GOD'S POWER TOWARDS US

(Eph. 1:19-22, Matt. 10:1, Luke 10:19)

1.     KNOWING THE POWER OF GOD

We need to know and experience the surpassing greatness of God’s power towards us. This is very SUBJECTIVE and EXPERIENTIAL. This power is according to the might of God’s strength, which He caused to operate in Christ. God’s power towards us is the same as the power that He caused to operate in Christ. Christ is the Head and we are the Body. The Body participates in the power that operates in the Head.

a.      The power that God caused to operate in Christ raised Christ from the dead. This power has overcome death, the grave, and Hades, where the dead are held. Death and Hades could not hold Christ (Acts 2:24) because of God’s resurrection power.

b.      The power that God caused to operate in Christ seated Christ at God’s right hand in the heavenlies, far above all (Eph. 1:21). This is the most honourable place with supreme authority.

2.     RULE, AUTHORITY, POWER AND LORDSHIP:

Rule refers to the highest office; authority to every kind of official power (Matt. 8:9); power to the mere might of authority; and Lordship to the preeminence that power establishes. Subsequently, we see that what is listed here includes not only the angelic; heavenly authorities, whether good or evil, but also the human, earthly ones.

The ascended Christ was seated by the great power of God far above all rules, authority, power, and Lordship in the universe.

Every name that is named refers not only to titles of honour but also to every name. Christ was seated far above every name that is named not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

 3.     TO THE CHURCH IMPLIES A KIND OF TRANSMISSION

Whatever Christ, the Head, has attained and obtained is transmitted to the church, His Body.

In this transmission the church shares with Christ in all His attainments: the resurrection from the dead, His being seated in His transcendency, the subjection of all things under His feet, and the headship over all things.

The power that God caused to operate in Christ subjected all things under His feet. Christ’s being far above all is one thing; His having all things subjected under His feet is another. The former is Christ transcendency; the latter, the subjection of all things to Him.

 4.     FOUR ASPECT OF POWER THAT OPERATED IN CHRIST

This fourfold power is transmitted to the church, the Body of the Head.

a.      Resurrection Power (verse 20a)

b.      Ascending power (verse 20b)

c.       Subjecting power (verse 22a)

d.      Heading-up power (verse 22b)