Are You Up Or Down, Pt 4 - No. 87
Ephesians 2:4-6, “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 uptogether, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”
Are you living it up? Come on now; let’s get with it. God is into the “living it up” lifestyle. He not only lifts us up, holds us up, builds us up but He also raises us up! One day we are going to be raised up to the eternal realm. You can read some of the Scriptures that tell us of this glorious hope in 1 Corinthians 6:14,15:49-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
However, even before God fulfils this ultimate promise to us, He has raised us up in this life. Yes, right now. When Christ died, we died with him; when He was buried, we were buried with Him; when He ascended, we were raised with Him and now positionally sit with Him in heavenly places. This seems too awesome to believe, doesn’t it? We may not be experiencing it, but it is Bible. It is fact.
How can we experience this revelation truth? By abiding in Christ. Notice that this does not happen to us on our own. It is only as we are in Him. And one other thing: we have to be buried first! Jesus died and was buried before He was raised to reign at the right hand of the Father. We also have to die to our flesh and be buried before we can live in resurrection life.
Dear precious mother, from what position do you run your home? From the bottom of the barrel? Are you looking up at all you have to do? Are you submerged by all your worries and concerns? Or do you run your home from your legal position (which has nothing to do with your feelings) of sitting together with Christ at the right hand of the throne of God? In this position you look down on your problems. You have victory over them. In this position in Christ, all things are under your feet. From this location you take dominion over all the inroads of the enemy that would seek to take over your marriage and your home. Read Ephesians 1:17-23 and Romans 6:4.
You were raised with Christ, not only to sit with Him, but also to reign with Him. Let this incredible truth sink into your soul - you were raised to reign! You were raised to live in resurrection life. In Christ you reign over all evil principalities and powers. In Christ you reign over all negativity, depression, laziness and sin in your home.
F.B. Meyer writes, “Abide in Him, and you are by necessity an inhabitant of these heavenly places, wherever your earthly lot may be cast… Not one foe can overcome us so long as we are in abiding fellowship with our risen Lord. If the ‘together’ of the inner life is maintained, the ‘together’ of victory is secure.”
How sad that we grovel around when we have actually been raised up together with Christ. We live the shallow life according to our feelings rather than reigning in Christ.
Can I entice you to live in your ascended state? Can I remind you that you have been raised to live in resurrection life? Can I encourage you to manage your home from your legal position of authority in Christ? It is your legal right, dear mother.
Why stay down in the dumps when God has raised you up?
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
“Oh Lord, I thank you that because you have been raised from the dead, I have been raised up with you. Even though it is hard for me to believe with my human mind, I thank you that I am seated with you at the right hand of the Father. Help me to grasp this awesome truth. Teach me, Lord, to abide in you moment by moment, and live my life from my legal position in Christ. Amen.”
AFFIRMATION:
I have been raised to reign!
P.S.
God also gives other promises about raising us up.
He raises the poor out of the dust. (1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 113:7-8)
He raises those that are bowed down. (Psalm 146:8)
He raises the sick when we call for the elders of the church to pray and anoint with oil. (James 5:14-15)