Heavenly Realms

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-7

 

 

So, where am I?  I am in the heavenly realms....

You know, Clark, MO is a lovely place.  But, I'm not sure I would call it "heaven".  Where are the streets of gold?  Where are the clouds, angels and harps?  And, uh.... where are the coffee fountains?  Right?

Can I just tell ya something?  Right there in Ephesians 2, that is exactly what Paul says IS a fact.  I am in the heavenly realms...right now.

Earlier in this same letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul lays out some spiritual truth regarding some things they already have:

the HOPE they HAVE

the RICHES of HIS inheritance they HAVE

the POWER of GOD they HAVE

(the same power which raised Christ from the dead)

Christ really died on that cross.  And Christ really conquered death and really did rise from the dead.  He is now seated in the heavenly realms.  And here is where it gets really good:

Because HE is in the heavenly realms...

As true Christ followers...

SO.  ARE.  WE.

 

Verse 6 says, "in Christ Jesus".  As followers, we are in Christ Jesus.  Jesus is in the heavenly realms. Therefore, we are in the heavenly realms.  Now, if you are like me, this concept might have put a pretzel in your head.

 

Think of it this way.  If you step inside a McDonalds restaurant in Japan, you will be inside a McDonalds restaurant in Japan.  However, if you step inside the U.S. Embassy in Japan, you will no longer be in Japan.  Legally, you will be in the United States.  Any U.S. Embassy located inside the borders of any country in the world, legally, is sitting on U.S. soil.  The land on which the building sits is owned by the United States.

 

This is sort of what Ephesians 2:6 means.  If you are in Christ Jesus, that is, a true follower of Jesus, you are "in the heavenly realms".  If you are not a true follower of Jesus, you are NOT in the heavenly realms.

 

So what? 

Who cares?  Right? 

Why does this matter?

 

Can I just tell ya something?  It matters because WHERE you are, has a great deal of influence on WHO has control of your life.  Paul is saying,

 

"Hey, you used to be a citizen of this world." 

 

"You used to belong to Satan." 

 

"This world, the actual real estate you live on,

used to be your home."

 

Therefore, since this is not our home....

 

"You ain't from around here 're ya?"

 



Since this is not our home...we should look, act, sound, dress... well, just about everything... DIFFERENTLY.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

1 Peter 3:15

 

Oh wait, EVERYONE is asking you about your HOPE right?

Telling THE Story of our HOPE, part 3

Part 3 of a 3-part series challenging us as believers to go beyond sharing just our "faith" but also #HOPE as we tell OUR STORY.

 

 

 

 

We have this #HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

Hebrews 6:19

   
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

What steps can I take to make sure others not only see my life of faith but ALSO see my HOPE?

(see parts 1 & 2 of this series)

"The first step in effectively sharing our own HOPE with others is LIVING OUT the following of HIS leadership.  We must "set apart Christ as Lord" of OUR lives as a living example of what it means to be a Christ follower.  Christ said we are the Salt.  He did not say we could be or might be.  He said we ARE the salt.  It our choice as to just how salty we will be and it will be based on our level of surrender to Christ...."

Step 2:  Be Prepared
Be prepared.  Many times Christ followers have surrendered their lives to Jesus.  They have made Him Lord and master of their lives.  They have "set apart Christ as Lord" of their hearts.  And the result is others are asking about their hope.  The problem is they don't know how to answer the question.

Someone says, "Why are you up beat all the time?"  

Their response, "Well...I don't know...I just am."  

"Well thanks...that helps."

They’re thinking to themselves:

“I don’t know what to say”

“I’m afraid I’ll mess it up!”

Here's my response to that:  Remember that woman at the well?  She had a "chance encounter" with Jesus which changed her life for eternity.  And what did she do?  She ran all over town NOT ONLY #TellingTHEStory like it was her job!  She ALSO brought everyone in town back to meet this Jesus for themselves!

Can I just tell ya something?
She had no seminary degree.  She had no formal Bible training.   She was one of the least likely candidates on the planet for a ministry leadership position.  By the way, the disciples had gone on in to town to get some lunch.  They apparently did not tell a living soul about Jesus OR bring anybody back to meet Him!  So… that happened.

Can I just tell ya something else?
The beauty of sharing YOUR HOPE….Is that it is YOUR HOPE!  It is what YOU have experienced.  It is what you have seen and heard.  You don’t have to have any fancy pants theological answers.  

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

Why do YOU have hope in Christ?  What is YOUR story?  Are you telling your story?

Telling the Story of our HOPE, part 2

 

Part 2 of a 3-part series challenging us as believers to go beyond sharing just our "faith" but also #HOPE as we tell OUR STORY.

 

 

 

 

We have this #HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

Hebrews 6:19

  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

What steps can I take to make sure others not only see my life of faith but ALSO see my HOPE?  And how can I help them to find their own HOPE?

Our first step in chasing after any part of God's best plan for our lives is always to "set apart Christ as Lord." Literally here "Lord" means master.  That is the one who is in charge.  That is the one who calls the shots.  That is the one who is the boss.  

We simply must move from a place where WE decide what is best to a place where we trust our Father in Heaven for what is best and where we follow HIS leadership.  We must let go of the world's best plans.  We must let go of whatever "common sense" we may think we have. We must really, for real trust in His leadership.  We must live it.  Reading it, singing it, and wearing t-shirts about it are considerably different than LIVING it.  

The first step in effectively sharing our own HOPE with others is LIVING OUT the following of HIS leadership.  We must "set apart Christ as Lord" of OUR lives as a living example of what it means to be a Christ follower.  Christ said we are the Salt.  He did not say we could be or might be.  He said we ARE the salt.  It our choice as to just how salty we will be and it will be based on our level of surrender to Christ.  

S.A.L.T.Save A Life TodayShare A Living Testimony

Chances are very good the people in your own life who have had the greatest influence in your Christian walk and whose character and qualities have been the most contagious in your life, are people have a humble spirit, a vulnerability, a lack of pretense and who are sold out to Jesus.  In other words, they have set apart Christ as Lord of their lives.  Those who influence our Christian walk in a positive light, encouraging spiritual growth, challenging us to a deeper faith are never those who are dead in their faith, stagnant in their own walk, or stuck in their growth as a believer.

When we set apart Christ as Lord of our lives - FOR REAL - we are more likely to love like He loves with a depth of real concern and without judgment.  We are more likely to sympathize and empathize with kindness and generosity.  We can become the positive influence in someone else's life.

Can I just ask you a question?  If all we do is point out how the lost are falling short and focus on how BAD they and their SIN are, how are they going to find out about our HOPE?

Can I just tell ya something?  We can absolutely go against the grain of society and still stand for something WITHOUT being a hater!  We need to "set apart Christ as Lord."  He hates the sin, not the sinner.

I believe setting apart Christ as Lord in our hearts is absolutely pivotal.  We simply MUST get this as Christ followers.  I believe it is the first step in sharing our HOPE!  Christ must rule in our hearts.  We cannot rule.  Pleasure cannot rule.  The world cannot rule.  Even the religion of the church cannot rule.  Your pastor cannot rule.  Christ must rule.  Jesus must be king, Lord, master.

Does it mean we are perfect.  Absolutely not. Does it mean we give Him priority.  Yes it does.  And it means that even though sometimes we blow it, in our hearts, we know His way is the best.  In our hearts, we know it is always best when He is in charge.  I believe that is what attracts others to our HOPE!  It is when they see Jesus in us.  I hope you know that Jesus is attractive to people who are looking for HOPE.  

If there is a contradiction between what I want and what He wants, I must yield to what He wants. 

If I want to gossip about somebody on account of how they have hurt me....and I want to get them back...  But He wants me to keep my big, fat mouth shut...

Then I need to keep my mouth shut on account of how He's Lord and I am NOT Lord.

Can I just tell ya something?  When that is our response, others cannot help but see Jesus in us and the HOPE which is in Him!

Telling the Story of our HOPE, part 1

Part 1 of a 3-part series challenging us as believers to go beyond sharing just our "faith" but also #HOPE as we tell OUR STORY.

 

 

 

 

We have this #HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

Hebrews 6:19

 
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have.
1 Peter 3:15

The Apostle Peter had some things to say to the Christ followers of the 1st century who were under persecution for their faith.  As a missionary, I have spent a few years with a lot to say about sharing our faith with others.

Our theme this year at Evident Ministries is:  #TellingTHEStory.  Telling the story like it's our job.   We've challenged ourselves and others to "Tell THE Story"... not just any story... THE Story. 

But, THE story we are telling is not only about our faith.  It is also about our HOPE.

We spend a lot of time as Christ followers talking about sharing our faith.  But what about our sharing our HOPE?  I do believe there is a difference.

Are you ready for this?  Because here it comes...  The difference is this:  When we share our faith without talking about our HOPE, we are looking back.  

When we share our faith without talking about our HOPE:

• We are looking back to the cross of Jesus where He DID die for our sins.
• We are looking back to the resurrection where Jesus absolutely proved there IS life after this life and it is eternal life.
• Maybe we are even looking back as far as the old testament prophecies Christ fulfilled.
• Or maybe other times we are just looking back to what we used to be before we gave our lives over to Jesus...and what He has done for us.

But, can I just tell ya something?  When Jesus died on that cross, He said something important.  He said, "It is finished!"  Listen, when we share the HOPE we absolutely have in Christ Jesus, hey, we are looking ahead!  We are saying to folks who don't yet know Jesus:

“Hey, listen up!  Here’s why I’m confident about the future!”

“Here’s why I’m optimistic when everybody else is pessimistic!” 

When we share our hope we are looking forward!  When someone says to us:

"Why are you always so optimistic?”

“Why do U have joy even when bad stuff happens?”

“Hey, where does that hope come from?”

The Bible says, “Always be ready with an answer.”

Now, I don’t about you.  I don’t know your life.  I don’t know about your mountains or about your valleys.  But, here’s what I know about mine:

“Life is hard, but God is good!”

Can I just ask you a question?  Do you believe that or not?  I mean, God IS good…right?  Yes, sir He is!  AND, it is because of God’s goodness that we, His people, can have HOPE!  We have ourselves HOPE for today.  And we have ourselves tomorrow.

Now I don’t know how a person could truly believe that and somehow NOT have a burden to be #TellingTHEStory like it's their job!

Can I just tell ya something?  Church... we need to get after it church and really, for real, be about HIS business, making a ruckus in Jesus name every where we go!