LIVING HOPE-2

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Text : 1Corinthian 15:19.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Living hope is what the old saints lived for. All the Patriarchs in the bible lived for a lively hope. They lived for a tangible hope that transcends their days.

Today, we shall be looking at how you can start living for real hope that purifies your heart.
The book of first John chapter three verse three says that everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Firstly, to experience a hope that is lively, you must be looking forward to the appearance of Jesus Christ. This is one hope that keeps you alive and pure. When the hope of seeing Christ just as He is, and to eternally abide with Him enters your heart, you  will become more intentional in your walk with the Lord. 

Many believers in recent times have become beclouded by so many hopes that they have forgotten the real hope unto which they were called. 

Apostle Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus that their eyes of understanding may  be enlightened, so that they can know what the hope of His (God's) calling is... (Ephesians 3:18).

Your eyes of understanding need to be illuminated by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God's will for you to know the Hope behind God's calling for your life. (Ephesians 3:17).

Secondly, if you want to live for the living hope, you must constantly remind yourself of the fact  that the things which are seen are temporal, while the unseen are eternal. (2Cor.4:18).

By this understanding, you will learn to live for the things that are eternal and not just for the temporal things which you can see. 

While we need temporal things to do life while on this side of eternity, we must however refute the temptation of living for them. When you look up to the  invisible God, and pursue the unseen things that bring pleasure to His heart, then you would have truly lived a worthy life afterall. And every other thing that seems to be important in this world, would be graciously added to you by the Lord.

To Seek God's kingdom and His righteousness, is to seek the unseen things which are eternal. (Matthew 6:33, 2Cor. 4:18).

PRAYER FOCUS

1.) Father,  Please,  give me sight to be able to see beyond what this earth can offer.

2.) Lord, increase my appetite for living hope in Christ Jesus.

Bible Reading:

Hebrew 11:7-27.


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