01-02-11 AM - Blessings Above All Others

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Eph. 1:1-14

As we begin this New Year together I want to focus our attention on who we are and what we have because of the love our heavenly Father has for us.
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Eph. 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 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.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

This passage is full of spiritual blessings.
1. CHOSEN TO BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS
(4) Holy = set apart.

2 Cor. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The word blameless = to be free from sin, dirt and filth; to be above reproach and without blemish or fault.

2. PREDESTINED TO BE ADOPTED (5-6)
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

The Greek word (proorizo) means to set off or mark off the boundaries of something.


3. REDEEMED AND FORGIVEN (7-8)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Redemption - It carries with it the "idea of purchasing or buying back some item or person that would otherwise be lost, taken prisoner, or destroyed"

Forgiveness – to send off or away, to release or let go.

The term "riches of His grace" indicates an abundance of possession exceeding the norm.

Grace = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Wisdom – (Sophia) seeing and knowing the truth.

God’s wisdom allows us to know the answers to life and death, time and eternity, good and evil and the deep things of God.

Understanding – The KJV uses the word prudence
This means to see and know how to use truth.

Eph. 1:17-19 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
4. MYSTERIES MADE KNOWN (9-10)\

Read it in Eph. 3:9-11
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

While you and I wait for this reconciling to take place He has given us the ministry of reconciliation now here on earth.

2 Cor. 5:19-20
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
All of this will be the inheritance of the believer.
The ones who places Jesus Christ in the forefront of their lives will be the ones who enjoy this eternal plan filled with the best that God ever intended for His creation.

5. THE HOLY SPIRIT (13-14)
KJV 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
NIV - deposit guarantee
Greek (arrabon) means to pledge, guarantee, a down payment.

How do you know if He is living in you?

Have you changed and become more Christ-like?

Have you had a desire to worship?

Have you had a desire to know more of the word?

Do you love to hang out with Gods people?

Have you felt the Lord directing you in any way?

Are the fruit of the Spirit more evident in your life today then the day you asked Christ to come into your heart?
Then stand up right now and begin to thank Him for His blessings in your life