Spiritual Gifts, 11

 ~ The Spiritual Gift of Hope ~

Opening Comment  ~  “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18). 

Source Gifts  ~  The first of the Construction Sector gifts is Love!  Love is the foundation of all our building.  The second is faith which provides the framework for our relationship with Christ and the building together with other believers.  The third is Hope!  The “blessed hope” is from the Architect of our faith as He guarantees the final result. 

Hope Looks Forward  ~  The great “Hall of Faith” chapter includes this, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.  And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16). 

Scripture  ~  The Apostle Peter understood the importance of looking forward, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims” (1 Peter 2:11a).  It is all too easy for Christians to settle for being tourists on earth rather than pilgrims on their way to their homeland.  Meanwhile, on earth we are Christ’s ambassadors.  “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20a). “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).

As we understand our standing and role in Christ it changes us.  “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).

Hope Produces Growth  ~  “Rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:2b-5).

Comment  ~  A good definition of Biblical joy is “a continuing attitude of anticipation.”  The early Christians understood that and they just called it “hope.” 

Another Scripture  ~  “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

Closing Comments  ~  “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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