REAL HOPE 2

Text : Eph 1:18 

 *The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,* 

 *No one can come into the understanding of what REAL HOPE is without first having his eyes of understanding enlightened* .

Eye is an essential part of the body. Hear what Matthew 6:22-23 has to say about eyes:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light .

But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light within you has turned into darkness, how great is that darkness!” So the eye determines what happens to the whole body.

Now, everyone has two dimensions of eyes, the physical eyes, and the spiritual eyes. Since Adam and Eve fell, everyone's spiritual eyes became blinded by reason of the spiritual death that occurred. whenever anyone comes to God through Jesus Christ, he becomes quickened from the dead(spiritual death), this is what is referred to as being born again, the second birth. John. 3:3, Eph. 2:1

The born again experience brings a man back from his spiritually dead state. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."John 5:24. However, he will still need his eyes of understanding to be opened in order to attain all that God has for him in this new life..

This is the reason for Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church;: _*"...that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints_* 

 *What you don't know is beyond you. To know and understand the hope to which He has called you, the eyes of your heart must be flooded with light.* 

Paul prayed for the Ephesians believers ceaselessly so that they might gain sight to know God's mind for them. Eph. 1:17.

To know the hope that Christ is calling you into,, your eyes of understanding must be enlightened. Hence, this must be your ceaseless prayer too. 

One of the major challenges of many today is hopelessness. 

*Hopelessness is essentially created as a result of darkened or vague understanding of what the future holds. It only takes light from Christ to treat this deadly disease of hopelessness*

Any one whose eyes of understanding is adequately illuminated cannot be a victim of hopelessness. Such one is able to see Christ, the hope of Glory and to know the hope of God's calling. (Col. 1:27)

Anytime you are depressed as a result of the feelings of hopelesness, all you need do is:

1. *Trust* in the unfailing *Love* of Jesus Christ. At least if the future is appearing bleak and uncertain, Christ in you is still the HOPE of glory. 

Trust here means that you shouuld against hope believe in hope like Abraham. Rom 4:18

2. Live one day at a time. (Mathew 6:33)

 *Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,* May He comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 2Thes 2:16-17.

Bible Reading: Eph 1: 15-23

 *PRAYER FOCUS* 

1. Father, enlighten my eyes of understanding in Jesus name. 

2. Father, help me to know the hope for which you called me in Jesus name. 

CIA CAMPUS MOVEMENT PUBLICATION, +233241109074, +233558355977

  https://hisvoicedevotional.blogspot.com