NT Framework - The Highest High Ground

Holding the high ground, or better yet, the highest high ground possible, demonstrates your tactical and strategic superiority. And Christ has done this by ascending to heaven and being seated next to the Father. Victory!

More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com 

This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).

Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner. 

Transcript

Setting The Focus: Ascension

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Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament framework. Today, a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.

Reading Ephesians 1 Together

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The second thing of significance about the ascension is that he has taken the high ground. This is a strategic military objective. Has been acquired by the second person of the Trinity in hypostatic union, right? I mean, he's an undiminished deity, we know that. Forever he's God. And he never ever gave up one of his attributes ever. But what he did give up was the independent use of his divine attributes during his incarnation. But this undiminished deity is united with his true humanity in one person, right? And this person sits right now far above all angelic powers and all powers that could be named in this age or in the age to come. Right? So let's look at Ephesians chapter 1.

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Ephesians chapter 1.

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We're talking about a military objective that has been achieved by the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1, Paul's in the middle of a prayer here that began back in verse 18.

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Or 15, excuse me.

Three Things God Wants You To Know

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If you look at verse 18, the content of his prayer, he says, your eyes having been enlightened, it's a perfect tense, they've already been enlightened. The moment you believed in Christ, your eyes were enlightened. Okay, that is to understood and understand spiritual truth. Then he gives the purpose for your eyes being enlightened the moment you believed in Christ. So that you will, and there's three things. So that you will, number none, number one, know what is the hope of his calling. What is the hope of his calling? Why did he call you to be a believer? The hope, which is something future, is the rapture.

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Okay?

Christ Enthroned Far Above All Powers

Why High Ground Wins Wars

Gettysburg And Holding The Ridge

Space Race And Strategic Heights

Theological Payoff: He’s Coming From Above

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What is the hope of his calling? That he'll come for us today. I mean, what more could you hope for? That he'll come for us today. That's the rapture, number one. Number two, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in you, in the saints? You are his inheritance, okay? And he wants you to know this. Why does he want you to know that you're his inheritance? Wouldn't you want to know what is your inheritance? No. He wants you to know that you are his inheritance. Why does he want you to know that? Because he wants you to know that you're valuable. If you are his inheritance, how first of all, how humbling, that we would be his inheritance. And number two, you must be very, very valuable. So he wants you to know that. Number three thing to know what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe. He wants you to know that the same power that resurrected the Lord Jesus Christ out of all the tombs on earth just resurrected him on that wonderful Sunday morning, right, is the same exact power that you have access to to live the Christian life. That's what he wants us to know. Those three things. The hope of his calling, the resurrection, that you are valuable, here is inheritance. Number three, that his power, resurrection power is toward you to live the Christian life. Then he says it, these are in accordance with the working of the strength of his might, which he brought about in Christ when he raised him from the dead. And there it is, and seated him, that's the session, at his right hand in the heavenlies. Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come. See, who has the highest position in the universe? The Lord Jesus Christ. When it says things like all powers and dominions, it's talking about angelic powers. It's talking about human powers like presidents, prime ministers, czars. It's talking about anyone who holds any position of authority anywhere in the universe. Jesus Christ is seated not just above them, it says far above them all. Now, in military strategy and tactics, one of the keys to military victory is holding the high ground. We learned this, you know, military tacticians know this. This is the type of stuff they teach at West Point, right? You want to acquire the high ground because it's a lot easier to fight down than it is to try to fight up, right? We saw this at Gettysburg. You know, General Lee was one of the greatest generals ever in the United States of America. He was utterly brilliant, and the North was really going to have a hard time in the Civil War stopping General Lee. And yet, you know, when they come to Gettysburg, right, he's got a number of commanders underneath him, but um he went up against General Meade from the North. And General Meade was the problem was is that General Lee had so many men and they'd been winning so many battles that they had, let's just say, wind in their sails. They had a good uh everything, good morale among the South the South, General Lee's army. I mean, they they felt like they were basically unstoppable. And uh now they come with a larger force than the North at Gettysburg, and Meade is forced out of town and they take their position up on what became one famous area, at least became known as Cemetery Hill. Um now there's a number of things that could have happened, and some of us kind of wish they had happened, but anyway. Not to share too much, but um I mean if the South had just taken Colp Hill, for example, then Cemetery Ridge could not have been held by the North. But anyway, to make a long story endless, Lee uh Lee insisted on continuing to make attacks on the North, and of course it was the bloodiest battle in the history of the United States of America. Over fifty thousand men were killed in three days. And the whole of Civil War, about six hundred thousand men. So um this was consider it's considered by many to be the turning point of the war. Especially, you know, the battle after that the next day was at Vicksburg and the North again. But um after that, you know, you they still had two years of fighting wars, but that battle at Gettysburg was the turning point. It's when the wind went out of the sails of the Southern Army. And they still won some battles and things like that, of course. But Grant eventually came in and you know, the North obviously we know they won, and we have the Union today. But um the significance of that that Gettysburg battle, you know, because they held the high ground, even though they were a smaller force, they were able to repel the Southern Army. And you know, they basically just shredded them in pieces. And because you want that high ground. Another example, of course, that we have in our in the 20th century would be the whole space race, which kind of began and centered around launching of the satellite Sputnik. You know, this is between Cold War between Russia and the U.S. And again, what's the what's the issue with satellites over the Earth? The issue is who has the high ground. So it was a major significant military statement when Russia launched Sputnik successfully and to beat the U.S. to space in this sense. Um, what do you think is going on with Ronald Reagan when he has his Star Wars program in the 80s? The whole idea with Star Wars was military prowess, military power and authority. It's about being number one in the world. Because why? Because we we hold the high ground. And so, what does it mean then that the Lord Jesus Christ has taken the ultimate high ground? See, it's significant military objective that's been achieved by him because he's coming again. And when he comes again from the high ground, he's going to take over the earth.

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Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube under Spokane Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app. And until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.