Holy Spirit’s Blessings

Apostle Paul:  ³ 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. . . . ⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son (Jesus). ⁷ He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased (redeemed) our freedom with the blood of His Son (Jesus) and forgave our sins. ⁸ He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence). . . . ¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ (Messiah) from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now He (Jesus) is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else — not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ (Messiah) and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. ²³ And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself. Ephesians 1:3, 6-8, 19-23 (NLT)

GOD IS GOOD! In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul teaches on the spiritual wealth and goodness of Triune God—God the Father, God the Son, Jesus, and God the Spirit. The true and living God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed all faithful believers of His Son Jesus with every spiritual blessings and riches in the heavenly realms because we trust and obey His Son (Ephesians 1:3).

First, God the Father has blessed every faithful believer with His overflowing and abundant mercy, peace, and grace through faith in His Son Jesus (e.g., see Ephesians 1:2-3, 6-8; Ephesians 2:4-7; Ephesians 3:8, 14-21). Furthermore through our faith and obedience in His Son Jesus, God has declared all believers as righteous, holy, blameless and wise (Ephesians 1:1, 8; see also Romans 5:1-5; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8-9). Even more, all believers have received an inheritance from God, forgiveness of sins, and adoptions into God’s family because we love and obey His Son Jesus (Ephesians 1:7, 18; see also Acts 20:32; Romans 2:4; Romans 3:23-25; Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Peter 2:9-10). Through our faith in His Son Jesus, the glorious and living God has washed away all our sins, sealed us with His Holy Spirit, and adopted us as His children (Ephesians 1:7, 13-14; see also John 1:12-13; John 3:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:5). Our Heavenly Father is not poor but rich, and He has made faithful believers’ rich in His Son, Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 3:8). God’s grace supplies the wealth, but our faith lays hold of the wealth.

Most importantly, through our faith in His living Son Christ Jesus, God has given all faithful believers the mighty power and wisdom of His Holy Spirit to help and dwell within us (Ephesians 1:13-14, 19; see also John 14:25-26; John 16:12-14; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; Ephesians 6:10). God has given every faithful believer of Christ Jesus the power of His Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul mentions the Holy Spirit many times in the book of Ephesians because the Holy Spirit is the One who channels our spiritual blessings from God the Father through the Son, Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 1:13-14). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers is a foretaste or down payment of our inheritance from God, the Father of glory. Not to know and depend on the Holy Spirit’s blessings and provisions available to all believers is to live a life of spiritual poverty! That same Holy Spirit power that resurrected Christ Jesus from complete death and seated Him at God’s right hand in heaven also now lives and dwells within all faithful believers of Jesus (Ephesians 1:20; see also Acts 2:24, 33; 1 Peter 3:18, 22). The living God has elevated His Son Jesus to be far above any other kings, rulers, dictators, and leaders of this world or in the world to come (Ephesians 1:21; see also 1 Peter 3:22). The Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme Head of the Church—which is His body (see Ephesians 1:22-23). As faithful believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are also spiritually seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:20; see also Ephesians 2:5-6), and all things are under our feet (see Romans 8:37). “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV). If we are on God’s side, God will defeat our enemies (e.g., see Psalm 118:6; Jeremiah 20:11; Romans 8:31).

At Calvary’s Cross, Jesus defeated and destroyed evil! Although Jesus has defeated all evil powers, principalities, and spirits, these unclean spirits have not yet surrendered. The residues of their power continue to corrupt the disobedient world (see Ephesians 2:2). When Jesus returns in all His glory with His angels, Jesus will defeat all residues of evil (see 1 Corinthians 15:24).

Sadly, evil enemies want to rob believers of our spiritual blessings (see e.g., Ephesians 6:11-12). Believers can never defeat these evil spiritual enemies in our own power, but we can through the Holy Spirit’s power (see Ephesians 6:10). In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul wants all believers to know the greatness of God’s power to defeat any evil enemy that tries to deprive us of our spiritual blessings. Because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the living God has given all believers the power of the Holy Spirit to defeat all strategies and tricks of Satan and his evil followers (see Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:10-11). Believers can resist and defeat Satan and his evil spirits through our TRUTH, GOODNESS, PEACE, FAITH, GOD’S WORD, PRAYER, AND HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER (Ephesians 6:13-18). Believers overcome evil with good (see Romans 12:9, 21).

References

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI:  Baker Book House Company, 2001).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary –New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).