IN HEAVENLY PLACES

IN HEAVENLY PLACES

When I was a young Minister I became fascinated with the book of Ephesians. I could not get enough of it, and I wanted everyone else to become as enamored as I was. I soon learned that revelations from God can not be transmitted by spoken words-- only by the Anointing of the Spirit upon the words that are spoken.

I was also to learn, the hard way, that one can lose the anointing on their life by carelessness, while still mouthing words-- fruitlessly.

Genuine repentance and humbling of one's self before God is the only remedy for a lost anointing. Thank God for the wonderful privilege of repentance. After a while, we learn what it means to walk closely with God, and the benefits that are to reaped from doing do.

One of the main things I learned from Ephesians, early on, was found in Chapter One, beginning with verse 19. Someone had written a tract explaining the four Greek words used in the verse-- Ephesians 1:19 And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places]. The tract explained that the four words which were used denoted that right here was the greatest demonstration of God's Power recorded anywhere-- in scripture or out of scripture.

The next "eye opener" came when I realized WHERE the Heavenly (places) were located in relationship to other things. Ephesians 1:21 FAR ABOVE ALL principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

That's where Jesus is now, and has been since He ascended up on High-- "Far above---" any spiritual power or being or force that we will ever have to contend with. You will be thrilled, as I was, when you know the Greek meaning of the words used here to denote the forces that are under his feet.

It was soon afterward that I discovered the fact that there had not been a chapter break when Paul wrote those words to the believers at Ephesus, and without a break in thought, he had continued on with what made the Resurrection of Jesus such a powerful event-- Ephesians 2:1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;-- The next few verses describe the condition of a person without the knowledge of God-- All of us fit into that category before we were saved.

Then comes what I called the "Silver Text" of the Bible, vss 4,5,6. Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:

Suddenly, it "stood off the paper" that WE ARE IN the "Heavenly" (places) when we are IN CHRIST JESUS. (FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY, POWER, MIGHT, DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED).

When we held our ratification conference in Montesano, Washington in 1945-- to form the United Pentecostal Church, Bro. Ray G. Jones preached a long sermon laboring the fact that we are selling ourselves short in God. I fed my soul, while some others became fed up (it was nearly two hours long).

His exact words have long since been forgotten, but it was burned into my spirit that "When we put ourselves where God's Word says we are-- He will do for us what He says He has already done IN US."

It changed my life-- my whole outlook on the Christian Life.

The Anointing of God is much more important now, than any difference that may turn up involving concepts of God, or interpersonal relationships. "What (who) can separate us from the Love of God?"