Blessings on Blessings
The Blessings of Being Chosen by God
Ephesians 1:3-5
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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Blessed in greek = eulogetos
Which is where we get the English word Eulogy.
Everything Paul is saying in this chapter is a reason why you and I should Praise God with all of our Heart Soul Mind and Strength.
Reasons to praise:
Ephesians 1:3
“He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
Spiritual blessings:
1. He chose us before the foundation of the world. Eph 1:4
A. Ephesians 1:13 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,
B. You are in him when you believe.
C. The destination of these IN HIM is predetermined.
D. Example: A planes destination is predetermined but only for those who board.
E. God has predetermined the destination of all of those that enter Christ through faith.
In faith you have responsibility. The ability to respond.
1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yrlzDfX8AQ
2. God has made us holy. (Set apart) eph 1:4
God has called the believer to be set apart from the wickedness around them and called to Christ likeness.
Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Romans 12:1-2:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
3. God made us blameless Eph 1:4
As we walk in the light God makes us blameless through the blood of Christ. We are justified by our faith in Christ, and are no longer guilty of our trespasses.
Ephesians 1:7: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
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."
4. We have been adopted into his family. Ephesians 1:5
A. Benefits of being in Gods family:
1. Prayer :
1 John 5:14-15:
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
2. Protection :
Proverbs 18:10:
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”
3. Provision :
Philippians 4:19:
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 6:31-33:
"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
4. Presence :
Psalm 139:7-10:
"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."
Psalm 16:11:
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
5. God predestined us to a purpose eph 1:5 (Next week)
God has set us apart to accomplish his purposes on this planet.
Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
6. We have been redeemed eph 1:7
(purchased from the slave market of sin) (see pastor Trey’s sermon from last week)
7. For forgiveness of sin eph 1:7
Given a clean slate before God (see pastor Trey’s sermon from last week)
8. God has given us an inheritance eph 1:11
1 Peter 1:3-4:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
1 Corinthians 2:9.
"But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.'"
9. He has given us the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13 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,
Roles of the Holy Spirit:
1. Helper and Comforter
John 14:16-17: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
2. Teacher and Reminder
John 14:26: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
3. Guide into All Truth
John 16:13: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."
4. Convicts the World of Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment
John 16:8: "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment."
5. Giver of Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:4-11: "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit... All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."
6. Empowers Believers for Witness
Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
7. Intercedes for Believers
Romans 8:26-27: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
8. Transforms and Renews
Titus 3:5: "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
9. Sanctifies Believers
1 Peter 1:2: "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you."
10. Indwells Believers
1 Corinthians 6:19: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own."
11. Produces Fruit in Believers
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
12. Testifies about Jesus
John 15:26: "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me."
13. Reveals God’s Wisdom
1 Corinthians 2:10-11: "these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."
14. Gives Life
Romans 8:11: "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."
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