Life in the Heavenly Places
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Text -
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,
Title - Life in the Heavenly Places
Background
Background
Paul introduced a new concept - born again believers are “seated in the heavenly places”
it is not new in that -
Jews already knew that there is a heaven, a spiritual dimension
even non-Christians believe in the existence of a spiritual dimension
the word heavenly (EPOURANIOS) is used many times in the N.T.
it IS new because
believers are already there, while still here!
most born again Christians are either not aware of it or they are not experiencing it.
IT IS REAL - because of the Holy Spirit
Paul encourages the believers to practice living in the heavenly places
it is the life for the spiritual man
it is not for the carnal
The Main Point
The Main Point
If we are not living the Christian life from the heavenly places, then…
we are still living the carnal life
we are missing a great deal of the spiritual blessings that we are already blessed with
Sermon Points
Sermon Points
How did we get here?
How did we get here?
God was rich in mercy
He made us alive together with Christ
He raised us up together with Christ
He made us sit in the heavenly places in Christ
Not only are we no longer dead in sin, we are also seated in the heavenly places with Christ!
this applies to all born again Christians
made to sit in the heavenly places = placed in a position of authority among the spirits with power and authority
this applies to all born again Christians
but the carnal born again cannot appreciate this truth
What have we here?
What have we here?
We are blessed with every spritual blessing
We are blessed with every spritual blessing
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,
You are highly favored by God!
what does it mean?
Abraham - prayed for Abimelech even though he was the one who wronged the king
Israel - King Balak and the prophet Balaam cannot curse what God has blessed
We are endowed with authority
We are endowed with authority
we are seated together with Christ, and Christ is seated at the right hand of God!
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,
Ephesians 1.19-20
seated/made to sit - it means to be placed ina certain position.
we are placed in a position that is far above all principality, power, might dominion!
“made to sit” = placed or positioned
made to sit in the heavenly places = placed in a position of authority among the spirits with power and authority
we are not fighting for a position - we are already in the highest place because we believed in the Son of God!
We have an important work to accomplish
We have an important work to accomplish
God wants to show the exceeding riches of His grace toward us…
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
God wants to demonstrate how much His grace can do and endow to His people
Eph 2.6-7
this is compared to what man gets from doing his own will, or choosing to remain God’s enemy
Eph 3.10
God wants to make known His manifold wisdom by the church
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
God wants to demonstrate, before Satan and his hosts, His wisdom, power and might
God wants to do this through - by means of - the church
OUT OF HUMANS BORN IN SIN, GOD IS RAISING UP AN ARMY OF MEN AND WOMEN WITH THE SAME POWER AS DEMONSTRATED IN CHRIST
A PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER AFRAID OF SATAN’S DEVICES
A PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER CONTROLLED BY THEIR LUSTS
A PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER ATTRACTED TO THE WORLD
How can we live on this level?
How can we live on this level?
Be strong in the Lord!
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
the power of His might - in God’s dominion/controlling power
- King David strengthened himself in the Lord - he prayed and asked God for guidance
Take your stand!
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6.11
take a stand = defend your position!
take a stand = fight for the things that God has already blessed you with
A born again, Spirit-filled person is living on a higher kind of existence
Fight the real enemies
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Eph 6.1
the real enemies are - spiritual authorities, powers and rulers of darkness
spirit of idolatry
spirit of immorality
spirit of pleasure
spirit of greed and love of money
spirit of timidity/fear
spirit of rebellion
Conclusion
Conclusion
If you are the spiritual en and women God made you to be…
it is time to grow up!
it is time to learn your heavenly heriteage!
it is time to position yourself in the heavenly places!