Sit, Walk, Stand.
The Epistle to the Ephesians.
Introduction.
We are going to be looking in the Epistle to the Ephesians written by the apostle Paul. Chapters 1 through 3 have to do with our position in Christ. This is based on doctrinal considerations.
The second part will be a practical experience in this world. Chapters 4-6.9 has to do with our life in this world. And chapters 6:10 -24 has to do with our attitude to the enemy.
The keywords in Ephesians are the following.
Our position in Christ.– Sit. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:6.
Our life in this world – Walk. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Eph. 4:1.
Our attitude towards the enemy – Stand. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph. 6.11.
The life of the believer always presents these three aspects- to God, to man, and to the Satanic powers. To be walking in accordance to God’s workings in our lives be must be fulling and properly understanding; our position, our life, and our warfare.
Sit-Positional Sanctification.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Eph. 1:17-21.
And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:6-9.
The word SIT reveals his secrets of having a heavenly life. Christianity is not begin with walking it begins with sitting. It states in Hebrews 1.3 that Jesus Christ who made purification of our sins SAT down at the right hand of the Father. Equally understanding that our individual Christian life hidden in Christ is by faith and we also are seated together with Him in the heavens. Christianity does not begin with a big DO but with a big DONE. The Christian life from start to finish is based upon the principle of utter dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ and His work at Calvary.
In other words, our life, our load, our future, our everything depends on the Lord not ourselves. Our Christian life totally depends on the finished work of Christ. Our Christian life starts when we understand what Father God provided for us in Christ Jesus. This means that we are to REST in and on the promises of God given to us in the scriptures.
The Range of the Finished Work of Christ
We are not just sinners saved by grace. We are his people filled with the Holy Ghost. We are filled with Him. We are dead to the power of sin and its dominion.
Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. Rom. 6:4-9
Walk-Progressive Sanctification.
We understand that the Lord Jesus has done everything for us but it does not end here. In our natural life like our spiritual life walking follows sitting. Our walking is our response to us now receiving. It is our practical outworking of our heavenly position here on earth. This is called progressive sanctification. Are we just acting like Christians or are we acting like the children of God filled with love. In each and every situation we face we must ask ourselves what does God want from us? What can we learn as His children?
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Eph. 4:1-2
So, I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. Eph. 4:17
But you did not learn about Christ in this manner, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off the former way of life in the old nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Rom. 4:21-23
And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Eph. 5:2
For you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light— for the fruit of the light[c] consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Eph. 5: 8-10
Christian Relationships-Brotherly Love
Old Testament said an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt. 5:43-48.
Nothing does more damage when we as Christians try to demand our rights from others. The principle of the cross is the principle of our conduct. The secret is understanding that He, Christ Jesus, has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. 2 Pet. 1:2-11
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph. 4:32
We all face challenges. We all face difficult people and situations. The Lord promised us that in this world we will have obstacles but rest in Him because He has overcome these things. How do we overcome?
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Eph. 3:20.
To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Col. 1:29
Redeeming the Time!
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Eph. 5:15-17.
We must understand that this scripture is talking about our practical outworking of our lives here on earth. Yes, there is time and the harvest is rich and we really need to move on the behalf of the Lord preaching the gospel. We need to be ready to preach the gospel in every situation. As the Lord opens the doors in different places on the job, in different family gatherings, at school where we are studying, in the ministries of the Lord has given us. We take full advantage of the time that we have with the prisoners at the prison we are ministering. we speak with the offices that are there, prisoners, and any other staff that we can about the Lord Jesus Christ. We readily have abundant supply of tracks and Christian books as gifts to different people. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is it give us power To reach people. We need to be wise and how we try to reach out. It must not be an arrogance but in love truly understanding that this is the Lord ‘s will that none should perish. It is always a question of time because many of us waste so much time on unnecessary things.
Stand- give no place to the devil.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Eph. 6: 1018
We are at war.
We are not engaged in just a football game, a video game, basketball game or a playground. We are engaged in a war. We are at war and the battlefield is your mind! Satan wants to control your every thought. Our responsibility is to fight those thoughts of evil and think on Christ. Bring your thoughts into obedience to Christ. Our weapons are mighty through God. It is the bible, prayer and through our surrendering to the power Holy Ghost. How do you think? What goes through your mind? What or who is controlling your thoughts patterns? A Christian person must keep their mind on the things of God. We must stand in the name of Jesus and push back against the kingdom of darkness. We are overcomers and we need to rest in the victory wrought by Christ Jesus. Christ has already conquered Satan but we must stand against his attacks on us and those who God has put before us.
We have the Name of Jesus. We have the Word of God. We have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. What has Father God called you to do? God will never call you to do something and has not given you the grace to do it.
The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by Him and standing in Him.