HOPE, GLORIOUS INHERITANCE AND GREAT POWER - PART 2

SATURDAY 21 AUGUST 2021

Paul prayed that the Christians in Ephesus would have greater understanding in their heart regarding the all-important will of God and heavenly realities. Today, we are going to look at the hope of God's calling. God has called us to a living and eternal hope.

Reference: Ephesians 1:18 New King James Version (NKJV) "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."

The hope of God's calling is not a wishful thinking, but a deep conviction and belief in God's earthly and eternal purposes for the saints, which are perfect and true, and they are made known to us by the Spirit through the knowledge of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:9). As Christians, our true hope is in Christ; this also means that those who do not have Christ, do not have hope (Ephesians 2:12 ESV).

However, we have the earthly hope and eternal hope. Our earthly hope is often demonstrated when are believing God for a desire or expectation and thus, we exercise our faith in God. For instance, In Romans 4:20-21 (NKJV), the apostle Paul describes Abraham's faith in this manner: "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." Abraham's earthly hope determined the potency of God's faithfulness in bringing to pass, the promises He made to him. This hope is often expressed in our hearts and made strong by holding on to God's Word regarding our confident expectation. It also assures a victorious Christian living in our daily experiences and encounters on earth.

Eternal hope speaks in relation to our spiritual perception of spending eternity with God. This hope comes through revelation (apocalypse). The book of Revelation in the Bible has a more detailed disclosure or insight into this great knowledge. We stand to gain if we are well enlightened and equipped with the knowledge of this eternal hope. Beloved, our real hope is living the eternal life in heaven, after the time realm. This is why in 1st Corinthians 15:19, Paul says, "If in this present life we have a *hope* resting on Christ, and nothing more, we are more to be pitied than all the rest of the world (WNT). So the eyes of our heart need to be enlightened to this very reality of eternal hope in Christ.

The knowledge of the hope of God's calling empowers us to live a righteous, holy and glorious life in Christ Jesus and to function as His witness on earth, bearing in mind that Christ is coming back for us. 1 Peter 1:3 reads, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (NKJV). Beloved, praise God for our living hope towards our heavenly inheritance and home. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Colossians 3:1; 1 Peter 1:4; Hebrews 6:19-20.

Exuberant Declaration: Jesus Christ is my precious Lord; my living and eternal Hope. Through the knowledge of the hope of His calling, my mind and spirit are quickened to perceive and receive the things of the Spirit, which in turn, influence my life to conform to God's perfect will as I move from glory to glory. Praise God!