Theme: Blessings of God
Message By: Bro. Immanuel P. Kumar
Horeb House Of Worship
# 42, 2nd Cross Road,
New Baiyyappanahalli Extn,
Maruti Sevanagar,
Bangalore, Karnataka. 560038.
India.
Contact # +91 9740390623
God Servant: Bro. Immanuel P. Kumar
BLESSINGS OF GOD
Ephesians 1:3-14
This is the
wonderful passage Apostle Paul is reminding the believers that God has blessed
us. Right from the beginning in the creation of man we see how God is
interested in blessing man. And no doubt Adam and Eve were blessed by the Lord.
And as long as they obeyed God and walked with God they enjoyed the blessing of
God. But whenever they disobeyed God and whenever they backslide or gone astray.
They lost the blessing from God, ever since man’s life became empty. Because of
sin and disobedience, and not only it has become empty but also we see that
man’s life is filled with curse. And curse of God came upon them because of
their sin and disobedience. But yet our God is a compassionate God, our God is
a loving God. Jer 31:3 says that ‘He has loved us with an everlasting love’.
And not only He has loved us but sent His only beloved son. “For
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Joh. 3:16).
Apostle Paul
is writing these things to the believers in Ephesians. And the background of it
was that, after they exercised faith in the Lord Jesus Christ they have to go
through suffering in their life. Many lost their job and also were driven out
of the family, because of the faith they have towards Lord Jesus Christ. Such a
time as this the heathen people in the city were mocking at them by telling
them our goddess has blessed us and he has given riches to us. You people
believe in Jesus Christ, what he has given to you? And keeping this though,
Apostle Paul wrote this epistle to the believers at Ephesians.
Paul says
that God has not only blessed us with material blessings of this world, but
also spiritual blessing, heavenly blessings. Material blessing will not last
longer but the spiritual blessings we can enjoy them eternally. This is what Paul
is reminding the believers and he says that God has blessed us with spiritual
blessing in heavenly places. All these blessing is because of Jesus Christ
alone. As we read the word, many times it is written that ‘In Christ Jesus we
have been blessed’. So without Jesus Christ you and I cannot enjoy the blessing
of God. Christ is the media; Christ is the center through whom we can enjoy the
blessings. So in Jesus Christ you and I are blessed with all the spiritual
blessings in heavenly places. Quickly we see what are the blessings Paul is
reminding the believers.
First of all
He says that He says that He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of this
world. See He has chosen us in Him, In Christ Jesus you and I are chosen before
the foundation of the world. When God has chosen us? God has chosen us even
before the foundation of this world. Even before you and I were not born in
this world, God has chosen us. You and I were not born at that time but still
God in His fore knowledge has chosen us. So He has chosen us before the
foundations of the World. Here we see people who are around us are better than
us, they are well educated, has riches, property and all these things are there
but God has not chosen them. But on the other hand God has chosen us. Do you
know when God has chosen us, Rom 5: 6-10 Says, when we were ungodly, when we
were weekly and also when we were enemies to the Lord and also sinners, God has
chosen us; what a wonderful God He is, even though we have so many infirmities
so many weaknesses, shortcomings, disobedience and sins were found, yet God has
chosen us. This morning hour as we are found in the house of God, and we know
that God has chosen me that indeed is a great blessing. John 15:16, “Ye
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye
shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (Joh. 15:16).
What a wonderful God He is? Even though we have not chosen Him, but He has
chosen us. That is the first and the
foremost blessing we enjoy from Lord Jesus Christ. And why He has chosen us; so
that we may be able to live a Holy and without blemish life on this earth. You
know man is trying his level best to get rid of sin and want to lead a Holy
life on this earth. Whatever he may do, whatever the religion or rituals he may
follow, yet those things cannot make a holy person. And they fast for so many
days and they pray but yet they could not able to lead a holy life. But Praise
God because Jesus Christ shed His precious blood; you and I are able to live a
holy life. Scriptures say, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in
the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Joh. 1:7). Because of His shed
blood you and I are able to live a holy life on this earth. Even though we are
living in this sinful and wicked world but yet we are able to live a holy life
because of the efficacy of precious blood of Jesus Christ. Not only He has given
us His precious blood but also he has given us His precious word unto us. God’s
word can cleanse us through and through. Please see Eph. 5:26 “That
he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Eph.
5:26.) So because of the word of Lord Jesus Christ that can be able to
cleanse us through and through. And also he has given us the Holy Spirit of God
to dwell in us. And that Holy Spirit of God will cleanse our life, sanctify our
life day by day, so that you and I can live an holy and without blemish life in
this world.
Secondly He
says that, He has adopted us. “Having predestinated us unto the adoption
of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will” (Eph. 1:5). The word adoption means ‘born into the family of
God’. Once we were the children of devil, but now we have become the children
of living God. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (Joh. 1:2). What a
wonderful privilege God has given to us to be called as children of living God.
So He has adopted us, born into the family of God as His Sons and daughters. So
His blessing is that, He has adopted us as sons and daughters, spiritually we
may be grown up. That is the blessing God has given to us.
Thirdly He
has accepted us in the beloved. “To the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6). Our life
has been accepted. In the Bible accepted has got a deeper meaning. If you go
home and read Lev Chap 15 & 16, if someone has committed any sins they have
to bring 2 goat of animals. In order to have remission of sins they have to
bring animals for sacrifice. And the High Priest will examine the animals, and scriptures
say that he will examine the animal for nearly 4 days. And on the 4th
day he will declares that it is accepted. Then only that animal can be
sacrificed for sins offering. But here God has accepted us means, even though
we have so many weaknesses, shortcomings, failures, disobedience and sins were
found in us yet God has accepted us. And the best example we see in book of
Philemon. In the book of Philemon we see that Onesimus life has been written.
He was the servant in the house of Philemon, and he robbed his master’s
property and ran away. He was caught and landed in jail were Apo. Paul was
imprisoned. Onesimus heard the gospel preached by Apostle Paul. He repented of
his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. And Paul was
convinced of the life of Onesimus, and after Onesimus was released from jail,
Paul writes an epistle to Philemon and sends it through Onesimus. In that
epistle he says that, ‘you accept him not as your servant, but as your son’.
This is what the real meaning of acceptance is. God has accepted our life; you
may have robbed of God’s precious things in so many ways. You may have robbed
God’s time, you may have robbed Gods talent which He has given to us, and we
have robbed the money which He has given to us. Even though we have done all
these things, but yet He has accepted our life.
“In whom we
have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of his grace;” (Eph. 1:7). The word redemption has got a deeper meaning
in the Bible. Redemption means, those who are slaves and have been set free. In
the days of Apostle Paul nearly around 9 Lakh slaves were there. Whether they
were men slaves or women slaves they were carried to the market place and were
sold there. Rich man used to come and then pay the price and set them free. So
also we were all slaves in the sight of God. Rom 3:23 says Slaves to sin, Rom 6:23
says we are Slaves to death, death means not physical but spiritual death. And
death has separated us from living God. Gal 5:1 says we are slaves to the Law,
and also slaves to satan. “Wherein in time past ye walked according to
the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” (Eph. 2:2). And
slaves to the world, world means, “Love not the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man
love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1Joh. 2:15,16). So
we are slaves to all these things. But Praise God the Great rich man came down
from heaven. Who is this rich man? Nothing, but our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
And He came down and paid a great price to set us free. What is the price He
gave? “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot:” (1 Pet. 1:18,19). We have been redeemed by
the precious blood of the Lamb of God. So this is the great price that the Lord
Jesus Christ offered to redeem you and me. “Who gave himself for our sins, that he
might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and
our Father:” (Gal 1:4). Our Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself to set us
free from the sinful world.
The second
blessing we see our Lord Jesus Christ has given Eph 1:7 not only he has
redeemed us but also has forgiven our sins. Forgiven means He carried away our
sins. How far our Lord Jesus has carried our sins? “The Lord is merciful and
gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psa. 103:8). Not only
He has forgiven but also has kept all our sins behind, He says I will not
remember your sins anymore. “He will turn again, he will have compassion
upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into
the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:19). “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isa. 43:25).That
is the true meaning of forgiveness of Sins.
“Wherein he
hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;” (Eph. 1:8). Wisdom and prudence He has given to us. Not
the worldly wisdom but the heavenly wisdom. Through this we can able to know
about God and also understand Gods Word.
“Having made
known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he
hath purposed in himself:” (Eph 1:9).
The Lord Jesus Christ has revealed unto us the mysteries of God. In the Bible
we see many mysteries of God are written. But in Old Testament even though many
man and woman of God were there but they could not be able to understand the
mysteries of God. Praise God according
to New Testament through the Lord Jesus Christ you and I could be able to
understand the mysteries of God. God became man is a mystery, and our Lord
Jesus Christ birth and life on earth is a mystery, and also His death on the
cross is a mystery, and his resurrection also is a mystery. And after the Lord
Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He had glorified body. And In that glorified
body we see that the marks of wound were still there. God with a purpose has
kept the marks in Him. As He knew that if the marks were not there doubting
disciples wouldn’t have believed Him. Even though Lord Jesus Christ said many
times that I am going to be put to death and will rise again on the third day.
Even after the Lord Jesus has risen again and went before the disciples, yet
they failed to recognize the Lord Jesus Christ. All the 10 disciples shut the
doors and windows and were sitting inside, because of the fear of Jewish
people. They were thinking that our master is dead and the Jews will come and
kill us also. Jesus Christ after he was risen again he came into their midst.
And He had to show his marks of the wounds unto them, after they saw that they
believed in Him. Even though the 10 disciples testified that Jesus Christ rose
from the dead, one of the disciples Thomas failed to believe it. He challenged
before them that unless I put my finger in the palm of the Lord Jesus Christ
and also my palm in the side of the Lord Jesus Christ I will not believe. But
we see that even Jesus Christ also He went to him and showed Himself and then Thomas
says my Lord my God. Because the mark of the wound was found in the body of the
Lord Jesus Christ they could able to exercise faith in the Lord. That is a
mystery. When we are glorified we will not have this kind of marks in us. Lord
will give us a glorified body. And that is the mystery. So many mysteries God
has revealed to us.
“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:” (Eph.
1:11). We have an inheritance and we
are the partakers of the inheritance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus
Christ has made us heirs and joint heirs with Him. That is the blessing
received. And there are other two blessings which the Lord Jesus Christ wants
to give to us.
“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,” (Eph 1:13). Spirit of
the Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon every child of God. Speaks about the
indwelling of the spirit of God, speaks about safety and security. Till we meet
the Lord Jesus Christ in the mid-air Holy Spirit of God is the one who takes
care of us, He protects, He saves us, leads us, guides us and strengthens us.
Because of the Holy Spirit of God we enjoy security and safety, because all the
time enemy will be attacking us. Lord Jesus said that satan is a thief and he
comes to steal, kill and destroy. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly” (Joh. 10:10). The only way to escape
this is the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Seal of the Spirit of God
is upon us.
“Which is
the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:14). The Earnest means the guarantor, the payment
is being made and so the Holy Spirit of our God is our guarantor. So when we
have been engaged to the Lord Jesus Christ we know that our God Lord Jesus
Christ is the bridegroom and we are His bride. Church is called as the bride of
the Lord Jesus Christ. So the day is going to come then wedding will take place
in heaven. And the believers or the children of God are the one who will be
seen. Those who are dead in Christ will be raised first. They will have the
glorified body. And we who are alive we also will have glorified body and we
will meet the dear ones. First we are going to meet our beloved ones. Tears
will be there when we meet our dear ones, our tears will be wiped away from us.
Together we will meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the mid-air. And then we will be
along with the Lord Jesus Christ for the great wedding; Wedding of the Lamb of
God. What a great blessing it is to know that all these blessings are not
temporary but are eternal blessings. So having enjoyed this blessing what shall
we do? Shall we shut our mouth and keep quiet, but on the other hand let us
open our heart and our mouth and pour out our heart before Him and worship the
Lord in spirit and also in truth.
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