Where and Who
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 11 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Our view of our position with God, and our view of God, determines our attitude towards others.
Only people secure in what Christ has done for them, their position in Christ’s kingdom, and how good, powerful, and loving God is, can fully focus on others. Everyone else has to feel they are out for themselves, at least a little bit.
Because of what Christ has done for us, and because of God’s love for us, we literally don’t have to give the slightest effort toward any of that. We can actually be happy for other’s success. We can actually walk around with peace and joy, even if disappointing, or scary things are happening.
Someone with a correct view of their position with God, and actual trust in God, is marked by rest, peace, joy, giving, and in insatiable drive to put others first.
Signs your view is broken:
you struggle rejoicing over others’s success
you feel an ambitious driving to take opportunities, even when you don’t need it and you know other’s want the opportunity.
you often find yourself seeking recognition and credit
impatience
you frequently feel the need to take matters into your own hands
lack of joy/peace
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Where?
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,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 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.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Where is Christ seated? At the right hand of God?
Where are we seated? With Christ!
Where is this seat of Christ?
Far above all: principality, power, might, dominion, and every name THAT IS NAMED.
So if Christ is seated above all that, and you are seated with Christ, you are above all that.
21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
21 God has put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings, not only in this world but also in the next.
22 God put everything under his power and made him the head over everything for the church,21 Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next.
22 God put all things under Christ’s feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things.
If you’re seated with Christ, you are above everything. Literally, you need to think of yourself as seated in heavenly places, watching your life happen.
You are not only watching your own life, you’re also watching God work in the lives of those around you. giving them promotions, and opportunities, and relationships, and happiness, and you love it!
The enemy has a goal to make you forget you’re above all the things happening in life.
He’s constantly wanting to pull you back down here.
If you’re in heavenly places, the things people do and say, politics, job situations, relationship situations, they’re gonna come and go, but you’re always okay. You’re always above all of it.
Should you focus on politics, or God’s kingdom?
Should you fear losing your job? or focus on God’s kingdom?
Should you fear someone leaving you? or focus on God’s kingdom?
Now, i don’t mean neglect any of these things, i mean don’t act in fear! Many many christians live in fear, and anger, because politics aren’t going their way, or because someone in their life isn’t behaving the way they want…
But if you are above all of the people and situations of life, you can rest. you can have peace. You have God! You can be satisfied because you have Him! We sang it sunday, “you are more than enough.” How many people *actually* think God is more than enough, and they’re actually satisfied with life because they have Him?
What is your view of your position? Are you above the things that happen in life? or are you a helpless victim of those things?
Who?
Your view of God determines if you trust Him.
If you trust Him, you will have peace. No other option.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
It really is this simple: if it’s good, it’s from God. If it it’s not good, God will use to to make good.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
If we’re Christ’s, we’re seated in heavenly places, far above everything that could ever have any authority or power, and we are God’s children. We’ve been adopted in His family.
That means, God takes care of us. God knows the desires of our hearts. God knows our needs before we ask them!
So, God’s desire for all of us, is to focus on others. Instead of always trying to get more position, more opportunities, more control, we can walk in confidence. We can know God handles that because we’re His children. We’re with Christ. Nothing can mess up God’s plans for us because we’re with Christ above all those things.
What is your view of God? If something bad happens, do you think it’s possible God did that?
Do you think God is indifferent to the desires of your heart?
6 For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south.
7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
“Let no one ever say or even dare to suggest when he is going through really difficult times or crushing ordeals that, “I am being subjected to these difficult ordeals and hardships by the permissive will of God.
Working behind the scenes, remotely and from a distance, God is permitting all these hard things to happen to me.” For the fact is that God is evil-free, has no capacity for evil, and has no experience with anything evil, foul, or destructive.
There is no evil in God, which means He never deliberately puts anyone through difficult and grueling experiences to test him or her.
You see, it’s just not within the realm of possibility for an evil-free God to be behind anything that brings destruction to a person’s life.”
— James 1:13 RIV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
When you’re watching your life happen, and you’re seated in heavenly places, and you know who God is, everything that happens is either:
God doing it
or
God using it.
That’s it. There is nothing else. Only God doing things, or using things.
Something disappointed you? It doesn’t matter, God will use it to give you the desires of your heart.
Something awesome happening? Great! Every good and perfect gifts comes down from the father of lights.
all of this has to be settled in the heart of a leader, because someone without these ideas, walks around in fear.
if you’re in fear, you can’t focus on others because you’ve gotta make sure you’re okay!
other people can’t get opportunities, you have to get them for yourself! vs. I’m above all those situations, I’m with Christ, I’m His son or daughter, so He’s working things for me. He handles my promotion.
People are gonna treat you different ways, you’re above it.
If you find yourself unable to focus on others, ask yourself, what is it that keeps your focus on yourself?
What fear do you feel about your life? What do you not understand about how blessed you are or the position Christ has put you in?
Are you living in joy and peace? If so, it will flow out of you.
