Up Here!
We have a position in heaven and the Lord Jesus is now our life there, and we must learn to enjoy and occupy ourselves with Him in that new place.
Miles J. Stanford delves into the profound truth of believers' spiritual position in Christ, emphasizing the difference between having faith in going to heaven and realizing that we are already seated with Christ in heavenly places. He highlights the joy of belonging to the place where Christ is and the transformation that occurs when we set our minds and affections on heavenly things. Stanford explains that our taste and nature are formed in glory, leading us to set aside earthly hindrances to manifest the life of Jesus. He challenges listeners to grow by deepening their fellowship with the Lord in heavenly realms, where true transformation occurs.
Text
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).
The spiritual babe has faith for the wondrous fact that he will go to heaven when he dies. The spiritual father has faith for the inexpressible fact that he has died in Christ, and that he is now hid with Him in God.
"When I look at this place, He is not here; and when I look at myself naturally I am not fit for Him. How happy then to know that I belong to the place where He is; and that through grace I am made suited to Him in that new place; so that I set my mind and affections there, as the place where my deepest joys are to be realized." -J.B.S.
"The truth is, we have a position in heaven and the Lord Jesus is now our life there; and if this be not simply enjoyed, there will be an effort to modify the desolation here, and an inability to interpret the various inroads which death makes on us."
"My taste is formed in glory, and there it is nurtured and strengthened, and as it is, so do I find nothing here in keeping with my taste. Association with the Son of Man, the One most perfect, and in every way the most beautiful, develops my new nature, which is the same as His. Where He is, is my home-there I feed and rest; but here, on earth, I am learning to set aside in death everything in me which hinders the manifestation of the life of the Lord Jesus." -J.B.S.
"The reason there is so little growth is that there is so little occupation and fellowship with the Lord Jesus where He is. The glory invites now, instead of the law repelling, and the practical effect is 'changed into the same image.'"
"For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3, ASV.).
Sermon Outline
- Understanding Our Position in Heaven
- Living in Our New Position
- Growing in Our Faith
- Occupying ourselves with the Lord Jesus
- Fellowshipping with Him in heaven
Key Quotes
“When I look at this place, He is not here; and when I look at myself naturally I am not fit for Him. How happy then to know that I belong to the place where He is; and that through grace I am made suited to Him in that new place; so that I set my mind and affections there, as the place where my deepest joys are to be realized.” — Miles J. Stanford
“The glory invites now, instead of the law repelling, and the practical effect is 'changed into the same image.'” — Miles J. Stanford
“My taste is formed in glory, and there it is nurtured and strengthened, and as it is, so do I find nothing here in keeping with my taste.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We must learn to set our minds and affections on our position in heaven, where our deepest joys are to be realized.
- We must occupy ourselves with the Lord Jesus in heaven, and not just focus on our life on earth.
- We must develop our new nature through association with the Son of Man, and learn to set aside in death everything in us which hinders the manifestation of the life of the Lord Jesus.