Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
A Closer Walk with Christ in 2026
Blessings for Believers - part 3
Ephesians 1:13-14
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
We as believers have truly been blessed by God. We have seen the blessings of the Father, the blessings of the Son, and now we see displayed the blessings of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of Trinity. He is the person that is given at the moment of our salvation to indwell us and give us God presence.
How does this happen, and what are the results of His indwelling? It is the answer to the promise of Christ which He made to His disciples in John 14:26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Then again in John 15:26-27, But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. The Holy Spirit is given to teach us more of who Jesus is and how we can love Him more. But two distinct blessings that He brings are found here in Ephesians.
The first blessing is the fact that He has sealed us. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). This important verse outlines the way of salvation. The sinner hears the Word of truth, trusts in Christ, receives the Holy Spirit, and is sealed forever. “After that ye believed” may be read “when ye believed,” for the Spirit enters the heart the instant the sinner trusts Christ. This sealing means God owns us and will keep us. Nobody can break God’s seal!
The second blessing is that He has given us an “earnest” which is the down payment of our inheritance. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:14). “Earnest” money in business means money given as a down payment for a purchased possession. Christ has purchased our future for us, but we have not yet entered all of the blessings which follow. God has given us His Spirit as the “down payment” to assure us that we will experience total redemption and receive all of God’s promised blessings in glory.
These blessings are given by God’s grace and for God’s glory! What a wonderful God we serve who loves us and is constantly with us. Our praise should be constant and profound as we live daily for Him!
Bible Reading for the Year
July 28th, Psalms 59- 61; Acts 28:1-31
Prayer Needs
Please continue to pray for Shirley Deans. She was admitted to the hospital late Friday night with a low-grade fever and feeling weak. She had several tests and is still there, hoping to go home Monday.
Continue to pray for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. Please keep praying for complete healing. She had to go back into the ER with another low grade fever Monday night.
Please continue to pray for Kenny Deans. He had an appointment on Tuesday, July 14th, with his kidney doctor. He had a scan of his kidneys; the scan shows some kidney stones, but treatment isn’t recommended as of yet.
Please continue to pray for Dr. Joe Jordan. He is doing physical therapy but still has a long way to go. Pray for him to get stronger! He had an appointment with his hematologist on the 14th, and he began with the first of 5 shots to improve his red blood cell count on Tuesday the 21st.
Linda Franks’ surgery had to be rescheduled because she has a sinus infection and is on medication for it.
Please continue to pray for Peggy Warren. She is facing some difficult challenges.
Please continue to pray for Robbie Harvey who has MAC lung disease. He seems some better, and the pain has decreased some.
Please continue to pray for Marvin Silverthorne for his eyesight to improve.
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Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia