KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:24 KJV “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world”.

During the Lord’s prayer for the disciples, He requested that the Father allow the disciples to be with Him, in His glorious state. A few questions arise out of this request. Did He refer to only the men that had been given to Him? Secondly, when are His people to be with Him? Is it in their present lifetime, or when they depart this earth? For the first question, the Lord stated in verse 20 as follows “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” His prayer was not only for the disciples He had with Him, then, but for all those who will be receiving the gospel from them. This included all that received the gospel from the apostle and also all that have come to faith in Jesus up till now.

To the second question, were they to be with Him, to behold His glory, during their lifetime, here on earth, or when they have left this place? We may be helped by the Pauline revelation in Ephesians 2:6, which says ” And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” This scripture refers to our identification with Christ through baptism into His death, burial, resurrection, and glorification. We have been glorified together with Jesus, and we are presently seated with Him in heavenly places. This is a mystery. How could we be physically present on earth, and at the same time be spiritually seated in Christ, in glory? This is all by His grace.

What is the significance of this truth?  It shows our inseparable union with our Lord Jesus. In Heaven, He is physically present, while we are in Him. On earth, we are also physically present while He is in us. We must exercise His authority on this earth. Whatever we do, must be done with the understanding that we have a superior authority above every power or principality. We should never be intimidated by anything in this life. When the child of God cowards in fear He has brought that glorious authority of the resurrected and glorified Lord so low. Refuse to subject your life to sin, sicknesses or devils, for they are far below our status in our Lord Jesus. We do so by believing in our heart what the word says, forcefully declaring our victory and supremacy over Satan, sin, sicknesses and all forms of negativity.

THOUGHT: WE HAVE BEEN GLORIFIED WITH OUR LORD JESUS, MAKE IT REAL BY YOUR AGGRESIVE DECLARATION OF YOUR DOMINANCE ON THIS EARTH.

FURTHER STUDIES

Mat 11:12 KJV “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

Rom 10:10,11 KJV” For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed”.