Present Power and Future Hope

UV 1501/10,000 Present Power and Future Hope
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Matthew 12 v 18

Winning and losing the esteem of men is easy as men judge superficially. But winning the love and esteem of God is difficult and valuable. It is a guarantee that our lives are blessed forever with present power and future hope. Each of us should aim to win the esteem and affirmation of God that we are his chosen, His beloved, the ones in whom His soul delights. He has chosen us to be a light to the world to lead them to the Lord and to be the salt of the earth to whet the appetite for the things of God and to enhance the taste thereof. We should like Jesus lead humbly and deal wisely in all matters. He makes our mouth like a sharp sword for we shall proclaim His Word. He will hide us in His quiver to be used as a sharp weapon or arrow to pierce the deadened lives of people and quicken their faith. He will use us to glorify His name. We can use the Word to break the chains of captivity of people, to claim healing and deliverance, to cause to happen miracles or the release of God’s power on earth. What pleased the Lord was the servant-like attitude of Jesus, His Son: His humility and gentleness, His willingness to serve everyone He came across in distress and suffering, His love and compassion for people.

When the Lord is pleased with us, He will anoint us or fill us with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. These spiritual values of leadership have been stated in a descending order. We begin with the fear of the Lord, then we move into faith or the Spirit of knowledge, then we grow in counsel and power and finally, we are filled with wisdom and understanding. Those who are without God are without hope. Those who are chosen to know and trust God have present power and future hope. We are not to be spiritually weak and anaemic but supplied on high with all the nutrients that faith requires- commands to discipline and mature and promises to cherish and claim. We are not to keep the great news of salvation to ourselves but share the righteous judgements and provisions of the covenants of God with those we come across in our daily lives: the old covenant provisions to convict of sin and the new to convince of eternal life. Eternal life through faith in Jesus gives us present power and future hope. Present power comes primarily as gifts of the Spirit of God.

Present power can be used by us to excel in our professions or work like Daniel and Joseph. It can be used to set captives of sin, disease and judgement free. Future hope is used to set people free from the fear of death, from the fear of the unknown. As we employ present power and release future hope, we should always act as servants and not masters. We should not be egoistic or contentious. We should always humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. When God and people look at us, they should not see the visage of a master but that of a servant, humble, gentle and willing to serve in any way possible and practical as well as impossible. The fruit of the Spirit should be more visible and manifest than even the gifts. Present power produces evidences and testimonies of the Lord at work and being present in our lives. Future hope ensures the unbroken continuity.

Prateep V Philip