What generally happens when people do things like this is they become totally and completely non-relevant to their world around them. How can you change a world that you don't encounter or have a conversation with? We have a commission from Jesus Christ our Savior to go into all the world and make disciples. Therefore, if we will obey the commission of Christ to go into all the world, then we will receive our commission for that obedience. God compensates very well for our faithfulness! Now, how many of you have really read this passage of Scriptures from the Bible and others like them, and then looked up in some sort of spiritual way and lingered in a state of waiting within your thoughts? Folks that do this, will often tell themselves, I'm just parking here and seeking things above, so as to develop my spirit man in the heavenly things. This sounds wonderful, but you have no clue of what heavenly things are with this kind of approach. Spiritual self-appraised elites who disconnect from everyone and who are always in their prayer closets making intercessions about everything; prompt me to want to ask them a question, what are you really interested in? Their vernacular is often filled with descriptions of Cherubim's, celestial creatures of the unseen world, archangels, beams of brilliant lights, pulling down of kingdoms of darkness, waving swords as though they were combating real demonic spirits physically; and yet, they very rarely are seen out in the real world doing hands on ministry that accomplishes what they are always seeking God to change. The Bible clearly says that we are to seek those things that are above if we then be raised with Him. We are missing some things here. How many of you would like to know what we have been missing?

The Scripture above that we read does not say we are "going" to rise. It says if you then be "risen" with Christ. In other words, it has already been done! Therefore, if it's already been done, then seeking those things which are above are for the "NOW!" If I'm raised with Christ, I have a right to access the things where Christ sits in order to bring those benefits to the people of this world. Therefore, if there is no sickness there at the right hand of God; I'm bringing the cure down here! If there is no bondage there; then I'm bringing the liberty down here! If there is no sin up there; then I'm bringing the message of righteousness down here. If there is no sorrow up there; then I'm bringing the joy down here. If there's praise and worship up there around my Father and Lord; I'm bringing it down here. How is this possible? Because I'm already risen with Christ into a divine creation! That's why I seek the things above, because I'm already seated above. And why do I seek those things above? So, I might bring the evidence of those things to the people of this world as a proof provider that Jesus holds all authority over all things! When we identify with our true nature in Christ then we will take those things above and disburse them abroad in this world giving glory to our God and causing mankind to seek His salvation. Now, as you get this revelation in your life and spirit, you can then see how ridiculous it is to hear those who sit around huddled in churches declaring how they can't wait until the coming of Christ that they might be raised from this horrible place and finally become like Him. Pitifully sitting around singing songs like holding the fort, or give me a little shack in the corner of heaven. No, no, don't look forward to a day out somewhere in the distant future; but remember the day! And recall the day; and implement the day; and activate the day; and enforce the day; and enjoy the day; hallelujah!!! Today is the day of your salvation!!!

How many have been noticing that you have been missing this? If you then be risen with Christ? The Knox translation says you must lift your thoughts above. Therefore, if you believe that Jesus rose from the grave and that you have risen with Him, and if you believe you were meant to sit together with Him in heavenly places; than allow yourself to lift up your thoughts above and identify with where you really are seated. Why? That you may be a partaker of the inheritance of God; because the actual fact is, He has made you able to be a partaker of that inheritance as a representative of Himself! Now, the Williams translation says it like this, so, if you have been raised to life, in fellowship with Christ. This word "fellowship" with Christ, means to be near Him and have all things in common. In light of this, if we look at that part of Scripture that tells us that where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, then we must realize that that position is a place of absolute authority and dominion over everything in heaven and beneath heaven.

Let me teach you something further here. When Jesus was raised from the dead, He didn't rise with a different body. He arose from the dead with a glorified body. However, it was the same physical body only it had been glorified by the miraculous power of God the Father. When Christ rose up from the dead He had the very same body they had laid in a tomb, only it was glorified when He was raised up. That body did not see corruption because Scripture teaches that His Anointed One would not see coruption. Now when that body was raised from the dead Jesus told His disciples to handle me and see that it is I that you are looking at; for a ghost does not have flesh and bone as you are witnessing here right now. Jesus told Thomas to put forth his finger and thrust them into His wounds and believe. So, what does this have to do with anything we are discussing? It means at the right hand of God there is the headship of the human race in perfect identification and perfected oneness with the Father. Christ being the mediator between God and man. There's one God and one mediator between man and God, and that "man" is Christ Jesus. Therefore, there is a "man" in heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father. Who is the Lord of lords and King of kings! He is God the Son, but He is also the head of the human race in glory; and head of the body, which is the church. And He is your advocate and mine! Now, is Christ lesser or is He in co-fellowship with the Father?

My Bible in Colossians tells me that it pleased God that in Christ all preeminence should dwell. Now if God put preeminence in the life of Christ over everything, what do you think He left for the body of Christ? I'm trying to help you here; if God has told you in His Word which cannot lie that you are already raised with Him, and told you to seek those things that are above where Christ sits; it's to establish the fact that where Christ sits is where you sit also! You are spiritually positioned in a place of total victory over the works of darkness! God has made you to sit together with Himself in heavenly places. Not on the left hand, but on the right hand! Now, see here is what's been happening. Over 2000 years Christ has been sitting in a place of power. Do you know what this tells us? It tells us that for over 2000 years believers have potentially been seated at the place of power. This is not some power, not a little power, but in "all" power, in heaven and in earth which belongs to Jesus Christ! If all preeminence is given to Christ over all things and He tells you and I to go therefore into all of the world and make disciples, then I must conclude that I am seated with Him at the right hand of the Father and that I'm in right standing with God. Who has also enabled you and me through the preeminence that dwells in Christ who is also in us that we can fully know that we are seated with Him in heavenly places right now and have the same preeminence over everything that Christ has placed under our feet! I'm already risen, and therefore, have access to everything in my divine nature through Christ to whom I am seated with right now! Why is this? Because He has done everything necessary to release His power in us which is more than enough to save this world and supply all its needs. It's a power that defeats the power of darkness at all levels, and has the potential to reap the greatest harvest of souls the nations of this world has ever seen!  We are anointed of heaven to receive the kingdom economy right here on earth.

Colossians 3:2-3 (KJV)
² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

What's this talking about? It's talking about as long as I think that "things" are what I need to complete me, than I've forgotten that the old man is dead. Therefore, if I'm dead, my life is now hid with Christ Jesus in God. Insulated, protected, guarded, defended, and shielded! In addition, the Christ that lives in us, and we in Him, has given us the authority to draw from "His Source" of everlasting supply from above where things down here will never be the things that complete us. Jesus completes us! He is all in all. If therefore, I will live from above, than I can rule down here in that persona of Christ. Why? It is because my affections or desires are from above which are divine and not from beneath. This doesn't mean it's a realm that is irrelevant to the here and now; on the contrary, heaven and earth are not to be divided any longer, heaven and earth are meant to be united. God wants to bring the earth under His influence, but there is an enemy standing in the way trying to keep man from being reconciled to God. So, God sent His Son, and defeated the devil and then rose up a church that will represent Him here on earth in the same fashion as He did when He walked the earth. Jesus has already rent the veil in two that kept things separated; therefore, there is no reason for things to continue to be divided any longer. The economy of heaven is now available to those who are seated together with Christ above and all of these are called to work the plan of God.

So, if my affections are on the things of God, rather upon His word, than those things below will not rule over me, but I will rule over them! And these lesser things below must do what I say and comply with what God has given preeminence to His Son who I am hid with. God's Word declares that we have been given the right to be the heirs of all things in Christ. This is what one translation has said, if you're serious about living this new resurrected life with Christ, act like it! What does this mean? It means that I am already raised with Christ and seated at the right hand of the Father, and therefore, I should be living like it right now, not when I get to heaven. It means that the stinking, sinful old man that needed to die has already died. Thank God that Jesus took upon Himself our old crack pot selves and gave us a new form in the image of Himself. That embodies the completeness of Christ inwardly and manifests outwardly in all of us that believe properly what the Word of God is saying. The cross was the Potter's Wheel, which took our broken old pots and busted them up and made new ones that honor Him here in this world. Through the cross He has taken every marred vessel and created out of it a perfect an acceptable vessel that God is pleased to raise up and declare that it is an exact copy of Himself, through what He started and finished in each of us in Christ Jesus.

We have to realize that if we are raised in Christ Jesus then we will never die. When we go to a Christian's funeral we should not say that he passed away, but rather he went away. He left. He departed. When you are a child of God and believe in Him you will never die. Why? It's because you have already died and that you have acknowledged that you have died openly. But now you live, yet, how do you live? Through the resurrected life of Christ! The angel of the Lord had to tell the disciples to quit looking up when Christ departed and go get busy doing the stuff that He told them to do. Now, let me tell you how Jesus Christ lives on this side of the resurrection. Does He live in a shack? Is He lying somewhere on the sidewalk begging for some hand out? If you're serious about living this new resurrection life in Christ, then act like it! In other words, we need to pursue the things which Christ presides over. Let me ask you a question. What does Christ preside over? How much authority does He have over the earth? How much authority does He have in heaven? So, is He the King of kings on earth? Then let me ask you this. How many of you have thought it this way; that the devil reins over some things? How often has Christians thought that the devil presides over some things? Therefore, wherever Christ is King it's His kingdom and nothing is greater than His rule of authority. Let me give you a few examples of where many Christians have believed mistakenly, that the devil rules or presides over.

Music for instance is an area: there are those who think that certain beats were created by Satan. Money is another area believed to have the devil presiding over it: there are some Christians that believe money is evil. When was the last time you were mugged by money? Money is not evil; the Bible teaches it's the love of money! You see we give away things to the enemy because we lack the right knowledge about who has the authority and ownership of it. But let me ask you another question here, did Jesus die and sanctify all things unto Himself through the work of the cross? Let me emphasize it again, the Word of God has said clearly that you and I have been raised with Christ, therefore, if you are serious about this resurrection life, than act like it! Pursue the things that Jesus Christ presides over. Let me qualify this with another question, what does Christ preside over? Is it not everything?

Someone might say you can't play the drums in church with those funky kinds of beats; they are full of evil and demonic spirits. But, let me say this in all fairness, if the people playing those beats are playing them unto the Lord, than they most certainly should have the right to do so, and God will receive it as worship unto Him despite what you or I think! We ought to be honest with ourselves rather than diminish someone else's offering to God. Maybe it's just not your style of liking, but don't call it evil just because you don't like it. If the person is playing it unto the Lord with a right heart, then let him play and honor our Lord. It's like many years ago I heard a preacher say that using minor chords in music was evil because they induced sadness on people. No! Sad people are sad, and therefore, they think sad things. The Bible is an Eastern book; do you think that they were playing western music? I'm just pointing this out because there are many people that just want to give everything to the devil. But I want to make this clear, Jesus Christ presides over everything!

Yes, the enemy used to be the choir leader in heaven. But he's been fired! And the devil has never created one thing, he has only perverted things. He's perverted the lyrics and he has perverted the purpose. And if music can be used to get people demonized and full of the devil by those who have been demonized as they play their own music; then certainly those who are born again and full of God's Spirit can play their music and get people saved and set-free through it! Why? It is because of the Christian people who are playing it! Come on people! Jesus has sanctified all things unto Himself that He might be glorified through them. Jesus presides over everything! Now, if you want to be honest just say you don't like that certain style of music and that is acceptable by most folks, and there is nothing wrong with that. But don't give it to the devil as though it's worthless; it has uses that can touch lives when that musician who sings and plays it is a believer in Christ. I think we should have a revival in all styles of music. Have you ever noticed that country gospel is the same style as the secular country and western music? What's the difference? It is the life of the one who sings and plays it. These melodies are the same or similar, but the lyrics have changed to something positive and life giving.

The New English Bible says, "Let your thoughts dwell on that higher realm." Another translation says, "Don't spend your time worrying about things down here." Why is this? It's because your mind is on higher things, and when your mind is on higher things, you will live in the resurrection life where Jesus presides over it all. Everything is going to line up with what you believe in: As a man thinks in his heart so is he; from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks! Therefore, for this to really happen in our life, we are going to have to understand who we are in Christ. Thank you Lord that this mystery has now been revealed! That we are enabled to take hold of our inheritance in Christ! Thank you Lord that we are seated together with You and where You preside over everything; to You Lord, be the glory and honor, Amen!