Sit Down and Enjoy

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)

After Jesus was raised from the dead, God the Father highly exalted Him to the highest position of honor at His right hand and was given the Name which is above every name. The inference here is that there was a name known in heaven, unknown elsewhere and this name was kept to be awarded to someone who should merit it. It was Jesus who was given the Name above every name. God not only gave Jesus a Name which is above every name, but at the Name of Jesus every being in three worlds, heaven, earth, and hell, must bow and confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Due to the mighty name given to Jesus, every believer has the legal right to use the His name, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name…" (Mark 16:17) "Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name…" (John 16:23)

Paul tells us, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6) Our seating and reigning with Christ in heavenly places is a position of authority, honor, and triumph, not weakness, failure, and defeat. As a believer, your seating with Christ is part of your inheritance now. The believer is seated with Christ now. God has already raised you up together and made you sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Our position as believers is one of joint-seating with Christ in heavenly places. We may not always stand on this due to our circumstance, nevertheless it is our position. If believers want to rise above their circumstances, we must by faith take advantage of our position in Christ.

Another version of the Bible says it this way, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us, caused us, dead though we were through our offenses, to live with Christ--it is by grace that you have been saved raised us with Him from the dead, and enthroned us with Him in the heavenly realms as being in Christ Jesus, in order that, by His goodness to us in Christ Jesus, He might display in the Ages to come the transcendent riches of His grace." (Ephesians 2:4-7 WEY) Notice, God enthroned us with Jesus in the heavenly realms. Does that sound like a Church that's defeated and is still having to do battle to gain mastery over Satan? Absolutely not. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ stands triumphant because we are partakers, we share with Christ in His victory over Satan.

Paul also tells us, "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3) The Body of Christ, in Christ, is connected to the head. Jesus is the Head of His Body, the Church. If Jesus the Head triumphed over the devil, is the Body of Christ to be any less triumphant since we are in Christ? Of course not! It is our legal right to enjoy our joint-seating with Christ in heavenly places in a position of authority and triumph. "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 8:16-17) The believer's position and seating in Christ is a fact. It has already happened. That position was attained for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, all we have to do is enjoy the rights and
privileges that already belong to us as joint-heirs with Christ.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm…" (Galatians 5:1) Unless the eyes of our understanding are enlightened to see what we truly possess in this life, then talk of freedom in Christ becomes just that, talk. Believers cannot possess if they do not know what belongs to them. This is why Paul tells us to renew our mind. (Romans 12:2) The un-renewed mind has convinced many believers into thinking that they are helpless against the devil and are always subject to defeat and failure. Even some of the songs that believers sing, new and old, proclaim that we do not have much in this life, but when we all get to heaven, what a glorious time awaits us. Yes, believers have a glorious future to look forward to, but the Holy Spirit wants us to know the glorious present we possess right now because of our position in Christ. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...