Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
Blessings
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by Steve Gilbert
veryone enjoys blessings, and they come in all shapes and sizes. We all enjoy financial blessings, and the greatest blessing of all is when a new member is born
into the family. And then, of course, we are blessed every day with blessings that we often take for granted, such as the air we breathe, the heart that beats within us, and great relationships all around us. I’m writing today about blessings that are constant and dependable: the ones that come from the Word of God. Not only can we read about them, but we can also experience them. When it comes to blessings and direction for my life, one book of the Bible that I love is the Book of Ephesians. It’s so understandable and livable. I’m going to refer to a verse from each of the six chapters in Ephesians today and, by doing so, hopefully remind you of just how blessed you are as a believer in Christ. In chapter 1, we are told that we should praise God because He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. I encourage you to stop and think for a minute of the times when God blessed you. It starts with the blessing of salvation, but then He loads us daily with blessings from above. What do you need today? Is it healing, peace, or guidance in
and patient. We are to make allowances for the faults of others
making a decision? He has the answers and the solutions to
because we have faults also, and we are to live in unity.
any and all circumstances you are facing. I ask you to stop and
Chapter 5 reveals to us how we can accept and fulfill the
accept what God has made possible for you to enjoy: blessings
promises and instructions of the previous chapters. We are
from above.
to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with Him
In chapter 2, He refers to you as His masterpiece. Each of
should be like a river of living water. We are to be filled and
us needs to stop arguing with our Creator and Redeemer. We
running over with His Spirit. There is so much more than
often see ourselves as defeated and worthless. He sees us as
just the initial experience of salvation. This world, our family,
victorious and priceless, a masterpiece. And He’s not finished
and our friends need to hear about these blessings mentioned
with us; each stroke of the brush He’s using makes us more like
above. The Holy Spirit provides for us the power and wisdom
Him and in compliance with His will and plan for our lives.
we need to share our faith and honor His name.
Chapter 3 informs us that we can come boldly and
And finally, Paul tells us to put on the armor of God
confidently into His presence. Can you believe that? If not,
because we are in a battle. We’re not fighting against humans;
you need to start believing today. We are invited to come into
our enemies are from the demonic realm. Satan was defeated at
the throne room of God. Here again, we are reminded of how
the Cross, but he hasn’t given up. He reminds me of a retired
special and blessed we are, each of us.
boxer who wants to get back into the ring years and decades
The next chapter is perhaps my favorite. It tells me that I am called, and so are you. We can spend hours listing what
after his prime. But Satan is defeated, and you can defeat him in your life because of the blessings of God.
to put on our to-do list. We are to always be humble, gentle,
6 // August 2020
About The Author
we are called to do, but this chapter also gives us some items Pastor Steve and Teresa Gilbert were both raised in Cleveland, Tennessee. They currently serve as the lead pastors of Heritage Fellowship Church, which is located in McDonald, Tennessee.
