What should a Christian's ultimate goal be? Should our ultimate goal be to go to Heaven? Is that our major concern while on this earth? We often quote Paul's statement (Philippians 3:12-14), "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." This was Paul's goal - to press on by way of his calling until he was in the presence of Christ in Heaven. 1 Peter 1:9 tells us that our goal is the salvation of our souls.
Is there an immediate goal that God wishes us to focus on?
In 2 Corinthians 5:9, Paul shares a goal with all his fellow believers: "So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it." Pleasing God, then, whether we are alive or dead, should be our ultimate goal and in meeting this goal, we secure the salvation of our souls and a place in Heaven.
Pleasing God: God was well pleased with Christ on the day of His baptism (Luke 3:21-22). God is well pleased with us when we are "In Christ". When we are "in Christ", God grants us every Spiritual blessing available. The Holy Spirit is one of our Spiritual Blessings. As He enters our hearts upon our conversion from darkness to light (Acts 2:38; Acts 26:18), He helps us to "appraise" the Spiritual Gifts that God Grants to us (1 Cor 2:10-14). We will have a lot more to say about this process of "appraising spiritual gifts".
At this moment, let's find out what these Spiritual blessings are and how we can identify them in Scripture.
Scripture is a message from God by way of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit's mission is to glorify Christ (John 16:13-14). One of the ways the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ is by giving him the credit for every spiritual blessing. In the New Testament, you will find phrases such as:
"in Him"
"through Him"
"by Christ"
"in Christ"
"in the Beloved"
Each of these phrases is placed in your Bible next to a spiritual blessing. The Holy Spirit never mentions a spiritual blessing without telling you who is responsible for the blessing. The Holy Spirit always lets you know how you come by the blessing--by being "in Christ". There are no spiritual blessings outside of Christ. You don't get a few spiritual blessings now and a few later. If you are "in Christ", you get EVERY spiritual blessing. Let's look in Ephesians chapter 1 to find a good list of those blessings.
To help us in this identification, I have highlighted the blessing in yellow and the reference to Christ highlighted in pink.
Eph 1:3 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.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
This chapter, of course, is not the only place where the Spirit acknowledges the spiritual blessings afforded those who are "in Christ".
If we, who are "in Christ", are:
• forgiven of sins, holy, blameless, redeemed,
• God's own possession,
• have a calling from God
• given the Holy Spirit
• have hope, grace, wisdom, power, and an inheritance,
• and have an understanding of the mystery of His will,
Do you see how meditating upon the Word, results in a closer walk with Christ and a better understanding our spiritual blessings, which in turn should move us to praise our Lord among the nations (witnessing to others)? Romans 15:9
How can we be sad, whiney, and gripey? God has supernaturally translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son, into the body of Christ, the church. How can we stop giving thanks? How can we not share! If the Holy Spirit's mission is to glorify Christ and He dwells in us, what is our mission? How can we accomplish this mission?
Your thoughts and comments are invited.
It is my prayer to study with you all aspects of the Holy Spirit, His work in us, His ability to reveal gifts to us and His willingness to change us into the Image of Christ.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Spiritual Blessings IN CHRIST
Have you ever wondered why some people are excited about being a Christian and other people are just rather blah? I have wondered that often. How is it that some people who call themselves Christians are thrilled, joyful, and full of excitement and others are grumpy, sad, and whiney? I suspect the issue lies in not just their understanding of God’s promises and gifts to men…but their understanding of the meaning of God's power in our salvation.
In Eph 1:3, the Holy Spirit through the Word, promises that ALL spiritual blessings are ours if we are "in Christ" Jesus.
Take a moment to reflect on what might be included in the list of "all spiritual blessings". In the comment section of this post, list all the spiritual blessings you can name.
In Eph 1:3, the Holy Spirit through the Word, promises that ALL spiritual blessings are ours if we are "in Christ" Jesus.
Take a moment to reflect on what might be included in the list of "all spiritual blessings". In the comment section of this post, list all the spiritual blessings you can name.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
God's Power for Today
Please consider the prayer Paul prayed for his fellow Christians (essentially for us):
Eph 3: 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen
MEDITATION:
Spend time reflecting on just these verses this week. When you feel like sharing, comment about what you think these versus (1) mean to you, personally, (2) what they suggest as far as what God has provided for all Christians, (3) and what should be the result of such blessings in the Christian life-walk?
Remember that we are studying the "power" (dumamis - supernatural power) of God in our lives today.
Eph 3: 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen
MEDITATION:
Spend time reflecting on just these verses this week. When you feel like sharing, comment about what you think these versus (1) mean to you, personally, (2) what they suggest as far as what God has provided for all Christians, (3) and what should be the result of such blessings in the Christian life-walk?
Remember that we are studying the "power" (dumamis - supernatural power) of God in our lives today.
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