One major reason why many Christians are living a life of oppression and defeat in the hand of the devil today is because they do not even realize their exalted position in Christ. Therefore, today we want to look at our position in Christ.
For instance, if you ask that lady that just got married, “What is your position in your husband?” She will tell you, “I and my husband are one; both of us have the same position; my husband is the Head of State. So, I am also the Head of State. At least I am the first lady.” This is her position.
Here is the truth: As a New Creation your position has changed:
1. You have been crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20).
2. You died with Christ (Col. 2:20; Rom. 6:8; 2 Cor. 5:14).
3. You were buried with Christ (Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:4).
4. You have been made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:13).
5. You have been raised up together with Christ (Eph. 2:6).
6. You have ascended into the heavens with Christ (Col. 3:1), and
7. You are now seated together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6).
You were made alive together, raised together, and made to sit in heavenly places together with Christ Jesus. When God found you, you were spiritually dead. You were dead because of the things you did wrong against Him. He wanted you to be alive and sit with Him on His throne, Heaven. Getting you from the point of death to a seat in heaven with Him took the work of our Mediator, Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5). He gave you life and then raised you up out of the mess (Ps. 40:2-3), and gave you a seat with Himself in heaven.
“He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit The Throne of Glory” (1 Sam. 2:8).
This position is far above ALL principality and powers and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come (Eph. 2:5-6; 1:20-21). This position is a position of victory, a place of the supernatural, a place of the miraculous, and a place of total security. It is the highest place in the third heaven.
Until you believe that you have also ascended with Christ and are now seated with Him at a position of ultimate power and authority, you will never be able to exercise your authority over the devil.
When Jesus rose from the dead, He said to His disciples, “…All power (authority) is given unto Me in heaven and in earth…” (Matt. 28:19-20).
You have entered into this position of authority because you are in Christ. We are seated together with Christ in that place of highest authority. When Christ ascended, He transferred His authority to the Church. He is the head of the Church, and all the Born-Again believers make up the Body. The authority of Christ has to be perpetuated through His Body, which is on the earth.
Throughout the Book of Ephesians, Apostle Paul uses the human body as an illustration of the Body of Christ.
Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father – the place of absolute authority – and we are seated together with Him there.
Ephesians 2:6 says, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
We died with Christ, and we are raised with Him. This is not something God the Father is going to do in the future! He has done it already! (Eph. 1:18-23).
Take note of verse 19 which says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”
In order words, there was such an overwhelming display of God’s power in raising Jesus from the dead and this actually made this event the mightiest work of God ever recorded. The resurrection was vehemently opposed by the devil and all the forces of darkness. However, the forces of darkness were confused and defeated by our Lord, Jesus Christ, who arose, ascended, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, far above them all (Col. 2:15).
God wants us to know what happened in the death, burial, resurrection, and seating of Jesus Christ. He wants us to know that He has set Christ “Far above all principalities, powers and might, and dominion, and every name that is named…” (Eph. 1:21).
In the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul prayed a prayer for the body of believers in Ephesus. One part of that prayer was that they know the exceeding greatness of His power to those who believe (Eph. 1:19).
That exceeding great power is the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenlies.
Ephesians 1:21 tells us that Jesus is seated far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named.
The work God the Father did in Christ is supreme. He raised Jesus from the dead and set Him far above all other authority – not only in this world, but also in the unseen world.
Then verse 22 says that God the Father has put ALL things under His feet and made Him head over the church which is His body.
Where are the feet? They are in the body. As believers, we are part of His body and we are seated with Him in that place of highest authority. Praise God!
Ephesians 2 says, “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins…Even when we were dead in sins, (God) hath quickened us together with Christ…And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:1,5,6).
We are seated together with Him. Where? In heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion.
As a believer, you have accepted the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary. Therefore, you are a part of His body and are seated with Him in that heavenly place, and equipped with the same power (authority) that He has.
The exceeding great power that God the Father used to raise Christ from the dead is the same creative power that worked in you to make you alive when you were dead in your trespasses and sins.
The moment you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, that same power was exercised on your dead, unregenerate spirit, causing it to be reborn in the likeness of God the Father Himself (2 Cor. 5:17).
“As believers, we are part of His body and we are seated with Him in that highly exalted place of authority.”
In this exalted position, you have total authority over the devil and all the forces of darkness put together.
Now that you know your position in Christ, allow this truth to sink deep down into your sub-conscious mind, believe it and act like it, and you will be amazed at the results it will produce in your life – you will face life without fear walking in total victory every moment of your life.
I challenge you today to realize your exalted position in Christ, rise up from your position of defeat, where you are barely existing on the “husks” of religion which is totally devoid of power, and return to your heavenly Father to claim your position and rights as a son.
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit.
Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG)
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