“Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:20

Jesus is literally changing my life and perspective by what I’m getting ready to share with you about where we are living! I’m not talking about a location but a position. So, often I find myself simply living and seeing life from the earthly, natural, physical realm. But there is a realm that is a far greater reality than this earthly world that we live in. We see and experience the earthly world but in comparison to the heavenly realm, it is a mere dream. “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 Could it be that we are called to live and base our life in the heavenly realm rather than this earthly world?

Think about that moment when you feel like it’s impossible to love the person next to you or forgive them for how they mistreated you. Do you ever feel discouraged by circumstances, totally frustrated by things not going your way or completely overwhelmed by situtations in life? Well, it seems that you are looking at these situations from your own measly perspective, instead of allowing Jesus to give you His perspective from the heavenly realms where He is seated. The Heavenly realm is a place of power. The Father gave Him authority over ALL things, not only earthly but because of the victory that Christ overcame on the cross, He is above EVERYTHING. He is the King of all kings, which means He has conquered all others, they now submit to His authority, because He is the rightful King and He has all power. This is where Christ dwells and we are IN CHRIST, seated with Him. Therefore, we have power above all things, because the Holy Spirit dwells within us. We no longer have to bend the knee to this world or cater to the flesh, He’s made a way for us to live above that as we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of our attitudes and actions.

So, are you living from His perspective, where He is seated or just merely esteeming His postition? We have access to this, not because of anything we accomplished but because of the perfect righteousness of Christ, we are seated with Him. “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:9-11 This is great news! He’s invited you into the very throne room of grace, to be a partaker in His divine inheritance, today! This is not something that will happen, no He wants us to live in His life now. As we abide in Him, through faith, He is the answer to every problem we face! Let Him take over every moment of your day, so that He can be glorified through your thoughts, actions and attitude, so that this world may know that HE IS GOD!

All the blessings that the Father is so graciously blessing us with, is only possible because God in His almighty power, brought Christ from death to life and elevated Jesus to the heavenly realms, at His right hand. This heavenly realm is all around us, and yet, it’s just beyond our reach, ability, strength, talent, and resource. Yet, whatever is taking place in the heavenly realm is a true reality at this very moment. Will we choose to turn our gaze heavenward and see what the Father is doing?

A huge army came to get Elisha and when his servant came running in to tell him, Elisha calmly told him not to worry or fear. What! Elisha, have you seen them? They’ve surrounded us and there’s no way out. Then Elisha took the servant outside and prayed that the Lord would open his eyes to behold the reality of what was going on. Then the servant’s eyes were opened and he saw the REALITY of the horses and chariots of fire all around the mountain. Why could the servant not see what was actually going on? He was viewing his circumstances from the earthly realm, instead of relying on the faithfulness of God. Elisha knew and lived from the reality of abiding in the heavenly realm. Knowing who his God is and where true victory comes from. (2 Kings 6:15-17) What if we allowed God to invade out lives and demonstrate Himself in and through us, so that we might be ambassadors (light bearers) to ALL the world, that He is God!

If Christ is seated in the heavenly places, then how do we live in that realm with Him? Do you know what your position is? We are IN CHRIST! “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Eph. 2:6 If you are in Christ then spiritually you are seated in heavenly places. Operate from that! Stop living in this physical world, defeated by the flesh, giving into whatever comes your way. Stand up and fight against the evil one and fight like a man! He’s given us access to all that we need to live this impossible life! “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” 2 Peter 1:3 He has given us the privileges, blessings, and responsibilities of the kingdom of God. We have everything we need to live this life for Jesus Christ! Let’s wake up from the apathetic and comfortable life that we’ve been living and move forward on this battleground for the King’s glory! “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romas 8:11 Wait! Did you read that? The very same Spirit that dwells in Christ, lives in you!

Ian Thomas once stated that God created our lives to be a visible, physical demonstration of an invisible God within our visible world. He is to inhabit and have full authority in our lives in order that He may demonstrate Himself to the world through you and me. We are to be the vessel through which all the world might proclaim: “There is a God. The LORD, He is the God!”

So, when you’re tempted to freak out about something or become worried and anxious about a situation. Where are you focusing on? Will you continue to wallow in your flesh or are you going to turn to Jesus and see the situation from His perspective? “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:4-6 Our victory and freedom only comes as we bow and submit to Jesus Christ. This is a place of complete surrender, submission and dependency on Jesus Christ. It’s only when we come to the end of ourselves and depend on Jesus alone to produce and bring about that which we cannot do will we truly see what it looks like to be seated in Christ, in the heavenly realm.

It’s all about our perspective, we must view life from the heavenly place and realize that it truly is REALITY, every single moment, no matter what our feelings might be telling us. If we are in Christ, there is no reason for us to ever step out of this position/place where the Father dwells. We must remain in Him! That is where our unending source of strength and power comes from. Jesus was continually dependent upon the Father in everything, relying upon Him for power, strength, blessing, authority, etc. The Father gave Him all authority and power and everything must bow at His command, and He’s also given this to us through His Spirit that dwells within us. Friends, if we could live from a heavenly perspective our lives would look a million times different. There’s peace and rest that comes from knowing who our God is and that He is more than ABLE to accomplish His purpose through us. “Now, just as Elisha’s servants eyes were opened to the heavenly realm and forces of heaven, Father, I pray that you would open our eyes to behold You and the work that you are doing in and around us! Give us sensitive hearts to Your Holy Spirit and cause us to abide, always seated in Jesus Christ, that this world might know that You are God alone.” May you go forth this year to see every situation from the heavenly realm!

~Sarah Johnson