Page 8 - Ephesians

If God would begin to burn that truth indelibly into our hearts, what
a difference it would make.

The life that’s presented in Ephesians is not just for a selected
few. Our riches in Christ are not esoteric; you don’t have to be
initiated into some special little group. There’s no circle of spiritual
hotshots. The way Ephesians is developed, everyone who is in
Christ is spiritually rich. For example, you are only three verses
deep in the book, look at chapter 1:3,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ.”

Alright, who’s in Christ? The answer is every Christian. Who is
blessed with every spiritual blessing? The answer is every
Christian. Christians that have dedicated themselves to full time
Christian service. Christians who have to work eight hours a day.
Christians who have limitations and can’t read or write.
Christians who are confused and mixed up. Backsliders and
rebels. Believers who are angry with God and who resist his
dealings in their lives and have a controversy with God.

The Apostle Paul was not one spiritual penny richer than Lazarus
who begged at the rich man’s gate. They were equally rich in
union with Christ. Both Paul and Lazarus were blessed with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places. The same thing is true of
Job and every Christian.

Adding to the confusion is this idea that God has an inner circle of
special people. A little mystical group who have a special
relationship with Him. We invent titles for these groups which add
further confusion. Let me give some examples. “The Deeper
Life”. Doesn’t that sound spiritual? People say they are going to
read books on the “deeper life” or go to a “deeper life” conference.
Do you have life or do you have the deeper life? There’s
something mystical about that.