How do we occupy this position in heavenly places and appropriate what Jesus has done for us? Read this blog post to learn what it means to be both raised up and seated at the same time.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV
What does it mean to be seated in heavenly places? Well, this is what happened when we became born again – It describes our position in Christ. The book of Ephesians states that we have been made to sit. This is a good example of how God the Father extended the sonship of Jesus to us when we accepted him as Lord. Praise God, 1 Peter 2:9 states that we are royal!
“….for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9
In the earthly realm, there is a well-known royal tradition of Kings giving “seats” to members of the royal household within a Kingdom. This is a centuries old tradition which undoubtedly dates back to Biblical times, when the tribes were divided and given lands, and “seats” of responsibility. As believers, this is what has happened for us. The good news about the seat that we have together in Jesus, is that it we did not have to work for it or earn it. It is part of the free gift of our Salvation.
Let’s look at what it means to be both raised up and seated at the same time. How do we occupy this position and appropriate what Jesus has done for us?
1.Raised Up
If you have ever had an upgrade on a flight or a hotel booking, you will know exactly what it means to be raised up! An upgrade means that you have a better position and all the exclusive in – flight benefits! Being raised up is always good news! Even in the workplace, when you are given a raise that means that you receive a pay increase, right? Praise God this is what happened for us when we became born again. We have been raised up into the Heavenly realm through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
What happens when you are given a seat in a heavenly place? In essence, you have been given the authority to administer and carry out instructions. This is means that as believers, God has given us the same authority that Jesus had during his ministry on the Earth. Jesus said it like this,
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they 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 16:15-18
This means that we no longer have to be subject to our circumstances. The things that used to impact you negatively can no longer reach you because you are exercising your position in Christ! Jesus has paid the price for us and, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can do exactly what he did in the earth! We have the name, the blood and the Words of Jesus which allow us to rise above our circumstances. Notice how He is the name that is above and not beneath!
“at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” – Philippians 2:10–11
2.Made to sit
“Made to sit”…this phrase is reminiscent of Psalm 23, where David states that “He makes me to lie down in green pastures…”. In this situation, God is the shepherd who is blessing his sheep by making us sit. It’s also worth noting that in the natural sense, sheep will always sit after they have been fed and feel secure and satisfied. Jesus is the Good Shepherd! He gives us rest and a peace that passes our understanding.
Can you picture yourself seated in a heavenly place? Well, your surroundings may not look too heavenly right now. Maybe you are facing a situation that is far from heavenly, such as a prison cell, or a hospital bed, or a home that needs repairs. But the scripture tells us that we have been made to sit in heavenly places. This is where our Faith comes in! We have to choose to believe and confess what The Word says to change the reality of our situation. Jesus did this throughout his Ministry – He spoke to the fig tree, He spoke to the storm, He called Lazarus from the dead! The Word of God changes everything!
Ephesians 6:12 states that, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
“And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church]” – Ephesians 1:22
Praise God, being raised up and seated in Heavenly places with Christ is a position of absolute victory! Start walking in this victory today, by confessing and believing what The Word says about you. Start visualizing yourself seated high above everything and anything that is trying to exalt itself above the knowledge of God. This is what it means to be raised up and seated in heavenly places!
Memory Verses
- I am seated in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6
- Signs will follow me because I believe. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Mark 16:15-18, 1 John 4:4
- All things are under my feet because of where I am seated, with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 6:12
