Sermon Central
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"Spiritual Blessings” Series
Contributed by J. Brad Campbell on Jun 15, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: this is the first in a series of sermons talking about spiritual blessings we don’t normally think of
Seven Spiritual Blessings
Part 1
“Spiritual Blessings”
Foundational Text: Eph. 1:3-14
Text: Eph. 1:3
Intro: In this text we find reveled Gods plan for the entire world
Eph. 1:1-3 deals with Gods will for our personal lives
Now He begins to deal with the world as a whole
- His eternal plan
- It deals with the blessing of God
- The blessings that He pours out on every believer
- Every man or women who begins to trust Jesus as there personal savior
Read foundational text:
Ephesians 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
I. Spiritual blessings
Text:
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Many times we forget the greatest blessings of all because they are not so easily seen
- we see the time we get a raise
- we see the time someone gives us something
- we see the mysterious check in the mail
All of these blessing are very obvious
- we recognize the healing we receive as a great blessing
- we even recognize the salvation of a loved one or a friend as a blessing
- we even recognize a promotion as a blessing
The point I am making is
We recognize physical blessing very easily for the most part
- granted some people are so blind and egotistical they could not see the hand of God at work in their life if it slapped them upside the head
- but most of us recognize Gods physical blessing and are thankful
But over the next few weeks I want to look at some of our greatest blessings that sometimes are not so recognizable
This is what our text is pointing out to us
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
“Who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places”
God does bless us both ways
- spiritual
- physical
But this study is going to focus on the spiritual blessings of God
Spiritual blessings are of the spirit
Our spirit is that part of us that controls us
- it is the part that leads us
- that directs us
- it is were the decisions of life are made
The condition of your spirit will also determine how you make your decisions
Ex. You may feel bad
- you may feel depressed
- you may feel oppressed
- you may feel down and out
But if you have a strong spirit
- you will conquer those feelings
- you will not base your judgments on how you feel but on the word of God, on righteousness
If you have a strong spirit you can overcome and control the oppressive circumstances of your life
- life may be unfair
- it may seem harsh or cruel
- yet you choose to live a victorious life
On the other hand if your spirit is week it will live a defeated life
- it will wallow in self pity
- it will constantly be grumbling
