Bible League: Living His Word And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.Those who are lost are spiritually dead. Although alive bodily, they are dead spiritually. People who are spiritually dead are people who spiritually follows the ways of the world and the ways of Satan, the fallen angelic ruler who is at work in them (Ephesians 2:2). Instead of following the lead of the Holy Spirit, the lost follow the dictates of their sinful selves under the inspiration of Satan and his demonic henchmen. Given all this, the spiritually dead are deserving of God's wrath (Ephesians 2:3). However, the spiritually dead that have received the gift of God's grace have been saved by their faith in Jesus Christ. Spiritually, they have been united with Christ. Spiritually, they have been crucified with Him. Spiritually, they have been buried with Him. And spiritually, God has raised them up with Him. As a result, as the Apostle Paul said of himself, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). The spiritually dead have become the spiritually alive in and through Christ Jesus. As our verse for today makes clear, when God raises those who were spiritually dead to the new life in Christ He also seats them with Christ in the heavenly realms. Spiritually, they are seated with Christ. Although bodily they are still on earth, spiritually they have a place in heaven. Their spiritual life is now "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3) and they receive spiritual blessings there that sustain, govern, and direct their lives on earth: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Ever since Christ was raised up and ascended into heaven He has been seated at the right hand of God (I Peter 3:22). From there he reigns over all things and will reign until all His enemies have been put under His feet (I Corinthians 15:24-28). Spiritually seated with Christ as we are, we reign in life with Him and through Him (Romans 5:17), utilizing the spiritual blessings we have been given in the heavenly realms. Indeed, the Bible even refers to us as "kings" (Revelation 1:6). Perhaps you were unaware of the status, authority, and power you have in Christ Jesus. Perhaps you were unaware that you are a spiritually alive and spiritually gifted king who reigns in life with Christ. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 17, 18, 19 Jeremiah 17 -- The Sin of Judah; Keeping the Sabbath NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 18 -- As the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 19 -- The Broken Jar NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Timothy 6 1 Timothy 6 -- Respect for Masters; Love of money; Charge to Timothy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.Insight How can anyone pray on all occasions? One way is to make quick, brief prayers your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day. Another way is to order your life around God's desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer. Challenge You don't have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. You can make prayer your life and your life a prayer while living in a world that needs God's powerful influence. Praying for “all believers everywhere” means praying for all believers in Christ; so pray for the Christians you know and for the church around the world. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ecclesiastes 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.Everything sublunary is on the move, time knows nothing of rest. The solid earth is a rolling ball, and the great sun himself a star obediently fulfilling its course around some greater luminary. Tides move the sea, winds stir the airy ocean, friction wears the rock: change and death rule everywhere. The sea is not a miser's storehouse for a wealth of waters, for as by one force the waters flow into it, by another they are lifted from it. Men are born but to die: everything is hurry, worry, and vexation of spirit. Friend of the unchanging Jesus, what a joy it is to reflect upon thy changeless heritage; thy sea of bliss which will be forever full, since God himself shall pour eternal rivers of pleasure into it. We seek an abiding city beyond the skies, and we shall not be disappointed. The passage before us may well teach us gratitude. Father Ocean is a great receiver, but he is a generous distributor. What the rivers bring him he returns to the earth in the form of clouds and rain. That man is out of joint with the universe who takes all but makes no return. To give to others is but sowing seed for ourselves. He who is so good a steward as to be willing to use his substance for his Lord, shall be entrusted with more. Friend of Jesus, art thou rendering to him according to the benefit received? Much has been given thee, what is thy fruit? Hast thou done all? Canst thou not do more? To be selfish is to be wicked. Suppose the ocean gave up none of its watery treasure, it would bring ruin upon our race. God forbid that any of us should follow the ungenerous and destructive policy of living unto ourselves. Jesus pleased not himself. All fulness dwells in him, but of his fulness have all we received. O for Jesus' spirit, that henceforth we may live not unto ourselves! Daily Light on the Daily Path Malachi 2:15 "But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.Luke 9:49,50,54,55 John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us." • But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." • When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" • But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; Numbers 11:27-29 So a young man ran and told Moses and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." • Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, "Moses, my lord, restrain them." • But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!" Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, • gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:24-27 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. • If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. • Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. • Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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