He raised us from the dead along with Christ, and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
� Ephesians 2:6
A Christian is someone who lives in two dimensions. The apostle Paul explained it this way: "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth" (Colossians 3:1-2).
These verses are saying that believers truly do live in a spiritual dimension � where we walk in the Spirit and know God in the Spirit. Yet as human beings, we also live and move in physical bodies here on earth. Our challenge as Christians, then, is to transfer what we have in the spiritual realm into the day-to-day ebb and flow of events in the earthly realm.
When I travel to another country and pass through its borders, I still maintain my U.S. citizenship. When I went to Israel a few years ago, although I had my passport that indicated I am an American, I had to live in their culture. As a result, there were a few things I needed to adapt to. When I needed currency, for example, I took funds from my bank in the U.S. and converted them into shekels to use in Israel. Of course, I didn't know what the exchange rate was, so on my first day there, I may have tipped someone fifty dollars to carry my bags to my room. (He was really nice to me the rest of the day.)
As Christians, we have riches, treasures, real assets waiting for us in heaven. When the Bible speaks of the heavenlies, however, we need to recognize that it is not only talking about something waiting for us in heaven after we die. It is also talking about the supernatural realm. So before we can effectively walk as believers, much less engage in spiritual battle, we need to learn about the supernatural resources God has given to us. We also need to understand they are treasures God wants us to start tapping into in the here and now, as well as in the by and by. They are provisions available to any believer who is walking with God.
What are Supernatural resources God has given to us?
(1) God�s Power
In Christ, you have been given power to demolish strongholds of evil deception, overcome the controlling effects of the world system, do God�s will, fulfill His purposes, and overcome the forces of evil.
Philippians 4:13 says, �I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.� When we allow God�s strength and power to work through us we can face life with confidence. God�s supernatural power is available to you because you are His child.
The Son of God says to Christians:
"I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy (demonic forces), and nothing will injure you. 20"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits (demons) are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven:angel: (int he Book of Life)."
Luke 10
The Son of God says to Christians:
�Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.�
Mark 16
(2) God�s Freedom
In Christ, you have been set free from the bondage of sin:angeldevil::devil: and guilt, the spirit of rejection, the yoke of satanic deception, worry and anxiety, and all fear�including the fear of evil, deathl.
God expects you to enjoy the freedom that you have been given in Christ to be FREE from sins and daily walk in righteousness :angel:.
Imagine a life free from the bondage of sin and deception. A life where feelings of guilt and rejection are quickly handled as you apply God�s truth. Imagine being so secure in your relationship with God and in your dependence on His promises that your life is virtually free of worry!
Imagine a life free from the bondage of your sexual immorality which you committed in the past!
Most people spend all of their earthly existence trying to structure a life that offers these benefits. And yet it is completely impossible apart from God. It is only as we believe God for what we�ve been given in Christ and follow Him in obedience that this kind of lifestyle can become reality.
How? When we LITERALLY ABANDON our sins to live with God!
You were a killer. Do not kill anymore.
You were a sexual immoral person, today you died for this sin too and you do NOT live in this sin knowing that sexual immoral people do not inherit the Kingdom of God!
(3) God�s Victory
In Christ, you will overcome adversity. Our life is not free of misery, pain and suffering because we live in a fallen world. Adverse circumstances are life�s laboratory in which God develops our character. The world judges life by the quality of favorable circumstances that surround the individual. God judges the life by the growth of the individual�s character,which is manifested in the midst of adversity. Adverse circumstances provide a showcase to demonstrate the quality of God�s workmanship in us to the watching hosts of the universe. Adverse circumstances also occur because life is lived in a cosmic war zone. The doomed forces of evil are doing their worst to damage the unshakable kingdom of the invincible King Jesus.
God doesn�t expect us to just endure adversity. He expects us to triumph over it. He wants us to trust Him to work in and through our difficulties so that we actually benefit from them. Instead of being destroyed by adversity, God wants us to use those hardships to our advantage. No matter what happens in Christ, we can�t lose, because He enables us to be super conquerors spreading Christianity!
�For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous:angel:; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.� (Ps. 5:12)
Christians, do you see that these resources make Christians to be like God Jesus doing what He does?!
God speaks:
"I said, �You are gods,
And all of you are children of the Most High." :angel:
God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.
2 How long will you judge unjustly,
And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Defend the poor and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked.
5 They do not know, nor do they understand;
They walk about in darkness;
All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
6 I said, �You are gods,
And all of you are children of the Most High.
7 But you shall die like men,
And fall like one of the princes.�
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
For You shall inherit all nations.
Psalm 82
The Jews answered Jesus, saying, �For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.�
34 Jesus answered them, �Is it not written in your law, �I said, �You are gods��?:angel: 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, �You are blaspheming,� because I said, �I am the Son of God�?
37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.�
John 10
So, LIVE as a son of God bringing Him Glory:applause: how His Son Jesus did!
