One Hope of Your CallingOur Hope is Heaven

Ephesians 4:1-62 Corinthians 4:16-5:1

The Value of Hope

• Hope reaches into the future, attaching itself onto the thing or idea that we both desire and expect to receive. 1 Cor. 15:55-57

• Hope is not affected by externalities, and is a mental persuasion that even in the face of active persecution or intense pain, remains strong and active. 1 Cor. 15:58

• Hope fights sorrow, discouragement, failures, frustrations, even death itself. John 14:1-3

• Hope is the “Anchor of the Soul.” Hebrews 6:19,20

Two Necessary Ingredientsof Hope

• If I desire a thing I can never receive, there is no hope.

• If I expect a thing that is not desirable, there is no hope.

• If I desire a thing and have a warm expectation to receive it, that is hope. 1 Pet 3:15 “the hope in you”.

DesireExpectation

What Hope Does• Keeps Me on Course, focused like a Homing

Signal. I can see the journey’s end! It directs my vision. Titus 2:11,12

• Lightens My Load. Makes me unaware of the hardest burden, because of the light at the end of the way! 1 John 3:3

• Intensifies My Desires. I can achieve the goal, so hope becomes my second wind to finish the run! Heb 11:1 – It’s connected to faith.

• Provides Confidence. 2 Pet 1:4. His promises provide balm for the weary.

Hope is Our Connection to Heaven

The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years; yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; for it is soon gone and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10

Our Hope is Heaven

• Gathered to My People– Gen 25:8, Abraham was– Genesis 25:17, Isaac was– Gen 49:29,33, Jacob was– Deut 32:50 comp’d to Deut 34:6 - Moses

and Aaron were

• Be with My Children, 2 Sam 12:23• Be with Each Other, 1 Thess 2:19• Be at Home with Loved Ones, 1

Thess 4:13,14

Our Hope is Heaven

Will I Be Recognizable as Me? – At the Transfiguration, Moses and

Elijah were known. Mark 9:2-8– In Torment, the Rich Man recognizes

Lazarus and Abraham in Comfort. Luke 16:19-31

– Still, God will give me a changed, spiritual body. 1 Cor 15:51,52 and vs 44

– The Lord will clothe me with a body He has prepared, Phil 3:21

Our Hope is a Powerful Force

We Will See Him as He Is I John 3:2,3

1 Pet 1:21 What a Powerful Incentive for Godly People:

Heb 11:24-272 Tim 4:6,7 esp. v 8

What is the Hope of Your Calling

Eph 4:1-6

You Were Called

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling . . . Eph 1:18

Wherefore brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling . . . Heb 3:1

Give diligence to make your calling and election sure . . . 2 Pet 1:10

Him who called us by glory and virtue by which we have been given great and precious promises . . . 2 Pet 1:3b,4

Your Calling

Greek “Klaysis” means “Invitation”This One Comes from Heaven and God

Himself Heb 3:1

How Were You Called? 2 Thess 2:14

So this is the “Hope of the Gospel”

Col 1:23

Terms for the Hope of Your Calling

• 2 Thess 2:16 • Titus 2:13 • 1 Pet 1:3 • Col 1:27 • 1 Thess 5:8 • Col 1:5

• Sound, Useful• Happy• Breathing, Living• Splendor, Exalted State• Deliverance, Safety• Reserved, Awaiting

Terms for the Hope of Your Calling

• 2 Thess 2:16 • Titus 2:13 • 1 Pet 1:3 • Col 1:27 • 1 Thess 5:8 • Col 1:5

• Sound, Useful• Happy• Breathing, Living• Splendor, Exalted State• Deliverance, Safety• Reserved, Awaiting

“Inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading . . .”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you . . .

1 Peter 1:3-4