Explores how to harness our Christian calling, honor our spiritual gifts, and heed the call to spread hope in a world that desperately needs it.
Good morning, beloved family of God.
As we gather here, let us remember the words of the great Charles Spurgeon who once said, "Hope itself is like a star - not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity." It is a profound truth that hope often shines brightest in the darkest of times, and it is this hope, the hope of our calling, that we will be focusing on today.
The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, beautifully encapsulates this hope. Let us read together, 1 Corinthians 1:4-9:
"I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. You do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
As we read these words, we are reminded of the richness of our calling, the abundance of the gifts we have received, and the faithfulness of our God who has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We are not just recipients of these blessings, we are stewards, called to use these gifts to spread hope and draw others into this fellowship.
Today, we will look at three main points: Harnessing the Hope of Your Calling, Honoring the Gifts Bestowed Upon Us, and Heeding the Call to Spread Hope. Each of these points is vital in our walk with Christ and our service to Him. They are not just lessons to be learned, but truths to be lived out.
Before we proceed, let us bow our heads in prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the hope of our calling, for the gifts You have bestowed upon us, and for the privilege of spreading that hope to others. As we delve into Your Word today, may Your Holy Spirit guide us and give us understanding. Help us not just to hear Your Word, but to heed it, to live it out in our daily lives. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
The hope of our calling is not just a distant dream or a vague aspiration. It is a powerful force, a divine energy, a heavenly dynamo that propels us forward in our Christian journey. It is the fuel that drives our faith, the wind that fills our spiritual sails, the engine that powers our pursuit of God. And the beauty of it is, this hope is not something we have to generate or manufacture ourselves. It is a gift, a divine endowment, a heavenly inheritance that we receive the moment we put our faith in Christ.
For right now: This hope is not just for the sweet by and by, for the distant future when we will be with the Lord in glory. It is for the here and now, for the nitty-gritty of everyday life, for the challenges and trials and tribulations we face on a daily basis. It is a hope that does not disappoint, a hope that does not fade, a hope that does not waver or wane, even in the face of the fiercest storms or the darkest nights.
We have been enriched in every way in Christ: This enrichment includes the hope of our calling. It is a hope that is not based on our circumstances, our abilities, our resources, or our efforts. It is a hope that is rooted and grounded in Christ, in His finished work on the cross, in His resurrection from the dead, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His promise to return for us one day.
This hope is active and dynamic: It is a hope that we are called to harness, to utilize, to put to work in our lives. And this is where the rubber meets the road. This is where our faith becomes practical and tangible. This is where we move from theory to practice, from doctrine to duty, from belief to behavior.
It’s a hope that transforms: It changes us from the inside out. It renews our minds, it purifies our hearts, it sanctifies our spirits. It makes us more like Christ. It enables us to see things from God's perspective, to value what He values, to love what He loves, to hate what He hates. It gives us a new set of priorities, a new set of values, a new set of goals. It turns our world upside down, or rather, right side up.
It’s a hope that empowers: It gives us the strength, the courage, the boldness, the confidence, the determination, the perseverance to face whatever life throws at us. It enables us to stand firm in the face of opposition, to press on in the face of adversity, to keep going in the face of discouragement. It equips us to fight the good fight of faith, to run the race set before us, to finish the course that God has laid out for us.
It’s a hope that unites: It brings us together as the body of Christ. It breaks down the walls of division, the barriers of prejudice, the fences of hostility. It creates a bond of love, a fellowship of faith, a community of believers who are committed to one another, who care for one another, who support one another, who encourage one another, who bear one another's burdens, who rejoice with one another, who weep with one another, who pray for one another.
It’s a hope that inspires: It stirs us up to good works. It motivates us to serve others. It compels us to share the good news of the gospel. It drives us to make a difference in the world. It pushes us to leave a legacy of faith, of love, of hope for the next generation. It challenges us to live not just for ourselves, but for others, not just for the present, but for eternity.
As we continue to reflect on the words of Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9, we find ourselves drawn to the richness of the gifts we have received in Christ ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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