Before And After The Cross - (Easter Expository Teaching) - Part 1 Series

I am not here this morning to teach another sermon to you. I know you might have heard it all these years that Jesus died and God raised Him up on the third day.

Every Easter Sunday comes with this message almost everywhere, but Last week, as I sat in my study room walking up and down the ladder of glory. The Holy Spirit began to unveil unto me something very interesting. Something that kept me running up the ladder singing in the Spirit.

Oh! I wonder what Jacob did through the night wrestling the Angel. He was tired and weak, all of his strength was gone. Suddenly when he's about to sleep, Lo behold, a dream came, a revelation of the ladder into glory and his life never remained the same. (Genesis 28:12).

I am here this Easter morning to take you up this Ladder into glory and show you our place of rest, authority and glory up there. How little do we know about it and what impact it would create in our time, if we begin to live in the reality of these truths that will stir our hearts today.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, so that they

may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over the livestock

and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Genesis 1:26).

That was the Authority of the Edenic Man before the fall. It covered all that can be seen but did not include the unseen worlds where devils and Angels operate. No wonder the enemy could freely walk up on them and seduce them into an unkown realm of life which was governed by Sin and Death.

Man in Eden was made the Lord of the Earth alone. He exhibit his authority on the earth, "...so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over the livestock and over all the creatures that move along the ground" (Genesis 1:26). It never included the heavens but then the New Man is altogether in a different class. The scripture declare:

" And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the

heavenly realms in Christ Jesus". (Ephesian 2:6).

The New Man is not just a Lord on earth alone. No! He is seated in the place of authority in the heavens too. Oh! Halleluyah.

"...God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him..." (Eph. 2:6). Do you think Christ was seated in a place void of authority in Heaven? No! If Christ was seated in power and authority in the heavens and we are seated together with Him. Ah! Halleluyah!. boy Oh boy. You have authority in the heavens too.

I hear some folks pray and say "Father if it be your will, hear my plea and grant my request today". Come'on friend, He is not waiting for a plea to answer you. He gave you a seat on the highest place of authority in heaven. He expects you to speak whatsoever you want and it shall be done.

Ah! My heart quivers at the gravity of these truths, throbbing every cell in my body. Words will not be able to contain the depths of these truths.

Folks like Nicodemus are far from these truths. You know Jesus said to him "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" ( John 3:12 ).

I want you to stand and pray in the Spirit right now. Speak in tongues until every shadow of doubt that might rise in your heart fades into the air. Get your spiritual antenna tune up and let the soil of your heart soak up the rain of the Spirit pouring down this morning.

Now, Lets continue with our text. Ephesians 2. Someone might say "Why would we be seated with Christ in the heavenly realms?" Well, the answer is not far fetched. It is found in the next verse:

"In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches

of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:7).

"In order that in the coming ages, he might show the incomparable riches of his grace..." Oh! what a life. He wants to show the incomparable riches of his grace. Adam don't understand the word "Grace" in Eden. My friend, if he did, man would not have fallen so deep into sin and death.

There is something about the New Man that is incomparable to the Edenic Life. It is called "the riches of his grace". Oh! Halleluyah. Not even the angels had access to this realm of life, otherwise the devil would not have remain damned for ever. We have been given the edge for all eternity in Christ. To rule in the heavens and on the earths. If Adam had it in Eden, there will be no need for the cross.