"Spiritual Blessings” Series

Because Jesus had not come yet

- salvation was not possible

- there was no way for man to be justified

- therefore there was no way for man to access these spiritual blessings

But in looking at the Old Testament and the material blessing of man we can find many problems

One is that any kind of material inheritance can be lost

- it is not permanent

- it can be stolen

- it can be lost

- they can deteriorate and rust

- or they will have to be left behind or someone else

Secondly no kind of earthly blessing can bring peace or security

Look at South Africa

- one of the greatest blessed nation in Africa

- yet it has the highest crime rate

- one of the highest aids percentages

- and the highest murder rate in the world

Peace and security can only come through the spirit

No amount of earthly possessions or blessings can bridge the gap between God and man

- peace with God can only be obtained by the blood of Jesus

Inside of each of us there is the nature of sin

There is a seed that has been sown in us since Adam and Eve

- it is our nature to be greedy

- it is our nature to be selfish

Inside each of us there is this uncontrollable desire and urge to seek out the material and horde the corruptible to ourselves

Because of this we must undergo a change of nature

- a change of character

- we must be born again

- we must become a new creation

- a new man

This is something only God Himself can do

Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 8:1 (NKJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

NATURE—Need of Renewal.

A vicious horse is none the better tempered because the kicking straps prevent his dashing the carriage to atoms; and so a man is none the better really because the restraints of custom and providence may prevent his following that course of life which he would prefer. Poor fallen human nature behind the bars of laws, and in the cage of fear of punishment, is none the less a sad creature; should its Master unlock the door we should soon see what it would be and do. A young leopard which had been domesticated, and treated as a pet, licked its master’s hand while he slept, and it so happened that it drew blood from a recent wound; the first taste of blood transformed the gentle creature into a raging wild beast; yet it wrought no real change, it only awakened the natural ferocity which had always been there. A change of nature is required for our salvation—mere restraints are of small value.

—Feathers for Arrows

Once we have received this new nature

- all of God greatest blessing are available to us

We will look next week at our first blessing

“Holy and Blameless”