Today we continue our new series entitled, “Heaven on Earth,” by teaching on God’s Kingdom.
We have been looking at Ephesians 3:17-20 for a few days. In this passage the Apostle Paul contrasts the way people who are citizens of this world live and the way we, as citizens of heaven are supposed to live. He said, “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Once you are Born-Again and you receive heavenly citizenship, you still live in this world, but you are supposed to live cognizant of the fact that you are living in two realms at the same time. That’s what I will focus on today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You were born in one realm and you were Born-Again into another.
a) The Bible says, “God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:5,6). I am not sure if you realized it, but when you were Born-Again, God raised you up into heaven and seated you at His right hand, along with Jesus. This means that from the moment of your conversion you are living in two realms at the same time. Not only are you a citizen of heaven (Eph 3:20), but you are actually SEATED in heaven, with Jesus, at the right hand of the Father, RIGHT NOW! You are in the earth and you are IN HEAVEN at the same time! Your natural mind cannot comprehend what the Bible is teaching you in this moment. This is not something you can “wrap your mind around”. This is a truth that must be believed in your heart. The Father needs you to believe and receive the truth that you are living in two realms so you can spend the rest of your life bringing the two worlds together! When you pray you are supposed to bring heaven to the earth. God gave you the faith required to bring heaven down. You are supposed to be an agent of supernatural change. Through your life heaven and earth are supposed to converge. That’s what Jesus did and that’s what you are supposed to do. This is how God uses you to draw the lost to Him.
b) Heaven is our home. We are called to represent heaven down here, in the earth. And if we are ever confused about what to do or what to say, the Father gave us His own Spirit. Just like the Holy Spirit was IN Jesus, He lives inside of us. So we can say like Jesus said, “It is the Father, living in me. He gives me the words and He performs the work.” (John 14:10).
c) The reason why God is open to bless us freely and richly, is because He wants our lives to be a representation of heaven on earth. When people look at us, they are supposed to see what heaven is going to be like.
2. If there is ever conflict between God’s ways and the ways of this world, pick God every time!
a) Since you are literally living in two realms (heaven and earth) at the same time, it stands to reason that there will be times when you are conflicted between the ways of this world and the ways of God. But this should be an easy choice. While your head may be coerced by reason, logic or what people call common sense, your heart must be conditioned to believe the things of God, even when they fly in the face of everything that is reasonable in this world. If it requires faith it won’t make sense.
b) The reason why satan fights against you so hard, is because he knows that if you start living by faith in earnest, your faith is going to activate heaven on earth. So he is not truly fighting against you. He could care less about you. He is fighting against the power that can be released through your life. This is why satan does all he can to get you frustrated. When you are frustrated, you don’t live by faith. If you don’t live by faith, you won’t release any power. Said another way, satan cannot stop God, nor can He stop God from flowing through you when you activate your faith. But if he can get you frustrated, you will not activate your faith and you will fail to be a conduit of God’s power. At this point, satan did not truly stop you. You stopped yourself, because you allowed him to get you frustrated. Don’t let this happen to you.
c) Don’t ever let people frustrate you to the point where you stop living by faith. David said, “The ungodly have done their best to throw me off track, but I’ll not deviate from what you’ve told me to do.” (Ps 119:110 TPT). David knew opposition was going to come, he knew life was not always going to be easy, but he said, “I’ll keep following what you’ve taught me, no matter what!” (Ps 119:109 TPT). That should be our attitude.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I have decided to walk and live by faith. I’ve made my choice. By faith I believe Your Word. I am living in two realms at the same time. I am in the earth and I am seated at Your right hand, in heaven, with Christ Jesus, at the same time! Through me the two realms converge on a daily basis. Like Jesus did when He was in the earth, I bring heaven down! Your Kingdom has come. Your will shall be done. It’s going to happen ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, and it’s going to happen through me! I enter this day determined to make Kingdom impact in every meeting, conversation and activity I engage in today, because my life brings the heaven and earth together! I am an agent of supernatural change! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
