Live Above this World!
The only way to live in this world is to live above it. Ephesians 2:6 says that God has “raised us up together and made us sit together in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ Jesus.” Look at the words God has used to describe the people of God! We are “raised”, we are “up”, we are “together”, “in heavenly places”, and “in Christ”. You cannot get more above this world than that! And this isn’t something that will happen in the future when you go to heaven; this verse is past tense. It’s already done!
God says we are “raised up and sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” right now. That is how God views our situation. In the mind of God, we have been raised not lowered, up not down, together not alone, in heavenly places not in earthly crisis, and we are in Christ our Shield and Reward! Yet the world is going lower not higher and down instead of up. Imagine if you could see what God can see. Imagine if you saw your life through God goggles. What would happen if you lived every day as one who is seated on the throne with Christ? You would start to live like God lives. You would believe that you are “more than a conqueror through Him that loved us.” (Rom 8:37) You would quote 1 John 5:4 as if it was the testimony of your everyday life: “Whosoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world EVEN OUR FAITH.” You would boldly believe what Jesus said to you in John 16:33. He said, “Be of good cheer, take courage, be confident, certain, and undaunted! I have overcome the world and I HAVE DEPRIVED IT OF POWER TO HARM YOU and have conquered it for you.” (Amplified Version) People without Christ are powerless against the fret, cares, and attacks of this world. But the world is powerless against the one seated with Christ! The world can no more understand you than it did Jesus Himself when He was here. You are a reproduction of Christ and the world is confused why you won’t give up and why you won’t give in.
This is how Jesus transcended all generations. He lived His life from how God viewed Him. Now you can do the same thing because His nature lives in you because of your faith. You now have been born into God’s family. You are His genetic offspring. They will say of you what they said of Jesus: “The light shined in darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.” Jesus confused the darkness that came against Him; so will you if you live through the belief that you are seated with Christ.
Don’t misunderstand me: Trials come. The world may steal my lunch for a day but God will give me a feast tomorrow. Discouragement may come against you today but joy will come in the morning. I may sincerely slip but He is faithful to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) A bad economy might prevail around me but He leads me into green pastures. Evil may rise up but He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. Money comes and goes but God has made me rich. (Prov 10:22) My body will die in old age but my spirit is renewed with vigor every day! (2 Cor 4:16) We are like our Risen Lord: No matter how hard you hit us, we always rise again.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
