And our journey through it.
SPIRITUAL WEALTH AND INHERITANCE
The Book of Ephesians is one of my favorite books of the Bible. When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians he was trying to get the believers to “see” their riches in “Jesus Christ.” They were ignorant of their own wealth through Jesus. They were living as spiritual paupers. As a child of God we have extraordinary riches. We have adoption, acceptance, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, inheritance, the seal of the Holy Spirit, life, grace, citizenship – I could go on and on with our blessings of wealth through the Blood of Christ as a Child of God. But, are we like the Ephesians people and not even relying and using these blessings of wealth from our Lord and Savior? Are we so complacent with Christ’s death and resurrection that we miss the whole point of it? To reunite us again with our Father and Creator without sin to hinder us in being with Him.
When Christ died and rose again He gave us “ALL” the resources we need for living “to the praise of the Glory of His Grace” (verse 1:6)
Let’s start out in the beginning of Ephesians and read, together, how we can realize and learn how our spiritual walk can be rooted in Christ’s Spiritual wealth.
In the first three verses of Ephesians Chapter 1, Paul gives his salutation to the saints in Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:2
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace and Peace had already been given to God’s Children through His son, Jesus Christ, at that time. I believe Paul was trying to reestablish the faithful in Christ by focusing on the heavenly blessings that were given to us through Christ’s Blood on the Cross as payment for our sins. So many, then and even now, have focused on the earthly and fleshly that they/we have lost sight of what we have inherited through our acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice for us. We are not living in the Promise of God for us even before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:3-6 (Chosen by the Father)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every “spiritual” blessings in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in Love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His Grace, by which He has bestowed grace (favor) upon us in the Beloved.”
God has already fulfilled His Promise to us – we were chosen by the Father. Spiritual acceptance into His Family.
Now, the next question – How did this happen? Paul goes on to explain in verses 7-12:
Ephesians 1:7-12 (Redeemed by the Son)
“In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of this Grace which He made to abound towards us in all wisdom and understanding, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one “All” things in Christ, which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him (God) who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His Glory.”
We were chosen by our Father since the beginning of the world (God’s Promise of Spiritual Inheritance); the Promise was kept and made TRUE and SURE through His Son’s birth, death and resurrection; and finally it was sealed by His Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (sealed by the Holy Spirit)
“In” Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of “His Glory.”
That is our Spiritual wealth and inheritance of the Promise, through the Promise. Each one of us; when we heard the Word of TRUTH, accepted and believed it for our self, became a Child of God just as Jesus is a Child of God, we were taken into the Family of God at that time of acceptance. We already have ALL the Spiritual wealth of that position! Now, how are we using that inheritance? Can we even really say “How I am using that inheritance for His Glory?” If we can’t, now is the time to get into the Word and find out what God wants us to do with that inheritance and the Power and Authority that goes with it before it’s too late to touch others with God’s Grace.
Think about it Church! Really think and pray about it in our spirits with the Holy Spirit. God answers Prayer. But remember, Saints, “EVERYTHING” is to be done: to the praise of His Glory!!! “In everything give Praise!!” How? By:
Trusting and Believing God
All scriptures are from: New King James Version of Prophecy Study Bible
General Editor-John C. Hagee unless otherwise stated.