Praying "Resurrection Prayers" Series, Part 2 of 4
This is the second in a four part series. You are encouraged to begin with part one. We've been talking about praying, and operating in sincere, confident faith. Like the story of my transaction at the bank, with which this teaching began in part one, and like the description of Abraham's faith, in Hebrews 11:8, also in part one, it is with a genuine faith that we actually receive our spiritual inheritance, in Christ. Such a faith is a "benchmark," and a focus of the victorious Christian walk…a faith that brings real glory to our God. If you haven't already done so, please part one.
So now, let's slowly consider (and genuinely seek to understand) just how such a genuine "FAITH TRANSACTION" looks like, and understand how we "partake" in our God-given inheritance, according to the apostle Paul (with my own comments included in parentheses):
"...that the Gentiles should be fellow HEIRS (that's the topic), of the same body, and PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE (that's what we do with the promise) in Christ through the gospel (note, that's the gospel Paul preached), [7] of which I became a minister (Paul's ministry was connecting believers to God's promise)... [8] that I should preach among the Gentiles the UNSEARCHABLE RICHES of Christ (that was Paul's message - our inheritance, in Christ), [9] and to make all SEE (understand and apply) what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; [10] to the intent that NOW the manifold wisdom of God MIGHT BE MADE KNOWN BY THE CHURCH (note, OUR purpose!) to (watch this now...) the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, [11] according to the eternal purpose (God's purpose) which He accomplished (note, past tense) in Christ Jesus our Lord, [12] in whom we have (get this now) BOLDNESS and ACCESS WITH CONFIDENCE through FAITH in Him." (Ep 3:6-12)
That was a "purpose statement" (Paul's, yours, and God's). Perhaps we should read it again, if it helps us to personally cement the understanding in our hearts! (By the way, reading the Bible just for "information" is useless.)
Now, we see that God has always intended, according to that passage, that we (you and I, the Church, His Body) would make known, here and now, to everyone, everywhere (even spirits in spiritual realms), by our faith/obedience, just exactly WHO He is, and WHAT He has given, in Christ, to those who live by faith. THAT is the reason for our living with "BOLD CONFIDENCE!"
The Word of God, through the apostle Paul's letter to the Church in Ephesus, speaks to this same truth about the One with whom we are joined as ONE, and the mighty inheritance we have, in Him, while revealing quite clearly just where this RESURRECTED Savior and Lord is to be found:
"that...YOU (and I) may (actually) know...(exactly) what are the riches of the glory of His INHERITANCE in the saints (THAT'S you and me),...according to the working of His mighty power, (now, get this...) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (in other words, RESURRECTION POWER)." (Ep 1:18-20)
That is such a powerful, life-giving, life-changing revelation, yet we are tempted to skim through this passage because of our familiarity with the text. I sincerely hope that we each deeply grasp what was just stated. HOWEVER, if we are dealing in the truth here, it seems that few of us actually OPERATE in any significant measure in the inheritance God gave to us IN JESUS.
Can you can hear Joshua asking God's people such a pertinent and timely (for us) question:
"Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: 'HOW LONG WILL YOU NEGLECT to go and POSSESS the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given YOU?'" (Jos 18:3)
Let the one who has "ears" hear what the Spirit it saying here. Joshua asks us a question, "When will we actually do it?" (Perhaps they had been studying it in the Bible, and talking about it for YEARS.) And, the answer of many of our lives cries, "Later," or maybe, "Never." Why is that true of most of our lives, to some degree? May I be frank here? Are we actually living that kind of "confident faith," that operates in the inheritance of the saints these days? And, just "when" are we effectively APPROPRIATING (THAT'S such a important word here) our God-given inheritance, in Christ? Are we just kidding ourselves, or actually doing it? When? Where? How?
In some ways, perhaps, we have been influenced by some of the popular and widely accepted teachings in the Body of Christ these days, which hide the frailties and fruit-LESS-ness of our current faith, look the other way at the scarcities of supernatural results, and make us feel better about any "spiritual impotence." Many in the Body have adopted, what I call "natural-minded theologies." But, in truth, there should be NO excuse for weak, natural-minded faith in our midst, nor for the absence of true, "supernatural miracles." (I know that phrase is redundant, but we use the term "miracle" so loosely now.) In our experience, many Christians actually give the credit for natural phenomena as though they were supernatural, which somehow makes us feel better about our Christianity. For example, we go to the doctor for medical treatment, and then say our healing is a "miracle." Such "miracles" may be a gift from God, but, in truth, such a perspective involves little faith, and such results happen to both the believer, and the unbeliever, alike. That is not the same as, by true faith, "speaking a miracle into existence," in the name of Jesus. "Rise up and walk!" "Be opened!" "Be loosed!" In which case, Jesus, who, "Himself, took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses," is glorified, by the faith of those who trust in Him, and people of all nations are drawn to Him in praise and thanksgiving.
Could it be that those who are espousing such "weak teachings" (making "theological excuses" for God, and offering man's rationale for why we seldom see true miracles) are just ignorant that they are teaching another gospel than the one the apostle Paul preached in his epistles. Does that bother anyone in the Church today? Just HOW LONG will we be contented to NEGLECT God, who has given us all He is, and all He has, in Jesus. Listen to what Paul wrote to the disciples in Colossi:
"If then you were raised with Christ (that's Paul's "right" conclusion!), seek those things which are above (Paul's speaking to you, and to me about seeking the resurrected, triumphant Christ), where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God (ruling triumphantly, through believers who trust Him). Set your mind (in other words, think THIS way...I call it, "food for thought") on things above (heavenly, supernatural, unseen things), NOT on things on the earth (not the natural things of this world). For you died (get this), and your life IS hidden WITH (the resurrected) CHRIST in God." (Co 3:1-3)
Is it legitimate to ask if are we actually living the way Paul was describing in that passage? The text is stating that where the resurrected Jesus is, so are we. The "Kingly position, power, and authority" that our resurrected Jesus has been given, we also occupy, in Him. The Kingly ways He thinks, we also think. What Kingly actions the resurrected Jesus takes, we also do, in Him. Therefore, by grace, our life is hidden in the RESURRECTED Jesus, in God, and He is revealed in us. Hallelujah!
To be continued...