Isaiah 57:15 KJV

‘For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.

DAILY READING –  – Acts 20:17-34; Judges 14-15; Job 42

The life of astronauts in outer space is fascinating. Of the over 7 billion people on earth, only 530 have been in outer space. And these, who have been there, say it is a dream-like life. The International Space Station is the home where these astronauts live when they travel into space. Countries as United States, Russia, Japan and Europe worked together to build this spacecraft. Though it is a big ‘house’ with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a gymnasium, it is not really like the typical house on earth. This house is a spaceship, orbiting the earth at 17,500 miles an hour. In this house there is no up or down, or difference between a floor and a ceiling. Because of lack of gravity, the astronauts just float around. They can either stand on their feet or stand on their head. They do not walk to their rooms, they float in mid-air to where they want to go. Weightlessness also allows astronauts to appear super-strong, as they can move, even car-sized objects, with a flick of the finger. 

Clearly they live a life different from the life of ordinary men on earth. This is mainly due to the lack of gravity in space. The more astronauts rise above the earth, the less gravity has a hold on them. The same can apply spiritually. As men of the spirit, we are to rise above the flesh realm. We are to dwell in the place where we are free from the force of sin. Though we are in this world we are not of this world. We belong above.  

God Himself dwells on high. In Isaiah 57:15 God says ‘For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’

God dwells in the high and holy place. And He also has a plan for His people and His church to dwell in the high and holy place. 

Isaiah 2:2 says ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it’. 

Mountains suggest and represent elevation, ascendancy. In the scriptures, many times, the mountains are where people encounter God. In these last days we are to live on this higher plane. During the ministry of Jesus mountains played a significant role. Matthew’s Gospel, begins in chapter 5 with the Mount of Instruction and ends in chapter 28 with the Mount of Commission. All through the ministry of Jesus peak events, such as the temptation, transfiguration, crucifixion, were all associated with mountains. His activities of praying and teaching were mostly carried out on the higher planes. At night He abode in the mount of Olives. [Luke 21:37]. Born after the order of Christ we are also meant to live above. When we live above we are liberated from the shackles of life beneath.

In Isaiah 52:1-2 God calls us to wake up from spiritual slumber and loose the bands of bondage. ‘Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.’ The troubles, weaknesses and temptations men suffer is due to still dwelling in the dust, in the flesh realm, where the enemy has dominion. Recall that in Genesis 3:14 God mandated the serpent to eat dust. So if you remain sitting in the dust, you are in the realm where you can be eaten. There is need therefore to rise up to the place where you can no longer be reached by the forces of wickedness,  Jesus said in John 16:38 that in Him you shall peace, but in the world you shall have tribulation.

Dwelling in the earthly realm therefore, is dwelling in the realm of tribulation and troubles. There is a need to rise higher in Christ, to the place where we are seated in Heavenly places, far above principalities and powers. The high ground is the places of our defense, it is our stronghold and refuge. 

Isaiah 33:16-17 says ‘He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.’

Mountains are places of visions, it is the place where we can see The Lord and know His next move. It is also where we can see the coming Glory. There is a better life up there, a life of joy peace and liberty. We must make up our minds to rise up to it. We must depart from the fleshly realm and get into the spirit. To be carnally or fleshly minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Enough of afflictions and troubles, enough of bondages and tribulations. Decide today to begin to rise higher spiritually by increasing fervency in your spiritual life. Begin to study the Bible, to fast and pray like never before. As you do, you will rise into the higher realm of peace and power, into the realm where you are no longer bound by the enemy’s shackles, to the place where you are free, seated far above with Christ. 
PRAYER: Lord, I know your Word is always true, please  grant me the grace  to access the higher realm of peace and power in Christ, help me to live above and never beneath in Jesus Name. ..   

QUOTE 

Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will set you free.- – WORDBITE 222. 

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK METAMORPHOSIS