Are we powerless as we face life, in these days, or anytime? In my experience we are only powerless if we do not understand who we are in Christ. Let’s back up a bit to begin with considering who Jesus Christ of Nazareth is. The Apostle Paul prays clearly for us to understand this in Ephesians 1.
“19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.”
When we take our eyes off our personal challenges and problems long enough to tap into the same power that raised Christ from the dead, our world shifts. Actually, we are the ones that shift. By depending less on ourselves and more on His mighty power, we begin to gain, or regain, hope.
One might suggest that it’s great for Him to have power, but it is not mine. To that I reply, Keep reading. Paul continues by pulling us up to our proper spiritual reality.
“4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2.
Jesus’ eternal place is seated in the place of honor in the heavenly realms. . . and we are seated with Him. That is something we lose sight of far too easily. We all lose sight of it at times. That is why Paul’s prayer for us is in the Word of God. It is a sign post for us. We too can pray this prayer to understand and remember. “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.”
Imagine for a moment the spiritual reality that you are sitting next to Jesus now and forever. Think about the conversations you can have. Remember, you are chosen and cherished. Not by what you have done, but by what He did for you. It is that simple, but it is also so profound. It takes a life time to explore and understand.
I hear some say, “That’s fine for you but I am so far from experiencing that in my life. It can’t be real.” To that I respond: Thank God that it is real. Even though it rattles your brain, thank God out loud, by faith in the truth of the Word. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are seated with Him. Say it as many times, and as often as you need to, until it sinks in.
Personally, when I am doubting, the fastest way for me to connect with truth is to speak the truth from the Word out loud. And my favorite way to do that is to sing. I sing a hymn or a song that is not about me. I sing about the greatness of the one who is: “far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.” Doing this changes the atmosphere around us. We are tapping in to the power of Jesus.
Romans 8:11 “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”
Are we powerless? Only if we lose sight of the truth.
