A New Vision: Experiencing Life as God Intends

Introduction

"The moment you accept Jesus Christ as Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says 'All Things become new.'" Throughout Scripture, we find 30 distinct transformations that occur at the moment of salvation. This document explores the fourteenth of these transformations: receiving a new vision.

Every Spiritual Blessing

When we accept Christ, we receive a new vision of life as God intends it to be. This vision is rooted in the reality of the spiritual blessings that are now ours in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."

This verse reveals several important truths about our spiritual inheritance:

1. The source of our blessings: "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"

2. The timing of these blessings: He "has blessed us" (past tense)—indicating these blessings are already given

3. The scope of these blessings: "every spiritual blessing"

4. The location of these blessings: "in the heavenly places in Christ"

While the phrase "in the heavenly places" might suggest these blessings are only for a future heavenly existence, the context of Ephesians clarifies that these blessings are available to us now. These are spiritual blessings that proceed from the Spirit of God—blessings that God pours out on us through Jesus by the Holy Spirit in our present experience.

Our Heavenly Position

Ephesians 2:6

"And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

This remarkable statement reveals our present spiritual position. Despite still living in physical bodies on earth, believers are already "seated with Christ in the heavenly places" in a spiritual sense. This is not a future reality but a present one—not something that awaits the Second Coming but something that is true of us now.

This heavenly position forms the foundation for our new vision of life. From this position of being seated with Christ, we are called to live out the implications of our new identity.

The Sit-Walk-Stand Pattern

The book of Ephesians has often been outlined using three key words: sit, walk, and stand.

1. Sit (Ephesians 1-3): Our position in Christ; what God has done for us

2. Walk (Ephesians 4-5): Our practice in the world; how we should live

3. Stand (Ephesians 6): Our posture against the enemy; how we resist spiritual opposition

This progression is significant. Our "walk" (daily conduct) flows from our "seat" (position in Christ). We don't strive to earn a position; rather, we live from the position we already have. Our behavior doesn't create our identity; our identity shapes our behavior.

Walking in Our New Identity

Because we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places, we are called to walk in a manner that reflects this reality.

Ephesians 5:1-2

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."

The New Testament describes several ways we are to "walk" as believers:

1. Walk in love (Ephesians 5:2)

2. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8)

3. Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)

4. Walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4)

5. Walk worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1)

These "walks" reflect the new vision we have received—a vision of living in the fullness of God's blessings and purposes.

God's Kingdom Coming to Earth

Jesus taught His disciples to pray: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). This prayer aligns with our new vision. We are to live in such a way that heavenly realities manifest in earthly circumstances.

The spiritual blessings we have in Christ are meant to transform our earthly experience. Through the Holy Spirit, these blessings "rain down" upon us and work in our lives, bringing heaven's realities to earth.

Everything We Need

2 Peter 1:3

"Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

This verse reinforces the truth that God has already provided everything we need for both life (our everyday existence) and godliness (our spiritual growth and character). Nothing essential is missing. God has equipped us with all necessary resources to live as He intends.

When combined with Ephesians 1:3, we see that God has blessed us with:

• "Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ"

• "Everything pertaining to life and godliness"

These comprehensive statements leave no room for lack or insufficiency in God's provision.

Accessing Our Blessings

If God has given us every spiritual blessing and everything we need for life and godliness, why do we sometimes fail to experience these realities? There may be several reasons:

1. Lack of awareness: We simply don't know what God has provided

2. Unbelief: We know the promises but don't believe they apply to us personally

3. Contradictory confession: We speak words that contradict God's promises

4. Unforgiveness: Harboring resentment can block the flow of God's blessings

5. Enemy interference: Spiritual opposition may hinder what God wants to do

When we find ourselves not experiencing God's promised blessings in certain areas of life, we should prayerfully examine why. Rather than passively accepting the situation, we can seek God about what might be blocking the fulfillment of His promises.

Spiritual Warfare and Our Blessings

As discussed in a previous study on our new battle, we have an enemy who "comes to steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10). This enemy actively works to prevent us from experiencing the blessings God has given us.

However, we have been given authority in Christ to resist the enemy. James 4:7 promises that if we "resist the devil, he will flee from you." When we identify enemy activity that blocks our experience of God's blessings, we can exercise our spiritual authority to stand against these attacks.

This spiritual awareness is part of our new vision—recognizing both the blessings God provides and the opposition that may come against them.

Conclusion

When we accept Christ, we receive a new vision of life as God intends it to be—a life filled with His blessings, empowered by His Spirit, and positioned with Christ in heavenly places. This vision transforms how we see ourselves, our circumstances, and our potential.

We no longer settle for less than what God has promised. Instead, we confidently pursue the fullness of our inheritance in Christ, addressing anything that might hinder us from experiencing all that God has provided.

This new vision is not about pursuing prosperity or comfort for their own sake but about experiencing the abundance of life in Christ—a life that glorifies God by manifesting His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Enter your text here...