A Guarantee Series

Seven Spiritual Blessings

Part 8

A Guarantee

Foundational Text: Eph. 1:3-14

Text: Eph. 1:13-14

Intro: We have been looking for the past couple of weeks at spiritual blessings

- These are blessings that we overlook many times

- The reason it is so important for us to recognize and apply these spiritual blessings to our lives is because we are spiritual beings

We looked at our first spiritual blessing Holy and Blameless

- The only way the devil can lay claim to us again is to tempt us or entice us away from God

- He can not come in and get us he has to draw us out

Our second spiritual blessing we looked at was predestined adoption

- We were not an after thought in the mind of God

Then we looked at redemption

- We were ransomed

- Bought with a price

- We were hopelessly lost with no way out then Jesus came and purchased us

- We were also redeemed for a purpose, to help others see that same light

- We now have purpose in life a reason for living

We looked at wisdom and understanding

- He has also given us understanding or spiritual common sense

- This is the ability to be more than just a hearer of the Word

- It is the ability to put the knowledge of God to use in our lives to fulfill His will and purpose for our lives

We looked at the mystery revealed (the Word of God)

- The word of God comes alive after salvation

- Before it was nothing more than a dead book

- Now it has living truths for our lives

- No matter how many times you read it you find something new and relevant

Last week we looked at the Inheritance

- We become the sons and daughters of God

- We have someone we can go to in time of need

- This is speaking about prayer

- We can pray to a heavenly father and He will be there to answer

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.

Our focus tonight is going to be on Vs 13-14

Let’s look at it again

Eph 1:13-14 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. The Down Payment

We have been given a guarantee by God that all He has promised He will fulfill

We see this in Vs 14 “The earnest of our inheritance”

This word earnest means

- Pledge or assurance

- Guarantee or agreement

- Down payment or installment

In other words God has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment to assure us of what He has promised

- To assure us of our salvation

- To give us confidence that we are saved and forgiven

- We know we are Gods prized possession because He has given us the Holy Spirit