ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Shirley Caesar sings a song “You’re Next in Line for a Blessing”. It is a gospel song that we love to sway to or wave our hands saying yes Lord I want to be next in line, right up front when you’re handing out the blessings! We’ve got our list all made out too!
In the midst of “breaking news” and bad news, the good news of the gospel tells us that we are already blessed. Paul writes to the church at Ephesus and makes a general statement about blessings.(Ephesians 1: 1-19)
He writes that all believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing and then spends the next verses sharing what they are. Yet, there is not one house, car, promotion, job, spouse or mega bucks in the list at all!
The Greek word for “Blessings” comes from the word eulogia. It means “benefit” . Spiritual blessings are of the spirit, real benefits not just a good idea. Our spirit is that part of us that controls us. It leads and directs us. It is the place where we make decisions. And, the condition of your spirit often determines how well we make those decisions.
In the global health crisis that the whole world is going through, this is a good time to count your blessings and name them one by one!
- Chosen – you’re not an accident or an afterthought. You were chosen before the foundations of the world. You were on God’s and before God said, “Let there be light”!
- Holy and Blameless – because Christ made it so! Jesus qualifies you to serve, not because of your own righteousness but because the righteousness of Chris imputed to you.
- Loved – you’re loved unconditionally. If not one has ever said authentically they love you, know that Jesus does. You’re beloved!
- Adopted – You’ve already been selected to be a son or daughter of the most high God!
- Accepted – Hallelujah, we have not been rejected or kicked to the club. We are accepted in Jesus Christ, relationally reconciled in Christ, pleasing to God.
- Redeemed – We are no long enslaved by sin but wash by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid with his life for our freedom from sin, death and hell.
- Forgiven – If we con fess, the Lord will be faithful to forgive us of our sins. Forgive us this day Jesus, may we forgive those whose sins have impacted our lives and may we forgive ourselves.
- Grace – We have the “unmerited favor” of grace in abundance from Jesus Christ. It is a grace we cannot earn or purchase, it is just given.
- Solutions – The Lord reveal mystery …the mystery of the Lord’s will, revealed solutions.
- An Eternal Inheritance, the Word of God’s truth to bring a light in dark times, the exceeding greatness of the power of God, the hope of God’s calling over your life and blessed to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise!
Whew! That’s quite a list.
Count these blessings and say them out loud one by one! Say these blessings as declarations especially when you don’t feel particularly blessed in your day. Say these blessings in a prayer of thanksgiving first thing in the morning or last thing at night, all of them or declare one a day for the next 14 days…but say them, declare them and believe them .
Live this day and everyday knowing that you already have every spiritual blessing. You’re rich!
Repeat After Me:
I am already blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)
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Go to http://www.vashtimckenzie.com for information about our Selah Leadership Encounter for Women events: Selah Atlanta, September 18-19, 2020 and Selah Dallas, November 19-21, 2020.
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Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
