Sermon Spiritual Blessings Spirit Sealed Introduction

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

[11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will…

[13] In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV)

“What does God think of you right now?” We are sealed in Christ with a guaranteed inheritance.

Sealed with the Holy Spirit v. 13 -to guarantee the genuine character of the document -to mark or signify ownership -to protect against tampering or harm- security

We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of PROMISE “Promise Theology”. There is a three part formula that comes back over and over,

“I will be a God to you and to your descendants after you” “I will take you for my people, my sons” “I will dwell in the midst of you”

[16] What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16 ESV)

[3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (Revelation 21:3 ESV)

[44] Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” [45] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead

[47] and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44-49 ESV)

[4] And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; [5] for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5 ESV)

[32] This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. [33] Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. (Acts 2:32-33 ESV)

[6] And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, [7] to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! (Acts 26:6-7 ESV)

[14] so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14 ESV)

The Down Payment is Paid v 14 …the experience of the Holy Spirit which we have in this world is a foretaste of the full blessedness of heaven.

CORPORATE PRAYER: ALL: O HOLY SPIRIT Vain are all divine purposes of love And the redemption wrought by Jesus

Except Thou work within, Regenerating by Thy power Giving me eyes to see Jesus, Showing me the realities of the unseen world

Give me Thyself without measure, As an unimpaired fountain, As inexhaustible riches

I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness, Imperfect vision, languid service Prayerless prayers, praiseless praises. Suffer me not to grieve or resist Thee,

MEN: Come as power, To expel every rebel lust, to reign supreme and Keep me Thine; Come as teacher, Leading me into all truth, filling me with all understanding; Take the things of Christ and show them to my soul

WOMEN: Come as love, That I may adore the Father and love Him as my all; Come as joy To dwell in me, move in me, animate me;

MEN: Come as light, Illuminating the scripture, molding me in its laws; Come as sanctifier, Body, soul, and spirit wholly Thine;

WOMEN: Come as helper, With strength to bless and keep, directing my every step Come as beautifier, Bringing order out of confusion, Loveliness out of chaos.

ALL: Write upon my heart the saving truths of grace that my walk may be Christ loving, sin-loathing, and sin-fleeing. Apply to my soul the blood of Christ, Effectually, Continually

And help me to believe, with conscience comforted That it cleanses from all sin. Magnify to me Thy glory by being magnified in me, And make me redolent of Thy fragrance. AMEN