Declare the Word
Blessings #14-18

We have been on a journey discovering our spiritual blessings that we have as believers in Christ based on Ephesians 1:3 which says: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. There are eighteen blessings listed in the first three chapters of Ephesians. While these eighteen are important for believers to know and understanding, they are only a portion of what believers do have - all because of Christ and what He has done for us. 

Blessing #14  

As we continue learning about our eighteen blessings that we have in heavenly places through the Book of Ephesians, we find blessing #14 in verse 13 of chapter 2.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ.

Without Christ's shed blood on the cross of Calvary, we could not have the blessings we have in Christ. We, as Gentile believers in Christ were once far away from Christ as God had His heart set facing the Jews. Gentiles lived in paganism until the Jewish leaders screamed for Jesus to be crucified. At the rejection of Jesus's deity, God turned His affections toward the Gentile people. Thus, we read that Christ Jesus, who was once far off, but through the shed blood of Christ, Gentiles could now come to Christ for salvation. We can come near to God because of what Christ has done for us.

Blessing #15

And because we, now as Gentile believers can come to Christ for our eternal salvation, blessing #15 tells us in Eph 2:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.  We have personal access to come to God our Father anytime through the Holy Spirit Who now dwells within our spirit - all because of what Christ has done for us. Just think about that -  24/7 anytime, continually, whenever we want or need Him, we can come to God through the Holy Spirit Who now lives within our spirit. And as long as we continue to believe, He will never, ever, ever leave us. We are that important to God.

Blessing #16

...which really ties in with blessing #16 where our bodies are a temple of God for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. Eph 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the Household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ Himself, being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

Can that sink into your mind that you are now a member of the Household of God - as much as the Old Testament prophets, the apostles of Jesus, and Jesus Himself. You...your spirit/soul belongs to God and even your physical body is a habitation for God to dwell in. We vision God sitting on the throne in heaven, but can you now vision God, through His Spirit, now living within you?

• Doesn't that mean we need to take care of ourselves as members of the household of God.
• We are royalty - the king's kid.
• Spiritually and soulishly, we need to dedicate our lives to Whom we belong, see ourselves as part of God's kingdom, and physically, don't we need to treat our bodies with respect - take care of it - for inside each one of as, as a believer in Christ, house the Spirit of God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. How privileged we are!

Blessing 17

And because we are so privileged to be a part of the Kingdom of God, God has then revealed to us the mystery that has been hidden from the beginning of the ages. What then is that mystery? Let's read verse 9 of Ephesians 3.

Eph 3:9-10 and to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

What is this mystery - this wisdom that has been hidden from the beginning and is now manifested to the church? While on earth, the Old Testament saints did not know Who Jesus is, and the apostles came to know - especially after His death and resurrection.  This mystery is the Gospel - Jesus Christ - His diety - His life - His death - His resurrection. And because He lives, so do we - all because of what Christ - the Son of God did for us.

• As the Church of the living God, we have the privilege, along with the saints who now reside in heaven, which has now been revealed to them, that we are all One with Christ as the Body of Christ...therefore, members of the household of God - heirs to the Kingdom of God, privileges to have eternal salvation - all because of what Christ has done for us.
• And because we now know that mystery, we have the right and responsibility to let Satan and his demonic powers - principality and powers in the heavenly places Who Christ is. That's our responsibility, as well as our right and authority. 
• And as such, we have authority to bind their powers, command them to leave, because we belong to the Kingdom of God.
• And never forget, all demonic powers HAS to bow to the name of Jesus - and we carry that authority in Jesus' name.
• What a privilege, honor, and responsibility we have.

Blessing #18

And the finally we come to blessing #18 which is covered in verse 12 of Ephesians 3. Eph 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

We don't have to shirk back with our faith in knowing who we are in Christ. We can boldly speak out Christ to others as well as boldly have access to come to God anytime because of who we are in Christ. We can confidently come to God 24/7 knowing that our loving heavenly Father waits for us to come to Him. His arms are always open, His heart is always ready to receive us just as we are, and He, being Almighty God, can do the work of change in us as we continue to understand our blessings, seek Him anytime. See yourself running to daddy - our Abba Father and His arms are open as we rush into His arms - and to feel His loving arms being wrapped around us.

• So then, spend time in prayer with your Abba Daddy - for He is continuously waiting for you, His precious child to come to Him.
• We are so privileges to be a part of God's Kingdom - have Him as our heavenly Father - all because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.

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I pray these 18 blessings from the first three chapters of Ephesians has been a help for you to identify yourself with Christ and all the blessings that come from knowing Christ as your Savior and Lord. If you haven't accepted Jesus yet to experience these blessings, and you believe and trust that Jesus wants you to come to Him, just say this prayer.

"Dear God. I believe in your Son Jesus Who died on the cross for my sins. God, I believe you rose Jesus from the dead to be alive forevermore. And because you rose your son, you want everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of Your truth. Therefore, I choose to accept all that you have for me. Come live in me through the power of your Holy Spirit, and I purpose to live for you all the days of my life as you lead me day by day. Amen"

• If you just said this prayer for the first time, welcome to the Family of God. Then go back again and listen to all eighteen blessings to get them down in your heart. 
• They will help you understand your identity in Christ to will help you grow in your faith.

Blessings!