This is a short video and blog post to introduce this installment of "Spiritual Warfare" series. Please watch the video and feel free to comment. Please note that the apostle Paul chooses to open our eyes to the glory, power, and majesty of God in relation to everything else. He clearly indicates that God sits above everything, including the fray of spiritual warfare. That He is unmatched in His power. Paul reminds us that were chosen even while we were still dead in our sins, and really enemies of God. So let's thank God for snatching us out of darkness. And now that we are in Christ, we are seated right there with Jesus next to almighty God - above the spiritual warfare that goes on in the second heaven.
Now that is great news!
Watch the video and be reminded and empowered to meet the challenges you face
with this heavenly perspective.
QUOTED SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 1:15-23 (esp. vv. 20-21)
Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
15 Therefore
I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the
saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making
mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of
your understanding[c] being enlightened; that
you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory
of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is
the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the
working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when
He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the
heavenly places, 21 far
above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He
put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things
to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him
who fills all in all.
Ephesians 2:4-10 (esp. vs. 6)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Prayer
Lord, please help us to get and maintain a heavenly perspective on spiritual warfare that it is not a time to be fearful but a time to rejoice that we sit in the position with Christ Jesus next to you in heavenly place, far above the fray of spiritual warfare. Thank you, Lord, that while we do have to "walk out' our victory, the end game is that we win hands down. Thank you, Lord for saving us, for sending Jesus to redeem us, and for your Holy Spirit Who enables us to live this life before you that Christ modeled for us. Praise Him Who made it possible and Him to sent us our Savior! Thank you, Lord! In Jesus name we pray! Amen and Amen!
