There is an amazing concept and life truth taught in the bIble that as followers of Jesus, we are in two places at once! This is such an important thing to understand that once you do, it will change the way you pray and approach God.
Ephesians 2:4-7 – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
We see above that as Christians, we are seated with Jesus in Heaven, even as we are alive in our mortal bodies here on the earth.
How does this work? How can I be in heaven and on earth at the same time?
To understand this, we need to understand that when we receive Jesus the Son of God and our Lord and Saviour, our spirit and Jesus’ Spirit are joined together as one, giving birth to a new spirit within us. The Bible calls this miraculous event, being Born Again.
1 Corinthians 6:17 – But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Gal 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Colossians 1:27 – To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The situation for the Christian then is Christ in me and me in Christ! This is how Jesus is with me on the earth and I am with Him in heaven.
How does this change my attitude to prayer? No longer do I pray like someone trying to be heard far away in heaven, in both my positions, either in heaven or on earth I am right up against the ear of God! He hears me always and because I am one with Jesus, I am totally accepted and anything I ask through Jesus (the one in me) will be granted.
John 14:12-14 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
