Spiritual Blessings In Heavenly Places

Temple Baptist Church - 4-14-2010

Ephesians 1:1-14

Introduction:

A. God has blessed His children in the world and certainly Thanksgiving is a must for the child of God. We have all things to enjoy in this life. What a marvelous world we live in; what a wonderful country we live in; what great blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us! Look around you at the world and you will have no problem finding something to thank God for!

B. Much of our earthly blessing depends upon us and our faithfulness to the Lord and His work. Many of our earthly blessings are still undeserved for which we should give unending thanks to the Lord. He hath not rewarded us after our iniquities, but has fed us according to the integrity of His heart. Glory to His holy name!

C. But, the greatest blessings that we have are in heavenly places, not earthly. Our greatest blessings are found in heavenly things through our Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest things that God has done for us are unseen to the human eye and are only seen through the eye of faith. Here in Ephesians, “The Highlands of Faith,” we find many of them enumerated for us.


1. The Heavenly Blessing Of His Eternal Plan For Us (Grace) – vs 1, 2, 13

a. His Grace Is Underserved - Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

b. His Grace Is Unreserved - 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

c. His Grace Is Unlimited - Colossians 1:3-6 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

1) We Saw – vs 13a

2) We Sought – vs 13b

3) We Were Sealed – vs 13c

2. The Heavenly Blessing Of His Eternal Peace For Us – vs 2

a. The World Has No Peace Because Their Peace Depends Upon Themselves - Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

b. The Saint Has Perfect Peace Because His Peace Depends Upon Jesus Christ - John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

3. The Heavenly Blessing Of Our Eternal Position In Christ – vs 3, 5

a. The Place Of Our Position – “in heavenly places” - 2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

b. The Person Of Our Position – “in Christ” - 1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

c. The Pleasure Of Our Position – “the good pleasure of his will” - Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

4. The Heavenly Blessing Of Our Eternal Purity In Christ – vs 7

a. The Character Of Our Peace – “holy and without blame before him” - Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

b. The Cause Of Our Purity – “in love” - 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

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.

5. The Heavenly Blessing Of Our Eternal Purpose – vs 9-14

a. The Purpose Of Gathering – vs 10 “gather together in one all things in Christ” - 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

b. The Purpose Of Garnishing – vs 11 “an inheritance” - 1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

c. The Purpose Of Glorifying – vs 12-14 “his glory…praise of his glory” - Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.