Have you ever experienced this problem: You go to an ATM and punch in your code, and it says, "Sorry, insufficient funds." Or you give a waiter your card and you get that awkward look, "I'm sorry, our machine is not accepting your card. Do you have another one?" It's kind of embarrassing when you don't have the money that you thought was in your account.

Well, imagine having a large amount of wealth but living your whole life unaware of how much you have--living like a pauper when actually you are a prince. That's what Paul is referring to in the book of Ephesians, when he tells believers the amount of spiritual wealth they have as Christians--what they have in their "spiritual bank account."

Paul repeats a phrase over and over in this section: "in Christ." When you come to Christ, God sees you as in His Son. Ephesians 1:3 says, "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."

And what are those spiritual blessings? What's in our bank account? Well, the fact is, you're rich!

You are rich because of your Father. God chose you (Ephesians 1:4). He adopted you (v. 5). And He redeemed you (v. 7).

You are rich because of forgiveness. Ephesians 2:1-10 shows that you and I were born into this world alive physically but dead spiritually--separated from God. We needed a new birth, and God "made us alive together with Christ" (v. 5).

God has forgiven you. He doesn't hold your sins or your past against you, so you need not live in a perpetual state of turmoil. He sees you in Christ now. Underline Romans 8:32: "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with him also freely give us all things?" In other words, you are rich in the spiritual assets given by God.

And you are rich because of your spiritual family, the believers He has placed around you. I love the fact that in the body of Christ I have brothers and sisters who love me and pray for me and stand with me and encourage me and show me accountability. It's wonderful!

You have a "bank account" that is filled with spiritual resources and wealth. If you realize what is yours, the power that is at your disposal, you are going to walk in joy and confidence. I pray that we would all realize that. I pray that this doctrine would permeate our lives, and that we would walk in love and humility before our brothers and sisters, walk in integrity before the world, and walk submissively in our homes.