Jesus, and I've come to church, and I'm honoring God with my tithe, and I'm following Him, and I'm getting rid of the things in my life that I shouldn't have, and I'm cutting out the distractions, and I'm changing some of my relationships.

Why is my life so difficult? Because Jesus promised you in the world you'd have troubles! But not to get discouraged; He would overcome the world, and He would give you a hope!

So we have to quit running from hardship! Hear me! Quit running from hardship! Quit running from suffering! And let God help you through it!

He's not going to deliver you from suffering; He's going to help you in the suffering! He's not going to deliver you from the valley; He'll help you get through the valley!

He's not going to deliver you from trouble, but He'll be with you in trouble! You know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the three Hebrew sons?

The King Nebuchadnezzar built this massive statue and said, "As soon as you hear the music, I want you to bow down and worship this image that I put up." And the entire nation bowed down and started to worship this image, and the three of them stood tall and said, "We will not bow down to a false god because we serve the real God."

And the King said, "Come to me!" And they came to him, and he said, "If you don't bow down and worship my god that I put in front of you, I'm going to throw you into a furnace and burn you alive."

And they say, "We want you to know, King, that the God we serve can deliver us from this suffering, but if He doesn't, we want you to know we're still not going to bow down and worship that god."

And what happens? He binds them and throws them into a furnace that he made seven times hotter. Not entirely sure how you calculate that, but it was seven times hotter than it originally was meant to be.

And they're thrown into the fire, and as soon as they get in the fire, they're in the suffering; they're in the season; they're supposed to be at their worst. What does the King say? "How many did I throw in there?"

"Uh, three!"

And the King goes, "I see three and a fourth, and the fourth one looks like the Son of God!"

Yo, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come out!

So they come walking out—not four of them, three—because He's with you in the middle of it, and He'll help you get out of it!

Three came out; they come stand before the King, and they don't even smell like smoke! And he says, "What happened? You didn't burn!"

We told you, King! Yeah, the God we serve is able to deliver us! That's right!

And the King says, "From this day forward, the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be the God of this nation!"

Here's the point: listen to me; I'm going somewhere with this. What if the suffering you're going through is meant for the people around you to see God move in your situation and encourage them and let them see what God can do in the middle of difficulty?

And so, yes, you're going through it, but God is going to use it to be a testimony to other people to show them how good He is in the middle of difficulty.

And if you run from your suffering and run from the persecution and you run from the hardship, they will never see God move in that situation where they can then know His power.

What if what you're going through is designed for God to be able to use it to reach other people through the testimony you're going to have when you get through it?

Pastor Ryan, I don't want to suffer! I understand; I don't either! But there's purpose in it! That's right; there's purpose in it!

And I'm talking about suffering for the cause of Christ. I'm not talking about suffering because you didn't get your oil changed, and now you're stranded on the side of the freeway. I'm not talking about that!

Not today, devil! Well, if you got your oil changed yesterday, today wouldn't be a problem! That's what I'm saying!

You got to understand the kind of suffering Paul's talking about. Suffering for the cause of Christ!

Can you imagine how many people would have changed their view of God if they get to see you go through it and watch God move in your life through it?

Yeah!

The first thing is suffering. The second thing that Paul mentions in hope is perseverance.

Again, this is not your typical hope Christmas sermon, and I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry! Perseverance! To persevere!

See, perseverance is the persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It is the persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in success.

How many of you have ever started a diet? Raise your hand! Be honest! Don't tell the truth; shame the devil! How many of y'all have ever started a diet? Right now, raise your hand! Raise your hand! You started a diet; I got my hand up!

How many of y'all have not persisted in that diet? Yeah! We lack perseverance when it comes to some stuff! We don't have it!

It's really hard to have a good eating program when I have an 11-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy, and their metabolisms are sky-high, and all they eat is Cheez-Its and chocolate chip cookies all day, and they don't ever get fat! And I look at it, and I'm gaining 10 pounds! That's really frustrating!

It's hard! But you got to persevere! It's a "I won't quit" mentality! I will persevere despite the obstacles and the delays and the difficulty that I encounter because I know that what God has promised, He will deliver!

We never find success or favor when we quit at difficulty. Hope comes when you have faced opposition and you keep going!

That's right! See, the devil can't stop the church, but he can get some of you to quit!

Come on! You see, if he can get some of you to quit, then this is what happens: we're a part of a body, right? And what if the foot decides, "I don't want to do this anymore; it's getting really hard; I quit!"

Now, all of a sudden, our body is crippled in that area because you quit instead of persevering. And what the devil wants to do is get enough of us to quit that the body becomes so incapable of mobility that we're not doing what it is we're supposed to do because parts of our body don't want to persevere; we just want to quit!

Come on now! We just want to quit! Shut it down! It's too hard! God, I thought this thing was health, wealth, and prosperity!

I want to name it and claim it! I'm going to tell you that the gospel is not name it and claim it! The gospel is die to yourself, pick up a cross, and follow Jesus! That's the gospel!

The gospel isn't health, wealth, and prosperity! The gospel is die to yourself, pick up a cross, and follow Jesus!

Too many marriages fail because of suffering and problems, and when they come, we run and quit instead of persevering and allowing character to grow so that our future generations have hope.

If our children see us quit, then learn that quitting in difficulty is acceptable, then that's what they're going to do! But if they see us persevere and endure through it, then they understand what it means to grow through the struggle.

See, I have two little boys. I have two little boys. Three years ago, my wife and I went through the most difficult season of our marriage because of something that happened that I did.

And my wife and I fought; it was hard. There were arguments; there were fights; there were difficulties. There were days that we didn't want to talk to each other, and there were nights we didn't want to see each other.

There were things that came about through a difficult season that were really, really hard. But I can tell you this: through every single night and every single morning and every day, my sons saw my wife and I come together and pray through the difficulty.

They saw us sit down together and eat meals together. They saw us tell each other, "We love you," despite the difficulty. They saw us persevere!

We didn't quit going to church; we didn't quit reading our Bible; we didn't quit praying; we didn't quit giving God glory; we didn't quit praising Him through the difficulty.

And now my sons understand what it means to persevere through difficulty and to have a "won't quit" mentality in our house.

So when my boys grow up and they marry the love of their lives and they go through hardship, they won't quit either because they saw the example in their mother and their father.

That's what it means to have perseverance, and that's what it means to push through! You don't quit just because it's hard!

[Applause]

See, the reason so many people fall away from their relationship with God is because they've been sold this false perspective of what it means to follow Jesus.

Following Jesus is the greatest thing you'll ever do! It's the greatest gift you'll ever have given to you: forgiveness of your sin! That's the greatest gift!

Because the wages of my sin, what I deserve, is death! But Jesus took that death and He gave me a hope for a future!

And following Jesus is the greatest thing I've ever done! But it doesn't mean that there's not hardship!

That's right! It doesn't mean it's not difficult! It means it'll be worth it! My life has purpose; my life has meaning; my life carries value because of what Jesus did for me!

And when we can get through suffering and we can persevere in that suffering, then the third thing that comes with hope when you get through suffering and you persevere through it is character.

It's not very big, is it? It doesn't seem like a big thing. Character doesn't seem like a big deal until you don't have it!

Character doesn't seem like a big deal until you're looking for a man to marry who has some, and then you realize how far it is and how difficult it is to find someone with godly character.

See, character is built when you go through some suffering and you persevere in it. And when you've gone through suffering and persevered, now you have a character that won't be shaken.

Here's why: here's why! I have suffered, and I've seen that God didn't abandon me in my difficulty. I have been able to persevere because He gave me the strength to get through it, and now the character that I have is created from those things, which means it doesn't matter what else comes my way; He is the rock I stand on, and I will not be shaken!

And my character isn't going to be moved! I know who I am now because I know who God has been for me before! So I know what I stand on because He's been with me in the difficulty; He's given me the strength to get through it, and now this is who I am!

That's what develops character! See, character isn't how much money I make; character isn't how many friends I have!

Yeah! Character isn't the car I drive; character isn't the clothes I wear; character isn't my zip code; character isn't any of the things that I can make for myself!

Character comes when you've suffered a little bit and you've persevered, and you know who it is that got you through it!

That's character! Character is the moral qualities distinctive to an individual. The moral qualities that are distinct to you—your character!

What defines you? Suffering produces perseverance, which then builds into a character that produces hope that cannot be shaken!

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, "Don't be misled; bad company corrupts good character."

Who do you spend your time with? Who are you hanging out with? Who are you speaking to, and who are you allowing to speak into you?

Because if bad company corrupts good character, then good company will build good character!

That's right! Jesus surrounded Himself with good people. They were knuckleheads; they did some dumb stuff. Peter wasn't a good swordsman, though he tried to be; he did some dumb things.

But Jesus surrounded Himself with good people. He also allowed other people into His world that He spoke into, but they didn't speak into Him.

Understand this: I hang out with sinners and prostitutes and tax collectors. Pastor Ryan, no! Jesus hung out with those people because they came to Him to be changed; they didn't change who He was!

Who are you spending your time with? Who are you allowing to influence your life? Who are you allowing to speak into you?

Character! Why do we know that what we have in God—hope in God? Because the character of God never changes!

Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

We're going to say this together: read together with me! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

He's not going to change! He hasn't changed because of your sin, and He's not going to change for you to sin! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

And His character doesn't change! And if we get hope from godly character, then we need to understand the character we need to pursue is that of the character of God!

See, hope says, "I may not see it now, but I've seen Him do it before." Hope says, "I don't see how, but I know who will make a way."

Hope says, "I don't have to depend on what I produce, but I know I can depend on what He promised."

Hope says, "It may be difficult now, but this too shall pass."

Hope says, "If I don't get tired of doing what is right, I know I will reap a harvest of righteousness."

Hope says, "The numbers may not add up, but I know that if I honor God with my money, He will multiply what I have left."

Hope—not a wish! A hope! A hope that is found in Jesus Christ that will not waver, that will not fade, that will not change, that will not give up, that will not let me down!

Hope!

Just a minute, Pastor Keenan is going to come up, and he's going to take the offering. And when he's done with the offering, I'm going to come back up and give an altar call.

I want you to understand why we preach, why the Word is preached, and why we give altar calls. The altar call is your opportunity to respond to the Word of God preached.

The altar call is your opportunity to allow the Spirit of God to work in you, for you to come to a place and say, "God, your Word just resonated in my heart, and I want to come and do business with you and what you have been speaking to me. I want you to do in me here, Lord! I want to respond to your Word!"

You're not responding to me; it's not my word! This is the Word of God! That's why we read Scripture in this house, so you understand that what we're saying to you comes from the mouth of God!

It is an opportunity for you to respond to what the Holy Spirit—there are two sermons that get preached every Sunday: the one that Pastor Keenan and I are doing and the one the Holy Spirit's doing to you personally!

And this altar call that is going to be given in a moment is an opportunity for you to respond to what the Holy Spirit has been saying to you this entire service.

Pastor Keenan is going to come right now; he's going to do the offering, and after that, I'm going to come back up and give an altar call. Go for it, sir!

Amen!

As we prepare to transition to our time of tithe and offering, and we're talking about this idea of hope and this idea of expectancy and just seeing all that—hearing and receiving all that God is saying—I'm just reminded of a story I was told this week of a young lady who was in need of some help.

She had a job, and she was trying to make her ends meet, and she had heard a sermon that we had talked about on tithes and committing to God our tithe and offering and the challenge that was put forth.

And she said, "Hey, this is something that I want to do." She said, "So I made this commitment to the Lord and to myself, and so I put my tithes on this automatic withdrawal."

And I was checking my account, and I knew that my tithe was coming out the next day, so I wanted to make sure the resources were there, and they weren't.

She said, "I knew that if I let the automatic withdrawal go through for my tithe, that my account would be in the negative."

She said, "I didn't know what to do because I knew what I wanted to do; I knew what I was supposed to do, but I also knew what it looked like."

She said, "I had this opportunity, and it was this moment where I had to decide where my hope was. You know, is it in my job, or is it in the Lord? Am I trusting that God is going to honor me in the area of my resources if I honor Him, or am I just going to depend on what it looked like?"

And she said, "The old me, I would have just went in there, and I would have just taken the automatic withdrawal off and said, 'You know what? I'll give it to God when I get it.'"

She said, "So I made the decision. I said, 'God, I'm putting my trust in you. My hope is in you; it's not in my job. You're going to have to figure this out.'"

She said, "So I said that; I went to sleep, and she said I woke up the next morning to check my account because I wanted to see how bad the damage was. And I knew that the tithe had come out, and she said I checked my account, and there was money in my account!"

She said, "The automatic withdrawal came out, and there was more money in my account than when I looked at the night before!"

And she said, "What had happened was my job actually paid me earlier than I would normally get paid."

And she said, "Not only was there enough money for me to pay my tithe, but there was enough money for me to pay my tithe and some other things that I wanted to take care of."

And it was just this opportunity and this moment reaffirming where my hope lies! Even though it didn't look like it was there, even though I was not in a great place and I didn't know how it was going to happen, God continued to affirm in me where my hope was!

And so I just want to continue to affirm that in you, just like Pastor Ryan said: where is our hope? I love it; it says, "Blessed assurance." When I think about it, that's what I think about—my blessed assurance!

So as we prepare to give today, as always, we have our opportunities to give: our QR code on the seat pocket in front of you, the envelope on the seat pocket in front of you, and then our website.

And the QR code will be up on the screen, and I just want to continue to affirm in you, even in this opportunity, because a lot of times hope is here, but it never makes it past here.

And so we have this opportunity now to say, "You know what? I am going to put this hope in action! I'm not just going to say that I'm hoping, but I'm actually going to walk it out, and I'm actually going to do it! I'm going to take an opportunity to say, 'No, my hope is not in my job; no, my hope is not in my resources; no, my hope is in God!'"

And as we take this opportunity, we talk a lot here about not giving out of compulsion. So I'm going to pray that the Lord speaks to you on what to give, and then I'm going to ask our ushers to go ahead.

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are our hope. And God, we take this opportunity to walk out on our hope, to put it in action, to reaffirm where our hope lies. Lord, would you speak to us in these next few moments on what it is you would have us to give? Speak now, Lord God! We believe that we have heard, and we move in obedience.

Let's just go ahead!

[Music]

My house was built on you. I’m safe with you, and I'm going to make it through!

"A relationship with Jesus Christ will give you a hope that will guarantee you a future period. Nothing else matters; a relationship with Jesus gets you the hope that you're looking for." [56:00] (Download)

"Sometimes you get tired, sometimes you get a little weary, you get a little drained. You've given everything you've got and you feel like everyone wants more. But the Bible says that if you put your hope in God, he will renew your strength." [56:37] (Download)

"Too many marriages fail because of suffering and problems, and when they come, we run and quit instead of persevering and allowing character to grow so that our future generations have hope." [01:12:32] (Download)

"Suffering produces perseverance which then builds into a character that produces hope that cannot be shaken." [01:17:14] (Download)

"Perseverance is not just about enduring; it's about setting an example. When my sons face hardship, they won't quit either, because they saw their mother and father persevere through difficulty with a 'won't quit' mentality." [01:13:34] (Download)

"Following Jesus is the greatest thing you'll ever do, not because it's easy, but because it's worth it. It gives purpose to our lives, even amidst hardship, and that's what makes it the most profound gift we could ever receive." [01:14:10] (Download)

"We never find success or favor when we quit; difficulty hope comes when you have faced opposition and you keep going." [01:10:54] (Download)

"Hope says I may not see it now, but I've seen Him do it before. Hope says I don't see how, but I know who will make a way. Hope says I don't have to depend on what I produce, but I know I can depend on what He promised." [01:19:07] (Download)

"The presence of God is the thing you notice right away; you just feel this, you're walking into an anointing oil that's all over the church, from every single individual." [45:19] (Download)

"Church is one of the places where you will see Jesus come to life; He will use people and show His love through them. The presence of God is here in this place, no matter what." [45:57] (Download)

"The sense of community was a contributing factor to why I stayed here and have served here ever since. It's not just about being in a place, but about growing in faith together." [45:19] (Download)

"Hope is from the Lord, so the first thing that we understand about where hope comes from: it doesn't come from a better job, a better spouse, a nicer paycheck, better friends, or anything you can do for yourself." [01:00:32] (Download)

"Welcome to Limitless Church, we're here to take the limits off the way you see Jesus' faith in the church, and I'm not going to sit here and make you feel good, I'm going to sit here and preach truth so you can live a life that is significant, impactful, and meaningful." [01:01:07] (Download)

"Character doesn't seem like a big deal until you don't have it. Character is built when you go through some suffering and you persevere in it." [01:15:27] (Download)

"I know who I am now because I know who God has been for me before. I know what I stand on because he's been with me in the difficulty, he's given me the strength to get through it." [01:15:58] (Download)

"In these last days, it's very important for us to seek God, and we start that with the youth. That's the one thing you see at this church, you see youth all over the place." [47:02] (Download)

"You never know what a simple invitation will do in the life of another person. Mike, you've been an example of that in every single aspect of your life." [47:38] (Download)

"Hope isn't something you can create for yourself; if you try it, you're not going to have hope. Hope is what comes with promises and guarantees from the word of God that will never let you down." [49:53] (Download)

"When you have hope in our savior, it comes with promises and guarantees from the word of God that will never let you down, and your hope will never be cut off." [50:30] (Download)

"Our hope is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything changes; hopeless situations turn into hopeful opportunities for God to move in your life and begin to unveil his faithfulness to you in the midst of difficulty." [51:05] (Download)

"Suffering is necessary to build toward hope, meaning that you and I may need to go through some seemingly hopeless situations to get to a place where we know the hope is." [01:04:54] (Download)

"Quit running from hardship, quit running from suffering, and let God help you through." [01:05:26] (Download)

"When you walk in the house of God because hope is a feeling of expectation, not wishing. I expect this to happen because I know what the God of the Bible says His promises are, and they are for sure and they are yes and amen." [54:16] (Download)

"I expect him to answer and he will answer. That is my expectation. It is an expectation and a desire for a certain thing to happen, not an ambivalent thing, not a random thing, not a guess that you're going to throw out in the universe." [54:52] (Download)

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. You walk in here this morning going, 'I don't have a clue what my future holds.'" [55:27] (Download)

"The one thing that really stood out to me was the love and it wasn't just No Ordinary Love, it's the love that Jesus gives, so it's literally heaven on Earth." [44:42] (Download)

"What if the suffering you're going through is meant for the people around you to see God move in your situation and encourage them and let them see what God can do in the middle of difficulty." [01:08:05] (Download)

"What if what you're going through is designed for God to be able to use it to reach other people through the testimony you're going to have when you." [01:08:38] (Download)

"There's purpose in suffering for the cause of Christ. Can you imagine how many people would change their view of God if they see you go through it and watch God move in your life through it?" [01:09:04] (Download)

"Perseverance is the persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It's about continuing the journey even when the road gets tough." [01:09:42] (Download)

"Christmas and the exciting thing about unboxing Christmas is that it doesn't matter which part of Christmas you unbox something new comes out and you learn the beauty of the gift of Jesus and the love of God in a new way from a different angle every time." [48:11] (Download)

"Every time you open up another part of Christmas you learn the love of God in a new way and it is an Incredible Gift that we have in this Christmas season." [48:11] (Download)

"Silver and gold I don't have, but what I do have I'm going to give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk. And that moment, that man's legs got strength in him, and he stood to his feet." [53:07] (Download)

"He had an expectation, he showed up looking for something, he didn't know what it was, he just knew he needed something and he said, 'God, I'm going to sit outside of your house.'" [53:39] (Download)

"The Bible in Revelations talks about they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of the testimony, and so what we want to do is we want to have an opportunity to share those testimonies." [42:18] (Download)

"We want to be able to share your story not only with our church here but all of those in the city to hear about what God has done." [42:49] (Download)

"Hope isn't just a thing you have; hope is something that is developed and built." [51:36] (Download)

"When you show up to the house of God with expectation, you don't leave disappointed." [52:10] (Download)

"Hope is not hope that is not in God; it's a wish. And we don't wish upon a star; we have hope through the blood of a savior. Wishing produces disappointment; hoping in God produces faith." [58:52] (Download)

"The hope we have comes from one place and one place alone, and that is in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Hope comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, where you say, 'God, I'm done doing this thing by myself.'" [59:26] (Download)

"The Holy Spirit is a great comforter, and you know what you need in the middle of hopeless situations? You need some comfort." [57:10] (Download)

"I promise you, if you'll let me comfort you in difficulty, we'll get to the promise." [57:39] (Download)

"Let's unbox what hope is, because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character produces hope." [58:13] (Download)

"Hope is not just a wish; it is a hope that is found in Jesus Christ that will not waver, fade, change, give up, or let me down." [01:19:41] (Download)

"The altar call is your opportunity to respond to the word of God preached, to allow the Spirit of God to work in you, to come to a place and say, 'God, your word resonated in my heart, and I want to do business with you.'" [01:20:14] (Download)

"There are two sermons preached every Sunday: the one that Pastor Keenan and I deliver, and the one the Holy Spirit is conducting to you personally." [01:20:42] (Download)

"As we prepare to transition to our time and tithe and offering, we're talking about this idea of Hope and this idea of an expectancy and just seeing all that hearing and receiving all that God is saying." [01:21:17] (Download)

"I had this opportunity and it was this moment where I had to decide where my Hope was, you know, is it in my job or is it in God." [01:22:36] (Download)

"He's not going to deliver you from suffering; he's going to help you in the suffering. He's not going to deliver you from the valley; he'll help you get through the valley." [01:05:57] (Download)

"The God we serve can deliver us from this suffering, but if he doesn't, we want you to know we're still not going to bow down and worship that god." [01:06:25] (Download)

"They're in the suffering, they're in the season they're supposed to be at their worst, what does the king say, 'How many did I throw in there?'" [01:06:57] (Download)

"Good morning church, how we doing this morning? I am excited, wasn't that an awesome time in worship this morning? Hallelujah." [37:35] (Download)

"Next week is Christmas at Limitless and we have a special performance for our kids ministry that is going to be amazing." [38:10] (Download)

"Bring Grandma, bring Grandpa, bring great grandma, bring aunties, bring uncles, bring everybody but most importantly bring your child because they are necessary in order for this to happen." [38:46] (Download)

"Traditionally, we do not have a service on the week of Christmas, but we're making some adjustments and this year we will have a Christmas Eve service." [39:56] (Download)