There are some realities that simply defy worldly understanding. They seem
just too fantastic to be real. But, for those of us who have experienced the
power of God and believe His matchless Word, the spiritual realities far
exceed the worldly.
One of the most wonderful spiritual realities we can believe is that we
reside on resurrection ground.
Ephesians 2:6:
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
“That is quite a trick being seated in heavenly places and yet here you
are still on this earth seated in your office” – A response from a natural
minded person.
God, in His Word, is communicating a spiritual reality. We fully identify
with it as if we are there seated together with Christ in heavenly places. So,
what is a person going to believe: the natural reality of the 5 senses or the
spiritual reality?
Let’s understand the spiritual reality. God is spirit (John 4:24). His
Word is spiritual food. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). Man, being
natural, has the opportunity to learn spiritual realities by going to God’s
Word.
Romans 8:5-9:
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they
that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his.
Now here comes the challenge! Man has to realize there are these two
aspects of life: the spiritual (God, His Word, the new birth realities etc.)
and the natural (5 senses, flesh, carnality etc.). To be carnally minded is
death and to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Which one do you chose?
The carnal mind is enmity against God. The flesh cannot please God. If God’s
Word is true the choice is obvious.
Thankfully a person can choose to get born again of God’s spirit (Romans
10:9) and start learning God’s Word and believe the spiritual realities over
the natural realities. Look what a believer has with the spirit dwelling
within and see what a non-believer without spirit does not have.
Romans 8:8-10:
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none
of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Again, the distinction between both is clear. When we talk about
resurrected ground we are talking about a spiritual reality, that has more
significance than where we physically live now.
If we desire to live a fruitful, satisfied life we will soon discover that
the spiritual realities far out weigh the natural realities.
One of the greatest realities for us today is that we are seated in the
heavenlies, living on resurrection ground, because we fully identify with
Jesus Christ. We were baptized into his death; we were crucified with him; we
were buried with him; we were raised up with him. All this so we could walk in
newness of life.
Romans 6:3-6:
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall
be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve
sin.
Understanding these spiritual realities, in which we identify with Christ,
allows us to live on resurrected ground.
Now my neighbor, a natural man, is going to say, “You do not look like
you have been crucified, or been dead or even as one who was raised from the
dead. You do not live on resurrected ground! You live here on Wilcox Street in
Point Loma!”
That is so, but I have the privilege as a born again one to focus on the
spiritual realities rather than the natural realities. What is the result of
natural thinking? Death. What is the result of spiritual thinking? Life and
peace! I choose to believe God’s Word!
Citizenship on resurrected ground
Not only do I live on resurrected ground, I have citizenship there as well!
Philippians 3:20 & 21:
(Note: I have indicated in brackets, notes from E. W. Bullinger’s
Companion Bible
to help the reader understand the verses)
For our conversation [politeuma meaning the seat of government of
which we are citizens] is [literally: “exists even now”] in heaven; from
whence also we look [literally: “eagerly wait for”] for the Saviour, the
Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile [humble] body, that it may be fashioned like unto
his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to
subdue all things unto himself.
We are citizens in heaven, which is resurrected ground, waiting for our
saviour, the lord Jesus Christ, to gather us together and fashion our bodies
like unto his glorious body!
If we are going to be spiritually minded believers, then we are going to be
talking more about Godly realities than worldly problems and situations. We
should work our hearts to seek those things which are above, on resurrected
ground.
Colossians 3:1-4:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with him in glory.
We fully identify with Christ. In-spite of what the world says, I live on
resurrected ground. I am a citizen there! You and I have the glorious
opportunity to set our affections on things above, for we know that spiritual
realities far outweigh the natural realities!
- Bob Lindfelt
