SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS COME FROM ABOVE
Rev. Paulus Budiono
Lemah Putro, Sunday, January 28, 2018
Shalom,
How does one react to a letter? Look at his face. Without a doubt, his facial expression brings his reaction to light in one way or another. When reading a letter from his CEO, he may read it seriously. He may smilingy read and kiss the letter if it comes from his lover. But if a creditor sends him a letter, he may knit his brows while reading it grudgingly and the list goes on and on.
When it comes to securities such as marriage certificates and love letters, do we still keep them well although they have been lying for decades in the drawer? Do we love reading them until the pages get rumpled to bring sweet memories back to mind? How do we feel about the Letter to the Ephesians that we have been reading and hearing for dozens of times? Are we still happy about it? Or, do we feel bored with it, making us lazy to go to church?
We need to know the fact that we were (from clay) formed by the Potter (Jeremiah 18: 4) with a definite purpose and function. An aqua bottle, for example, is made and filled with drinking water (not gasoline). This vessel / bottle does not protest when it is ready to use but it will be grateful when it is finished and filled with water to supply people’s need. Have our life vessels shaped by the Potter been a blessing to our husbands, wives, children and those around us? Or are we busy protesting about the vessels of other people's lives while we are not the makers? In fact we have no right to correct the weaknesses of other people's vessels because we are all still being molded by God and He knows exactly how long the process takes. That’s why we encounter shortcomings that do not fit in with our desires. We must, therefore, surrender ourselves to the Potter through the Word of God that forms the vessels of our lives until we are ready to 'use' and bless others.
Let’s learn more about the way how the Word of God, especially the Letter to the Ephesians, forms our lives to resemble our Creator. Ephesians 4: 20-24 say, "But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. "
In fact, we can never finish elaborating the Word of God, because the Word is eternal but is able to help us during our life’s journey in this world on the way to the New Jerusalem. What did Apostle Paul write in his epistle to the Ephesians 1:3? " 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."
Apparently, the Apostle Paul gave praises to our Lord, God the Father. Typically, one sings praises for the success of an individual or a group of people at the inauguration of a company, a graduation ceremony or a religious event. But the Apostle Paul praised God because of the spiritual blessings from Heaven, instead of success, given to the Ephesian church (and us).
More surprisingly, the Epistle to the Ephesians includes praises to God the Father in the Lord Jesus Christ written by the Apostle Paul when he was imprisoned because of his preaching the Gospel of the crucified Christ. In his letter, he did not ask the church in Ephesus to defend or sympathize with him. What did he ask for? Ephesians 6: 19-20 write, “And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
When 'shackled' in prison, the Apostle Paul did not complain about the inconvenience of the prison. Instead, he was looking forward to his release as he wanted to fearlessly keep preaching the Gospel in truth .
Introspection: Do we have the courage to preach the Gospel that glorifies God the Father in the Lord Jesus Christ without being motivated by self-interest? Can we give thanks to Him when we are oppressed and under threat of imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel? Remember that the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we who believe in the Gospel of salvation are God’s own possession (Ephesians 1: 13-14).
Do you know that the blessings in Heaven last long and forever? Of course, there is no harm in receiving God's physical blessings in the form of wealth, health, strength, long life etc. But these are temporary, limited and unreliable. Far different from the spiritual blessings of Heaven; that’s why we should not pursue or even demand physical blessings that often ruin our lives. The choice is in our hands. Do we wish heavenly blessings or physical blessings? Abraham, Isaac and Jacob preferred the heavenly blessings of the eternal God to the abundant worldly wealth (Hebrews 11: 9-10).
Why was the Apostle Paul willing to be persecuted and even jailed for the sake of the Gospel of Christ? Because he knew for sure that spiritual blessings surpass all blessings. That’s why he could worship, give thanks and rejoice in all circumstances. Even when beaten and imprisoned in the innermost cell with his feet fastened in the stock, he could still sing praises to God resulting in the repentance and salvation of the warden and all his family (Acts 16: 25-34).
What about us? We live neither under pressure nor under threat from the government /any group in regard to freedom of religion. We should be more grateful because we had been chosen before the world was made to become God's children (Ephesians 1: 3-6) and to work according to His will so that we may be to the praise of His glory (Ephsians 1: 11- 12). The Holy Spirit is the guarantee until we get the full redemption of God’s possession to the praise of His glory (v. 14).
Application: We should praise the Lord for the physical successes we have gained, but the Lord wants us to see heavenly blessings so we can praise Him. Therefore, we need to boost the quality of our testimonies. Instead of blessings of health, freedom, intelligence, position etc. which will surely vanish, testify about the eternal blessing, namely, our status as children of God. For the sake of this eternal blessing, Paul endured suffering. It is noteworthy that all our praises to God must always be associated with Jesus, His only Son, because John 1:12 asserts,"But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
Be wary of the New Age Movement that leads people into this movement! The Church of God has to be solid and behave like a wife who submits herself to Jesus, the Heavenly Bridegroom. Don’t let the world change our mindsets, but accept Jesus who has the power to change our old lives. Don’t
follow the Lord with an eye to physical blessing and maintain the old way of life. Keep in mind that blood and flesh, including all worldly possessions, have no share in the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15: 50).
We must experience life transformation that brings us to our senses so as to bring God praise, because all good gifts and every perfect gift come from above and never change. By His own will He made us firstborns of all His creatures (James 1: 16-18).
The unchanging God gives eternal blessings (gifts, wisdom, etc.) to us and the greatest blessing is salvation. Then we are adopted as firstborns of all of His creatures. To attain those spiritual blessings, we must defeat the temptations that attempt to overthrow our faith (James 1: 2-3). Admittedly, we need money but do not let money overpower us as practiced by people who do not know God. Instead, seek first the Kingdom of God and its truth, then all these things will be added to us (Matthew 6: 32-33). And never think that temptations come from God because He does not tempt anyone. The fact is that every one is tempted by his own desires (James 1: 13-14).
What do we expect now? Are we still pursuing temporary blessings that will disappear one day? Act wisely and pursue eternal spiritual blessings that come from Heaven. When we make it, we have nothing to say but give Him praise and thanks. And His glory will be increasingly revealed. Amen.