Topic: The Hope of Our Calling
Text: Ephesians 1:15-19
Minister: Bro. Oluwafemi Ajayi

There are three (3) cardinal pillars of the Gospel, one is love; love was what orchestrated salvation plan and brought the gospel to us – the bible says for God so loved the world. The second pillar of our Gospel is faith; and faith is that substance that makes us embrace the Gospel. Bible says by faith ye are saved. It is faith that helps us embrace the good news of the gospel; it is faith that helps us to lay hold on that which Christ has made available to us in his death, so that once a man believes in the love of God, he is saved. The third pillar of the Gospel is Hope – Hope is the substance that holds our faith together. Hope is the anchor upon which our souls rest (Hebrews 6:19).

The three cardinals of our Gospel is; Love that brought the gospel to us, faith that makes us embrace the gospel, and the last one is hope that holds our faith together. Today we are going to be examining the topic – The Hope of our Calling. What are we looking out for: What does the believer tend to achieve in embracing the gospel? It is very important that we consider this theme.

In Ephesians 1, we see Paul’s prayer for the church in Asia Minor; we will be examining the content of his prayer. Ephesians 1:15-19 “”. There is an intention in the mind of God for calling you. Galatians 3:8 “God who knew that he will save the gentiles through the gospel, first preached the gospel to Abraham”; there was an intention in the mind of God for bringing the gospel to mankind; Ephesians says “that you may know the hope of you calling and the riches of the glory of your inheritance in the saints and what is his exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe”

When we are talking about the hope of our salvation

1.            We must have this hope set before us always: Why must we have this Hope set before us always? There is a Tendency to be distracted: There are several things to make us distracted in our journey, there are several things that can make us become every other thing apart from the purpose for which Christ saved us. It is possible for us to become religious and not come into the purpose of why Christ saved us. It is possible for us to even rise in the ranks of religion and not become that for which Christ has apprehended us. So, Paul said – “I am leaving those things behind and I press so that I may lay hold on that which Christ has apprehended me”. If we do not set this hope before us, we may forget that the set-up of the church was to help us become like Christ and nothing else.

2.            It is Very Important that we get the right substance of our hope: It is important that we set our hope upon the right thing, which is Jesus [Luke 24:19-21]. We live in the end times, and the hope of many are going to be vexed; the reason why we are following Jesus will be vexed because Jesus will not work according to your ways. There will be many vexations and falling away because the hopes of many will be offended by the cross, I pray that God will help us in Jesus name.

What then is the Believer’s Hope?

1 John 3:1-2 “Behold what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not. Now are we the sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him” – this is the hope in the Gospel. The essence why God is doing what he is doing, and why he will continue to be doing what He is doing in your life is so that when Christ comes, you can become just as he is. Unfortunately, we are so impatient and so undesirous. The essence of it all, is so that Christ is formed in us. This is the hope of our salvation; every other thing is peripheral.

If all of our hope is in the things we can gather or harness in this world, no matter what it is, if it is not hinged upon the personality of Christ, upon the daily growth of the person of Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

The question we are asking ourselves today is; after many years of church fellowship, house fellowship, or any other fellowship, how much of Christ have we become? If we are becoming Christ, then it is good for us, else the hope of our calling is already been defeated.

What does Our Hope in Christ do for us?

1 John 3:3 “And every man that hath this hope in him, purifies himself”. We are supposed to be transforming into Jesus in every manner. This is the hope of our salvation. However, God may chose to give us every other thing, as an addition to our salvation, but the main hope of our salvation is to become like Jesus.

Prayer Points

Oh Lord, stamp your image upon my life

Oh Lord, make me be like Jesus indeed