As believers today, God’s presence is within us because God Himself became man, dwelled among us, and then joined Himself to us and lives inside of us. This was not true of Adam and Eve. Although they were perfect and God was with them and His glory crowned them, His presence was outside. They were created in their own righteousness which they gave away. Now because of the eternal righteousness of Christ in us, the presence of God is inside giving us unending life and fellowship. Life in the New Covenant is resting in the finished work of the cross.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)1
The word “dwells” is the Hebrew word “yashab” which means to SIT down.2 He who SITS down in God’s presence abides under His protection. Jesus SAT down at the right hand of the Father when His work of redeeming us was finished. Sitting = resting. To rest is to be spiritually minded and to see the invisible by faith with our spiritual eyes. When we aren’t resting, it’s because we’re focusing on what is visible.
“…while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)
We live in parallel realms. We walk in this earth while we dwell (rest) in heavenly places.
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)
We are born from above and are blessed with every spiritual blessing:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ… “(Ephesians 1:3)
We have been blessed, past tense. Those who are in Christ have the awesome privilege of receiving unlimited blessings that are stored up for us in heavenly places. “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided…”
(from pages 330-331 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
2H3427 (yashab), Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H3427&t=KJV, accessed 6-11-14
