Sit, Walk, Stand: The Believer's Positioning in Three Acts

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Intro

Sermon Text - Ephesians 2.4-6
Ephesians 2:4–6 NKJV
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 6:13 NKJV
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Sermon Title - Sit, Walk, Stand: Positioning of a Son of God

Background

The book of Ephesians
parallels the book of Joshua (WMB)
helps the believer understand his place in the plan of God
Paul’s message
make the Gentiles understand God’s great mystery in Christ
show believers how to act in response to the work of God
sums up his message in three action words
sit - believers are made to sit with Christ in the heavenly places
walk - believers are to walk in accordance with God’s eternal purpose
stand - believers are to take a stand against enemies intent on destroying the work of God
note - these three “acts”

Sermon Points

Sit - believers are seated together with Christ in the heavenlies

Ephesians 2:6 NKJV
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
This is God’s work in accordance with His rich mercy and love
this is elective love, before the foundation of the world
This is only experienced IN Christ and WITH Christ
made alive together - Grk. SYZOOPOEIO
raised up together - Grk. SYNEGEIRO
seated together - Grk. SYNKATHIZO
This is in accordance with God’s mighty power
Ephesians 1:19–20 NKJV
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
the work of God’s mighty power raised Christ from the dead
Romans 8:11 NKJV
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
the same Spirit gives life to (makes alive) your mortal bodies
the work of God’s mighty power seated Him at God’s right hand (of authority)
right hand is a place of POWER
right hand is place of HONOR
Matthew 26:64 NKJV
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Hebrews 1:3–4 NKJV
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
WHAT’S THE POINT?
TO BE SEATED IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES MEANS HAVING THE SAME PRIVILEGES WITH CHRIST.
HAVING ACCESS TO POWER THAT IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS’
HAVING HONOR THAT IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS’
Hebrews 1:5–6 NKJV
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
Hebrews 1:13–14 NKJV
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
GOD HAS POSITIONED EVERY BELIEVER IN CHRIST FOR POWER AND HONOR!
How do you know you are NOW seated in the heavenly places with Christ?
You have been made alive together with Christ (after being dead in your trespasses)
YOU EXPERIENCE FREEDOM FROM THE CONTROLING POWER OF SIN.
You have been raised up together with Christ
YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF APART AND ABOVE SIN. YOU ARE NO LONGER IDENTIFIED WITH SIN.
YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF IN CHRIST AND WITH CHRIST!

Walk - believers are to walk in accordance with God’s eternal purpose

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
our salvation is God’s work, not ours
walk - Grk. PERIPATEO, to walk or behave in a specific manner; to live life in a certain way; a way of life
God has determined the way of life of those that He saves.
they were “prepared beforehand”
The believer’s walk is in contrast with his old WALK.
Ephesians 2:1–3 NKJV
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
the old walk is controlled by the spirit that rules this fallen world - Satan
the prince of the power of the air
the old walk is driven by the lust of the flesh
lust of the flesh - means desire for carnal and earthly things
the old walk is destined for wrath
by nature children of wrath
the old walk is a life apart from God
Ephesians 4:17–18 NKJV
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
WHAT’S THE POINT?
YOUR WAY OF LIFE IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH YOUR POSITION IN LIFE.
notice: the rich and the poor, the noble and the commoner, the city dweller and the country dweller
SO - the way of life of a person that is seated in the heavenly places is different from the one who has not experienced the working of God.
AFTER GOD HAS POSITIONED YOU IN THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER, HE EXPECTS YOU TO DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OLD LIFE (of weakness and dishonor)
Ephesians 4:1 NKJV
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
In what ways is your “walk” to be different?
Walk in love
Ephesians 5:1–4 NKJV
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
To walk in love means to be driven by love of God and for God
you desire to be “like God” (imitator of God)
you despise the things that God despises
you love the things that God loves
Walk in the light
Ephesians 5:8–11 NKJV
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
To walk in the light means
knowing and practicing the things that please God
exposing the unfruitful works of darkness
Walk in wisdom
Ephesians 5:15–17 NKJV
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
To walk in wisdom means
understanding the condition of the day you live
making efficient use of time
understanding the will of God for that time
Consequently, the wisest thing to do AT ALL TIMES is to LIVE A LIFE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ephesians 5:18–21 NKJV
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Stand - believers are to take a stand against the enemies intent on destroying the work of God

In Ephesians 6, from verse 11 to 14, the word ‘stand” is used 3 times
Eph 6.11 - stand against the wiles of the devil
Eph 6.13 - to stand
Eph 6.14 - stand therefore
Plus Eph 6.13 - withstand in the evil day
The Grk word is HISTHEMI, and it means “to endure”
Ephesians 6:10–11 NKJV
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Why do you need to take a ‘stand”?
There is warfare in the heavenly places
the same place is where the spirits that rule the fallen world comes from
The devil wants to destroy the believer
since He cannot destroy Christ anymore
and because the believer is the one still on earth and in the flesh
WHAT’S THE POINT?
THE BELIEVER THAT HAS BEEN POSITIONED IN THE HEAVENLIES MUST LEARN DEFEND HIS POSITION AGAINST THE ENEMIES THAT WILL TRY TO TAKE HIM DOWN.
Christ defended His position and won!
we must and we must win also!
How can you successfully take a stand against the devil?
THE ONLY WAY TO STAND AGAINST THE ENEMY AND WIN IS BY PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD.
The armor of God consists of the WORKS of God in the believer’s life
we face the enemy NOT WITH OUR OWN WORKS, but with the works of God!
Note how the the life of a sinner degrades over time:
the ungodly life goes:
walk
stand
sit

Conclusion

How is our positioning in the heavenly places today?
Sit - it is the positioning of the believer; it is the work of God
Walk - it is the positioning MANIFESTED in the daily life of the believer
Stand - it is the positioning DEFENDED in the life of the believer
SONG -
We’ve Been Made More Than Conquerors
I’m A New Creation
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