2.8. SEALED BLESSING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE (Ephesians 1:13,14)

The seal of the Spirit is not only the assurance He gives within - it is His fruit manifested in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23 ). It is also the pledge of more to follow - all those who are sealed have available gifts and the power of the Spirit's fullness (Ephesians 5:18 ). The seal of the Spirit assures of all this and heaven too.

	You heard the Word of truth (Ephesians 1:13 ).
	You trusted, after you heard (Ephesians 1:13 ).
	You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13 ).
	You are guaranteed your inheritance (Ephesians 1:14 ) The earnest now - the fullness then.
	You will know ultimate redemption as His purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14 ).
	You will be part of the brightest display of His glory (Ephesians 1:14 ).

2 Corinthians 1:22 "who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."

He who has this seal has God's own guarantee that he belongs to the heavenly family, and being so is God's own child. Oh, the joy of knowing by the Spirit that we are indeed God's very own.

What a privilege to have someone who prays for you in the Holy Spirit!

Two things make the Ephesian saints to be authentic.

	Their faith in Christ.
	Their love for all saints (Ephesians 1:15 ).

John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Faith in the Lord Jesus issues in love to all saints, and that love is reciprocated one to the other in mutual supplication. What great blessing this is!

Ephesians 1:16 "Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;"

Thankfulness as a state of mind concerning others stirs up heartfelt spiritual care for others. Tender, positive, Holy Spirit filled prayer springs out of thankfulness. Remembrance of God's goodness in its effectiveness in others lives, enlarges our expectancy and faith for further blessing and future results. Continued thanksgiving is one of the secrets of continued prayer.

Ephesians 1:17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you ..."

The request being, in essence, the gifts of the given Holy Spirit. The Giver is affirmed to be "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ" who in His earthly ministry was given the Spirit without measure (John 3:34 ). Now, expectation is implied, that those in Christ and one with Him as members of His body, may be unlimited in Holy Spirit wisdom and knowledge.

The honour and exceeding greatness of God the Giver, is extolled in the description "the Father of glory". As the Father of glory He glorified Jesus, after His atoning death, with the glory He had with the Father before the world began (John 17:4-5 ). And the prayer that His people will also be glorified (John 17:22 ) is answered by the Father of glory (Romans 8:30; Hebrews 2:10 ). All our sure enrichment and expectancy is in our God.

Ephesians 1:17,18 "...may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: ¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; ..."

The human spirit is identified here as the faculty to receive Holy Spirit revelation (1 Corinthians 2:11 ). Both soul and spirit have ability to receive revelation, but spirit revelation is received from within from the indwelling Holy Spirit, whereas soul revelation is mainly received from without. Much time and effort is spent educating our soulish mind. The prayer of Paul is that our spirits may become open receiving stations of Holy Spirit wisdom and revelation and knowledge of God our Father.

Man of himself may experience difficulty in distinguishing between his spirit and soul, but the Word of God can and does separate between them (Hebrews 4:12 ). By the revelation of the Holy Spirit our spirits receive knowledge of the Father of glory (Ephesians 1:17 ); the Lord Jesus Christ and of the hope of his calling (Ephesians 1:18 ); the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18 ); and what is the exceeding greatness of His power available to us as believers (Ephesians 1:19 ). God the Holy Spirit reveals to us all that God has laid up for us.

1 Corinthians 2:10 "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

Our spirit gets much more revelation than what our minds are able to comprehend. (Read carefully 1 John 2:20 ).

God's power as demonstrated by Christ's resurrection and exultation.

Ephesians 1:20 "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,"

We are justified by Christ's resurrection. But more, the power that raised Him is available to us who believe. We can live our new life in that power, and demonstrate the preaching of the gospel by it (John 14:12 ). The Spirit that raised Him from the dead works in us (Mark 16:17-18 ). His Spirit-filled Church is mighty in God to pull down strongholds and destroy Satan's works.

Ephesians 1:20 "... and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,"

All authority in heaven and earth has been given to the risen Christ (Matthew 28:18 ). There is no principality - power - authority - name, that can rival Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:21 ), and there never will be - knowing He is the Head of the Church His body, of whom we are members (Ephesians 1:22-23 ). Today, His Church through supplication can recognise Christ the true all powerful Head - and with such a Head, what need the Church or its individual members fear or want?

Ephesians 1:23 "Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

In Christ we are filled with all spiritual blessings and might. Our victory is assured.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. How has God marked you out as an inheritor? (Ephesians 1:13-14 ).
2. Can you rehearse your spiritual history? (Ephesians 1:13-14 ).
3. What would you say evidences a saint as authentic? (Ephesians 1:15 ).
4. Do you find thankfulness is a springboard to prayer in the Spirit? (Ephesians 1:16 ).
5. Do you exercise your human spirit faculty of reception, to receive enlightenment from the indwelling Holy Spirit? (Ephesians 1:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:11 ).
6. How has Holy Spirit power, available to you, been demonstrated in its exceeding greatness? (Ephesians 1:19 ).