No church and lots of snow ⛪Blessed us in the heavenly realms

Ephesians 1:3

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms…”

When our verse refers to the blessings that are available to us “in the heavenly realms” it is not referring to going to heaven when we die. "In the heavenly realms" is a reference to the unseen realities of our life now.

The indwelling Holy Spirit is the one who mediates these blessings to us.

And these realities are something to be experienced now in our inner life.

In our heart. In our thought life, where we feel conflict and pressure, and struggle, that is part of the heavenly realms.

It is where we are exposed to the attack of the principalities and powers that are mentioned in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 12, those dark spirits in high places who can get to us and make us anxious, unsettled and depressed.

The “realm of the heavenlies” is where God can release us and deliver us. Where the Spirit of God reaches us at the seat of our intellect, emotions, and our will. It’s the realm where the Holy Spirit creates in us either a restlessness or a sense of peace depending on our need.

So please don’t read this verse as something we will receive when we get to heaven.

Take note that our verse says that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. The verb used “has” is past tense, meaning it’s already happened.

These are spiritual blessings, which are far better than material blessings and these blessings are ours in the heavenly places in Christ. They are higher, better, and more secure than earthly blessings.

What many believers fail to realize is that in Jesus Christ we are all rich. Perhaps not with riches of wealth nor with material possessions. But with His richest blessings in Jesus Christ. You see, all the spiritual blessings we have received from God, are contained within Christ Jesus.

Just as verse 17 in James chapter 1 tells us; “Every good and perfect gift comes to us from the Father of lights…”

And Jesus Christ is the greatest of all Gifts that’s been given to humanity.

I want to point out that verse 3 of today’s scripture is the beginning of one continuous sentence ending at verse 14. And all the spiritual blessings of which this passage speaks of, are already ours. We have been given everything we need to live a life and godliness and every spiritual blesing has already been poured out upon us in unequaled abundance by our heavenly Father.

And He has done this…

That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: We are chosen not only for salvation, but also for holiness. And any understanding of God's sovereign choosing that diminishes our personal responsibility for personal holiness and sanctification falls far short of the whole counsel of God.

Spurgeon said, "Our thanks are due to God for all temporal blessings; they are more than we deserve.

But our thanks ought to go to God in thunders of hallelujahs for spiritual blessings.

A new heart is better than a new coat.

To feed on Christ is better than to have the best earthly food.

To be an heir of God is better than being the heir of the greatest nobleman.

To have God for our portion is blessed, infinitely more blessed than to own broad acres of land.

God hath blessed us with spiritual blessings.

These are the rarest, the richest, the most enduring of all blessings; they are priceless in value."

GOD BLESS!