BITE: Thanksgiving & Prayer: Part 2

"[That you may know] what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, for above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." 
Ephesians 1:19-23 [ESV]

This prayer is all about what we as believers have in Christ. Through the second half of this prayer, Paul is describing how much power is available to us now that we are in Christ Jesus. Its the same type of immeasurable power that God the Father used to raise Jesus from the dead.

So, theres this power, but not only that, the Person this power is given through is above any conceivable authority or power we can think of and more. This rule is personal, spatial, and eternal… over everything, everywhere, for all time. God has placed everything under the feet of our Savior, who we are IN when we accept the gift of grace by believing in Him! Paul then says how much the ‘Church’, or the ‘assembly’, plays a part in Christ’s rule and power. We, the church, His body, are the fullness of Him. As’ our (the church) Head, He works in and through us to accomplish His will.

Application:

What do I have to fear after reading this prayer of Paul over the church at Ephesus? NOTHING! Those of us who genuinely believe, are recipients of all that Paul talks about here. The only thing that can get in the way of this power being used by Jesus though me, is me; and my fleshly heart. When I submit my entire being to Jesus, I remove all the potential blocks to being use by Him power­fully in His ministry through me!

Today’s Psalm

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.”

Psalms 32:8-11

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