Why do athletes point to the sky when they hit a home run or score a touchdown? Whether they have a personal relationship with Jesus or not, they point to the heavens as a source of their personal accomplishment…seems to be part of our innate nature to know Our Help comes from the Lord.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Eph. 1:3-4)
The spiritual realm is as real as the natural realm. In fact, the spiritual realm, in many ways, determines what takes places in the natural realm. While the location of heaven is up high above the earth, its operation is all over the earth and in our hearts.
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Act. 1:9-11)
When Jesus ascended up into heaven He was received, perhaps escorted by His Angels into heaven and a couple of the angels stayed to give a word to the upper room assembly. These two angels were clothed in white and came from the heavenly realm. They would also ascend shortly back into that realm but first announced the greatest news since the resurrection. He’s coming back. This same Jesus is coming back and is coming back the same way you have seen Him leave! The Bible does not say that Jesus ascended by His own power, “like a rocket” but rather that He was taken up. I’m certain that He could have but the Bible says that He was also received by a cloud, or in a cloud.
What is taking place in this mysterious, yet real heavenly existence? It is beyond our abilities to conceive. We see into the realm by faith. Remember the story of Elisha and his fearful servant in 2King. 6. The troubled servant feared for their death, but Elisha spoke, “… Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
As a believer that is always the case. There are more with us than against us. We cannot see into this dimension of the heavenly realm. That’s one of the reasons we are admonished to walk by faith, and not by sight. Our provision and protection is in the heavenly realm. As a matter of fact, “all spiritual blessings” originate in the heavenly realm.
Our correct thinking and our incorrect thinking is influenced by the heavenly realm. Look at the book of James. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (Jac. 3:13-17)
There is a wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and demonic. It produces envy, strife, confusion, and every evil work. Demonic wisdom is actually thinking that produces sin and rebellion against God. Remember that is their purpose. Oppose all that is of God, war against believers, that is deceitful demonic thinking, it is demonic wisdom from the heavenly realm.
Contrast that with genuine Godly wisdom. Wisdom in the context here is a thought process. It is thinking that is generated by yielding to God’s Holy Spirit and receiving from Him or closing one’s self to the Holy Spirit and receiving from demons and fleshly desires. There is great activity in the spirit realm, and we participate regardless. We are the focus of spirit realm activity.
Our spiritual thinking is based upon our agreement with God’s Word or our rebellion against it’s truth … maybe ignorance of God’s Word fits here also. Satan and his demon powers are mind blinders. The god of this world has a purpose of blinding the mind to truth. Have you ever experienced this … you are ready to go into a serious prayer time and all of a sudden, from out of nowhere comes a most ungodly thought …what is this? I’m pretty sure many of you have experienced this.
Maybe you have decided to devote some time in Bible study and the phone rings or something similar distracts you. What do you think this is? Would demonic heavenly realm spirits be opposed to you getting closer to God? Is this kind of activity really taking place in the heavenly realm, the dimension we cannot, see? Do they really transmit thoughts to our minds? Absolutely.
Do you not think that our thoughts are influenced by spirits? Remember when Jesus asked the disciples who men said that He was and ultimately Peter said. “Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God.”
Jesus immediately told him that flesh and blood did not reveal that to him but the Father which is in heaven brought the revelation. Peter received this truth from The Spirit, Himself. But look how quickly Peter was influenced by demonic thinking. Jesus actually said to him, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
How quickly Peter’s mind was influenced by a different spirit. Seemed like he was only saying how much he loved Jesus, but he said it out of fleshly, devilish, soulish thinking. He received a severe rebuke! Maybe he spoke too soon, perhaps without trying the spirit to see if it be of God.
I’m pretty sure I may have reacted the same way. But Jesus was telling him you are not able to receive what I just told you, “I must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” If it is the Word of God, it is always best to believe it, regardless.
If Jesus says, “I must,” we best not question it.
I would normally be telling you about our great trip to Vermont which was supposed to have happened on the second and third but because of covid it did not happen. We were supposed to travel for a ministry night and seminar to VALLEY BIBLE CHURCH in Vermont with Pastor Ed Wheeler
Pastor Ed has been here for deliverance and is passionate about the need in churches. We did make a special recording to be played at their meeting which will involve several area churches. We will send you a copy of it for any offering.
Just for Jesus,
Don
Amazon $15.00.
I want to recommend a new book written by my pastor, Dr Frank Harber. One of Americas’ great apologetics preachers. You can call our office for more information.