Are you sitting down?

October 9, 2020
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Are you sitting down?

“…and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:6 NASB

•   Have you ever had a seating placement affect your thinking and emotions?
•   The Bible speaks about seating several times. Tells us not to take seats of honor (Lk 14:8), not to sit with scoffers (Ps 1:1), nor show favoritism in where we sit people (James 2:1-4).
•   Where one sits is very important. Lk 14 is talking about being humble. Ps 1 is talking about being agreement with sinfulness. James 2 is talking about no viewing people the way God views them.
•   In the same way, being seated with Christ is meaningful. It is about Him not us. It is about agreement. It is about seeing with God’s viewpoint. It is also about relationship. It is about authority.

How does being seated with Christ affect us today? How is it meaningful? How can we adopt this understanding in everyday day life?

Here are five ways we can appropriate being seating with Christ in our lives.

I. Being seated with Christ gives you a new mindset.

Col 3:1-5 NASB] 1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Greek: Present, Active, Imperative – The Present Stem of the verb in Greek is used not only for describing an action that is going on at the present time, but for actions that go on over a period of time (continuously), or repeatedly. (Dr. Shirley)

II. Being seated with Christ helps bring victory over sin.

Ephesians 2:3, Colossians 3:5
Phoebe Palmer used confession of these verses among others to help people tap into the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.
Kenneth Boa, Conformed Into His Image, confession of these verses helps gives victory over sinfulness. (334-336)

III. Being seated with Christ releases you to fulfill your purpose.

Eph 2:8-10 – 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
[Jhn 14:12-13 NASB] 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

IV. Being seated with Christ empowers you over spiritual forces.

Eph 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
“…and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:6 NASB
[Eph 6:11-13 NASB] 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.] 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

V. Being seated with Christ changes your speaking.

“…and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:6 NASB
[Jer 1:4-8 NASB] 4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8 “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

•   Think about being seated with Christ.
•   Make it a tool to overcome your flesh.
•   Walk in your purpose.
•   Push back demons and the forces of darkness.
•   Keep this in your mouth.

Evangel North Church this Sunday, 9 AM & 11 AM!

TWO ways to enjoy the services:
1. In-person with social distancing (see image below)
2. Join us online three ways via Facebook Live (Evangel North Church), YouTube Live (John Carmichael Ministries), or http://evangelnorth.net/live-on-demand/.#YesWeAreOpen