Dwelling Place

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitors of the earth…” (Revelation 12:12)

We hear bad news all around us right now, and yes, things are bad, and they’re probably going to get a whole lot worse, because government is not the solution. However, in light of these things, it is not a time for us, as believers, to be afraid! But rather it is time for us to rejoice with the anticipation of the glory and the mercy of God! We are firmly seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion. (Ephesians 1:20-21, 2:6)

You might say to me, “well, you’re just a spiritual weirdo!” “These problems are happening in the earth, not in heaven, and we live in the earth!” Yes, we do live in the world, but we are not of the world! (John 15:19) Our hope comes from heaven, along with our provision, our peace, our healing and our deliverance. God is not limited to our currency, our health care system, the welfare system, or any other system of this world! Praise God!

When we are aware of our position in heavenly places, we are ever mindful of what is going on in heaven. We can abide there and conduct our affairs, and then bring heavenly things back into this natural, fallen world, until the impossible becomes possible! (John 10:9)

It takes a strong man to live the true Christian life, to stand up for righteousness, and to keep the Word of God abiding in him richly when everything else is contrary. It takes a man or woman of resolve and tenacity to walk in love when ridiculed, misunderstood and persecuted. But God has given us his Spirit, and has infused us with his strength. (Ephesians 6:10)

“Well, I’ve tried the ‘faith thing,’ and everything fell apart!” You might say. Listen, all of us have failed at one point or another, and sometimes the mistakes have been grievous and costly. However, we must forget the things that are behind, and reach forth unto those things that God has put before us! Faith always produces, it never fails; we only fail when we get our eyes off of the Word of God and onto the storm, or onto other things. (Mark 4:14-20)

God is calling us to step out once again, into the realm of the impossible! To hear his voice, and to step out of the boat! Does this sound irresponsible? Maybe it does, but God doesn’t look at it that way. Peter got out of the boat, but none of the other disciples did; they stayed where it was safe, and observed Peter. They probably laughed at him when he began to sink… “We told you not to do it, Peter! You should have listened!” But Jesus said, “Come!” And he will always say, “Come!”

Faith pleases God, and he would rather have us step out and sink, than not do anything at all. Notice that Jesus immediately reached out to Peter, and pulled him out of the water. It was also probably not the last time that Peter tried it; he may have been secretly thinking as he settled back in the boat, “I can’t wait to do it again!”