Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai
INTRODUCTION
In last week’s study we considered the topic: “The Authority of Jesus and Defeat over Satan & Powers”. We looked at the authority of Jesus and His defeat over Satan and the powers He dethroned in the process. This defeat we learnt was by His death on the cross and the resurrection from the dead! After Jesus was raised from the dead, the Bible says God highly exalted Him to a position of honour at the right hand of God the Father and gave Him a Name which is above every name. Today’s study is mostly a truth finding adventure. But we will not only find these truths but we will by His grace let them set us free! (John 8:32)
Philippians 2:9-11
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things [beings] in heaven, and things [beings] in earth, and things [beings] under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Ephesians 1:19-22
“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power.... Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.”
God not only gave Jesus a name which is above every name, but at the name of Jesus every being in all three worlds—Heaven, earth, and hell—must bow and confess Jesus' Lordship and dominion. God also seated Jesus in the highest position in the universe, at His own right hand, and made Him head over all things (v.22).
Note that these verses don't say, "God raised Jesus from the dead and set Him above all principality, power, might, and dominion." They say that God set Jesus "far above" all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named.
YOUR POSITION IN CHRIST
In this section we shall be looking at points that answer the following questions:
• How does Jesus' seating in the highest position in the universe affect you, the believer?
• What is your position because you're in Christ?
Read Ephesians 2:1,2,4-6
According to Ephesians 2:6, believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Joint-seating with Christ is "far above" all principalities and powers of darkness. Evil spirits can't influence the believer who has joint-seating with Christ far above all principality and power! Our seating and reigning with Christ in heavenly places is a position of authority, honour, and triumph—not failure, depression, and defeat.
As a believer, your seating with Christ is part of your inheritance now. This is where you are already seated because when Jesus was seated in triumph, you were seated with Him. The word "hath" in verse 6 is past tense: God has already raised you up together and made you sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus in a position of honour and triumph. You rule and reign with Christ in this life now—if you'll just exercise your rightful authority. Therefore, your position in Christ far above principalities and powers has already been accomplished. But you need to exercise the authority that belongs to you in that position of reigning with Christ over principalities and powers before it will profit you.
Our position as believers is also one of joint-seating with Christ in heavenly places. That may not always be our circumstance, but that is our position. If you want to rise above your circumstances, take advantage of your position in Christ. Look at this passage in Weymouth's translation
Ephesians 2:4-6 (Weymouth): “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us, Caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ—it is by grace that you have been saved—raised us with him from the dead, and enthroned us with him in the heavenly realms as being in Christ Jesus.”
God enthroned us with Jesus in the heavenly realms. Does that sound like a Church that's defeated and is still having to do battle to gain mastery over Satan? No, God designed the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to be triumphant because we are sharers and partakers of Christ's victory over Satan.
Because the believer is in Christ, when Christ sat down, the believer sat down with Him far above principalities and powers. The Church, the Body of Christ, is in Christ. The body is connected to the head. Jesus is the Head of His Body—the Church.
If Jesus the Head triumphed over the devil, is the Body of Christ to be any less triumphant since we are in Christ? Of course not! It is our legal right to enjoy joint-seating with Christ in heavenly places in a position of authority and triumph far above all principalities and powers. If you will take advantage of your joint-seating with Christ, you will begin to triumph in life!
Believers don't have to try to be seated far above principalities and powers with Christ. They don't have to pray through to be seated with Christ in heavenly places. They don't have to struggle through to attain that position, or fight through demons to be seated in a place of victory with Christ.
The believer's position and seating in Christ is a fact. It has already happened. That position was attained for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now all we have to do is enjoy the rights and privileges that already belong to us as joint-heirs with Christ. Read Ephesians 1:15-23.
“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
This prayer of Paul is very important because believers won't be able to take advantage of what rightfully belongs to them in their inheritance in Christ unless the eyes of their understanding are enlightened to see what they really possess in this life. We can't possess what we don't know belongs to us.
CONCLUSION
When believers get the revelation of their position in Christ, it will make a huge difference in their lives! They will no longer be the “defeated” Church. They will take their place instead as the “triumphant” Church, which was God's design from the foundation of the world. Because of our position in Christ, God is the strength of our life. The psalmist asks the question, "Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps. 27:1). We don't have to be afraid of anything, including Satan, demons, or evil spirits because of Jesus' victory at the Cross. (Romans 8:37-39). The Body of Christ—the triumphant Church—is more than a conqueror over all the power of the enemy because we're in Christ (Luke 10:19; Rom. 8:37).
Our joint-seating and ruling with Christ is the climax of the redemptive work of Christ. After the resurrection, Jesus was exalted to the highest seat in the universe. He was given all dominion, all authority, and all power. Not only that, but all dominion, authority, and power was put beneath Jesus' feet, which means it's under our feet since we're the Body of Christ.
That's why Satan can't rule over you unless you allow him to through ignorance of your rights and privileges in Christ or you open the door to him. Too many times, believers just open the door and invite Satan to come in. God Himself is the force and power behind your authority in Christ. The believer who is fully conscious of the divine power behind him and of his authority in Christ can face the enemy without fear or hesitancy.
