9 Points of Heavenly Spiritual Blessings

By ROBERT FIGUEROA

9 Points of Heavenly Spiritual Blessings

Imagine with me for a while sitting in a beautiful decorated lawyer's office, nice soft leather chairs, plush carpet and the smell of burnt coffee. Next to you are your best friends, cousins, family members, brothers and sisters from church, even your enemies are there. You're staring at this middle-aged man waiting to hear the Will from someone you considered close. All the while, thinking of inheriting a million dollars, the nice home, or driving around fancy classic cars? Or will I receive nothing but pictures and worthless keepsakes?

When Jesus Christ wrote His last will and testament for His church, He made it possible for us to share in His spiritual riches. His death on the cross and His resurrection make possible our salvation today. When reading Ephesians chapter 1 verses 1-14 we will discover many treasures we have inherited from the Lord. Paul said:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."

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Continued from above...

Every spiritual blessing may seem a bit overwhelming but when considering the truths in Ephesians we will discover that there is a treasure chest full of blessings for us today. Let's examine them.

1. He has chosen us! In verse 4 it reads:

"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love"

When we consider God's creation we must see that we were in His mind. Before the waters were formed, before the sun was created, before the stars and moon shined, we were in the mind of God. When the very foundation of the world was created it was God will for you to be chosen! He chose you because you have believed in His Name and became baptized in that precious Name. If it was not for our faith in Christ he would not be able to choose us to be His children; of course, Christ wants none to perish but we must take the first step in believing on His Name to be the chosen of God. Not every person in this world are the chosen, just the believers.

2. He has adopted us! In verse 5 it says:

"Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,"

Christ has pre-ordained you and me to be adopted by his grace and mercy. Not every person can be adopted by Christ – there must be a birth of the water in order to be adopted in Christ Jesus. Of course when parents consider adopting a child they must be born of the mothers womb, then the foster parents can come in and adopt the child. We must be born again in order for the adoption process to take place.

3. He has accepted us! Verse 6 says:

"To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved".

Society will accept you on certain conditions: the color of your skin, the language you speak, the organizations you belong to – there are so many conditions to accepting people today. Yet, once we have believed in Jesus and are born again in Him, He accepts us. No longer will the phrase, "Your good for nothing" sting at your emotions because the King of Kings has accepted you, just the way you are!

4. He has redeemed us! Verse 7a:

"In Him we have redemption through His blood…"

To redeem means "to purchase and set free by paying a price."

We are redeemed! Who can give us this type of satisfaction? We were slaves to sin, slaves to this world, but now in Christ the blood of the Lamb redeems us. There are 3 types of redemption in the Bible. We have been redeemed thru faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7). We are being redeemed as the Spirit works in our lives to make us more like Christ (Romans 8:1–4). We shall be redeemed when Christ returns and we become like Him.

"If we were slaves, we would be poor, but because we are sons, we are rich"

5. He has forgiven us! Verse 7b:

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."

The word forgive means "release from bondage." or "liberty"

Here's an Old Testament fact: On the Day of Atonement the high priest sent the scapegoat into the wilderness (Leviticus 16). First the priest killed one of the two goats and sprinkled its blood before God on the mercy seat. Then he confessed Israel's sins over the live goat, and had the goat taken into the wilderness to be lost. Christ died to carry away our sins so they might never again be seen (Psalms 103:12; John 1:29).

The great aurthor, Warren Wiersbe, says "No written accusation stands against us because our sins have been taken away. Sin made us poor, but grace makes us rich".

6. He has revealed God's will to us! Verses 8–10:

"Which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence (understanding), 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him."

When describing the will of God according to Ephesians we know the secret to this Christian race, Christ will unite us altogether in the end of the ages – He has revealed this to us in His Scriptures.

7. He has made us an inheritance! Verses 11–12:

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."

In Christ we have a wonderful inheritance (1 Peter 1:1–4), and in Christ we are an inheritance. Just imagine we are His blessing: His treasure, His Body, His building, His bride. Christ reward is you yourself!

8. He has sealed us! Verse 13:

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,"

This scripture tells how the sinner becomes a saint. First, we hear the Gospel of salvation, second having heard the word the Ephesians believed it. Thirdly we will receive the sealing of the Holy Ghost this is a complete transaction once we have the seal of the Holy Spirit on our lives.

"We belong to God, and are safe and protected because we are part of a finished transaction".

9. He has given us a guarantee! Verse 14:

"Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

Guarantee-- means a warrant, pledge, or formal assurance given as security that another's debt or obligation will be fulfilled. Something that is taken or presented as security or a person who acts as a guarantor. This is what Christ has done for us!

These riches are only the beginning! There is always more spiritual wealth to claim from the Lord as we walk with Him.

As we search the Word of God, we discover more and more of the riches we have in Christ. There is really no need for us to live in poverty when all of God's wealth is at our disposal!

And now, the reading of the Will is over will you accept your inheritance?

A book that was used to help compile these notes is from the author Warren Wiersbe and his "Be" series.

Rober Figueroa is co-executive producer of Inspired Christian.org and attends the Apostolic Church in East Palo Alto, California. Have a comment for Robert? Send email right now!

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