Seated in the Heavenlies
Every missionary knows Matt. 28: 19,20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Empowered and accompanied by God we are to make reproducing disciples, and not just converts, but what is often overlooked is the previous verse. “And Jesus said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on this earth has been given to me’” (vs.18). No one can delegate responsibility without authority. Every child of God has the authority to do God’s will, and we have the power as long as we abide in Christ. We do not have the authority to do our own will, and we are powerless against Satan in our own strength.
It is certainly true that Jesus has all authority, but what about us? Well, who are you, and what position do you have in Christ? Notice how the apostle Paul conveys this power and authority to the church in Ephesians 1:18-21; “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Jesus when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly place, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also the one to come.” Wow!
God’s power has been extended toward you who believe. Belief is the qualifier. However, believing harder doesn’t make it true. It’s true therefore we believe it, and that is a choice that we have to make. There is no instruction in the Bible telling us to seek more power, because we already have all we need. To pursue something you already have will take you down a wrong path. The same holds for trying to become somebody you already are. “We are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may be glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:16,17). How much are we willing to identify with Christ in His suffering?
Too many struggling Christians believe they are caught in a power struggle between bad old Satan on one side, and good old God on the other, which is why they are defeated. That is a false belief and a false perception of reality. God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient and far above all rule and power. Satan is a defeated foe, and we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:6). And where is Jesus? He is seated at the right hand of God the Father, and the throne of God is the supreme authority over all creation. The Good News just keeps going on and on.
Dr. Neil
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