PRAYER: FIRST BE SEATED

UNDERSTANDING POSITION

            
               PRAYER: FIRST BE SEATED

         
                          Mervyn Naidoo
     
            



       


ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE SECURED FROM THE PUBLISHER TO USE OR REPRODUCE ANY PART OF THIS BOOK ELCTRONIC OR MECHANICAL EXCEPT FOR BRIEF QUOTAIONS IN REVIEWS AND ARTICLES.
 
ALL SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS FROM NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 1978 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED OR THE WRITER FOUND TO BE BEST UNDERSTOOD TO THE BENEFIT OF READER.
     
            
                                                                                                                      
                  


Other Books by the Author

• Dimensions of Prayer
• What is Prayer?
• The Parakleetos
• Be Serious about Prayer
• Prayer: A Burden from the Lord
• Prayer: A Quiet Heart
• Prayer: A Quiet Place
• The Decision to Pray
• Holiness is Surrender
• Essentials to Heavenly Praying
• I Desire You all Speak in Tongues



• Understanding Position

‘And war broke out in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; ……… but they (the enemy and his angels) did not prevail, nor was place found for them in Heaven any longer……..he (Satan) was cast to the earth and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven “now salvation, and strength and the Kingdom of our God , and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down”’ Revelation 12.7-10

The brethren are you and me the believers. The believer must come to know the severity of this battle. ‘And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’ Revelation 12.17 If the church is not aware then she walks in defeat. She must know she is in constant battle. In the same breath she must know that she is victorious. Christ came and accomplished His purpose for God. This purpose is now fulfilled in us as believers who walk in victory. The believer must walk in the spirit. Walking in the spirit helps him to see. God is spirit and not flesh. For the believer to understand the things of God he must live and walk in the spirit.
All men must pray everywhere. God has a unique purpose for all men everywhere. Prayer is what reveals this unique plan and purpose of God to man. Prayer unfolds the desires of God’s heart for the believer. Therefore prayer must be seen as one of the most important activities of the Christian life. Prayer reveals God’s promise, His plans and the manner and route for us to finish the race here on earth. A race has to be run before we are caught up with our Lord one day. Unless we know how this race is run and have the strength to do so, we will stagger behind and may never receive the reward due.
If prayer is what we say it is then why do we pray so little?  Thank God for the churches that have emphasized the importance of prayer yet a great deal of our churches are found wanting in this area of the Christian life. Why have all the other activities preceding prayer. God’s law would be that the Christian pray first then work. We have reversed this by first doing then praying. We have developed a culture within the church that expects God to bless our doings – that which is already done on earth by us. God’s blesses that which is done in Heaven for earth. In fact He has already blessed that which is done in Heaven. ‘Thy Will be done on earth as it is Heaven.’ Matthew 6.10
Here is in lies a very important answer to a so called mystery of us not praying as much as we should. Does the believer know what God has done for him in Heaven? Does the believer know that God has a better plan and purpose and He is ready waiting for the believer to receive it? The answer is mostly No! Had we fully comprehended this then the church would be praying more as prayer allows for that release from Heaven.
Ephesians 2.6 ‘and raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.’
Here we see who gives us the position. It is the Lord Himself. It is Him who raises us. It is Him who makes us to sit. The power of unity is great in the Kingdom of God. We see this evident here. He raises us up together. And the position He takes us to is one that is Heavenly. Unless we can get a grasp of this important truth we will run this race with not much to show for it.
God has given to each of us a measure of faith. He has done so that we by faith would be able to grasp what He has prepared for us. We all have it – this measure of faith. In fact in the book of Ephesians God gives faith a very high place. ‘Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.’ Ephesians 6.16
….Now to each of us is given a measure of faith. Hebrew 12.3
What’s gone wrong? If the believer is aware of the truth then what is still missing. Is it the exercising of our faith and trusting in God to deliver? Is it that God will do it for another but not for me? If so then we need to repent for this lack of faith. God is pleased with faith not the lack of it.
The believer must be encouraged to know that it starts with God and His work in Christ for us. We must receive this. This is part of the salvation process. Believers are so because they believe and have accepted Christ as their Savior. Being saved comes with this position. We are now in Him. A believer is no longer a person of the world. Now that he is saved he takes on a new position. Being saved gives you this new position. This position is that you are now in Christ. ‘In Him we obtain an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His Will.’ Ephesians 1.11 Paul prayed having known this and never ceased giving thanks for it. Verse 16 ‘….. Do not cease giving thanks for you….’  But the apostle also prayed earnestly that God would give the church the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who she is in Him. This was desperately needed then and is so now. We need to understand whom we are Christ. Paul prayed that the church at Ephesus would have their spiritual eyes opened to this important truth. ‘the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the right hand in the Heavenly places.’ Verse 18
Any wonder why Paul prayed more than them all. It was because he was able to see and know what God had that encouraged Him to be consistent. Paul understood this of being seated with Christ. He understood this of royalty and therefore knew who the believer was in the eyes of the Lord. His letters are to the Churches for them to see who they in Christ. His letters are instructions and warnings for royalty and not just any person. It is addressed to the Church at each location. Today as a believer the letter to the Church at Ephesus is a letter to yours and my Church for it is for every believer. So is the letter to the Church at Corinth or in Thessalonica it applies to you and me. We are royalty and must live so.
His concern for the early Church was that they knew. It was not something they had to purchase or some place they must go but rather that they knew who they were. He wanted them to walk worthy of their calling. Paul encouraged the Church to know and do. Knowing that they were God’s children and therefore to be imitators of Him.  ‘Therefore be imitators of God as dear children’ Ephesians 5.1

Unfortunately our praying reveals much of what we know and what we do not. Our inconsistency in prayers says much of us not understanding the promises that ours in Christ. On earth any member of royalty knows their position and then lives accordingly. A king on earth is respected and his people know fully well what he must deliver and how they must behave. They know the authority he has and his wealth. If the world is able to grasp this, why can’t we the believer. May God help us to who we are in Him. It is already given we must take up our rightful place. There is a finished work in God for us. Our seeking after God would be greater because we know what He has for us and also who we are in Him.
The world has this truth darkened from them. We cannot afford to have our understanding darkened. Paul puts this down to ignorance and calls this a separation from God. ‘Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.’ Ephesians 4.18
In Christ is the position for all believers. All believers must know this. Since we are in Christ that means we are now seated with Him in Heavenly places. Christ has risen as we know and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. This Heavenly position for the believer comes with purpose and careful planning. Not yours but His. Christ returns to the Father from whence He had come. We were not seated in such a place before He came but now we are. Here’s the truth. Being in Christ now makes us sons and daughters of the most High. Our opportunity to sit with Christ is because of whom we are - sons and daughters of the most High. We tend to understand this from a worldly perspective but not from a spiritual. And it is so important that we do. Kings are royalty so are their sons and daughters. Jesus was and is royalty. He returned to the place whence He came after His time with us. Ephesians 2.6 ‘…and made us to sit together in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.’ God has allowed this so that we may receive what is ours. God has allowed this so that we may see what is ours. And finally God has allowed this so that we may be able to finish this race on earth through this seeing from a Heavenly position. It is the Heavenly position that gives us the solution to the problems we face here on earth.


When a person walks into a room it is customary in many cultures for them to bow. Bowing comes before being seated. When we pray we bow. Bowing is a sign of humility. Prayer teaches us much about humility. When a man will pray God will take him through many roads, journeys and fulfillments. But there is something that must be learnt in all of this and that is position.
In the Kingdom of God position is important. If one does not know position he will not function to His fullest. Like the world offers position and is understood by all. So to the church must understand position. We cannot be walking when we are called to sit. Neither can we be running when we are called to stand. This is important and the sooner we are able to see this, the greater our impact in the Body of Christ for Christ. With all that we have going against us, we are still asked by the Lord to ‘Be anxious for nothing’ John 14.1
What is it that the Christian must still understand and abide by yet seems to be failing? It is called position. When we understand and know our position in Christ then our journey begins. Work for God will amount to nothing without position. The Church must come to know her position in Christ. If there is one thing that the she should be taught urgently is this thing called position – her position with the Lord. It is position that makes her run at the pace God intended and it is position that makes her stand without fear.
And so knowing is important but it is God who opens our eyes to see and know. Many of us may see and know but it is by our own strengths and not His. This is bound to fail us. The Lord has sent His Spirit to lead us into all truth. ‘However when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.…’ John 16.13










• Overcoming Fear to be Seated

All through history the Lord has called His people to not fear. He has seen what fear can do to all men and warned His people thereof. Fear is a stumbling block for great miracles and promises fulfilled for the believer. Fear unfortunately, has had a great deal to do with us not understanding position. Fear has a role to play in the manifold wisdom of God being revealed to the Church for the enemy to see. And God’s call to us today is that we should not lose heart. ‘..to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made know to the Church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.’ Ephesians 3.10-13
Paul goes on to mention that it for this reason he bows his knees – he prays‘…I bow my knees…..’ verse 14.  He prays that the whole body of Christ will know there position by being rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. Verse 17
Is fear preventing us from taking up our rightful positions in Christ? Fear has a lot to do with our doing. The Lord in speaking to Joshua after the death of His servant Moses reminded him that fearlessness is a prerequisite for observing and doing whatever the Will of God is. ‘Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do……’ Joshua 1.7
The Lord goes onto to say ‘ ….do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’ Joshua 1.9 God’s chosen people then, were being led by Him and was asked not to fear. Today we have the Lord dwelling in us, therefore how much more we are called to be strong and courageous for the work of the Lord. When we are free from fear we are able see the task at hand and its enormity. But we are at peace for we know God is with us. The lack of fear helps us see the seriousness of the task at hand. This means that many of us as believers are not serious about the things of God because of fear.

The believer being strong means to be established and firm in the Lord. The believer is only has strong as He is in Christ. The strength spoken of here is not muscles to the body and strength to the bones – at least not first. This is about much strength and might in the spiritual. This is not attained by human effort but by receiving what is ours in Christ. Our war is in the spiritual. We must be strong in the spiritual. This is why our position in the spiritual is most important for our victory. The believer cannot just assume his position with the Lord. He must act on it. His acting proves that he accepts by faith, who he is. In fact the words ‘ be strong’ come from the Hebrew word ‘chazaq’ this word is a root to several Hebrew names, one of them being ‘Hezekiah’ meaning ‘Strengthened by Yahweh’ The believer is only as strong as he understands and accepts his position in the Lord. Any misunderstanding of this will affect the strength afforded to him by Yahweh.
It is important that every believer not fear. This is made known to us all through God’s Word. The believer who is in Christ is most without excuse for he has the Lord in him. He may be judged more harshly if he does pursue his given abilities to do. ‘ So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, ‘Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.’ And they drew near and put their feet on their necks.”’ Joshua 10.24
Here is a lesson again for the believer that he must not fear and receive total victory. The lesson here that we can learn is that God has given us the privilege of complete victory over the enemy. Just as Joshua admonished his captains then, the Lord admonishes us the believer to do the same. We do so by taking up position in Him. We are seated with Him in Heavenly places. Ephesians 2.6 ‘and raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.’ Being seated with Him means that we have all powers of darkness underfoot.
The prophet Elijah saw for he did not fear. It was fear that prevented his servant from seeing.1Kings 18.41-44
Fear will cause us to not walk in the benefits of our calling. Fears’ main cause is to blind. Blindness is the tool Satan loves to use most. When he can insert fear in a man then he has accomplished his task of building on blindness.
Position is important to God because of His grace towards us. God revealing position to us as believers is to show His abundance for us. God is full of grace for His people. His people must accept this and understand who He is. ‘….that in ages to come He might show us His exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.’ Ephesians 2.7
You see taking us to that position, helps us see. He has made this possible in His Son Jesus.



• The Holy Spirit and Being Seated

Any position in the world comes through effort, toil and much work. In the Kingdom of God our positions are given. When a man or a woman accepts Christ, they are given the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit helps us see and helps us know who we are. As much as we may read and study the Word, little effort can be made if we do not allow the Holy Spirit of God to help us. The Spirit of God is the only One who is able to take us to another dimension. Our Heavenly places are in a different dimension. Read my book ‘DIMENSIONS OF PRAYER’ as it will give you more insight to the different dimensions we are called to. The believer does not go to a physical location then purchase something that enables him to see. Seeing is a spiritual matter. God is spirit and therefore we are in need of His Holy Spirit at work in our lives. This is an important truth that each believer must understand. Truth be told the Church has neglected the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is here to guide, lead and teach us. There seems to be a notion that we can do without Him. But truth be told - we cannot!
‘Behold I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endured with power from on High.’ Luke 24.49 Jesus knew and so did the early church. In obedience to the His word to them, the early disciples came to understand the power of the Holy Spirit and the dimensions He would take them. They tarried in the Upper Room and when that Day of Pentecost had come they were found in one accord and in one place – the Upper Room. The early Church is a great example of God at work on earth through the Church. The early Church is a great example of power and might whose source was God. It showed to the rest of the world what was possible by them through Him. The disciples understood their position in Christ and silver and gold was no match to what was now given to them. Their inheritance in Christ was priceless. Silver and gold was not able to make a man born crippled rise up and walk. The Heavenly wealth from God made this possible and was priceless. Hear what Peter says to the man at the gate of the Temple ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I give to you: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”’ Acts 3.6  the rest is history for the man rose up walking and praising God.
When we are able to focus we are able to receive. Peter said to the man ‘look at us’ Verse 4




• Work and Being Seated

The Lord has prepared us for good works. But no good work can be accomplished if we do not first know our Heavenly position. Our good works are a foundation for the time to come. Good works provide a good foundation and this helps us lay hold on eternal life. ‘Let them do good, they that be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share storing up for themselves a good fortune for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.’ 1Timothy 6.18-19
The position of the believer is a spiritual one. He is seated in Heavenly places. His work is a spiritual work manifesting itself in the natural. The world has no other glimpse of Heaven but through the believer and his spiritual work. Our labors are not in vain when we know. ’….abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain’ 1Corinthians 15.58
All our doing must be done in love. ‘Let all you do be done in love.’ 1Corinthians 16.14 Love comes from a Heavenly position. Our activities on earth must be done with much love. The church must admit to God where she has failed to see. In our repentance we are forgiven and called for greater works. We must ask God to forgive us for walking and standing even running before we could have taken our seated positions. No believer can stand without being seated first. He will soon fall. Being seated helps him see who he is. The spiritual war that each believer faces starts first with position. Knowing your position helps you to take up your weapons and aiming correctly. Without position we are simply shooting arrows in the air with little impact in the spiritual kingdom. God wants us to make in impact. We cannot stand if we are not able to withstand. To withstand means that the believer takes up  the whole armor of God. The armor of God is of another dimension. For our battle is not against flesh and blood. Withstand comes from the word Anthistemi. It means to take up a position of vigorous opposing. It means we will have to bravely resist. We are the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We must know this. The belt of truth keeps us from shame and shoes of peace ever ready to share the Gospel.






• Seeing from a Heavenly Position

When we are on earth looking at things from an earthly perspective then there is only one place for us to look – up. Looking up is what God wants all of us to do – looking up to Him. But there is a higher position with a Godly sight. When the believer is seated in Heavenly places he sees what God sees. God enables him to see from His perspective. This is the purpose to all of this – for when a man is seeing as God sees then he is able to take the position the Lord wants of him in the matter ahead. Here in lies a great problem for us in the Church. We so often do not see the situation as God wants us to see it. We may think that He does not want us to see it His way but that is not the truth. We are seated in Heavenly places to see. The enemy desires us to be seated in the wrong position. It is a position that causes us to make the wrong decision. It is that position that causes us to say and do things in regret.
Forgiveness is one such example that comes to mind. We all get hurt and will be hurt from time to time. It is unstoppable, for we live in a wicked world and we are called to overcome. We are overcomers and our overcoming is structured on this spiritual principle of who we are in Christ. The pain for the one is different to the other. The intensity of the pain is not based on the problem as it is the person. This is such an important truth for all believers. What may be a huge heartache for one may be something easily overcome by the other and vice versa. Therefore it is important that we understand what it is to be seated with Christ in Heavenly places. We have different opinions on the matter when only one opinion matters – that of Christ. The Apostle Paul understood this and is a great example to the believer as much was then revealed to Him. He had to take up his Heavenly position to see. The New Testament is a great deal of what Paul saw. The early churches inquired from him. His reply to them on all matters had to be from how God saw the matter. There are many things that Paul saw in the process that he never mentioned. It was not of this world. It was not appropriate at the time for mention. The point to all of this is that the Apostle asked and warned the Church to follow from the position God would have them to. Paul encouraged them to imitate him, only because he saw what they were not seeing. ‘Therefore I urge you, to imitate me.’ 1Corinthians 4.16
Let us make it clear once more. The Church is able to see because of her position. Paul prayed this for the early church and his must be our prayer for the modern day believers.
’For this reason I pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He should grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.’ Ephesians 3.14-19


You see in us being taught and guided by His Spirit we are able to stand in the position that is rightfully ours. But what is the purpose of all of this. Paul makes this clear to us in Verses 18 -19. It is to know and comprehend the love of God for us and though we are in constant war with Satan and his angels we are loved by God. Partaking of this love gives us the victory. We may only experience the fullness of God mentioned here if we participating as believers in all of God’s blessings, resources and promises. And this takes position!

The Enemy
In us understanding this basic truth of redemption we will encounter many trials and tribulations. The trials are there to draw us away from the truth of royalty. It will do everything in its power to keep us from walking, seeing and knowing from a Heavenly position. And so the enemy starts with weakening our faith in knowing that we are seated with Christ in Heavenly places. The enemy knows that if we hang onto this basic truth then we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. He knows that this is given to all believers to be seated with Christ. And so he cast a shadow upon this truth. Our trial and difficulties may seem so unbearable that we may want to give up. We may question who we are and even our God’s love for us. This is not some isolated issue I write about but it is in the life of most believers. The life of the believer is most attacked. Why would it not, he is the one who knows the truth and that truth puts the enemy to shame. God’s people all over are being attacked and it is important to note the importance of unity here. ‘We were hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we were perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed’ 2Corinthians4.8
Understand that encounters of opposition have not stopped for the modern day Church. She goes through the same battles, sometimes in greater magnitude but she must hold on. We hold on by taking up our position in Christ. When the believer is in position he prays more effectively. His position helps him see how he must pray and how and what he must pray. When the believer takes up his royal position he is intimate with God. He hears God more clearly than ever before. His place with Christ shows to him where he is coming to. It shows him his home in eternity and like Jesus said, he to can echo the words ‘Let not your heart be trouble….. In my Father’s house are many mansions….’John 14.1-2

WATCH AND PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!