Hope | EsperanzaMaishani

Hi Everyone!!

I share today with expectancy of receiving from the Lord myself, discerning more and having more insight of this walk of faith and of Him. So here we go!!

I came across the Word of God in 1Corinthians 1:4-9 and came to a stop for a while and it says

⁴I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— ⁶God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. ⁷Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

I like the wisdom in Paul when he begins his letter with encouragement and praises for the Church he is writing to, knowing very well that there are areas that need improvement from them. His praises, though not long in words, are positioned first in his communication before spending much more time in rebuke and correction. May we take this wisdom in our daily lives as we relate with each other!!

So looking the Scripture, it reminded me of a sermon that my Pastor preached from Ephesians 1:3-23 which is also in the beginning of the letter to the church in Ephesus.

It is interesting for me that when Paul talked about being enriched (to be made better or wealthier) in every way, the emphasis was in speech and knowledge (These may have been the two gifts that were prevalent.It is beautiful to see Paul writing more on spiritual gifts in this book in the 12th Chapter.)and not in material possessions. And because they have found this enrichment in Jesus Christ, they do not lack any spiritual gift(through the Holy Spirit) and the idea here is that what they have received is to be utilized for benefits that relate to Jesus Christ being revealed. No wonder, then, verse 9 gives an assurance that verse 8 will be fulfilled as they continue doing verse 7 because they have verse 4,5 and 6. Do I make sense?

God is faithful to help us in our journey of faith, but…He has given us what we need as we walk this journey of faith. We will not walk alone! We have the grace which enables us to do all things and this grace is found in Jesus Christ. Because you cannot be enriched in all things apart from being in Jesus Christ. In Him, we lack no good thing. There is an expectation in this scripture for us to bear fruit because what we need to do so, has been provided. The Holy Spirit will help us to utilize our gifts and bear the fruit desired by our Master. The assurance is that our Lord Jesus will keep us strong to the end. The end when we will see Him again and spend eternity with Him!! He is faithful. Hallelujah!!

What then are your gifts that you have been enriched with to fulfill your purpose here in on earth? My prayer is that you and I will bear fruit with our aim being to fulfill our calling as we eagerly wait for the Lord Jesus to be revealed. He is coming back…soon!! Be blessed!!

Hallelujah!

I am so excited to be sharing with you today some spiritual bread that can help us in this journey of faith. So, walk with me briefly!!

I have been attracted or rather fascinated when I listen to Jewish preachers share the faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Their Jewish priestly attire, unconsciously, I think makes me feel like am listening to Moses or Elijah and wonder how the great servants of Yahweh used to dress in the Old Testament times.

So when I came across the following verse, it was like an Aha moment for me, not really sure if I have read this before or perhaps read and ran over it quickly without internalizing the implications. The Scripture in Romans 11:25-32 says

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, ²⁶and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
²⁷And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”

²⁸As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, ²⁹for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. ³⁰Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³²For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Watch the words ”ignorant of this mystery”, I guess that is what I was before encountering this word in this special way. It is like my eyes lit, am not sure if I make sense. This Scripture really amazed me at how meticulous God is in His ways to plan things for all our good. It may not seem like so at the moment but God really is good. All of Israel will be saved. Their disobedience in not fully accepting Jesus Christ as the Savior and observing more of the law is actually for our good as Gentiles. I am in agreement that in knowing this truth, it should help us not be conceited (excessively proud of ourselves).

Digressing a bit, I see some hope in verse 29, bringing some assurance that God is truly faithful to what He sets out to do. He is watching to ensure that His word comes to pass even in our personal lives and purpose here on earth. Thank you Jesus!! Receive all the praise my God!!

Doxology

³³Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
³⁴“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”
³⁵“Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”
³⁶For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.

God will have mercy on them just as he had mercy on us. It is just beautiful. With this revelation, it may be wise at this point to make a prayer for Israel. That in all the chaos surrounding their nation and its borders, that God will remain sovereign in all their affairs, that God will work out everything for their good. I pray for His mercy and grace to be abundant for them, whether the live in Israel or living away from home. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob remember them in their days of trouble and grant them victory over their enemies. May God’s word and promises come true at their specific seasons without delay, in Jesus Name!!

May the Good Lord help us all. May this Word remain true in our lives. Jude 1:24-25

²⁴Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,²⁵To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen

God bless you all!! See you next time!!