Blessed Already.

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NOTE: This is Day Two of the devotional guide (Volume 1, Issue 2) of our church, Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship, for the message last Sunday, March 8, on “Know How Much You Are Worth Part 1” (“Significance” series, a verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians).

When we think of blessings, usually what comes to mind are material things. Surely there’s nothing wrong with receiving financial blessings, for example. But it is wrong when we always equate blessings with material things. We are so blessed spiritually.

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According to Ephesians 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”. (Emphasis added)
“Spiritual” blessings are benefits that relate to our spiritual life in contrast to our physical life. In Israel, God's promised blessings were mainly physical, but in the church, they are mainly spiritual. [1]
Of course, whether spiritual blessings or material ones, it is all from God. (James 1:17) However, in our pursuit of what is material, we may miss out on what is spiritual.

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What we pursue the most, we value the most.
The Father has given us every blessing of the Spirit, everything we need for a successful, satisfying Christian life. The spiritual is far more important than the material. [2]
Note that we already have “every spiritual blessing” since “God has blessed us in Christ” (emphasis added). It’s actually a done deal at the moment we put our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as our savior. 
Our resources in God are not simply promised; they are possessed. … God cannot give us more than He has already given us in His Son. There is nothing more to receive. The believer’s need, therefore, is not to receive something more but to do something more with what he has. [3]
We still have to ask for the material blessings. But we already have all the spiritual blessings we need. We just have to use it as we walk in our obedience to Christ. 

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Significant Step
As you re-read Ephesians 1-3, make a list of all the spiritual blessings that the apostle Paul said we already have. Reflect on the truth that you have those spiritual blessings and that we have to do something more with what we have.

[1] Thomas L. Constable, “Profound Mystery: Commentary on Ephesians,” Faith Footnotes on the New Testament (TX: Authenticity Book House, 2007, 2012). Kindle Edition. 

[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Expository Commentary (IL: Victor Books, 1999). Electronic Edition. Italics his.

[3] John F. MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Ephesians (IL: Moody Bible Institute, 1986. Reprinted in the Philippines by CGM, 1989), 8. Emphasis added.

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