Genesis 2:7 says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” So often we see ourselves tied to the earth. We see our life and existence as from the earth. Humanism ties us to the earth. However, the Bible says that even though our body was formed from the earth, God breathed into us His life and we became living beings. So, our life connection is not to the earth but to God.
When Adam sinned, man’s spiritual nature died, but through Christ we are born again and are now spiritually alive in Him. Jesus said in John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” The flesh and the sprit are two spheres of influence. Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight.” (John 18:36) And again in John 14:30, Jesus tells his disciples, “the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” Jesus understood that His battle was not with earthly authority and powers.
Satan is the prince of this world. The world is his area of operation and influence. Satan is constantly using this world to influence us and to draw us into dealing with him in his area of influence and strength. He wants to battle against us on his turf and according to his rules. But like Christ, we need to see beyond the earthly conflict and understand that our life is in God. As born again, blood-washed, spiritually-alive individuals, our area of influence is in the spiritual realm.
Ephesians 1:20-21 says that “Christ is seated in “heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Then it goes on in Ephesians 2:6 to say that we are seated “together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This and not the earth is our place of strength and influence. Paul carries this truth forward in Ephesians 6:12 where he writes, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
In 2 Kings 6 we read the story of the King of Syria who sends a great army to surround and take Elisha captive. When Elisha’s servant saw the vast army, he said to Elisha, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" That is normally our response when we encounter conflict and problems in this world. What shall we do? Elisha prayed that the servant’s eyes would be open, “And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” Elisha’s response was not what shall we do, but what do we see? He was operating from His seat in heavenly places. The army was Satan’s area of influence and power. Elisha did not respond in the natural but from the spiritual realm, his area of influence and power. It was out of that position that he led the enemy captive.
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” (IICorinthians 10:4) We who are born again are not of this earth, our kingdom is not of this earth, but we are from heaven. To overcome and extend God’s kingdom we must operate from our area of influence and strength in Christ Jesus. Whether it is family, ministry, business or work, you have an edge over the world “because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4)
Andy
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