Most people try to fight battles before they know who they are. Discover the counter-intuitive progression that builds unshakeable resilience and authority.
Jeremy Haroldson introduces a powerful framework for life and leadership rooted in the book of Ephesians. Unlike other letters written to address crises, Ephesians is a "preventative maintenance" manual—a high-level view of how to operate as a mature leader.
Using the classic structure identified by Watchman Nee, Jeremy breaks down the spiritual life into three distinct postures: Sit, Walk, Stand. Most people get the order wrong—they try to "stand" and fight battles before they have learned to "sit" in their identity. This teaching corrects the sequence, showing why rest must always precede work, and identity must always precede warfare.
The journey doesn't begin with a march or a battle; it begins in a chair. Jeremy explains: "You are seated in heavenly places." This is the foundation of all effectiveness.
To "sit" means to rest in a finished work. You aren't striving to gain a position; you are operating *from* a position already given to you. "You don't work *for* victory; you work *from* a position of rest and authority." If you skip this step—if you try to lead without knowing you are seated—you will operate out of insecurity and exhaustion.
Once you know where you are seated, you can begin to move. The second phase is: "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling."
This is where identity translates into behavior. But notice the order: Identity creates behavior, not the other way around. Jeremy warns against the religious trap of trying to "walk right" to earn a seat. Instead, because you are *already* seated with the King, you naturally walk with the dignity of royalty. Your lifestyle becomes a reflection of your position.
Only after you are seated and walking can you face opposition. The final command is: "Stand firm."
Jeremy identifies the enemy as the "prince of the power of the air"—the force behind cultural chaos, confusion, and despair. To withstand this pressure, you need the "full armor." But the goal of the armor isn't to attack; it's to hold ground. "Having done all, to stand." Resilience isn't about advancing frantically; it's about refusing to be moved from the territory you've been given.
Jeremy touches on a critical concept: Atmosphere. The "power of the air" refers to the intangible culture—the mindsets, media, and moods that dominate society. Leaders are called to shift the atmosphere.
When you operate in the Sit-Walk-Stand progression, you don't just survive the culture; you override it. You bring a "superior reality" [Kingdom] that disrupts the chaos of the "airwaves."
If you are burned out, it's likely because you are trying to Walk or Stand without first Sitting. You are trying to perform or fight without resting in your identity.
Stop striving. Go back to the chair. Remind yourself who you are and where you are seated. When your identity is secure, your walk will be steady, and your stance will be unshakeable.
Perfect for:
It means mentally and spiritually positioning yourself in a place of completed authority. Practically, it means approaching problems not as a victim looking up from a hole, but as a leader looking down from a position of control and perspective. It is a mindset of "it is finished."
Because you cannot sustain behavior (Walk) or warfare (Stand) without the energy source of identity (Sit). If you reverse it, you get legalism (trying to walk to earn a seat) or burnout (trying to fight without rest). The power flows from the first step to the last.
This is a title for the spiritual force that influences the cultural atmosphere—trends, ideologies, and collective moods that oppose truth. Leaders must be aware that battles often happen in this "air" (ideas/influence) and must combat it by standing firm in truth.
Key Scripture Reference: Ephesians 2:6, 4:1, 6:13
"And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places... I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling... Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."