THE SETTING OF OUR SPIRITUAL LOCATION IN CHRIST - PART 1

Today, the writer of Hebrews' Epistles is introducing us to the company and environment we have arrived at, in Christ. It's like when a man or a woman who is getting married is being introduced to the environment and household members of His or her betrothed. When you accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, you arrive at a new place, environment or destination, because Christ is a spiritual place. Ephesians 2:6 (NIV) says, 'And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.' Now that we've arrived at Christ, the writer tells us its God's city and dwelling place. He also introduced us to the environment and its citizens.

Reference: Hebrews 12:22-24 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) 'But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering, And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect, And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].'

As a born again Christian, you've come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem, populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgements that make us just. You’ve come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God.

The first introduction is Mount Zion. It is a spiritual mountain and city where the Almighty God dwells and reigns. Those who belong to Christ are already citizens of Mount Zion. Its not a promise; its happening live! You exist in Zion now. Zion symbolises the highest level in the spirit realm. Isaiah 48:1-2 described Zion as the city of the Great King. It is the very city and centre of God's government. That's where you arrived. In the old Jerusalem, the cities and the temples were built on the highest mountains. So when God is saying, 'you've come to Mount Zion', it means that you've been called to a transcendent level of life.

The second introduction is the city of the living God. We have come to the city where the living God resides. Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God (see Hebrews 11:10 NIV). We are now existing in that city because Zion is the city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. The third introduction is heavenly Jerusalem. Heavenly here does not signify that we are in heaven. It simply means that we carry an atmosphere of invisible Jerusalem; we operate heavenly Kingdom here on earth. We function by divine dictates because we are from above.

In John 8:23 (NLT), Jesus told the Jews in a conversation, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not.' Even though Jesus was bodily present on earth, He knew His origin and He was conscious of that. So He carried that heavenly atmosphere everywhere He went, making earthy places heavenly. What makes you heavenly is the presence of God you transmit in the earth realm because you belong to Zion. And that means, you can sustain and superimpose Kingdom realities over the earthly standards wherever you find yourself on earth.

The forth introduction is, 'and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering'. Zion is populated by throngs of festive angels and they are countless multitudes. That's the reason I don't get surprised when people of God discuss about experiencing angelic visitation because its supposed to be the normal, if you belong to Zion. As for me, angels don't just visit. I live with them. I walk with them. I travel with them and I mingle with them. Simply put, angels are my invisible companion. I may not see them with my physical eyes but I'm conscious of their presence because I'm spiritually positioned in a dimension where I fellowship with them daily. I've already arrived at their sphere of influence. I'm in their great company anytime and any day, enjoying angelic response and assistance.

The fifth introduction is 'General assembly'. We have come to the General assembly, which is the gathering of honoured people (Christian citizens). Our general assembly signifies our flow in Zion. It is a festal gathering of the saints to celebrate our divine nature. Indeed we have an invisible host of companions in Zion. The sixth introduction is 'the church of the first born'. We are children of the most high God and Jesus is the first born. The first born is the heir; the most precious child. The church is the body of Christ and its the Christian family, the most basic unit of our Christian life. The church in Greek is called the Ekklesia and as Christian family, we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17 NKJV). Jesus Christ is the first born among many brothers (see Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15,18).

'You have come to Mount Zion' means that you are living with God now; you've been positioned in Christ to walk with God. Therefore understand where you belong and make it your conscious awareness and assurance as we live in this present time. Stay tuned for the rest of the introduction in Part 2.

Scripture Reading - Psalm 132;13-14; Joel 3:17; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 2:6; Revelation 14:1.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I honour and worship you today for bringing me into your realm of existence in Christ. Heaven is the condition of my heart and mind because I'm seated and reigning with Christ in the heavenly realms, far above all principality and power, might and dominion. Thus, I'm rightly positioned to host and manifest the atmosphere of your Kingdom here on earth, in Jesus' Name, Amen!