Apostle Paul’s message to the Colossians (Colossians 1:16) reveals the creation being first in Lord Jesus and then through Him and for Him everything was made and then everything exists in Him. When existence is in Him then anyone who is away from Lord Jesus will always be in an unstable and unsatisfied state. This stability is only through the Son of God in this world and in the time to come.
Receiving stability in Lord Jesus – Man was created on the sixth day after everything was already in place because, first, God does not desire man to lack anything; second, so that he cannot claim to be superior to anything by being firstborn; third, so that someone could not say that man helped God in the creation process and finally that man could enter the Sabbath, the day of rest, worship and thankfulness to God on the very next day, a day that was decreed by God as holy (Genesis 1:27). Man was thus created holy and to enter into a holy day immediately after creation and God declared everything to be ‘very good’. Created in God’s image and likeness man was created for eternity and not to be subject to time, he was not to grow old or die but was given eternal life in God’s presence. God put eternity in man’s heart and nothing less can satisfy him (Ecclesiastes 3:11). God created man upright or righteous but he has sought out many schemes/devices/inventions and is always looking to find satisfaction in something new, new phone, new friends, new places to visit (Ecclesiastes 7:29).
All things were created in Lord Jesus, through Him and for Him and all things exist in Him (Colossians 1:16-17). We were first created in Him by the Father and then through Him the creation process was completed. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 1:10). We were created in Lord Jesus, our existence can only be in Him and we are created for His glory and to do the good works that have been ordained for us in eternity past. After our fall from the blessed state and expulsion from the paradise of God on earth, the Garden of Eden, we went into a tailspin of unsettled survival with decay of the body, disease and finally death from which the Son of God has redeemed us. We are in a state where the darkness of sin and the night is far spent and day is at hand, the day of judgment, put on the ‘armor of light’ and walk properly, as in the day, ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ’ (Romans 13:12-14). Sin leads to death and destruction and only the Savior Lord can save us from that (Romans 6:23).
God exalted His Son to a position of great honor at His right hand and gave Him a name above every name and every being in all the three worlds – heaven, earth and hell must bow and confess His Lordship and dominion (Philippians 2:9-11& Ephesians 1:19-22). God did not only redeem us from our position of sin but after cleansing us has ‘raised us together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 2:5-6). It is in this state that our real existence is completed.
Seated with Lord Jesus in heavenly places – When the Savior Lord died for His Body, the Church (Ephesians 5:25), she died to the law (Romans 7:4); died to the world (Galatians 6:14); died to sin and rose from the dead to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:2-4); became a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17); came into a new covenant (Hebrews 9:15); became heirs of a new earth (2 Peter 3:13). And Lord Jesus has delivered us from the domain of darkness and God has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). We have passed from death to life and in this new life in the Lord (John 5:24), and now we are seated with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
This new life in Christ Jesus has some important points – first, we are seated in triumph in the finished work of the Savior like the first Sabbath on earth; second, seated far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1:21-23). And God, the Father, put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all’. Third, the action is completed in the past and God has raised us and made us to sit in heavenly places with our Lord and we will reign with Him. It is not our effort but God has completed it already. Four, we have to exercise this authority and power that now belongs to us and we must take advantage of this, only then will it work for us. Five, this is fulfillment of the original plan of God to make us triumphant in His Son in whom we were created to ‘do good works’, to dominate and subdue the earth and all that is in it. Six, Lord Jesus is the head of the body, the church, and since the body is connected to the head, both are triumphant over Satan and his evil forces and all that we are required to do is to enjoy the rights and privileges that already belong to us as joint-heirs with the Savior (Colossians 1:18). Seven, God had decreed this ‘before the foundation of the world, that we may be holy and without blame before Him’ so that the devil has no right over us and we fight this spiritual battle from a place of victory and strength of Lord Jesus (Ephesians 1:4).
We are in the life of abundance as promised by the Lord but like the Israelite spies we tend to overestimate the lies of the devil and feel it beyond our reach (John 10:10). Lord Jesus has promised that the believers will have ‘rivers of living water’ flowing from their heart (John 7:38). This is a transformation from wilderness to the promised land, from the desert to overflowing riches so that we can become a blessing to others. The ‘rivers of living water’ flow out and not flow in for the Lord creates the source in us and this flow is for others in accordance with the Great Commission.
Lord Jesus, the ladder to heaven – Jacob dreamt about a ladder going up to heaven with angels ascending and descending with the LORD God on the top (Genesis 28:12-13). Lord Jesus revealed to Nathanael that he was seen when under the ‘fig tree’, a Jewish symbol of being in prayer, and Nathanael immediately recognized Him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. But the Lord then told Nathanael that heaven will be opened and angels of God will be seen ascending and descending upon the ‘Son of Man’ (John 1:47-51). Angels have been described as ministering spirits for believers and this happens in the authority and power of the Lord who is ‘above all’ and is master of all (Hebrews 1:14). Joshua received the Lord as ‘Commander of the army of the LORD’ and worshipped Him for all angels are His creation and under His control (Joshua 5:14).
John the Baptist was used by God to baptize His sinless Son and ‘the heavens were opened to Him’ and the Holy Spirit descended on Him (Matthew 3:16). The Savior Lord thereafter, operated in fullness of the Holy Spirit on earth while heavens remained open to Him (Matthew 3:16). Lord Jesus became the ladder for us to reach the Father in heaven and to seat us in ‘heavenly places’ with Him and since ‘all principalities and powers, in heaven and earth are subject to Him’ we also are blessed with the same power. Once we are blessed thus after accepting Lord Jesus as Savior devil and all his forces start working against us to make us fall from our place with the Lord.
Satan and the demonic spirits were dispatched from out of heaven to the earth and he got us out of our paradise on earth and desires to take us as low as himself. Since future of the demons is the bottomless pit, they want us also to reach the lowest possible level of sinful living. Despite all demonic forces being in opposition to us we are still victorious in the Lord and the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb are testimony of this victory. Apostle Paul has told us, ‘I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me’ (Philippians 3:12-15). Once we press on toward the goal set before us and if there is anything we need, ‘God will reveal even that’.
Reasons for our weakness – Lord taught us to pray to the Father in heaven, ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ thus implying that God’s will is presently not being done fully here at present (Matthew 6:10). Satan showed Lord Jesus ‘all the kingdoms of the world’ and offered the same to the Lord in return for his worship. The Son of God did not dispute the devil’s authority but rebuked him to get away (Luke 3:5-8). Despite all these promises why do believers find it difficult to succeed in overcoming the designs of the devil? The reasons for failure and remedy for success are listed together.
First, be on guard always – We are always under attack by the devil and his forces and it is generally in a subtle way for he attacks our mind, heart and soul thus dissipating much of our strength. The common statement made by many is that healing and miracles stopped after the apostolic age or how can I do this? Satan’s greatest weapon is creating doubts.
Second, seek empowerment regularly – Satan moves around like a ‘roaring lion seeking whom he may devour’ which means every believer cannot be his prey (1 Peter 5:8). Anyone who is seeking daily filling of the power of the Holy Spirit will escape. When the woman with flow of blood for twelve years touched Lord Jesus’ Talit, or prayer shawl, power flowed out of Him to affect healing and Lord Jesus prayed daily to be filled again (Luke 8:46).
Third, Persevere in trials for your faith may be under test like Job was tested for God turns all things for our good in the end (Romans 8:28). Apostle Paul declared, ‘for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain’, for on earth he was doing God’s kingdom work and death will unite him with the Lord in heaven (Philippians 1:21). So then why be afraid, whatever the outcome it will be for our good.
Four, unbelief in the truth of God’s promises to say, I am on earth suffering sickness and lack, how am I seated with Him in the heavenly places?
Five, distant relationship with the Lord and His word in a life too busy chasing the desires of the flesh with no time to connect to the One who gives success.
Six, awaken the dawn – King David prayed, ‘God my heart is steadfast. I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn’ (Psalm 108:1-2). The king would never miss his morning worship and the sound of music from his palace would urge others to pray and meditate on God’s word.
Seven, set your minds on things that are above – ‘Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:2-3). Apostle Paul is not calling us to ignore the concerns of daily life; rather he is referring to the future age of Christ and His kingdom. We are citizens of heaven waiting for the coming of the Lord to transform us into His glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21).
Tongue has the power of life and death and while we know the truth of God’s promises our words do not reflect that truth, thus giving an open door to the devil to reign supreme in our lives (Proverbs 18:21). We have to cherish what is promised or perish forever, to have faith in Him or believe the lies of the devil. Our God is a living God, I AM, performing innumerable miraculous deeds every day. Showers of blessings in Lord Jesus fall on us but since we are not attuned to that, we are unable to experience the same. The first Sabbath on the earth was for Adam and Eve to sit in the finished work of God and we also need to do this!
