The Hope of the Christian E-Book

Rev. Norman Holmes

• Herausgeber: Zion Christian Publishers
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

 The Bible tells us that every overcoming Christian will become conformed to the image of Christ. But what does this mean? And how can we prepare ourselves for an abundant fulfillment of our Christian hope? In this book, Rev. Norman Holmes will answer these questions and much more:What is the eternal goal for every believer?How should we prepare ourselves for a glorious future?Developing spiritual discernmentHow to hit the mark of the high calling of God

Leseprobe

THE HOPE OF THE CHRISTIAN

“...Christ in you, the hope of glory”

Colossians 1:27

“The Hope of the Christian”

© 1998 by Norman Holmes

Second Edition 2006

Used by Permission

All Rights Reserved

Cover design © 2009 Zion Fellowship Inc.

All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations in this book are taken from the

New King James Version Bible unless otherwise stated.

Published as an e-book on September 2013

in the United States of America

E-book ISBN 1-59665-131-8 

Printed by :

Zion Christian Publishers

A Zion Fellowship ® Ministry

P.O. Box 70

Waverly, New York 14892

Phone: [phone]

Toll free: 1-877-768-7466

Fax: [phone]

www.zcpublishers.com

Part I

A REVELATION OF OUR CHRISTIAN GOAL

Chapter 1

THE SPIRIT OF REVELATION

To understand the hope or future goal of the Christian, we need revelation from God. The natural man cannot comprehend the glorious plans of the Almighty by mere human wisdom. We read in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, “as it is written, ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him.’ But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit.” It is by the Holy Spirit that the plans of God can be revealed.

Furthermore, the Scriptures make it clear that the Holy Spirit has many anointings through which He accomplishes His various works. The specific anointing that can show us the hope of the Christian is called the spirit of revelation in Ephesians 1:17. The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation…that you may know what is the hope of His calling.” The Ephesian church had already received the Holy Spirit many years before (see Acts 19:1-6), but the Apostle Paul knew that they needed a further anointing to help them along the pathway towards full spiritual maturity. We may also have been Spirit-filled Christians for many years, yet we need to pray for the spirit of revelation so that we may further understand the hope of God’s call upon our lives.

The ministry of the spirit of revelation is to reveal the secrets and mysteries of God. In Ephesians 3:3-6 Paul said that, “by revelation He made known to me the mystery” that “the Gentiles should be… partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.” Now the fact that the Gentiles can be saved is no longer a hidden secret or mystery. This is common knowledge in our times, when almost all of the worldwide Church is composed of Gentile Christians. However, the early Jewish believers needed revelation from God (such as in Acts 10:9-16) before they could comprehend such a radical idea! In a similar manner, there is much that the Lord has purposed for our future that goes far beyond our minds’ comprehension unless God reveals these plans to us by the spirit of revelation.

VISION MOTIVATES US

Proverbs 29:18 tells us, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.” In the King James Version this reads, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Revelation gives us a vision, or a goal to attain, concerning what the Lord wants to accomplish in our lives. Without this vision the things of God can appear worthless. We will cast off restraint to become lethargic and purposeless. Moreover, when we lack spiritual goals we will instead concentrate on natural goals for our life. This is because God placed the desire in the heart of man to succeed, be an overcomer, and do great things when He created man to have dominion over the earth (see Genesis 1:26).

People around the world aspire to become popular athletes, musicians, singers, and actors. Others aim at becoming successful businessmen or politicians. Yet high above these things, we need to have a vision of the eternal and glorious plans of God for our life. When we gain a heavenly vision of God’s calling, then the natural goals that many people seek fulfillment in are seen as being insignificant and short-sighted. As an example, let us consider the difference between the natural and spiritual goals mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:25. Paul wrote, “Now they [who run in a race] do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

We know that many athletes spend much time, effort, and money in trying to win prizes. A survey taken at one of the Olympics illustrates what sacrifices many athletes are willing to make. The competitors were asked that if there was a drug available that could guarantee them a gold medal, would they be interested in taking it even though a side effect of the drug would kill them within five years. The overwhelming majority of the athletes answered, “Yes!” While the gold-plated Olympic medals are only worth about $26, an Olympic champion receives worldly honors and glory that they were ready to lay down their lives for, even if it could be obtained for only a few short years. However, each Christian can prepare for a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!

This helps to show us how a vision or purpose gives motivation. The greater the goal, the more sacrifice a person is willing to endure to achieve their plan. This is why we need more revelation from God. It will motivate us to endure the preparations and accept the sacrifices that can cause us to hit the mark of the high call of God for our lives. We should become like the merchant in the parable recorded in Matthew 13:45-46. When this merchant found a pearl of great value he sold everything he had to obtain it. In a similar way we should find something exceptionally precious in God’s kingdom that we will dedicate our life and resources to obtain. Martin Luther found the treasure of justification by faith, while Katherine Kuhlman found the riches of divine healing. They endured incredible hardships to fulfill their ministries because of the greatness of what the Lord showed them.

Yet far beyond the few years of our present earthly life and ministry, God has far greater plans for us! Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” Rom. 8:18. He must have seen a glorious glimpse of the future hope of the Christian for him to consider that such sufferings as three beatings, three shipwrecks, 196 lashes, and many imprisonments (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28) were insignificant!

At the end of his life the Apostle was able to triumphantly exclaim, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing,” 2 Tim. 4:7-8. Paul tells us that one of his eternal rewards is a crown of righteousness, far more glorious and worthwhile than the fading crown of olive leaves that the Olympic athletes of his day strove to obtain. Yet Paul also said in this verse that every Christian may obtain this eternal reward! There is a glorious calling offered to every child of God.

A VISION GIVES DIRECTION

A vision or call also gives us direction. We cannot accomplish everything that we dream of doing with our lives. A child may daydream about becoming a doctor, a pilot, a mayor, and an army commander. But if he tries to achieve all of these goals, he will probably not accomplish any of them! We need a vision of what God wants to do in our life so that we can focus in and discipline ourselves towards fulfilling that specific plan of God. In 2 Timothy 2:3-4 we are told that a good soldier of Jesus Christ must not entangle himself with the affairs of life that could hinder him from fulfilling his duty. Like the archer who aims to hit the center mark of the target, we also should aim to hit the “mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” Phil. 3:14 KJV. Anything less than this is to sin, because according to the meaning of the Greek word ‘hamartia,’ to sin, means that we have missed the mark! May the Lord help each of us not to sin and fall short of the glory of God, but to hit the mark for which we have been created.

When the Lord gives us revelation concerning His future plans for our lives, it can help us become motivated and focused in to prepare ourselves. Then according to how quickly and completely we become prepared, we may qualify to enter into a greater measure of fulfilling our calling.

Let us consider this from the perspective of an army. Part of God’s plan is that He is preparing a spiritual army that will bring revival and salvation throughout the nations. It may be revealed to us that we are called to be a part of this army, but then the question arises, what position and reward will we qualify for in the army?

In natural armies there is a ranking system that a soldier must progress through, from a private to a corporal to a sergeant. It usually takes many years of preparation before a very few will obtain to becoming colonels or generals. Yet if a war begins, there will be a flood of new recruits entering the army. These untrained recruits will be enlisted as privates. At this time, the more mature soldiers will be promoted up the ranks to lead the new soldiers. Some experienced soldiers may be catapulted up many ranks in a short time. In the American Revolutionary War, there was one day in which George Washington promoted three captains to become generals!

In Psalms 110:3 the NKJV says, “Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power.” The NIV says that this will be, “On your day of battle.” This is speaking about the day of revival, when multitudes of people will choose to serve the Lord. They will be like the new recruits in the army who have to start at the beginning as privates. Yet those who had a vision of enlisting and becoming trained much earlier will find themselves prepared to jump up the ranks. Bible study leaders may become pastors, and soul winners may be promoted to become evangelists! So we do not want to just wait for the day of God’s power before we ‘join the bandwagon.’ If God gives us a vision of what is to come, then we should dedicate ourselves towards preparing for it now. By doing this we can secure for ourselves a greater measure of fulfilling the call of God so that we will not just be thirty-fold or sixty-fold Christians, but by His grace will become hundred-fold fruitful Christians.

WE MUST QUALIFY FOR REVELATION

The Scriptures make it clear that not everyone will gain revelations of the glorious plans of God. In Matthew 7:6 our Lord told His disciples, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Christ was telling us that the sinful people of this world are often not to be shown the wonderful things of God, just as you do not give pearls to pigs. A group of pigs will greedily crowd around a person who comes to give them something, hoping to be the first to push their snouts into the awaited slop of food that delights them. If you try to give them pearls, they will have no ability to understand their value and purpose. They will bite them, and finding them to be as hard and tasteless as rocks, they will spit them into the mud while they attack you to find the food they want! Even so, God often does not choose to reveal His riches to those who will despise and reject them. Revelations of His glorious plans will only be entrusted to those who will value them and seek to use them for their intended purpose.

Corresponding to this, Proverbs 25:2 tells us, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” God is glorified by hiding His secrets from those who would despise and abuse them. But who can qualify to search them out? It is for kings, for those who have already obtained a measure of wisdom and responsibility. They are the ones who can appreciate and utilize the greater things that God can reveal. To them will be given the ability to search out the hidden things of God and obtain a greater glory. As our Lord said, “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given,” Lk. 8:17-18.

We can see how Solomon had learned this truth in Proverbs 25:2 when he was a new king. At that time his leadership was challenged by the dilemma of righteously judging the two women who both claimed to be the mother of a certain child. After he searched out the matter and judged righteously, it brought a new measure of glory to him as all of the nation began to respect his leadership.

However, this proverb is not mainly to be applied to natural kings and rulers. It is to encourage every Christian, as we have been called to rule and reign with Christ. Part of the preparation for our rulership includes learning to search out the secrets of God. The more revelation we receive, the more we will be able to arise to leadership. So if we want to become great in God’s kingdom, then part of the process is that we must learn to search out God’s secrets by the spirit of revelation.

Chapter 2

THE HOPE OF THE CHRISTIAN

In Ephesians 4:4, the Apostle Paul wrote that we have “one hope of our calling.” God’s plans for each believer aim towards one ultimate goal, to one final purpose. God never has changed, and never will change His purpose for making man. God was not surprised by the fall of Adam and then suddenly had to think up a ‘Plan B’ for the new situation! No, we can read in Ephesians that we are predestined and chosen before the world was made (see Ephesians 1:11 & 1:4). God has planned one hope or goal for every Christian!

Several scriptures help paint the portrait of what this hope of the Christian is. Colossians 1:27 tells us that it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” In Romans 8:29 we are told that we are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His son.” Peter wrote that we are to be “partakers of the divine nature,” 2 Pet. 1:4. The Apostle John was inspired to declare in 1 John 3:2 that “we shall be like Him,” and in Hebrews 2:10 it is also revealed that the Father has purposed to bring “many sons unto glory.” To try to simply state all of this, the hope of the Christian is that Christ in us shall grow and transform us to become mature sons of God unto glory!

We need the spirit of revelation to begin to comprehend how great is this hope of glory, that we will be conformed to the image of Christ. Our Christian hope or goal is far greater than just being saved from hell, or going to heaven. Having a successful ministry and being prepared to reign in the millennium are also very wonderful attainments that the Christian can strive for, but we need to see that there is a high call of God that goes far beyond any of these things!

God has not changed His plans for man from when He first said, “Let Us make man in Our image” in Genesis 1:26. It is true that the fall of man has given us each a corrupted adamic human nature. Nevertheless, through Christ’s redemption we can be rescued and changed from “glory to glory” into His image, 2 Corinthians 3:18.

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

I can clearly remember when I was a young Christian and God began to open my spiritual understanding to the greatness of this high call of God. One morning I was walking along a quiet country road, worshiping and loving my Heavenly Father with all my heart. Suddenly I found myself caught up to heaven, hidden with Christ in the bosom of the Father. There I was beholding the glory that the Father had given Christ before the world was created—a glory that filled the heavens. Yet the attention of God the Father as He was revealed in this glory was not centered in heaven, but He was looking down. Through Christ He was looking down past the galaxies and stars—down to our planet, and down to a little human form that was walking along a road and worshiping his Heavenly Father. As I was hidden with Christ in God, I heard the voice of the Majestic Glory as He was looking down upon this human form and declaring with the loving admiration of a father, “This is My beloved son with whom I am well pleased.”

(Some scriptures that helped explain this vision to me include John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, John 1:18; John 17:5 & 22; Matthew 17:1-5, and 2 Peter 1:17-18.)

After I had this experience I realized that God the Father had spoken to me the same words that He had spoken to Jesus Christ. In Matthew 4:17 at the time of Christ’s water baptism, and again in Matthew 17:5 on the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father had said, “This is My beloved son with whom I am well pleased.” As a young Christian who had been walking with God for only about four months, my mind struggled to understand how God the Father could say the same words to me that He had only spoken to Christ in the Bible! Yet while my unrenewed mind struggled, my quickened spirit embraced and soaked itself in the remembrance of the glory I had seen, and in the love of the Father that I had experienced as He spoke these words. It took many months before my mind could begin to grasp the magnitude of what had been shown to me in a moment of revelation.

At the time that I had this vision I was a recently saved young man who had been a rock musician and a rebel from society. Now, over 30 years later, I am a missionary training many pastors, and writing books read around the world. What could so radically change the course of this life? Just as a burst of electrical power can magnetize a piece of metal so that it will forever point north, in a similar way it was this experience of “Christ in you the hope of glory” that forever fixed my spirit towards the goal for the prize of the high call of God.

The Lord through many different ways can reveal to each believer what the future hope of the Christian is. It could be through dreams and visions, while reading the Bible, or when listening to preaching. However it may come, we need to each learn to pray as the Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation …that you may know what is the hope of His calling.”

GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN

This hope (that we can become conformed to the image of Christ and be sons unto glory) has always been the plan of God the Father. He declared this intention when He said at the creation of man in Genesis 1:26, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” To confirm this truth, the genealogy of Christ in Luke 3:38 declares that Adam was “the son of God.”

If Adam and Eve had not sinned, they and their future generations could have remained the sons of God, conformed to His image, as man had first been created. Yet after their fall, Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat of the tree of life and were driven out of the Garden of Eden. This separation from God and the sinful, corrupted nature of Adam were both passed down to all their future generations (see Romans 5:12 19 and Psalm 51:5).

In John 8:41-44 we read how our Lord Jesus rebuked the religious Jews that falsely trusted that God was their father. Christ told them, “You are of your father the devil” because, “You do the deeds of your father.” Sin places man under the dominion of Satan, and will cause the sinner to spiritually be a part of the family of the devil. Misunderstanding this truth still causes multitudes today to falsely believe that they are part of the family of God. Many false religions and cults declare that they are all the “sons of God” because God was originally the Creator and Father of mankind. Unless they recognize the consequences of sin, and return to God through the salvation of Jesus Christ, the word of the Lord over them will remain, “You are of your father the devil.”

Yet as we already mentioned, the fall of man into sin did not surprise God and force Him to come up with a new plan. Before creation, God in His foreknowledge of all things had already decided how His plan for man would be brought to completion. He knew that man, through creation, would not remain His faithful sons; but would become spiritually dead in trespasses and sin, Ephesians 2:1. God knew that Christ would have to die as an atonement for our sin. Christ is called “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” in Revelation 13:8, because in God’s foreknowledge of world events, the sacrifice of Christ was deemed necessary and was decided upon before the creation of man! We can further read that from before creation the Father had decided to redeem us to Himself in Ephesians 1:4-6: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.”

So throughout history, God has been redeeming and restoring those who put their faith in the Messiah, our Lord Jesus. Paul quoted from the prophet Hosea how from among the Gentiles as well as the Jews, “it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they will be called sons of the living God,” Rom.9:26. Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are now returned back to God’s original plan, that they should be called the sons of God.

This is the hope of the Christian that we can all begin to enter into now. The Word of God declares to every born again Christian, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God…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 3:1-3. While we are now the immature children of God, the Scriptures give us this hope that we shall continue to be transformed until we shall be like our Lord Himself!

This eternal plan of God—to prepare a vast family of sons—will be completed in the future after the millennial reign of Christ on the earth. At the beginning of the new heaven and new earth God declares in Revelation 21:7, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” At this time every Christian will have entered into their full inheritance and will be the sons of God, to the praise of His redeeming grace!