Ephesians 1
Thankful to be Blessed!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, November 19.
I’ve noticed that more and more people are using the word “Blessed!” to describe themselves, their families, and their situations.
Listen to how Paul starts off his letter to the Ephesians in 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
In the NIV, the first “blessed” is translated “Praise” as in “Praise be to the God and Father…” That should tell us something right away about this rich word.
It is true and right for a Christian to say they are blessed; for in Christ we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. This is an amazing truth of God’s Word and one of the promises of God to us! Praise be to God who has done this and given this gift to us!
What does it mean to be blessed? It means that we are forgiven and adopted by the Father, redeemed through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and sealed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Please keep reading Ephesians 1:3-14 to learn more.
Jesus Christ has blessed us, brought us to God, by taking all the curses of God that we deserve for our sin onto Himself and has given us His relationship with God—His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ, God will never withhold any blessing from you because you rightfully and legally belong to Him as an adopted son with right of inheritance as one of His chosen people.
That is a Good Father. This is your heavenly blessing as a child of God!
Seize the moment and be thankful: you have been blessed to be a blessing!
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