IN THE HEAVENLIES
Eph. 2:6
Morning Meditation 6/2/2015
This morning meditation is being prepared based on chapter 18 in a book by Guy King entitled "Brought In." Guy King was a Keswick speaker and a great expositor of Scripture. I do not know if this book is still in print. The publisher was originally Marshall, Morgan & Scott, LTD. London. It is a book written on the positive side of the Christian experience. It has 19 chapters in it based on the preposition "In", i.e., In the Family, In the Book, In the Body, etc.
Verse 6 says, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"
The word "heavenly places" (epouranios) is "heavenlies" in the Greek. The word "places" is in italics which means that it is added to complete the sense. It is not a translation of a Greek word. The Bible talks about three heavens. Guy King mentions these. He says, "(1) the Atmospheric--the air envelope that surrounds us, including the stellar spaces; (2) The Intermediate--the abode of the devil and his angels, through which must be forced our passage to (3) the 'far above' region to which the Ephesian verses refer"
The heavenlies of which our verse refers is a place of the Christian's supply. This is brought out in Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" The words "hath blessed" is an aorist active participle. The aorist tense refers to a once-for-all action that has already taken place. So the "heavenlies" is the heavenly superstore where all our supplies are found. Guy King says, "There are situate the mighty, inexhaustible reservoirs of Divine supplies; the 'boundless stores of grace,' of which we sing so hopefully." He cites Philippians 4:19 as a demonstration of this truth and emphasizes "His riches in glory" by Christ Jesus. There is in the heavenlies the blessing of power. We talk about our need of power. And we should. But after we talk of our need of power we study and employ human methods to accomplish God's work. Should we give God the credit for work accomplished using human methods? I really don't think he wants it. The unsaved down the street accomplish the same thing using these methods and those using these methods don't even believe in God. Our power supply is in the heavenlies and it is there for us in Christ. It has been placed there on deposit for us. It is a gift: "Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ."
The blessing of peace is also there. John 14:27 says: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." This peace is his peace and he bequeathed it to us in His Last Will and Testament. It is there for faith to claim. There are many other things that could be added to the list, i.e., the blessing of purpose, patience, and plenty, etc.
The heavenlies is also a place of exaltation. Ephesians 1:20 says, "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places," Here we have the same word. Jesus said in preparation for his departure to the heavenlies, "It is expedient for you that I go away . . ." (John 16:7). And this is where he went. It was and is the place of exaltation. We have the decent and ascent recorded in Philippians 2:6-11. He "made himself of no reputation", he "took upon him the form of a servant", he "was made in the likeness of men", he "humbled himself and became obedient unto death", then the road takes a turn upward, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him", and the Father has "given him a name which is above every name", and the Father has determined "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow," and in the end, "every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." We have gone a full cycle. The heavenlies is the place of exaltation.
The heavenlies is a place of demonstration. Ephesians 3:10 says, "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God," Learning is going on in the heavenlies of which this verse speaks. The word "intent" reveals a purpose. The word "now" speaks of this Church age. The "principalities and powers in heavenly places" describe the class of learners. The words "be known by the church" are either setting forth the church as the teacher or the one through whom the manifold wisdom of God is revealed with God as the Teacher. Either way God is demonstrating his wisdom in the redemption of man through Jesus Christ.
The heavenlies is the place of warfare. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The words "high places" is the same word and means "heavenlies." This is Satan's domain. Ephesians 2:2 calls him, "the prince of the power of the air." When Jesus was exalted, he had to pass through this realm: Ephesians 1:19-22: "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own 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 world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,"
Prayer is spiritual warfare in which Satan and those described in this passage are the enemy. I think it is safe to say that any prayer that gets an answer will have to travel through Satan's realm and obtain the blessing and return. This is the reason for the armor mentioned here. All of this armor is the armor of the grace of Christ. There is no human merit in this list of armor. When righteousness is spoken of it is his righteousness. When faith is spoken of it is his faith. And on down the list. Satan has no problem defeating us in our own righteousness, our own faith, etc. It would be like an ant grabbing an elephant by the leg and trying to perform martial arts. The heavenlies is the place of spiritual warfare.
The heavenlies is the place of Identification. Ephesians 1:6 says, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" We are in two places at once. This clears up Romans 8:30: "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." The word "glorified" is an aorist active indicative verb. It has already taken place in a once-for-all act. The aorist tense is a point of time divorced from time and perpetuated forever. Just a statement in closing. Before a saved person could be lost, he would have to be unglorified! We are so identified with Christ in his ascension right now that John says in 1 John 4:17 "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."
May the Lord bless you.
In Christ
Bro. White
