Only the resting rule. Ephesians 2 tells us that we are seated in the heavenly places “in Christ.” It doesn’t say that we are seated next to Christ; instead, we are actually seated “in Christ.” When I think about what kind of seat Jesus sits on, obviously, I’m reminded that He sits on a throne, and thrones always speak of authority and reigning. Jesus said about Himself, “ALL authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18.
Ephesians 1:20 – 23 says that the Father “… raised Jesus from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under the feet of Jesus, and gave Jesus as head over all things to the church, which is The body of Jesus, the fullness of Jesus who fills all and all.”
The other obvious truth that I want to bring to your attention about the throne that Jesus (and you “in Him”) rules from is that it’s a chair. Being a chair therefore means Jesus rules from a seated or resting position. Jesus is seated because His finished work was fully accomplished at the Cross. The reign of sin and the rule of Satan suffered a crushing and complete defeat.
Romans 5:17 says that we are to “reign in life through the one Christ Jesus.” We don’t fight for victories to be won. We rest in a victory already won. When you are trying to win a victory, you end up “fighting the fight of fret,” but when you are resting in a victory already won, you “fight the good fight of faith” from that victory. Fretting Christians carry no authority in the spiritual realm because the enemy can sniff out fear, and fear just gives him authority to keep acting. Resting Christians rule because they live from a place of bolfd restful confidence in Christ and His finished work, and the enemy cannot stand against that kind of faith.
Having slept through the storm in Mark 4, Jesus was awakened by fretting disciples. When He awoke, He ruled by exercising authority over the storm. Jesus took naps. He seemed to especially like to nap through storms. If you and I can learn to nap through the storms of life, then we will be able to rule from the throne in heaven. Only the resting reign.