Heavenly Places
Today’s Verse:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ~Ephesians 1:3
Have you ever had an experience where the best word you could think of to describe it was “heavenly”? What comes to your mind when you think of the Heavenlies? I’m thankful that through His Word, God reveals to us “heavenly places” or the “Heavenlies.” Paul had the privilege of being taken to the third Heaven, or the Heavenlies, where he heard “unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” Yet, Paul was privileged to tell us about the heavenly places in the book of Ephesians.
We see the blessings.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” At the moment of our salvation, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. These heavenly blessings are so that we can live the Christian life with confidence, with power, and to the glory of God. They encompass the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Who seals us and is the earnest of our inheritance. He is our Comforter and Teacher, and He makes us intercession for us when we do not have the words to say. These are blessings that pertain to all life and godliness.
We see our Beloved.
“Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” The Heavenlies is where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. There He sits exalted, having finished the work of redemption for every sinner. He sits as the high and holy Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Sitting on His throne, Jesus reigns and is sovereignly in control. There, He makes intercession for us as our Great High Priest. We call on Jesus, and through His name, sinners are saved and God’s people bring their prayers to God the Father.
We see our birthright.
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Because God is rich in mercy through His great love for us, we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. He has privileged us to sit with Jesus in the Heavenlies. The Heavenlies is where we have our citizenship. The Heavenlies is where we are seated. He has made us kings and priests in Him. In Heaven. we will cast our crowns at His feet and worship Him for all eternity.
We see the body.
“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” The witness of the church, the body of Christ, testifies to the principalities and powers in the redemptive plan of God for the world. In the Old Testament, the concept of the church was unknown. This great mystery is made manifest as God’s divine plan for Jews and Gentiles alike to hear the gospel message and get saved. God uses the local church to proclaim the gospel and start more churches. It is a divine plan that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against.
We see our battle.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Spiritual warfare is fought in the Heavenlies. We do not wrestle with flesh and blood. Our combat with Satan and his hierarchy of evil is fought in the blood of Christ, with our spiritual armor, and with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Blessed be God, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
Have a worshipful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Numbers 14-15