Big Idea: We have been blessed with “spiritual” blessings in heavenly places. Through prayer, these blessings flow to us and through us.
Blessing is a key “foundation stone” for being “Built up in Christ”
Our theme verse in 2022 is – “In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22 NIV
Blessing flows to us
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” Ephesians 1:3 ESV
- How do you think you receive these spiritual blessings? Prayer
- Prayer is the conduit through which spiritual blessings flow
Blessing flows through us
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10 ESV
- “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”- Father, I pray that the blessings in heaven might be experienced on earth
- These blessings we experience on earth are to be shared or multiplied
Little Boy- through prayer, his lunch fed thousands
“Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” John 6:5-10 ESV
- Prayer is the conduit through which spiritual blessings flow
Blessing is deeply historical
“Am I a blessing to the people around me?”
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27 ESV
- Prayer for Protection
- Prayer for Presence
- Prayer for Grace and Peace
Blessing is surprisingly practical
It’s really daunting to ask yourself “who can I talk to about Jesus today?” – Start here: In prayer, ask the Lord who can I invite out for lunch? Who can I invite over to my home? Who can I share God’s blessings in my life? Who can I be a blessing to this week?
Homework:
- What are the spiritual blessings Paul lists in Ephesians 1?
- Take time to pray blessings over your family, your home, and your sphere of influence
- In prayer, ask God who you can I invite out to lunch this week?
- In prayer, ask God who you can invite over to your home in the next month?
- Buy Starbucks for a stranger this week
Next week Pastor Barry will continue in Ephesians 1 on what it means to be “Built up in Christ” with his message “What is a Christian,” looking at verses 4-10. These are really a continuation of the Spiritual Blessings I have talked about today.
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