I will never forget the sermon link my friend Cheri sent me back in 2011. At the time I was awaiting surgery to remove an unknown mass in my abdomen. She forwarded her pastor's teaching as a reminder and encouragement. The message, from this passage in Ephesians, was such a blessing. Apparently, as this gentleman taught, expounding on this passage, he had a ladder on the platform, and as he shared from God's Word he began climbing up each step, to emphasize how we are "seated above" the tests and trials that touch our lives. It was a powerful illustration, but an even more powerful truth.
If we have been redeemed by God's grace, scripture tells us that we are seated with Him in heavenly places. "Physically, we still live in the natural world. But God, by His great power, and because of His immense love, mercy and grace, raised us from our spiritual dead status to new life in Christ. We now sit in heavenly places."
"Got Questions" goes on to explain it this way: "To sit in heavenly places is more than a figure of speech. It is a spiritual reality for the believer. Because of our union with Christ, we reap the benefit of His position of divine authority (Psalm 110:1, Acts 2:34-35). He is our Head and our Representative. Peter taught, 'Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honour next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept His authority' (1 Peter 3:22, Philippians 2:9-11). The gates of hell will not overcome the church (Matthew 16:18, 1 John 2:13), because we are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37; 1 John 5:4-5), who gives us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Our spiritual seat in the heavenly realms is a position of high honour, much like being seated at the VIP table of a Presidential luncheon. We have been given the royal privilege of being enthroned with the Son and will one day partake of His glory. If we let this spiritual truth sink in, it will change the way we think and live. Because we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, our position in heaven is secure, but we much never forget that we don't deserve our place there. We did nothing to earn it, but God graces us with it anyway (Ephesians 2:8; 4:7; 2 Corinthians 3:5).
As we sit in heavenly places while still living on earth, we have access through Jesus Christ to all of heaven's privileges and spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3-14). The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead is available and working on our behalf as we walk in this world (Ephesians 1:18-19; Acts 17:28; 1 John 4:9). We have the whole armour of God at our disposal to helps us 'stand against the devil's schemes' and stand firm 'against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms' (Ephesians 6:11-12)."
I'm a visual learner, so thirteen years ago when my head and heart first made this connection after listening to the sermon that had been sent to me, I searched "Etsy" for a ladder borche. Purchasing this pin, I wear it whenever I need that extra reminder that in Christ, I am seated higher. He has seated me above...fear, insecurity, doubt, disease, tests, trials, enemy attacks, pain, grief, unkindness, inadequacies, whatever the condition that pulls at our ankles trying to hold us back from stepping up. And remember we are "seated with Christ", not anxious, but at rest, trusting in our wonderful Saviour who has already gained the victory!
Quote: https://www.gotquestions.org/seated-im-heavenly-places.html
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