Where are the true believers? God’s perspective!
Greetings, all Royal Prayer Guards!
I appreciate your strength in prayer. It does take strength to pray and to move forward. Especially with all the complications, trials, errors, confusions, obstacles, and changing circumstances… in the world! Remember where our strength comes from. If we are weak at any time, consider this portion from God’s word.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Psalm 18:39
You give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies.
Perspective!
This prayer focus, I believe, is from God’s perspective, located in the following portion of God’s word. These verses only scratch the surface of this prayer focus.
Ephesians 2:5-6
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, …
Colossians 1:27
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Visualize, and think for a moment!
We as believers are seated together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This includes a position of authority.
As we live on this earth is there anything above us, such as depression, gloom, a cloud of doubt, and so on?
Are we above the mountains? Yes!
Are we above the valleys? Yes!
Are we above all the enemies, of any kind? Absolutely!
Useful Insights!
When we are attacked in our thought lives, we can feel or discern the spiritual mountains before us. However, from God’s perspective, we are where He seated us, in Christ. Our position in Christ does not change because God does not change.
When we perceive those spiritual valleys, trials…, or sufferings of Christ, we remain seated in Christ.
We ought to know already that the enemy is defeated, dethroned, and disarmed!
Therefore, we are above them. They are under our feet!
Malachi 4:3
You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts.
One key portion of God’s word!
This cannot be over-emphasized, 2 Corinthians 5:7. (There are many more Bible references on the website. Click here.)
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance.
So, no matter what is happening in any area of our life, it will not change what God has done.
However, we can change things through our wrong thoughts, or false reasonings…but again it does not change what God has done.
In addition, He seated us when we were dead in trespasses and made us alive together with Christ. Therefore, the same truth is available for those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Notice also, the phrase. “made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. He is the One who made us sit.
Ephesians 2:5-6
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,
Each wrong attack in our thought life can take us down to those valleys, but it is up to the believer to overcome or destroy those thoughts according to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. Realize also, that we are above and not beneath! (Read Deuteronomy 28 1-14)
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
When we enter those spiritual valleys, and face those spiritual mountains, (In our thought life) I believe those are part of the sufferings of Christ. Also, not all sufferings are Christ’s sufferings.
They (Valleys and mountains…) also happen because of the corruption that in the world, (2 Peter 1:3-4), the infirmities of mankind, (Romans 3:23), and the unrenewed mind. (Galatians 5:16-17)
2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...
Galatians 5:16-17
But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). 17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. (Flesh G4561 carnally minded)
Suggested areas for prayer, and applications.
1. By faith, visualize or see ourselves seated in Christ. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
2. Stay seated in Christ in our thought life. (Romans 12:2)
3. Do not allow the enemy to take us off our seated position in Christ in our thought life. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
4. Walk by faith, not by sight! (2 Corinthians 5:7)
5. See things from God’s perspective. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
6. Use our delegated authority! (Luke 10:19) (Seated in Christ/position of authority)
Click here. For those who desire to go deeper. Remember, believers are in Christ! (PDF file)
Click here. More about this video.
Thank you again for your faithfulness,
Pastor Vince Marino
Surefooted Ministries
Royal Prayer Guards