We are seated with Christ
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. – Ephesians 2:6-7 NIV
God relocated us to sit with Christ Jesus when we accepted Him as our saviour. This is how we have access to all our spiritual privileges and it is given to us through Gods grace. As we live our lives we need to remember where we are seated and know that we have so many privileges because of it. Maybe I’ll do a future episode on our privileges that we have being seated with Christ. Subscribe.
When you have a need, give
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38 NIV
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. – Galatians 6:9-10 NIV
This is a spiritual principle that never fails. Whatever you sow, you will also reap. It will also be multiplied back onto you. So if there is a need in your life, you can sow a seed and give something to someone else. Do good towards others and it will be done back onto you.
Pleasure of sin are only for a moment
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. – Hebrews 11:24-25 NIV
Moses realized that sin, though it may be pleasurable, it only last for a moment and always comes with negative consequences. As believers we all need to remember that sin only makes you feel good for a moment. Then guilt, condemnation and shame start to flood your emotions immediately after. This is the devils plan to cause you to feel like you are not worthy of Gods love. Remember, the pleasures of sin are only for a moment, then the negative consequences will last a lot longer after that.
Hold on to the promises of God
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. – Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
God always keeps his promises. But first we need to make sure that we do his will. Your obedience is required to receive Gods promises. As you are walking obediently, keep the promise in the forefront of your mind so you can stay focused on completing Gods will. Don’t abandon your faith in hard times or persecution. God will richly reward you.
Set your mind on heavenly things
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. – Colossians 3:1-3 NIV
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. – Hebrews 11:3 NIV
It’s really hard to comprehend this. But everything that you can see is temporary and is subject to change at any moment. I would challenge you to find something that proves that statement false. The things that you cannot see are things that remain forever. An eternal perspective gives believers the ability to handle the struggles of this life. So have confidence in the permanence of the things you cannot see that have been written in the bible.
Gods ways and thoughts are higher than ours
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Gods perspective is not our perspective. He knows everything and we can’t even conceive how much that actually is. This is why Gods ways are higher than our ways. He’s just operating with way more information than we are. So we shouldn’t question God when things happen to us.
Words have creative power
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. – Proverbs 18:21 NIV
Through our tongue we have the ability to create. Just as God spoke in Genesis 1 and created the universe so to we have that ability. We are made in his likeness and his image. Be careful the words that you release from your mouth. You will create any situation in your life that you repeat over and over with careless words.
There is an ongoing spiritual battle
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. – Ephesians 6:12 NIV
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. – 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 NIV
If you don’t think there is a devil coming after you, you’ve already lost the battle.
The battle the enemy is waging against us is to block the knowledge of the God from penetrating the minds and lives of people. If the enemy can keep people from knowing the truth about all we have in Jesus that he is winning the battle. When you are truly following God and his word, you will take every thought captive and make it obedient to the word of God. This means to measure up that thought against the Word. And if it’s against the word of God, don’t meditate on it.
Love your enemy
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. – Matthew 5:43-45 NIV
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:19-21 NIV
To love your enemies is to reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. By loving and praying for our enemies we can overcome evil with good. It’s important to forgive for a few reasons.
Even if your enemy never repents, by forgiving them it frees you from the heavy load of bitterness.
Every challenge will make you better
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 NIV
By having the perspective that God will work out everything for good we can be confident that there will be some good that comes out of even bad situations. During these uncomfortable bad situations we need to pray and ask God what is he trying to show us or help us to learn so that it can work out for good. You too should face every situation like this so that you can grow and receive what God intends for you to have.