HOPE

The Greatest Hope of Creation

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.  For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:23-25

          The great hope of the gospel is because Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, is that the children of God shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye the last trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and they shall be changed. Corruptible man will put on incorruption, and this mortal man will put on immortality. Death will lose its sting and Hades will not have its victory.  Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

But the hour and the day the Jesus Christ will return is a great mystery known only to the Father and not even to Jesus Christ himself. For God’s word is true:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,  "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.  "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.  "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus clearly said that He would return at an hour that no one would expect and at a day and hour that no one knows, not even the angels in haven but His Father only.  So any one who goes around saying that he knows the day or the hour according to Jesus is a liar and a deceiver?  For Jesus said the hour of His return was not so important but that his servants are ready and faithful at the task which He has given them today. His word is true:

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

"But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'  "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,  "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,  "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51

Depending on their actual faithfulness and conduct, servants will be rewarded accordingly and appropriately by God. As a result some will be cut in their and their portion appointed with the hypocrites.  And others will be made ruler over all of the master’s goods.  What was also important is not the hour or day of Jesus’ return but that His servants were filled with power from on high? For God’s word records:

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,  who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Acts 1:1-11

According to Jesus receiving power was more important than the hour of His return. Now religious men have talked much about the hour of the return of Jesus Christ but just like the foolish virgins who lacked oil for the bridegroom’s return, they talk very little about being baptized with the Holy Spirit.  This is something which Jesus commanded His true ones to experience so they might receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they will be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.  This is something which Apostle Paul talked about, preached and practiced. God’s word records:

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples  he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."  And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."

Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.  Now the men were about twelve in all.

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. Acts 19:1-19

Paul preached the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and when He laid hands upon people they spoke in tongues and prophesied. But some where hardened and did not believe and spoke evil of what Paul was preaching and practicing.   However, some men do not change at all. For there are many who call themselves Christians and believers and yet they reject what Paul never rejected and is in the word of God.  They reject the Baptism of the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. Even though God's word states:

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

It is in the bible that God does not want His children to be ignorant of spiritual gifts. He wants them to profit by them and to seek them. As His word is true:

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.  For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.  But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.  He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.  Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:37-40

Although there is not a scripture verse in the word of God to back it up, some falsely teach that the gifts of the Spirit are not for today or that they are seeking and walking in love which is the greater gift.  But with out the Spiritual gifts there can not be a practical demonstration of love to those who are sick, captive and dying but only hypocritical empty words devoid of miracles, signs and wonders.  They cannot do what Jesus and the early disciples did after they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.  But Apostle Peter, who operated in the gifts of the Spirit and was Baptized with the Spirit, stated to a certain lame man who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms :

 "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:6-10

Love alone with out signs and wonders of God's power does not heal sick bodies, cast out demons, and produce miracles. Only the power of God does this though a yielded obedient vessel. Hence Apostle Paul stated that these false ones should consider:

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Those whose  faith is in the wisdom of men can not work miracles and do not operate in the gifts of the Spirit. But those who  are baptized by the Holy Spirit and have yielded to Him can and do amazing things. For the words of Jesus are true to them:

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.  Mark 16:15-20

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14

 Jesus who does not lie promised that because His Father is greater than Him those who believe in Him the works which He did they would do also and greater works.  Obviously those who do not do the works and signs and wonders do not follow their preaching are not true believers? For a gospel devoid of signs and wonders is not a true gospel. But the other side of the coin is:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:  "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:21-27

Those that hear these sayings of Jesus and do not do them as Jesus commanded them shall find that their house will fall and great shall be its fall.  For each man makes his own choices in life and is rewarded with the resulting consequence both good and bad. As rejection of light and truth, only leads a person to have more darkness and deceivement. But acceptance of light and truth gives more light and understanding.

This also leads to the question as whether people who deny what God has not denied shall know the greatest hope of creation?  For children of Israel who rejected God through their unbelief after being "saved" by God's miracle working power out of their bondage in Egypt and tasted His goodness, did not go into the Promised Land,