Daily Bread – December 7, 2023 (The Fifth Day – Genesis 1:20-23) Colossians 3:2 – Set your affection on things that are above, not on things of this Earth. The Realm of Heaven Where Our Affections Are To Be When we use the statement “born from above”, we are actually referring to being born from Heaven (John 3:3,6). We were raised up from spiritual death and separation from God by the Spirit to take our place with God in Heaven (Ephesians 2:6, 1:3; John 17:21-23). When we were born of the Spirit, we were translated from the kingdoms of this world into the Kingdom of the Dear Son – or the Kingdom of Heaven (Colossians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Romans 5:17; 2 Peter 1:11). Heaven is not only a real place, but also a realm we now live in. Here in Heaven, we have our citizenship and are empowered to exercise the authority that has been given to us through our union with Jesus Christ (John 17:22, 1:12; Colossians 2:12; Romans 8:30; Matthew 16:19; Luke 10:20). The realm of Heaven has been observed from Earth many times. When the heavens are opened, men are able to see God, hear His voice, and see and angels ascending and descending into the kingdom of this world (Genesis 28:12; John 1:51, 32; Mark 1:11; 2 Peter 1:18; Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:21; and Acts 7:55, 9:3, 10:11; 2 Kings 6:17). Jesus is the Door into this realm (John 10:9; Ephesians 2:18). When we interact with God, we come with the blood of Jesus and find ourselves standing in the Holiest of Holies where God dwells (Hebrews 10:19). If our eyes were opened, we would discover that as we worship God, we have come to Mount Sion – the Holy Dwelling Place of the Most High – and that around us are an innumerable company of angels, and Jesus Christ – the Mediator of the New Covenant, and God – the Judge of all (Hebrews 12:22-25). In the realm of Heaven, the Spirit of God communicates to us – and in this realm of Heaven, all of our affections, ambitions, and aspirations should be placed (Romans 14:17; Matthew 6:10, 33). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen