In The Heavenlies!

In the Heavenlies

Ephesians 1:3

http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/130123.mp3

v. 3 is the key verse of this book. It is summarized in three words: "all spiritual blessings". Then vv. 4-14 give the detail of what ’all’ means.

We are rich and famous in things that really matter. Rich as joint heirs w/ Christ, and famous for having our names written in heaven, and being cheered on by the heavenly host. Rich in things that matter, not to this world, but to the next!

1. The Source of all spiritual blessings.

v. 3 God the Father. He is not a miser, playing keep a way with blessings. Don’t get the mistaken idea that the Father is the mean judge who demands a payment for sin and Jesus is the loving Savior who talked Him into letting Him come down to die for us. In truth, the salvation plan was born in the heart of the Father, who loves and longs for the return of His created children.

1 John 4:10

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

We are fortunate that our Father is wealthy in the things we need most.

Mercy:

Ephesians 2:4

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Grace:

Ephesians 1:7b

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Glory:

Ephesians 3:16

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

In Christ, our Father has deposited unbelievable wealth on our account. And so I love preaching, because I get to help ’disperse’ the riches all around, from the Word of God!

Ephesians 3:8

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

The Father is the source of all spiritual blessings!

2. The Scope of all spiritual blessings.

v. 3 says ’all’ spiritual blessings...no limits.

3:8 says ’unsearchable riches’

They are truly a well which will never run dry. An ocean that can never be emptied. To attempt to exhaust the riches of God would be like trying to count the grains of sand on the beaches of the world.

ill.--in the Great Depression banks would actually regulate the dispersal of funds [YOUR MONEY!] I’m so glad that there’s never a recession in heaven, no economic downturns, and no fiscal cliff! You can make a withdrawal of ’all’ spiritual blessings and unsearchable riches anytime you want...as much as you want!

Notice it doesn’t say He IS GOING to give us all things, but that He ALREADY HAS!

ill.--a tongue tied preacher with a lisp always talked about the ’thecond blething’ [2nd blessing!] He believed you don’t get all God’s blessings at salvation, but that there’s a second work of grace to pursue. Another pastor criticized and said, "I’m tired of hearing about your thecond blething, thecond blething. I’ve had 3rd, 4th, 5th, even hundreds of blessings!" The lisping preacher said, "Thir, if you’ve had that many you thouldn’t mind me having two!"

Scope? Innumerable! Source? The Father!

3. The Sphere of these blessings.

v. 3b ’places’ is italicized in our KJV. This means it is not in the original text...it was added for clarity. It literally reads: "all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies."

This phrase is used only in Ephesians, and 5 times! "In the heavenlies"

The heavenlies is one of two spheres [realms] in which you and I may choose to walk during this life. The heavenly and the earthly. You don’t have to go to heaven to be ’in the heavenlies.’ In God’s mind we are already there if saved!

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

John 3:12

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Out of necessity, you and I walk every day to some degree in the earthly realm...it can’t be avoided. You can be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good. But let’s be clear: That’s not our problem! We are much the opposite!

Even at church--we try to focus on the spiritual realm, and yet someone has to pay the light bill. And when lights go out or clock batteries die, someone must replace them. This place doesn’t clean itself. If we tried to be spiritual enough to cause it to be clean we would have what you call a ’holy mess!’

Many times we walk out of here after a service feeling like we are floating above the ground...in the heavenlies...because we have been lifted up to the heavenlies! But after we march out, someone else marches in and picks up what we left in the pews, on the carpet, and in the restrooms. [Hopefully they don’t pick THAT up!]