Archive for the ‘Spiritual Blessings’ Category

7
Apr

ADOPTION

   Posted by: pastordiehl Tags: , ,

A second spiritual blessing Paul describes in Ephesians 1:5: “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will”.

To predestine something is to preset the destination before hand. So, Paul declares that God had predestined you to come to Christ even before you responded to the message. That doesn’t mean you didn’t have a choice in the matter, but that God knew in advance the choice you would make.

Note also that the destiny he preset was that you would be adopted into His family. The second spiritual blessing, then, is that we have been adopted into the family of God. To be adopted is to be an outsider who is legally brought into the family to become an insider. With no claim to family rights, family rights are bestowed upon you by the authority of the adoption.

An adoption is a legal process that will hold up in a court. In the case of the spiritual adoption of sinners like us, it means that we are brought into the family of God as full members. He treats us like sons and daughters, not mere servants.

What have you learned about adoption that sheds light on our relationship with God?

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6
Apr

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

   Posted by: pastordiehl Tags:

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a powerful word for each of us. He begins chapter 1 with a list of the blessings believers have in Christ. We’ll look at each of these blessings this week and next.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)”.

Note that Paul’s interest and excitement is not in earthly material blessings, although such things are nice when God provides them. No, he is instead talking about spiritual blessings: intangible things that cannot be purchased or earned. These blessings are in the heavenly realm that only believers can enter. Because we are children of the King, all authority has been delegated to us. Access to spiritual gifts, God’s favor, and ministering angels are ours.

But, few believers ever enter this realm of Christianity. We keep seeking the Lord for His material blessings only. The spiritual blessings God gives empower believers to walk in a new dimension.

Each day this week we’ll look at another of these spiritual blessings that we have. What is one spiritual blessing that you are thanking God for today?

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