BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

We can walk in resurrection life every single day! I realize that might sound like a wild claim, but the New Testament backs it up. It says that when we believed on Jesus, our old sinful spirit died and “we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4, "New King James Version"). In other words, our spirit has already been resurrected! Through the new birth we’ve received on the inside of us the life and the glory of God Himself. What’s more, if we’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit we’ve also received the Anointing of God’s power that Ephesians 1:14 calls “the earnest” (or the initial deposit) of the full inheritance that will be ours when Jesus returns. That “earnest,” along with the life and glory of God that’s within us, is enough to defeat anything the devil or this world can bring against us. It’s enough to empower us to live victoriously and to give us the boldness to say in the face of any challenge, “We are more than conquerors through Christ!” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Points to Get You There: 1) Through the new birth your spirit has already been resurrected. Romans 6:4 2) Even while you’re still on earth, your spirit is seated in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 2:6 3) You don’t have to live according to the dictates of your flesh anymore, you can walk in the realm of the spirit. Galatians 5:16 4) Your mission now is to reveal on the outside the image of Jesus you have on the inside. Romans 8:29 5) The Holy Spirit inside you will teach you how to fulfill that mission and live in resurrection life. Romans 7:6 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “But Gloria,” you might say, “you have to remember that even as believers we’re still just earthly creatures.” No, we’re not. We’re new creations! God has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” We’ve been seated with Him “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 2:6, 1:21). As Christians, we’re citizens of the kingdom of God. His kingdom isn’t someplace we’re going to go someday when Jesus returns or after we die. It doesn’t just exist in a place called heaven. God’s kingdom is wherever He and His Body exercise dominion, and right now, He is exercising His dominion right here on earth through us. I’m telling you, we ought to be excited about this! As the Church, even on this side of the final resurrection, we have so much going for us that when it comes to fighting our enemy, the devil, it’s not even a fair fight! Operating in a Whole New Realm I know what you might be thinking. If it’s not a fair fight, then why do believers seem to be getting beat up so much of the time? Why aren’t we all walking in constant, glorious triumph? Because we are living far below our privileges. We are just barely walking in the resurrection life and power God has made available to us. To walk more fully in that power, we have to learn to operate in a whole new realm—the realm of the spirit. BVOV : 27

• Cover