Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”

When I begin my journey of seeking God.

When I begin my journey of seeking my purpose in God.

What’s my initial heart posture?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

I’m doing all this for you

What’s my initial mindset?

God blessed us in Christ. How?

With every spiritual blessing

Heavenly places GRK: epouranios

Refers to the impact of heaven’s influence on earthly things

Greek scholars state the following: This intricate word is not just merely a location. It’s an adjective that describes all things belonging to God. Across all 19 uses in the NT, the word refuses to be restricted to mere geography. Rather, it speaks of God’s divine order that is already operative and yet still awaits full unveiling.

Once we became followers of Jesus Christ, God blessed us with something special. Something designed uniquely for you that, in God’s divine order, is already being put into motion. The plans for the gifts God gave you are already at work. This refining process you’re going through of brokenness and pain is part of His plan. Because God is in process of fully revealing his perfect, custom made plan for you.

#1: My identity is: Blessed in Christ

Ephesians 1:4–5 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”

#2: My identity is: Holy and Blameless

God views you as holy and blameless. How is that possible?

I’ve sinned. I know I’m a sinner and I’m in need of a savior? No one is perfect.

Do you struggle saying I am holy and blameless before you? Do you struggle with thoughts like “How can God use me with what I’ve done?”

Every day. Repeat these scriptures in the morning. And memorize them.

Isaiah 1:18 ““Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

Psalm 51:7 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

It’s not that you are actually perfect. That’s impossible. Paul says my works are like filthy rags. But God washes you clean.

We have a problem viewing ourselves as blameless because we look at the natural. When God looks at the spiritual. And our Spirit has been washed.

Therefore, it is not you and your good works that save you. Or that God can use. It’s only by His Spirit and His calling.

If you belong to God. You are the noun of holy son. Holy daughter. That is your state. You yourself are holy son. Holy daughter.

In the past, you WERE unclean. But God brought the past into that present moment at the cross so that he could take what was unclean. He cleared your search history.

2 Timothy 2:20–21 “If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

Your identity is not dishonorable.

Your identity is holy, useful to the master of the house.

Stop letting the enemy bring up your old search history.

Stop letting the enemy bring up your old self.

Stop letting the enemy identify you.

I am saddened how a man could identify as a woman or a cat or make their primary identity who they get in bed with.

And I’m also sadden that a Christian continues to identify with their pre-Christ self. As tainted. Not useful to the master of the house. As broken.

Christ does not identify you as broken. I rebuke the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ. I silence you enemy and the false identity you are applying on the children of God.

You are chosen, you are holy, you are set apart, you are useful to the master of the house. You are loved.

I beg you, stop identifying with what the enemy identifies you as. Just because the thought comes into your mind doesn’t mean that’s who you are. Take every thought captive. The enemy shoots his firey dart at your mind. Sidestep and move out the way!!!

Be surround by the body of Christ. Put up the shield of faith. Remember that helmet of salvation you have on? You are identified as sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Your head and your mind are protected by your helmet. Anoint your head with oil. You are a son, you are a daughter of Jesus Christ.

What the enemy defines as final. God defines as a new beginning.

Romans 8:15 “For YOU did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””

Galatians 4:5 “God sent forth his Son to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

You have been legally adopted by God.

You have been given legal authority to be a son of God.

And by Jesus BLOOD you have the blood right to enter the kingdom of God.

You are both by blood right and legal right A SON OF GOD. A DAUGHTER OF GOD!

#3: My identity is: Chosen by God

Ephesians 1:5–6 “…according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

Why am I Chosen?

“According to the purpose of his will”

I’m chosen to walk in the “purpose” of God’s will

I’m chosen to walk in the “good pleasure” of God’s will

“To the praise of his glorious grace”

“with which he has blessed us in the Beloved”

Blessed = we’ve been accepted with special honor

…in the Agapaeo

In Jesus Christ. Who is the beloved.

God has blessed us in the one we agape. We love so deeply and intimately.

Praise God, I’m just so grateful for you.

Once we became followers of Jesus Christ, God blessed us with something special. Something designed uniquely for you that, in God’s divine order, is already being put into motion. The plans for the gifts God gave you are already at work. This refining process you’re going through of brokenness and pain is part of His plan. Because God is in process of fully revealing his perfect, custom made plan for you.

Now that sounds like a big plan. But Praise God we are not doing it by our own means. But by Jesus Christ taking my place on the cross. And paying off an eternal debt of sin that I owe. Saving me from hell. And now that I no longer owe a massive debt to God, I can now be found as holy and blameless before God.

Now that I no longer owe a massive debt to God, He doesn’t have to sentence me to pay off that debt. The debt collectors have been paid and now I have a good relationship with the master! I’m reset. I’ve got a 2nd chance. Because God chose me.

And I’m just so so grateful for that. And not only did he just pay that debt. He gave me spiritual gifts so that

I can do things on this earth that have meaning, purpose, impact.

I can do things to glory of God.

Because I’ve been accepted with special honor from the one I love above all else. I just love God so much I can’t believe I get to do things to serve him.

Wow, I’m just so thankful. I’m so thankful but:

Psalm 116:12 “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?”

My talent

My time

Screwtape says that humans falsely believe their time is their personal possession. In reality, every moment is God’s, given as a gift. The demons’ strategy is to encourage Christians to think of time as so they become irritated, prideful, or resentful when God or others “interrupt” it. By taking ownership of time, the believer drifts from obedience and gratitude.“my time”

“He cannot make one moment of time; it all comes to him by pure gift” - C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters

My treasure

God’s blessed you. What’re you gonna do about it? I’ve given you $10m today. What’re you gonna do?

Buy a big house, Buy my dream cars, Buy a vacation home, and invest so I can live off it the rest of my life.

That’s why God’s not giving you $10m

My life is the Lord’s and all that is within it. So when I hear the kingdom of God has a need, you should jump and be elated at the prospect that you get to participate in what the work of the Lord is doing.

Max Lucado told this wonderful story:

Scott Simpson is a professional golfer who plays often at the Masters Golf Tournament, hosted by the Augusta National Golf Club. Augusta National is to golfers what the Smithsonian is to history buffs: the ultimate experience. The course explodes in beauty. You would think you’d walked into an oil painting. Groomers manicure the course as if she’s a wedding-day bride. In describing the perfection to his caddie, Scott commented, “You won’t see a single weed all week.”

Imagine Scott’s surprise when, on Sunday, after five days of walking the course, his caddie pointed to the ground and announced to Scott, “I found one!”

Don’t we do the same? We indwell a garden of grace. God’s love sprouts around us like lilacs and towers over us like Georgia pines, but we go on weed hunts. How many flowers do we miss in process? If you look long enough and hard enough, you’ll find something to gripe about. So quit looking! Lift your eyes off the weeds. Major in the grace of God.

If you believe your treasure is yours you’ll always find a reason not to give.

If you believe your time is yours you’ll always find a reason not to serve.

If you believe your talent is yours you’ll always find a reason to be prideful.

If you believe your treasure is God’s you’ll always find a reason to give.

If you believe your time is God’s you’ll always find a reason to serve.

If you believe your talent is God’s you’ll always find a reason to thank Him.

When you realize your identity is in Jesus Christ and everything you have is a free gift from Him. You live at peace. You live a life of thankfulness. You live a life of joy. You live a life of excitement. You live a life of accomplishment.

Recognize your identity is Blessed in Christ, your identity is Holy and Blameless, your identity is Chosen by God.

Pray:

Lord let us sit at the feet of Jesus recognizing our identity is in Christ, not our past. Our identity is blessed and highly favored. Not weak, poor, or broken. Stop even speaking those words. Those are lies from the enemy and start taking those thoughts captive. Stop speaking out the lies you are depressed, worthless, broken, not good enough. And start speaking life and truth. Blessed, holy, blameless, and chosen by God!!

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Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

Ephesians 1:8–10 “which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

Ephesians 1:11–12 “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1:13–14 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”