Eight Spiritual Gifts From The Bible Book Of Ephesians That Will Work to Empower The Christian

Special Review Eight Spiritual Gifts From The Bible Book Of Ephesians That Will Work to Empower The Christian

My friend, as a Christian, what is it that you seek most of all in life? What are the things that are of the greatest importance, or value to you? My singular purpose in this record is to express that only in Christ Jesus is there true and chronic reward and success. That in ourselves we possess nothing that can deliver to us abiding joy, peace and satisfaction, and at the end of life's journey reward us with God's approval when we stand face to face with Him at Judgment Day. Only being rightly linked with the Father straight through our Lord Jesus Christ offers the fulness of life that every Christian seeks.

As both encouragement and proof that the first and true source of Christian life and virtue comes from God rather than the Christian himself, I wish to mention the following endowments that the first century apostle expressed in the book of Ephesians, part one. I do this in the hope that it will both encourage and instruct people to look to Jesus in all things. To comprehend that it is God straight through Christ that is the initiator of every good thing in the Christian's life, both natural and spiritual. That men might comprehend that only when the eyes of our faith are set on Jesus can we ever hope to be successful in our lives and ministries. Either it is victory over sin that we seek, abiding peace and joy, a depth and quality in the relationships of our lives, success in the roles of husband or wife, as father or mother, as friend, as employer, as employee, as minister. Whatever it might be that is before us. Only an abiding relationship with Jesus, and that which He offers to the Christian can bring fulfillment and success. Amen

All brief quotations of Scripture will be in the King James Version.

Ephesian 1:3b ...who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.
Our God and heavenly Father is generous in deed. Actually it is true that He not only offered the very life of His Son from heaven, but will also with Him, freely and openly give us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Now, what are all these "spiritual blessings in heavenly places"? I have been made aware of what many of them are, but beyond that I comprehend that for eternity time to come God will continue to unveil yet more and more to the souls of men that look to Him. He reveals His blessings to every soul of man who abides faithfully in Christ Jesus, and I might add, He has an eternity to do it. For as the ages roll in eternity future, God will be there revealing the unfathomable depth of His someone and purposes to the children of men who abide in His favor. This I believe.

Ephesians 1:4b ...that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
How can a soul forgiven fully express the depth of gratitude for the reality of having his sins forgiven? "I am free from the guilt of every sin that I have ever committed. " This is the tasteless expression of all who have come to Jesus and by faith acceptable the absolute unblemished pardon from sin that He offers. Whereas once I was guilty and dirty, now I am not only free from the condemnation and the burden of a guilty conscience, but my heart and soul is clean before Him. For in forgiving me, He also renewed me. He made me a brand new vertebrate in Christ Jesus, and all I had to do to receive this was to turn away from the filth that I used to live in, and place my faith in Him who loved me, and died that I (and all others also) might have life.

Ephesian 1:5a Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ.
How good is that? Not only has the Eternal One forgiven me my sins against Him, but He went way beyond that and adopted me into His family where I began a brother to the Lord Jesus, and an heir with Christ of all things. Now, I encourage you brother and sister, this thought can barely begin to be industrialized in this minute article, but I advise to you that Christ possess all things, and if you will abide in Him He will make them available to you in order that you may use them and enjoy them to the end that you might be to His praise. Let me tell you a secret! Are you listening? Life, and the world, and all of their treasures do not belong to any government, or set of politicians, or to "religion", or to the devil himself. They belong to Jesus, and He will throughout the ages to come share them with those that are His.

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us acceptable in the beloved.
First issue is that God offers to all the gift of His grace. He sets His favor on whom ever will receive it. He looks at you and your life with favor. Not because of any good thing you have done, but because He loves you and has purposed to be graciously to you, extending His favor and drawing you into Christ. And being found in Christ He no longer sees any of us for the sinners we once were. If you are in Christ, you are no longer a looser in His sight, but one of His children, His people. We as Christians are His beloved. He loves us, and in that love showers upon us His concentration and gifts. Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! He alone is good, and the truth is that the only presuppose we love Him at all is that He first loved us.

Ephesians 1:7a In whom we have redemption straight through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
My life has been redeemed. That means it has been bought back from the evil one. My life, as well as the lives of all human persons belonged to Satan who took rights of them when he enticed the first man Adam to sin, thus plunging the whole human race into sin, with all its dirtiness, guiltiness and regrets. I was born into sin, and I openly practiced it for years until such time as Jesus by the Holy Spirit convinced me that my way was the way of death and loss. Therefore, recognizing His good intentions for me, I swore an allegiance to Him, and became at that time one of the redeemed. Praise be to God, I belong to Satan no more!

Ephesians 1:13b ...in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Jesus, about 2,000 years ago lived in corporal form on the earth, but when He left the earth to return to His father He did not leave His disciples alone, but rather sent to them the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of truth, the Spirit of comfort. The world can not know Him or see Him. But those that belong to Jesus know His voice and know His dealing. No, Christians are not alone in the world. God's nearnessy is with them every day, and in every way. In fact, if we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in our bodies, we are His temple. We need only to learn to listen to Him, and obey Him, and never offend Him.

Ephesians 1:17b-18a ...may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened:
"Ah, thank you Lord Jesus that You do not leave us in darkness or ignorance, but rather You grant to all who will live by the faith of Jesus, and who live in obedience to your commandments, revelation of Your someone and will. You see Lord, we could never know You, nor what is freely given to us by Yourself, except that You are willing to open the eyes of our understanding. For the world lies in darkness, and we are in the world. But because you sent- (still send) Your nearnessy into all who believe, we have light and understanding. For this I (we) praise You."

Ephesians 1:22a And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over all for the Church....
My friend, Jesus is lord over the Church, it (we who consist of it) belongs to Him. He purchased the Church with His own blood. He is not only lord over the Church, but He is also lord over all things, and He will in permissible time return in corporal form to set up shop as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He will then exercise absolute control over all nations, He will rule them with "a rod of iron". Then, where will those people be that have laughed at Him, or persecuted Him, and rejected Him from being lord of their lives? My friend, I encourage you to accept the reality and certainty of the promise of the Scripture that Jesus will return and that His kingdom will fill all the earth, so that you might take permissible operation with your heart and life at this present time. For it has been appointed unto man once to die, and after that is the judgment. At that time, it will then be to late to make your changes and abide under the blessings of the reality of the Lord-ship, and Savior-ship of Christ Jesus.

A wise and godly man once said, "it is the goodness of the Lord that lead men to repentance." This truth has Actually proven true in this man's life. And I supplementary testify that only in Him have I found real peace, real satisfaction, real understanding. It is only in Him that I have known, and then been enabled to express real love. God is good. Every man would do well to serve Him. Friend, if you have not made peace with God straight through our Lord Jesus Christ I encourage you to do it now. Today is the day of salvation! Now is the acceptable time! Listen to, and surrender to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Amen

A Watchman,
Gregory A. DeHart