At times I sit in wonder and amazement at the fact that God would use me. I know who I was as a young man, who as a skinny teenager did only what I had to do to get through high school, barely getting by.

I think on the things God has done in and through my life. Not only the material blessings and a wonderful wife and other friendships; but all that He has given me in wisdom and knowledge. It may not be much in the world’s eyes, but I am so grateful because I know from whence I came. On top of all these God has poured out on me spiritual blessings beyond my imaginings. Look at what the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 1:3-4.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings which are to be found in heaven, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we might be holy and blameless before Him.

Paul refers to Christians as the chosen people of God. We see three chains of thought here. I use the term chains because they are three ideas (blessings) connected by God’s grace to us. I want to look at the first link in that chain.

Paul’s first thoughts are on the Fact of God’s choice. Paul never thought of himself as having chosen to do God’s work. He always thought of God as having chosen him. It would not be so wonderful or miraculous that man chose God; the wonder is that God chose man. God chose me! This is why I sit in amazement and wonder.

God chose us, His children, believers, to bless us. He chose us to bless us with the blessings, which are to be found in heaven. This passage tells us that God has poured out His blessings on us, delivering them by His Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ daily as we live for Him. We can experience spiritual blessings in this life, and according to our obedience even greater spiritual blessings await us in heaven. This passage uses the past tense saying God has already poured out all these blessings.

Please understand Paul is not speaking of financial or material blessings in this passage. God bestows material blessings on everyone, causing the sun to shine and rain to fall on the righteous and unrighteous alike. We see these blessings and rejoice in them easily. They are physical, touchable. However, Paul is speaking here of something much greater than material blessings.

 The Spiritual blessings the Apostle Paul is referring to do not belong to everyone. They are reserved as the limited possession of the Christian, God’s chosen people. Spiritual blessings will enhance your life far greater than material blessings. 

Who are these chosen people of God? According to scripture, (Romans 10:13) everyone who will call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:9 says, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God has poured out these heavenly blessings for all who have and will call on the name of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the one who channels these blessings to us from the Father through the Son. Not to know and depend on the Holy Spirit’s provision is to live a life of spiritual poverty. You must first know the Holy Spirit. The only way to do this is through salvation in Christ Jesus. Unless you have the witness of the Spirit you cannot draw on the wealth of the Spirit. It’s like having the nicest, newest TV and never plugging it into the wall. Without the power source you will never receive the benefits that TV can give.

The same is true with God’s Spiritual blessings. Are you plugged into the Power source of the Holy Spirit?