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Dr. Ronald Powell
This Week's Message:
Heavenly Things (Part One)
1. What Jesus did He did for all who Believe!
Every enemy has been both defeated and humiliated and put under the feet of the redeemed!
Mark 12:36 (ESV) 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet."'
Acts 2:35 (NIRV New International Reader's Version)
I will put your enemies under your control."
We reign in life through Christ Jesus which means that nothing can come against us that we don't already have authority over because of His victory on the cross!
John 3:12-13 (KJV) 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jesus stood before His disciples, before Nicodemus in John chapter 3, and He made this statement, He said, "No one has ASCENDED into heaven except He that descended" [John 3:13].
Now this is before His death, before His Resurrection; so He was describing here a lifestyle of intimacy with the Father where even though He was standing on earth He had ascended into heavenly realms in His relationship with God. The point being, that is an invitation for every believer.
Ephesians 1:17-23 (KJV)
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
a. The Apostle Paul coins a phrase: Heavenly Places.
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
And: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
- Ephesians 2:6 hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
b. His Resurrection is our Resurrection
· Colossians 2:12 (KJV) 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Because of your faith in the operation of God... We are as raised from the dead is as Jesus.
Result:
- Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
c. His victory is your victory.
When Jesus raised from the dead He didn't just do it for you, He did it as you.
Do you know that you could have a million dollars in the bank and could starve to death. Looking at what Christ did is looking into to the account to see the value of the account.
I believe the account was set up in your name...
I believe in the next season God is going to let us explore the Inheritance. Faith Explores what revelation provides.
- Colossians 2: 9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
d. Your "Completeness" is in what Christ alone has done...
- Colossians 3: 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
What would it feel like to be embraced by God? What would it feel like to become aware of how deeply you are loved by your Divine Source?
It is possible to experience this! You can have a direct personal experience to feel the love your Creator has for you and to grow into the body experience of feeling the love you crave.
1 Chronicles 28:9
"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Psalm 119:10
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
John 14:23
Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
e. These are they who receive the Word in Good Soil.
But the seed on the good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it and by persevering produce a good crop. (Luke 8:15, NIV) -
Colossians 3:1-4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
After honestly examining the condition of your heart and removing the stones and thorns that may have been on the surface or deeper down (opening up and surrendering your whole heart to the Lord), the next consideration should be how you will arrange your life so that the seed (a gift from God, not an element of your flesh) can grow exponentially. God gives us a plan of action in the book of James:
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:21-25, NASB)
The entire passage is a blessing, but there are five notable points that will illuminate the process of living in Heavenly things:
- Get rid of the sins that defile you- The filthiness and the remains of wickedness may sound like things that are already far from you, but they encompass those things we tolerate and even indulge in daily! Laziness, anxiety, scoffing (dismissing Gods way for our own) are examples.
- Humbly receive the word- Know that God beat you to the moment of realizing your word! He placed it on your heart. Take hold of it knowing it is a gift from Him for you to use for His glory!
- Do not forget the word- Keep it in front of you in the form of scripture. Make a few easily accessible lists of the scriptures God led you to in order to reveal this word to you. Define it and use it in declarative sentences, ex. Courage means doing things I know are right even if I am afraid. I will befriend this intimidating person in spite of my fear!
- Look to Jesus and abide in Him- We should always be Christ-focused in our efforts. Scripture tells us that if we remain in Him, he will remain in us and we will bear much fruit. Listening for His voice in quiet time, learning his character in scripture, reflecting His image everywhere we go are some ways we can remain in Him.
- Be an effectual doer- act on what you are learning through the exercise, trusting that God is faithful to his promise and that in obedience you WILL bear fruit!
This exercise is not a means to an end, it is a call to awareness.
It requires you to focus on one thing (Heavenly Things) long enough to actually see its significance as you diligently pursue His kingdom. You have chosen follow the word, now you must do the work of learning how to position yourself to yield a good crop! Heavenly Works/Fruit that remains...
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