Know what is yours in Christ & by faith put it to use

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Ephesians 1:3

If we are IN CHRIST, then what keeps us from exercising and enjoying our spiritual blessings that we get the moment we believe?

The language of this portion of this long sentence (v3-14 is one long sentence) indicates that we are to bless God and that everything we need to live spiritually was provided for us as part of God’s plan and creation.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty points out that “Since these benefits have already been bestowed on believers, they should not ask for them but rather appropriate them by faith. Similarly Joshua was not to ask for land since God had already promised it to him (Josh. 1:3-4). But he was to enter into the enjoyment of that provision.”

Charles Stanley said about this, “unfortunately we, like the Ephesians, sometimes live as spiritual paupers because we focus on the mechanics of Christianity instead of a relationship with the Lord”.

Walking with God is about relationship, the relationship you entered the moment you believed in Jesus and He forgave your sin and gave you a new life as a child of God. As a Believer, a Christ Follower, you were adopted as a child of God with all rights of a family member (John 1:12, Eph. 1:11). Jesus is your Savior, your Lord and friend (John 15:15) and “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3

It is up to you to learn to use or exercise your gifts, blessing and rights. Learn, not by trying or doing things, but learn truth so you can by faith trust and BE. Be who and what you are in Christ. Believe you are what God says you are and that you have what He says you have; then trust Him enough to obey and let Him work in and through you.

All this takes time, time with God in prayer and Bible study to get to know Him better so that you can trust and love God. Then you can learn to allow God to use you and work through you. Like a perfect little baby that is born with all that he needs to one day run a race, you have to learn who and what you are as that new creation, and grow. First it may be learning to roll over, to crawl, to stand, to take a step or two, then to walk and then to run. After that it takes continual training to run faster and farther and build endurance. Your strength to run comes from the food you eat for energy; first the breast, then soft food and one day solid meat. The child gets his strength from outside himself just as we rely on our strength that comes provided by God and not self effort. It is God at work in you (Phil. 2:13) both to will and to do.

Apply yourself, train and trust and obey so that you can live a life of freedom from the position of victory and so that you can as walk in His power, will and love as “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10”.

Cooperate with God in what He wants to do with you and through you. All your spiritual blessings are secured in Heaven by God and are yours because of what Jesus did for you. It isn’t you or your doing that allows you to see God use you, but by faith obeying God and claiming that which is already yours in Christ!