Every Spiritual Blessing of God!

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” – Ephesians 1:3 NLT

Most of us believe that our culture world is ultimately connected to the Kingdom World, so we think that if we live our lives comfortably and peacefully with a lot of satisfaction, then it would please God since God has created everything and us. Furthermore, we think that God is some kind of a magical genie, who always grants us every prayer requests. Thus, for these reasons, we live our lives according to our desires, passions, pleasures, and will. Nevertheless, if something happens unexpectedly or terribly, then we quickly go to church and pray earnestly before God to remove or fix our situations or mind-set—with a lot of thankfulness. As soon as we get wisdom to fix whatever things we are doing wrong, or as soon as they disappear, we continue to live our lives in the way we used to live.

Nonetheless, the truth is that our culture world is connected to the Kingdom World but they are also disconnected. To be more specific, the ways of living between them is different. Yes, of course, God has created everything and us (Psalm 24:1) but all of them are created for a specific reason—to the glory of God. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16-17) This means that all of us have been created us to be the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we have to use material items to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). To bring them together, Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross as atonement of our sins (Colossians 1:18-20). Furthermore, God has exchanged our eternal destiny into the life from the death through Jesus (Hebrews 2:14-15). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) These are probably reasons why Jesus has declared, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14) Therefore, God only grants our prayer requests if they are according to the will of God (1 John 5:14-15), so we have to set our minds and hearts to the kingdom of heaven, instead of the world (Colossians 3:1-4).

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (James 1:5-8)

This is the reason why God has poured His Spirit into us (James 4:4-5).  Therefore, we have to crucify our worldly nature and live according to the Spirit of God until the end of the age (Galatians 5:24-25). The main reason for this is that the desires of the Spirit is contrary to our worldly ones (Galatians 5:17).  Because of this, the word of God urges to sacrifice and deny ourselves for the kingdom of heaven (Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:24-27). Furthermore, the Spirit of God is also the Spirit of the life (John 6:63), the truth (John 16:7-15), the freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17), and the Spirit of the righteousness (Romans 8:1-17).

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:15-18)

Overall, every follower of Jesus Christ have specific spiritual gifts but the main reason that we have to thankful for is Jesus Christ—Himself. (James 1:17-18) and the steadfast love of God (Psalm 136:1-3). This is because if God has not loved us with His steadfast love and if Jesus Christ was not crucified and resurrected, then we would not have the forgiveness of sins from God (Colossians 2:13-15), eternal life through Jesus (John 3:16-17; 1 John 4:9-10), and we would not be able to serve God through His Spirit, and build for the kingdom of heaven in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:5-8).

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:4-14)

Thank You, God, for Your Steadfast love that is toward us.

And that you gave your only Son, Jesus Christ as an atonement of our sins,

So tthat we might be able to have eternal life through Him instead of death.

Therefore, let the Sprit of God to guide us until the end of the age,

As we honor and serve You all day long.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!