Embracing Spiritual Blessings Through Communion and Faith
Summary
In today's gathering, we focused on the profound significance of the Lord's Supper and the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. We began by reflecting on the practice of communion, a sacred tradition that Jesus instituted during the Passover meal with His disciples. This act of remembrance is not just a ritual but a profound opportunity to honor Christ's sacrifice. As believers, when we partake in the bread and the cup, we are reminded of Jesus' body broken for us and His blood poured out, establishing a new covenant. This meal is reserved for those who have repented and placed their faith in Jesus, and it serves as a reminder of His promise to return.
We then transitioned to exploring the spiritual blessings outlined in Ephesians 1. Paul, writing from prison, reminds us that despite our circumstances, our position in Christ remains unchanged. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. These blessings are not just for the present but are rooted in eternity past and extend into our eternal future. Paul emphasizes that these blessings are for those who are in Christ, highlighting the importance of our faith and relationship with Him.
One of the key blessings we discussed is the doctrine of election, where God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. This choice is not based on our merit but on His sovereign will. While this doctrine can be challenging to comprehend fully, it should lead us to praise God for His grace and mercy. Additionally, we explored the blessing of adoption, where God predestined us to be His children, granting us all the rights and privileges of being part of His family.
As we continue to delve into Ephesians over the coming weeks, we will uncover more of these spiritual blessings. Our response to these truths should be one of praise and gratitude, recognizing that our position in Christ is far greater than any earthly privilege. Let us embrace these blessings, appreciate them, and live in a way that honors the God who has so richly blessed us.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Significance of Communion: Communion is a sacred act of remembrance, honoring Christ's sacrifice. It is reserved for believers who have repented and placed their faith in Jesus. This meal reminds us of the new covenant established through His blood and His promise to return. [29:13]
2. Spiritual Blessings in Christ: As believers, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. These blessings are rooted in eternity past, enjoyed in the present, and extend into our eternal future. Our position in Christ remains unchanged despite our circumstances. [56:16]
3. The Doctrine of Election: God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, not based on our merit but on His sovereign will. This doctrine, while challenging to comprehend fully, should lead us to praise God for His grace and mercy. [01:08:12]
4. Adoption into God's Family: God predestined us for adoption, granting us all the rights and privileges of being His children. This blessing is a profound expression of His love and grace, and it should lead us to rejoice and praise Him. [01:14:57]
5. Praise in All Circumstances: Like Paul, who praised God from prison, we are called to praise God in all circumstances. Our position in Christ and the blessings we have in Him give us every reason to rejoice, regardless of our life's trials. [01:31:21]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Communion
- [02:15] - The Lord's Supper in Scripture
- [05:00] - Honoring Christ in Communion
- [08:45] - Invitation to Salvation
- [12:00] - Examining Ourselves Before Communion
- [15:30] - Prayer and Reflection
- [18:00] - Remembering the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
- [21:45] - Announcements and Community Support
- [25:00] - Personal Story: Blessings in Premium Economy
- [29:13] - Introduction to Ephesians
- [32:45] - Spiritual Blessings in Christ
- [38:23] - The Doctrine of Election
- [45:00] - Adoption into God's Family
- [53:06] - Praise in All Circumstances
- [56:16] - Conclusion and Call to Praise
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:3-6
- 1 Peter 1:3-9
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul emphasize about our spiritual blessings in Ephesians 1:3-6? How are these blessings described in terms of their origin and scope? [56:16]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Lord's Supper, and who is it reserved for? [29:13]
3. How does the sermon describe the doctrine of election, and what is its purpose according to Ephesians 1? [01:08:12]
4. What are the implications of being adopted into God's family as mentioned in the sermon? [01:14:57]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of spiritual blessings in Ephesians 1:3-6 challenge or affirm your understanding of your identity in Christ? [56:16]
2. In what ways does the practice of communion serve as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and promise to return? How does this impact a believer's faith journey? [29:13]
3. The sermon discusses the doctrine of election as a source of praise rather than division. How can this perspective change the way believers approach theological differences? [01:08:12]
4. What does it mean to be adopted into God's family, and how should this influence a believer's relationship with God and others in the church? [01:14:57]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your participation in communion. How can you prepare your heart to honor Christ's sacrifice more deeply during this sacred act? [29:13]
2. Consider the spiritual blessings you have in Christ. How can you remind yourself of these blessings during challenging times in your life? [56:16]
3. The sermon encourages praise in all circumstances, like Paul did from prison. How can you cultivate a habit of praise in your daily life, regardless of your current situation? [01:31:21]
4. How does understanding the doctrine of election as a mystery lead you to a deeper sense of gratitude and worship? What steps can you take to embrace this doctrine without division? [01:08:12]
5. Being adopted into God's family comes with rights and privileges. How can you live out this identity in your interactions with others, both inside and outside the church? [01:14:57]
6. Think about a time when you struggled with assurance of salvation. How can the truths from Ephesians 1:3-6 provide comfort and assurance in your faith journey? [56:16]
7. Identify one specific way you can support and encourage a fellow believer in recognizing and embracing their spiritual blessings in Christ. How can you act on this in the coming week? [01:05:11]
Devotional
Day 1: Communion as a Sacred Remembrance
Communion is a sacred act of remembrance, honoring Christ's sacrifice. It is reserved for believers who have repented and placed their faith in Jesus. This meal reminds us of the new covenant established through His blood and His promise to return. [29:13]
"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25, ESV)
Reflection: As you prepare for your next communion, what specific aspect of Christ's sacrifice are you most grateful for, and how can you express that gratitude in your daily life today?
Day 2: Unchanging Spiritual Blessings
As believers, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. These blessings are rooted in eternity past, enjoyed in the present, and extend into our eternal future. Our position in Christ remains unchanged despite our circumstances. [56:16]
"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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." (Ephesians 1:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of your unchanging position in Christ when faced with challenging circumstances today?
Day 3: The Mystery of Election
God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, not based on our merit but on His sovereign will. This doctrine, while challenging to comprehend fully, should lead us to praise God for His grace and mercy. [01:08:12]
"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." (Ephesians 1:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: How does the understanding of being chosen by God before the foundation of the world impact your view of your identity and purpose today?
Day 4: Adoption into God's Family
God predestined us for adoption, granting us all the rights and privileges of being His children. This blessing is a profound expression of His love and grace, and it should lead us to rejoice and praise Him. [01:14:57]
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can embrace your identity as a child of God today, and how can you share this truth with someone else?
Day 5: Praise in All Circumstances
Like Paul, who praised God from prison, we are called to praise God in all circumstances. Our position in Christ and the blessings we have in Him give us every reason to rejoice, regardless of our life's trials. [01:31:21]
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:4-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific trial you are facing today, and how can you choose to praise God in the midst of it?
Quotes
And Jesus enjoyed that meal with them and he passed the bread around and he passed the cup around. And as he did and invited them to eat and drink, he told them, do this in remembrance of me. Thousands of years later, brothers and sisters like us gather every Sunday, some once a month, some a few times a year. But they gather and enjoy this supper together, remembering what Christ has done. When you eat this bread here in a moment, you're going to remember his body that was broken for you. When you drink this cup, you're going to remember that it is the new covenant of his blood poured out for us. [00:26:46] (43 seconds)
May this reminder not only remind us of our position in Christ by what he has done for us. It will cause us to constantly look ahead and remember the spiritual blessings that we have through Christ. Jesus, we thank you for saving sinners like us. We pray this in your name. Amen. [00:37:55] (35 seconds)
I think we have a vague familiarity of our position in Christ, but we are unaware of all of the blessings that we have in Christ. Over the years, I have conversations with Christians in which I hear about the struggles that you have with your faith, struggles that I often discover exist because you're unaware of the blessings that actually belong to you in Christ. [00:54:06] (25 seconds)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who's blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 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, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved. [00:56:46] (37 seconds)
But I love that about Paul. He's praising God right here in prison. Rather than allowing prison to cause him to lose sight of his God-given purpose, rather than allowing prison to cause Paul to forget about his position in Christ, he remembered his position in Christ, and praised God for all the blessings that he had through faith in him. [01:00:06] (20 seconds)
No matter what we're going through, no matter what our condition in life, never forget your situation in life will not change your position in Christ, and your situation in life will not remove the blessings that you have in Jesus. Paul remembered this right here in prison. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who's blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. [01:00:21] (26 seconds)
If you have not repented of your sins and are not trusting in Jesus' death and his resurrection for your salvation, these blessings do not belong to you. My hope is that God will draw you to his Son through the preaching of Ephesians, that you will repent and believe the gospel, that you will become one who is in Christ, and these blessings will belong to you. [01:04:06] (28 seconds)
God has spiritually blessed us by choosing us in him before he created the world that we should be holy and blameless before him. Now, pay attention as we work through this verse and you'll see how this blessing is rooted in eternity past, how this blessing belongs to us who are in Christ in the present, and how this blessing has eternal implications for us in the future when we stand before God. [01:06:41] (29 seconds)
For reasons only known to God, God chose us for salvation before the foundation of the world. The doctrine of election should not divide us. It should unite us in praise in the God who chose us. [01:10:30] (13 seconds)
You are holy and blameless in Christ right now. That's a great spiritual blessing. So many live with a misunderstanding of it. So many think their positional holiness before God is dependent on their practical holiness in their life. They're working hard to try and make their holiness outweigh their unholiness. [01:26:49] (22 seconds)
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