Seated in Heavenly Places: Page 77

Seated in Heavenly Places (Ephesians 2:6)
 
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel (Colossians 1:5).

Our all-knowing God can already see the Body of Christ positioned in heavenly places, and tells us He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). 
 
He asks us to be...
 
2 transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2),
 
to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine (I Timothy 4:13), 
 
1 to seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1), 
 
2 to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). 
 
We have a heavenly hope, not an earthly hope. Our risen Lord spoke to the first member of His body from heaven, continues to speak to us through His Word, and beseeches us to set our mind, our hearts, and our affections on His mind, His heart, and His affections, and bring many souls with us when we personally meet Him face to face in the air.
 
We are empowered by Him to pour out His grace. 
 
WE are the heavenly ambassadors (II Corinthians 5:20) 
 
for Christ to the earth, to proclaim the hidden wisdom of God (I Corinthians 2:7), 
 
the Gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) 
 
according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret since the world began (Ephesians 3:3, 9; Romans 16:25, II Timothy 1:9), 
 
BUT NOW is made manifest (Colossians 1:26,). 
 
We have been given the ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18-19), are to do the work of an evangelist, and to make full proof of our ministry (II Timothy 4:5, II Corinthians 2:7), 
 
2 to preach the word; to be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (II Timothy 4:2) 
 
15 speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), 
 
4 to bring those of faith into the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4). 
 
We are to fellowship with and edify the saints in love (I Thessalonians 4:9; 5:11; Philippians 1:5; Colossians 1:4), 
 
strengthen their faith, assure them of their positional security in Christ, and be helpers of their joy (II Corinthians 1:24), 
 
rejoicing in their gift of eternal life, 
 
17 the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17) 
 
and their new identity in Christ. 
 
Serving the one that first loved us gives our lives purpose and eternal weight.
 
We can all rejoice over the future hope of filling those heavenly vacated seats (II Timothy 4:18; II Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 1:5). 
 
From that future position, we will have a front row seat to observe God fulfill all His promises to the Nation of Israel. 
 
Jesus said, 
 
10b angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew18:10b). 
 
Paul said, 
 
9 for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (I Corinthians 4:9). 
 
It seems that the angels are watching both the Father in heaven and man on earth. Distance does not seem to be a visibility barrier in the heavenly realm When Stephen was near death, He could see Jesus Christ in heaven standing on the right hand of God (Acts7:55). 
 
And Jesus Christ was able to talk from heaven to Paul on earth at his conversion.
 
The Body of Christ is not appointed to wrath (I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9), 
 
to go through the tribulation, but we will be able to watch our God from heaven be victorious over the mystery of iniquity (II Thessalonians 2:7), 
 
the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) 
 
and the rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12) 
 
during their most desperate time on the earth, the great tribulation, and their time of judgment. 
 
We can look forward to watching from our new and safe heavenly home.

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