Ephesians 1 - 4.18.23

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians 1:3  "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."

OBSERVATION:  We are so blessed to have been CHOSEN by God before the creation of  the world!  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.  We are blessed because we have been REDEEMED by the blood of Jesus; the forgiveness of our sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace - that He lavished on us!

APPLICATION:  I heard the message of truth; the gospel of my salvation, and have believed, therefore, by faith, I have received God's grace and forgiveness, and I AM SAVED!  God has given me EVERY spiritual blessing in Christ!  He has lavished me with His love, presence, and power, and has opened the eyes of my heart to know the hope to which He has called me. 

I once was lost, but now am found!  Was blind, but now I see! 

PRAYER:  Thank You Lord for being such a good God!  You have allowed me to experience Your love and Your power, and You have been so faithful to me!  Thank You for all that I have received through Jesus.  You have directed and carried out my salvation, and I pray as I rely on the power of the Holy Spirit that I will fulfill my role in the body of Christ to be used by You to build up and encourage the believers, and  serve one another in love.

I love Paul's prayer, and I declare it over the body of Christ, and over our un-saved loved ones:  "I  keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparable great power for us who believe."  (Ephesians 1:17-19a). 

- Robin Orefice