Living Large

The expression "Living Large" is described as, "Living an extravagant lifestyle." Naturally, this refers to a worldly concept that is solely a self-indulgent lifestyle. But for believers, if we were to think of what Jesus did for us through His death, resurrection and glorification, we to would come to realize that in Christ we too are "Living an extravagant lifestyle." This does not insinuate that as the world we are to be self-indulged, but truly thankful that all Christ is and has, is ours. Jesus tells us, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:12-15)

Notice, "All things that the Father has are Mine...He will take of Mine and declare it to you." The Apostle Paul tells us some incredible things concerning what the Father has given to Christ, Christ has given to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit has given (made all these things available) to believers. "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:15-17) Paul continues, "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?" (Romans 8:32) You might ask, "How could this be so?"

One of the things that bears witness to what Paul tells us is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection is the proof of Satan's defeat, man's redemption, which gave the Father the legal right to make the believer a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Ephesians 1:7 also bears witness with this fact, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Christ has made redemption both eternal and available to all who confess Him.  The moment one is born again, redemption is immediately ours and Satan's dominion over us ends. Redemption has nothing to do with us, it is according to the riches of His grace. We were crucified with Him, died with Him, were buried with Him, suffered with Him, were justified with Him, were made alive with Him, conquered Satan with Him, were raised together with Him and are now seated with Him. Hallelujah!!!

The resurrection of Jesus is proof of our victory over the adversary. It is not theory, but fact that cannot be denied. Every person who confesses Jesus as Lord and takes Him as Savior, in the mind of the Father is a victor over the adversary. Unfortunately, so few of the Father's children have seen this mighty truth, that is, our victory was in the victory of Christ. When Jesus broke the power of death, Satan and sin, His victory became our victory. The Apostle Paul tells us, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1) In the mind of the Father it was our translation, our deliverance, "from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love."  (Colossians 1:13)

I believe that the greatest message of our perfect victory over the adversary is found in Ephesians 1:19-23  "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

The same power that resurrected Christ and united Him with His dead body to reanimate it and fill it with immortality is also in the believer. Look at the wonderful Word from God through Paul to us, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:20) We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) because of the life of God that was imparted to us in the new creation. It is the power of God unveiled in the resurrection that shook the foundations of hell. Today, when believers know that they were raised together with Christ, when they know they are victors in every situation and over every circumstance they may find themselves in, then they know the fact that God has lifted us far above all rule, authority, power and dominion, not only in this age, but in that which is to come.

The Father gave Christ who is the head of the body to be master over all the forces of the universe. Because we are His Body, the church, therefore, God has put all things in subjection under the believer's feet. Jesus gave to the believer a legal right to the use of His Name. (Mark 16:17) He actually gave him the power of attorney so that in the Name of Jesus every demon and every power should obey that Name when spoken from the lips of the believer. There isn't anything too hard for God. (Luke 1:37) God's ability is the ability that He gives to us, so His resurrection is the proof of our right to reign over Satan and demons. He was raised because He had conquered Satan in our stead, so that we should no longer live in fear, condemnation, guilt or inferiority of the unseen forces of darkness.

This is great news. This is why we can consider ourselves as "living large." We do this through faith in Jesus Christ. We do this knowing that "we can do all things through Jesus Christ." (Philippians 4:13) We do this knowing that “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) And we do this knowing "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) So let us live large. Let us "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10) Let us live large through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.. It is "in Him we live, move and have our being." (Acts 17:28)