Ephesians 1:20-23(NKJV) 20which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far 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. 22And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
To occupy our land of promises we must function together as the body of Christ. Jesus needs a healthy body for his ministry to the earth to be effective just as we need healthy bodies to be effective in what we do. The body of Christ is much like our own body in that it has many members but they all make up one body. All Christians together make up one universal body; However, we also must be part of a local body, church, for that oneness to actually function.
I believe God places us locally in a church family. That local body will not be perfect. It will have flaws and people who make mistakes. However, just as we have to learn to live with the flaws in our physical body we must also learn that flaws in a church do not make it bad. They give it variety. Sometimes what we see as a flaw is something God has placed in that church so it can fulfill its part in his whole plan.
If you are not in the right body, find your body. If you are in the right body but you do not feel you fit or you feel unsatisfied, do not try and leave your body. Work to find out what you can do to make the changes necessary to fit in and be satisfied. Sometimes it is the need for an attitude adjustment. Sometimes you need to find a place to function. You may need to change some of what you are doing. If the fault is in another member, try to help him or her in love. However, remember that you can really only deal with yourself. You need to pray for the other members and trust God to deal with them. I have found that when I pay attention to the places I need to grow, God will see to it that I am blessed no matter what others do.
In today’s scripture, we begin to look at the Body of Christ in Ephesians. This book has much to say about the body. Beginning in the first chapter we see how important it is for us to function in the body. Much of what we read in Ephesians we tend to look at from a personal point of view. Certainly, I can claim what this letter tells me for my personal life. Look at verse 3.
Ephesians 1:3(NKJV) 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
God has blessed me with every spiritual blessing available in the heavenly places in Christ. God does not just bless me with things available in the earth. He has made the blessing of heaven available to me and to you individually. However there is much in this letter that we want to receive on an individual basis, but in reality it is available to us as part of the Body of Christ.
In verses 20 through the first half of 22 we see a wonderful truth that we often claim strictly on a personal level. I am in Christ and Christ is seated at the right hand of God far above all of the power of the enemy in this age and all the ages to come. It goes on to say all of these things are under the feet of Jesus. I am in Christ so they are under my feet. However, the thought does not end there.
Verse 22 and 23 make it clear to whom Jesus is really speaking. He is talking to the church, his body. I believe we are seated at the right hand of God in Christ. I believe all the power of the enemy is under our feet. I believe that these are positional realities for the believer. By that, I mean we are spiritually and legally in that position, but that does not mean we are functioning in that position.
We read in history of children who have ascended to the throne of a nation at an age where they cannot actually function as the nation’s ruler. In that case, someone is appointed to rule for them until they are of age. The child’s legal position is that of the king, but they are not actually functioning as the king. What do we need to do to function in the position we occupy in Christ.
Certainly, we need to do what the boy king must do. We have to grow up. We have to make a commitment to maturity in Christ. However, I think this scripture tells us that we must do something else. As I read it, this promise is to the “church, his body.” It is his body that is seated with him. I do not believe we can see the reality of being seated in the heavenly places with Christ until we are functioning in his body.
I can confess this wonderful position for myself and see some impact in my life. However, when I begin to flow in the body of Christ, this position becomes a reality in a much greater way. I begin to draw from the life of the body. There are days when I am down. I do not quite see my position as what this verse says it is. However, someone else is there to remind me and strengthen me.
As I function in the body of Christ, I also put into practice the power of agreement. The bible says one can put a thousand to flight but two ten thousand. As I come into agreement with other members of the body of Christ the power that can be released is multiplied. Alone, I can bring a certain amount of faith to bear on a situation. Together, we can bring far more power to bear.
As I function in the body of Christ, I interact with the other members. I learn from them and they learn from me. My strengths help someone else’s weakness. My weaknesses are challenged by their strength. I will never grow stronger if I am not challenged. I can never come to my full potential if I do not see the places I need to change. The other members of the body help me to see them. Sometimes that is a painful process but we cannot change what we do not see. The bible tells us “iron sharpens iron.”
As I function in the body, I can realize the potential of my legal position in Christ because I am free to be what I am. God designed each member go fill a place in the body. Eyes do not make good hands. Hands do not make good livers. However, if a body is going to function it must have all the roles these parts represent filled. If I am alone, I am going to have to be the hands, the feet, the eyes and every other part of the body. I will do one of these things well but the rest will suffer.
If I allow God to join me to the body through a local expression, I will find my place of function and flourish there. I can concentrate on becoming the best eye, hand or mouth I can, and allow the hearts and lungs and livers to take care their parts. In this way, we all become strong and all of the functions of the body work at their highest possible level.
I am seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. All the power of the enemy and all the challenges of life are under my feet. That is my position. However, I recognize that I will never walk in that position without flowing with the other members of the body who are joined to me. You are also seated with Christ in those same heavenly places. Find your place of function in a local expression of his body. You will begin to live your rightful position.
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