Embracing Our Present Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Present Reality of Spiritual Blessings

Our blessings in Christ are not just future promises but present realities, decisively accomplished and sealed in Him. This assurance provides us with a secure foundation for our faith and hope. These blessings are not contingent on our circumstances but are a fixed truth, revealing God's greatness and beauty. As believers, we are called to grasp the depth of these blessings, which are predestined and sealed in Christ, and to understand that they are reserved for the saints—those who are holy and faithful in Jesus. This understanding should transform how we live daily, knowing that our spiritual inheritance is already ours in Christ. [00:30]

Ephesians 1:11-12 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How does knowing that your spiritual blessings are a present reality change the way you approach your daily challenges and decisions today?

Day 2: Union with Christ Transforms Alienation into Intimacy

Our nearness to God and the blessings we receive are only possible through our union with Christ, who reconciled us to God through His sacrifice. This union transforms our alienation into intimacy with God. As sinners once alienated from God, we are brought near by the blood of Christ, exchanging our separation for nearness to God. This nearness is the foundation of our blessings, as God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, ensuring that with Him, we will graciously receive all things. [03:29]

Colossians 1:21-22 (ESV): "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy with God today, knowing that you have been reconciled to Him through Christ?

Day 3: Spiritual Nature of Our Blessings

The blessings we receive in Christ are spiritual, shaped and perfected by the Holy Spirit, making them suitable for our eternal relationship with God. This includes the transformation of our bodies in the resurrection. The concept of spiritual blessings extends to the resurrection body, which, though physical, is described as spiritual because it is permeated by the Holy Spirit. This transformation is a foretaste of the new heavens and the new earth, where our spiritual bodies will dwell. [06:50]

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (ESV): "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."

Reflection: How does the promise of a transformed, spiritual body in the resurrection impact your view of your current physical life and its challenges?

Day 4: Our Secure Position in the Heavenly Places

Our blessings are in the heavenly places, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. This signifies our secure position and the authority of Christ, assuring us of the immeasurable riches of His grace. We are already seated with Christ in these heavenly places, a secure position that assures us of the immeasurable riches of His grace in the coming ages. This truth calls us to anchor our hope and security not in earthly circumstances but in the heavenly places with Christ. [09:40]

Ephesians 2:6-7 (ESV): "And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What earthly concerns are you holding onto that you need to release, trusting in your secure position with Christ in the heavenly places?

Day 5: Pleading for Spiritual Insight

We are called to plead with God to open the eyes of our hearts to fully grasp and feel the wonder of these blessings. These truths are breathtaking and remind us that our ultimate hope and security are not tied to earthly circumstances but are anchored in the heavenly places with Christ. This call to spiritual insight is an invitation to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the spiritual blessings we have in Christ, allowing them to transform our lives and perspectives. [11:50]

Ephesians 1:17-18 (ESV): "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to seek God's wisdom and revelation, asking Him to open the eyes of your heart to the spiritual blessings you have in Christ?

Sermon Summary

In this session on Ephesians 1:3-6, we explore the profound truth that God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. This blessing is not a future promise but a present reality, decisively accomplished through Christ. It is a fixed and unchangeable truth that encompasses every spiritual blessing, ensuring our future security and revealing God's greatness and beauty. We are called to grasp the depth of these blessings, which are predestined and sealed in Christ, and to understand that they are reserved for the saints—those who are holy and faithful in Jesus.

The blessings we receive are only possible through our union with Christ. As sinners once alienated from God, we are brought near by the blood of Christ, exchanging our separation for nearness to God. This nearness is the foundation of our blessings, as God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, ensuring that with Him, we will graciously receive all things. These blessings are spiritual, not in the sense of excluding physical realities, but in being shaped and perfected by the Holy Spirit, making them suitable for our eternal relationship with God.

The concept of spiritual blessings extends to the resurrection body, which, though physical, is described as spiritual because it is permeated by the Holy Spirit. This transformation is a foretaste of the new heavens and the new earth, where our spiritual bodies will dwell. The blessings are in the heavenly places, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, signifying authority and the presence of God. We are already seated with Christ in these heavenly places, a secure position that assures us of the immeasurable riches of His grace in the coming ages.

These truths are breathtaking and call us to plead with God to open the eyes of our hearts to fully grasp and feel the wonder of these blessings. They remind us that our ultimate hope and security are not tied to earthly circumstances but are anchored in the heavenly places with Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Present Reality of Blessings: Our blessings in Christ are not merely future promises but present realities, decisively accomplished and sealed in Him. This assurance provides us with a secure foundation for our faith and hope. [00:30]
2. Union with Christ: Our nearness to God and the blessings we receive are only possible through our union with Christ, who reconciled us to God through His sacrifice. This union transforms our alienation into intimacy with God. [03:29]
3. Spiritual Nature of Blessings: The blessings are spiritual, shaped and perfected by the Holy Spirit, making them suitable for our eternal relationship with God. This includes the transformation of our bodies in the resurrection. [06:50]
4. Heavenly Places: Our blessings are in the heavenly places, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. This signifies our secure position and the authority of Christ, assuring us of the immeasurable riches of His grace. [09:40]
5. Call to Grasp the Wonder: We are called to plead with God to open the eyes of our hearts to fully grasp and feel the wonder of these blessings, anchoring our hope and security in the heavenly places with Christ. [11:50]
** [11:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Introduction to Ephesians 1:3-6
[00:30] - The Present Reality of Blessings
[00:48] - Grasping Our Future and Security
[01:19] - Past and Future Blessings
[01:34] - Immeasurable Riches of Grace
[02:18] - Predestined and Sealed in Christ
[03:10] - Union with Christ
[03:48] - The Significance of Christ's Sacrifice
[04:38] - Every Spiritual Blessing
[05:12] - Spiritual vs. Physical Blessings
[06:15] - The Nature of the Resurrection Body
[07:10] - Pleading for Spiritual Insight
[08:00] - The Meaning of Heavenly Places
[09:25] - Our Secure Position in Christ
[10:55] - The New Heavens and New Earth
[11:36] - The Call to Believe and Feel

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Ephesians 1:3-6

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:3-6
- Ephesians 2:13
- Romans 8:32

Observation Questions:

According to Ephesians 1:3, what kind of blessings has God given us in Christ, and where are these blessings located? [00:17]
How does Ephesians 2:13 describe our previous state before being brought near to God, and what was the means of this transformation? [03:10]
In Romans 8:32, what assurance do we have that God will graciously give us all things? How does this relate to the blessings mentioned in Ephesians? [04:05]
What does the term "spiritual body" mean in the context of 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, and how does it relate to the concept of spiritual blessings? [05:44]

Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean for our blessings to be a "present reality" rather than just future promises, and how does this impact our daily faith and hope? [00:30]
How does the concept of being "seated with Christ in the heavenly places" influence our understanding of security and authority in our spiritual lives? [09:25]
In what ways does our union with Christ transform our relationship with God from alienation to intimacy, and how is this reflected in our spiritual blessings? [03:29]
How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in shaping and perfecting our spiritual blessings, and what implications does this have for our eternal relationship with God? [06:50]

Application Questions:

Reflect on the idea that our blessings in Christ are a present reality. How can you remind yourself of this truth in moments of doubt or insecurity? [00:30]
Consider your current relationship with God. In what ways can you deepen your intimacy with Him, knowing that you have been brought near by the blood of Christ? [03:29]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of pleading with God to open the eyes of our hearts. What specific steps can you take this week to seek greater spiritual insight and understanding? [11:50]
How does knowing that you are seated with Christ in the heavenly places change your perspective on earthly challenges and disappointments? [09:25]
Identify one area of your life where you struggle to see God's blessings. How can you actively seek to recognize and appreciate these blessings through the work of the Holy Spirit? [07:46]
The sermon mentions the transformation of our bodies in the resurrection. How does this future hope influence your current view of physical and spiritual well-being? [06:15]
Reflect on the immeasurable riches of God's grace mentioned in the sermon. How can you share this grace with others in your community this week? [01:48]

Sermon Clips

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us so much that our echo is to bless him. He has blessed us. It is, this is a past tense, isn't it? He blessed us. That doesn't mean there are no blessings for the future, does it? We know that because it says in chapter 2 when we were dead in our trespasses he made us alive together with Christ by grace you've been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." [00:03:23]

"It will take everlasting eternal infinite number of ages for the riches of grace in kindness to be poured out on us. They are literally immeasurable. They will never come to an end. So when it says here he has blessed us, it means it's predestined. We've been chosen for it. It's been accomplished through Christ. It is sealed. It is as good as done." [00:02:00]

"We are sinners. We are alienated from God. There is no blessing that can come to us, right? Ephesians 2:13, but now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Christ died for us so that our alienation far away from God, far away from all blessings might be exchanged with nearness as we are united to Christ Jesus who shed his blood for us." [00:03:06]

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, okay, so he didn't spare him. He gave him up in death for us all, all the saints and all the faithful in Christ. He gave him up for us all. How then will he not with him, that means he surely with him will graciously give us all things." [00:04:02]

"Every blessing, why are they called spiritual? Does that mean no physical blessings? What about the resurrection body? What about the new heavens and the new earth? Are they included here? Well, here's a clue. First Corinthians 15:42 talking about the resurrection of the body. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown, this body that is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable." [00:05:20]

"Jesus ate bread and fish after his resurrection, and we are going to be given according to First Peter 3:20-21 a body like his glorious body, but it is spiritual in that it is permeated and perfected and made suitable by the Holy Spirit for a presence of the Spirit intimately in heaven." [00:06:28]

"Not one, not one will ever be omitted that would be good for us. Every blessing that will be conceivable for God to bless us with that will be good for us. This is simply breathtaking. We need to plead with God to help us feel the wonder of this so that we're not so tied to earthly disappointments." [00:07:13]

"We will be blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Consider chapter 1 verse 19 to 20. May you know what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." [00:08:01]

"Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and is seated now at the right hand of God, and the place is called heavenly places so that even though we may not know all that's implied in the term heavenly places, we know this: it's where God is and it is where Jesus is seated in authority, all authority at the Father's right hand." [00:08:38]

"We are now already in the decision of God raised with Christ, and he seated us now. I have a secure place there, so secure it's as good as done, seated us with him in the heavenly places, same word now used. It's used five times in this letter. This is three of them in Christ Jesus so that in the coming ages in these heavenly places this immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus might be tasted." [00:09:25]

"God has blessed us, us the saints, the faithful, those who cleave to Jesus and know that only in him do we have any rights. We don't have any in ourselves. We are blessed in Christ through his death and resurrection and in union with him with blessings. How many? Every one that can be conceived, and they are spiritual, they are shaped and granted and mediated and characterized by the Holy Spirit and made fit for the new heavens and the new earth." [00:10:20]

"These are simply what word can we use? They are wonderful, they are glorious truths. If we could believe them, if we could taste them and feel them according to the way Paul prayed in 1:17 following that we would have the eyes of our hearts opened to these wonders, oh what free and mighty people we would be." [00:11:28]

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Embracing Our Present Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Present Reality of Spiritual Blessings

Day 2: Union with Christ Transforms Alienation into Intimacy

Day 3: Spiritual Nature of Our Blessings

Day 4: Our Secure Position in the Heavenly Places

Day 5: Pleading for Spiritual Insight

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Our Present Spiritual Blessings in Christ

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