ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
BLESSED BY THE BEST, TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED
Before I met Jesus my life was filled with all manner of carnality. I call them “carnal cursings.” Let’s take a look at them.
CARNAL CURSINGS BEFORE I MET CHRIST (DETRIMENTS)
paralyzing fear
hatred
anger
doubt
second guessing
cursing, filthy language
vulgarity
sexually perverted thoughts
After I met Jesus I came to realize that He has blessed (past tense, done deal) me with “all” spiritual blessings simply because I am in His Son. He starts listing some of them immediately after making this statement in Ephesians 1:3. Let’s take a look at them.
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS SIMPLY BECAUSE I AM IN CHRIST (GIFTS).
vs.4
I am chosen, He chose me not because I was the last choice, but because He wanted me on His team.
I am holy, don’t always act holy but He says I am holy, He even declares me to be the righteousness of God in Him (2nd Corinthians 5:21), He doesn’t just give me His righteousness He says I am His righteousness, He rates me right up there with His Son, Wow!
I am without blame, I should be blamed for all the misery that my ungodly decisions brought myself and others but I am not.
vs.5
I was predestined to be adopted by Him. He took a long look at me (at my very sinful worst) and said “it is with great pleasure that I choose this one to be my child.”
vs.6
Paul has a praise fit about this one, i.e. I have been made accepted by Him, no longer do I have to struggle to be accepted by anyone (including myself, and especially God). I am totally and unconditionally accepted by Him and because I am in Christ I am as acceptable to my Heavenly Father as Jesus. It still sounds strange for me to say that about myself but if we are in Christ we can’t get any more acceptable than that. If He doesn’t accept us He would have to reject Himself (John 17:21, we are one with Him).
vs.7
I am redeemed (He paid my ransom in full) and forgiven of past, present, and future sins (He has perfected [past tense, done deal] forever them that are sanctified. (Heb 10:14).
I am a recipient of His marvelous, matchless grace.
vs. 8-9
We can know the great mystery of His will, He came to save sinners.
vs. 13
He has sealed me by His Holy Spirit, you can’t get any more secure than that.
Saved, Sealed, Delivered, I’m His (sounds like an old Stevie Wonder song, Ha Ha, some of you will get that)!
This is just the starting point of His blessings, I don’t know how many there are but according to Him, we have them “all” and as we continue in our walk with Him and especially the study of His Word we will discover our blessings far outnumber our troubles.
Let me encourage you to start your own list and the next time you start feeling stressed just refer to and recite your list of blessings, it will probably make you feel better and you will drive the devil crazy, he’ll have to flee.