Timothy
September 25th, 2003, 12:29 PM
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
I've been dwelling on this verse for some time. It says we are blessed with all spiritual blessings. Note the tense of the verse - "he hath." God has already given us the blessings. The blessings are spiritual, not physical. They are things not seen. Since he has already given us these blessings, it is up to the individual believer to learn about these blessings and appropriate (apply) them.
So what are these blessings? The first thing to note is that we are complete in Him. We aren't lacking anything.
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power
We have a tendancy to focus on the flesh, and its weakness, and we THINK that we are lacking something. And THINKING is what the issue is all about. Scripture is clear that the battle is over our thoughts and our propensity to have flawed thinking (flawed thoughts).
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
II Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
We need to replace our thoughts with the word of God. We need to cast down our imaginations, and bring every thought into captivity. We need to replace our thoughts with His thoughts. We can have the mind of Christ!
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Philippians 4:7 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
I Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind
So the way I see it, these "spiritual blessings in heavenly places" surround things eternal. Heavenly oriented blessings that we can experience today, and take with us (they stay with us when we die). So what are some of these things that are spirtually eternal?
CONFIDENCE Ephesians 3:12
LONGSUFFERING Colossians 1:11
LOVE Galatians 5:22
JOY Galatians 5:22, Colossians 1:11
PEACE Galatians 5:22, Philippians 4:7
LONGSUFFERING Galatians 5:22
GENTLENESS Galatians 5:22
GOODNESS Galatians 5:22
MEEKNESS Galatians 5:22
PATIENCE Colossians 1:11
POWER II Timothy 1:7
STRENGTH Colossians 1:11
TEMPERANCE Galatians 5:22
WISDOM Ephesians 1:17
What do you think? Do you think the "spiritual blessings" of Ephesians 1:3 refer to something elese?
I've been dwelling on this verse for some time. It says we are blessed with all spiritual blessings. Note the tense of the verse - "he hath." God has already given us the blessings. The blessings are spiritual, not physical. They are things not seen. Since he has already given us these blessings, it is up to the individual believer to learn about these blessings and appropriate (apply) them.
So what are these blessings? The first thing to note is that we are complete in Him. We aren't lacking anything.
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power
We have a tendancy to focus on the flesh, and its weakness, and we THINK that we are lacking something. And THINKING is what the issue is all about. Scripture is clear that the battle is over our thoughts and our propensity to have flawed thinking (flawed thoughts).
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
II Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
We need to replace our thoughts with the word of God. We need to cast down our imaginations, and bring every thought into captivity. We need to replace our thoughts with His thoughts. We can have the mind of Christ!
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Philippians 4:7 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
I Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind
So the way I see it, these "spiritual blessings in heavenly places" surround things eternal. Heavenly oriented blessings that we can experience today, and take with us (they stay with us when we die). So what are some of these things that are spirtually eternal?
CONFIDENCE Ephesians 3:12
LONGSUFFERING Colossians 1:11
LOVE Galatians 5:22
JOY Galatians 5:22, Colossians 1:11
PEACE Galatians 5:22, Philippians 4:7
LONGSUFFERING Galatians 5:22
GENTLENESS Galatians 5:22
GOODNESS Galatians 5:22
MEEKNESS Galatians 5:22
PATIENCE Colossians 1:11
POWER II Timothy 1:7
STRENGTH Colossians 1:11
TEMPERANCE Galatians 5:22
WISDOM Ephesians 1:17
What do you think? Do you think the "spiritual blessings" of Ephesians 1:3 refer to something elese?