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
This is a wonderful gift of God
It is the same picture of a down payment
When you buy a car or a house or some furniture they usually ask you for a down payment. Some may even call it earnest money. What you are doing is you are telling them that you will pay the rest. You are investing a portion now to assure them of your future payments.
This is what God has done for us
- He has given us the Holy Spirit
- He has done this to assure us of His return
- He has invested into us a portion of Himself
Think with me for a moment of what a great blessing this is we have the Holy Spirit
This is why the Holy Spirit is referred to many times as the comforter
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…
- There is a great comfort in knowing that God will fulfill His Word
- That we also will be raised from the dead
- That our future is secure as long as we keep our hearts right with God
It is the promise that someday we to will be with Jesus
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
II. For our Prayer Life
We have already seen that God has given us the gift of prayer
- We have someone we can go to
- A heavenly father that will always be there for us
- A father that has all the right answers
- A father that will never leave us or forsake us
We understand this but the truth is many times we don’t know what the problem is
I have counseled people over the years and upon several occasions I have had people tell me they do not know what the problem is
- They don’t know why they feel the way they do
- They don’t understand what is happening
- They can’t see the real issue
The problem may even be a curse or witchcraft being used against them
- A problem they would probably not see if not revealed by the Holy Spirit
- Or revealed by the one who had cursed them
This is the great blessing of the Holy Spirit
There are many times we don’t know what the problem is but the Holy Spirit always does
Rom 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Derek Prince says, “We have a natural weakness in our flesh. We do not know how to pray as we ought to pray”
What this is telling us is that God has given us a great spiritual blessing
Even thou
- He has given us The Word of God
- He has placed us above reproach
- He has adopted us as His own
- He has given us direction and purpose
- He has given us spiritual wisdom and understanding to apply His word
- He has given us Himself as a heavenly father to go to for all the answers
There are still times when we do not know what questions to ask
- We do not know were to attack the enemy
- We do not know were the assault is coming from
He has given us the Holy Spirit for all those times we are in doubt
- For all those times we are in question
- For all those times we are uncertain
The Holy Spirit adds a power to our prayer life
- It shows us were to aim the blow
- It adds sights to our spiritual weapons
- It shows us were to thrust the sword
Basically it gives us direction
“The Holy Spirit has transforming uplifting power. That power makes us more than we are and fills us with energy. He gives us purpose, direction, and stability. The Holy Spirit supports and enlarges our feeble efforts.”
G. Curtis Jones
III. Guidance
The Holy Spirit has been given to us as a guide
- To warn us of danger
- To steer us around many of the pitfalls of life
- To lead us into paths of righteousness and truth
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
You have heard me say in the past the Holy Spirit does not save us and it is not a requirement for heaven. But it will sure make getting there a whole lot easier
The devil has placed all kinds of obstacles in our paths to keep us from heaven
- He sends false teachers and false prophets
- He sends trials and tribulations
- He produces all kinds of counterfeits for the things of God
- He produces all kinds of imitations
He does everything in his power to lead us astray
The blessing of being filled with the Holy Spirit is that He will guide us around and through the snares of the enemy
- He will guide us into truth
- He will lead us into paths of righteousness
- He will not allow us to be deceived by the enemy
- He will expose every attack and every assault
Can you see what a powerful blessing this is
We have a personal guide all the way to heaven
God has given us everything we need to make heaven our home
- He has given us the vehicle to get there with all of His other spiritual blessings
- But this final gift ties them all together
- It adds a supercharger to that vehicle
- The Holy Spirit adds a level of dominion to our lives that otherwise we would not have
The Dove Man
It is said that a certain guide lived in the deserts of Arabia who never lost his way. He carried with him a homing pigeon with a very fine cord attached to one of its legs. When in doubt as to which path to take, he threw the bird into the air. The pigeon quickly strained at the cord to fly in the direction of home, and thus led the guide accurately to his goal. Because of this unique practice he was known as "the dove man." So, too, the Holy Spirit, the heavenly Dove, is willing and able to direct us in the narrow way that leads to the more abundant life if in humble self-denial we submit to His unerring supervision.
God has offered these seven spiritual blessings to each of His children. He has given us everything we need to make heaven our home and live a victorious Christian life. He has provided us with these gifts that we might fulfill His will and purpose in the earth.
When we stand before God we will be without excuse because God has made the way possible. He not only died and shed His blood for us but He gave us every tool we need in order to answer His call and make heaven our home.
What excuse do you have for not serving God?
What excuse do you have for not fulfilling His will for your life?
What will you say when you stand before God?
