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Posts Tagged ‘Ephesians 02’

Where Joy Lives

Posted in Christ, Joy, King David, Paul, Podcast, tagged , , on January 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Podcast

In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:11b

The Jewish King, David, was a passionate man with strong emotions.  Anger, Love, Gladness, Fear.  He was 100% everything he felt.  And Joy was a big part of his life and faith.

Writing to God he said, “in your presence is Joy!”, and “at your right hand is constant and forever joy”.  Term, “at right hand” in ancient times was a special place of honor.  

Jesus, when he arose from the dead, after paying the price for our sins, was seated at God’s right hand.  In fact, many think the 16th Psalm was written about Jesus’ resurrection, from his perspective.

That’s great for Jesus, seated where there is eternal Joy, but what about us?

The Apostle Paul wrote,
"God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" - Ephesians 2:6

How could he say that?  Paul was a logical man, where was the logic in this, we are on this side of eternity.

The thought process is this…  When we give our lives to Christ, he enters us, literally, and we enter him.  Where we go, he is there in us, AND where he is, we are there in him.  The first part is fairly easy to understand, but the second part is also true!

In Christ we live at God’s right hand where Joy is, and, if we let ourselves believe it, we can feel it this side of eternity.

Sometimes, here, we get knocked around a bit and stop feeling very joyful, but that is not where we stay. 

King David wrote 

These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul: 
how I used to go to the house of God
    under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise (Psalm 42:4)

The king was not feeling it, so what did he do?  He gave himself a good talking to!  He told himself this…

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.
    among the festive throng (Psalm 42:11).

Give yourself a good talking to!  Embrace it by faith!

Life is intended to be lived in Joy; it is found in God’s presence.  Surrendering to Jesus put us smack dab in the middle of it.

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Seated With Christ

Posted in Christ, In Christ, tagged , , on February 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“[K]now …the exceeding greatness of his power … Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places” – Ephesians 1:18-20

Jesus’ bodily resurrection was a game changer! He was raised, ascended, and took his place at the Father’s right hand in heavenly places!

But He’s is NOT the only one there – we are there, too!

“God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. – Ephesians 2:6 (Common English Bible)

Note the past tense.

How can I be sitting with Christ at God’s right hand if I’m here with you, or on the job, or fishing Saturday morning with my son?
Easy! Think of it this way. I am sitting in a chair at the library – my hands may be on the keyboard and my feet on the floor but these are no less seated for I am one body and I am seated.

Similarly, though I may be on this earth, because I am a member of Christ’s body I am just as seated as our Savior who took his rightful place with the Father.
– fritz

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>Abraham’s Blessing – A New Nation

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on November 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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“Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house … and I will make of thee a great nation …” – Genesis 12:1-3

My affiliation with Christ enables me to participate in “Abraham’s Blessing”.1

Part of that blessing is nation building – not a political nation, but a common bond of heart and soul that will culminate upon Christ’s return to rule this earth.

Jesus told his disciples, “I will build my church”.2 The word, “Church” literally means “the called out ones.” Called out of every nation and ethnic group are individuals who are to be part of his work in the earth. The call is generic in that anyone can participate if they desire to do so. It is specific in that only the ones tapped by God will say, “Yes!” Do you feel that draw to participate? It’s him calling.

These are, collectively, the “Mountain that filled the whole earth” mentioned in the Bible’s book of Daniel, chapter two.3 They are the temple of God building for his habitation.4 They are the “joints and ligaments” of the Body of Christ, helping it to grow into full maturity.5

Entering Christ has made me part of something bigger than myself, bigger than my nation, bigger than my time in history.

How cool is that!

-fritz

1 – Galatians 3:13
2 – Matthew 16:18
3 – Daniel 2:34
4 – Ephesians 2:22
5 – Ephesians 4:16

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