The Position Of Believers Series

The Position of Believers

Ephesians 1:1-10

Hetty Green was once known as America’s greatest miser. She ate cold oatmeal to save the cost of heating water. When her son injured his leg, Hetty took so long looking for a clinic to treat him for free that his leg had to be amputated because of severe infection. When she died, she left an estate valued at $100 million dollars.

Over the next 21 weeks with the exception of a Christmas message, we are going to be looking at the Book of Ephesians and how it relates to the life of Believers. Christians are in danger of living their life like Hetty Green, suffering from spiritual malnutrition because they have not accessed the great resources available as believers in Jesus Christ.

To maximize the full extent of this study, you will need to get a journal which has sermon notes, daily devotions and community group discussions. You also need to get involved in one of the several community groups so you don’t live a miserly life like Hetty but fully involve yourself in all Christ has at your disposal as we open the Believers Bank, the Book of Ephesians.

Paul begins the first two verses speaking of his position, 1This letter is from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. It is written to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

We know Paul is an apostle chosen by Jesus, writing to the Christians in Ephesus and by way of the Scripture, relaying information on to us which will be helpful in our life journey.

There are several key points we need to grasp in the opening verses of this book if we intend to fully live the Christian life.

1. We are Blessed. Paul said in verse 3 How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.

We have been blessed with what? (Every spiritual blessing) Say that with me Every Spiritual Blessing Who wants a spiritual blessing? The Bible says believers have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. It is not a matter if you will be blessed, you already are, what you need to be asking is how to I access the blessings I have already been blessed with. That’s why you need to know God’s word.

A man, lost in the desert, dehydrated, in need of water stumbled upon an old shack where he found a rusty pump. Taking the handle, he pumped away but no water came. He saw a bottle on the ground with a note that read, “You have to prime the pump with all the water in this jug, my friend. P.S. Be sure to fill the jug again before you leave.”

He opened the bottle and now faced a decision. He needed the water to survive but the note said he needed to prime the pump with all the water to get the pump to work. He decided to prime the pump and when he did, a little water began to come out, then more, and more until he had a stream flowing from the spout.

It is time to prime the pump of blessings, they are down in the well just waiting to spring up, are you ready? You just need to remember when the blessings come…

2. We are blessed by God.

James said in James 1:17, reading from the Amplified version, 17Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

A bum was looking for a handout stopping at a pub with the name Inn of St. George and the Dragon. A lady answered the knock on the door to which the bum asked, “Please, ma’am, could you spare me a bite to eat?”

“A bite to eat?” she growled, “For a sorry, no-good bum—a foul smelling beggar? No!” she snapped almost slamming the door on his hand.

Walking away, he looked up and saw the name of the pub, St. George and the dragon to which he went back and knocked again. She opened the door and snarled, “Now what do you want?” To which he replied, “I was wondering if I could speak to St. George this time?”

If you have ever felt like you have knocked on the door and the dragon answered, it is time to realize as a believer, you have been blessed with all spiritual blessings, not by St George but by God. How does it work, my third point…