Engaging the Powers<\/a><\/em>.)<\/p>\nA proper understanding of these terms is critically important for understanding spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-20, and so we will discuss the terms more when we get there.<\/p>\n
For now, just understand that Paul’s words here can be understood this way:\u00a0Paul is saying, “Hey, I know that you have concerns about your government and what they are doing, your local and national leaders and how they seem to only make policies and laws that benefit themselves, the police and how they abuse their power, the financial institutions and how they steal from the poor, the power structures at your job and how they endanger your income, and the social and cultural issues of racism, sexism, and inequality … but all these powers, rulers, and authorities are under Jesus Christ. He has dominion and power over them. So don’t worry about them too much. Jesus is in control.”<\/p>\n
Paul\u2019s point here is that we don\u2019t have to worry about these things. He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. Christ is far above all rule, authority, power, dominion and title.<\/p>\n
This is exactly what Paul says in Ephesians 1:22…<\/p>\n
Ephesians 1:22. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything<\/strong><\/p>\nGod took all the things that are wrong about this world, and placed them under the feet of Jesus. That is, Jesus was given authority over them. Jesus, as Paul writes, was appointed to be the head over everything.<\/p>\n
But this leads to a problem, doesn’t it?<\/p>\n
As we look around at the world, does it look like Jesus is in control of everything?<\/p>\n
Are governments, and politicians, and banks, and leaders, and educational institutions, and all the other power structures of our world doing things in the way Jesus would do them?<\/p>\n
Hardly!<\/p>\n
So how is it that all such things have been placed under the authority of Jesus? How can all such things be brought under the control of Jesus so that they do what Jesus wants done in this world?<\/p>\n
The answer is found in Ephesians 1:23.<\/p>\n
Ephesians 1:23. … which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.<\/strong><\/p>\nWhat is Paul referring to here? What is the body to which Paul refers?<\/p>\n
It is the church.<\/p>\n
Though Jesus is the answer to the problems of the world, the church is the solution. The church is how Jesus accomplishes changes in the world.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nJesus is in control of the power structures of this world by calling and leading the church to make the changes in this world that Jesus wants.<\/p>\n
In other words, to the same extent that the church steps up and does what we are called to do, to that same extent Jesus exerts authority over the world.<\/p>\n
Alternately, when the power structures of this world are doing things contrary to the ways of Jesus, this only means that the church is failing in our task to show the world and lead the world into the change Jesus wants to bring into the world.<\/p>\n
Let me put it bluntly … all the failures in the world are due to a failure by the church to step up with the power of Christ and lead the world the way Jesus wants.<\/p>\n
Sadly, the church often follows the world into the satanic ways of power and greed, when in reality, the church should be leading the world into the ways of Jesus Christ. As goes the church, so goes the world.<\/p>\n
When the church steps up as the body of Christ, we, as the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus Christ, will fill everything in every way, and the power of God will flow through us to transform this world in ways that Jesus wants and desires.<\/p>\n
Jesus is the head of the world and the head of the church, and as such, the church fills the world and transforms it into the ways of the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n
Pretty exciting concept, right? The rest of the book of Ephesians goes on to explain how exactly the church can step up and be the church in this world that Jesus calls us to be. We will begin looking next time in Ephesians 2:1 about one of the primary power structures of this world and what God has done in Jesus Christ to defeat this power structure, and how we Christians, as members of the body of Christ, can work to achieve this important change in the world.<\/p>\n
And by the way, just as one last plug for my book, I have written extensively about all my views about the church in my giant book, (#AmazonAdLink) Close Your Church for Good<\/a><\/em>. The book is almost 1,300 pages, so it is not a quick read. But in it, I explain what the church is and how the church is supposed to function in this world. If that is something you want to learn more about, get your copy today and start wading through it.<\/p>\nJoin me again next week when we pick up in Ephesians 2 with one of the most important truths about how God wants to powerfully work in the church to change one of the greatest problems in this world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Do you feel exhausted and overwhelmed by life? Is sin and temptation beating you at every turn? Do you feel defeated and ineffective in your attempts to follow Jesus in discipleship? If so, then the truths of Ephesians 1:20-23 are for you! These verses reveal that you have all the power of God at your disposal. Therefore, you can be victorious in your Christian life! This podcast study on Ephesians 1:20-23 also includes a discussion about crusade evangelism like those put on by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Greg Laurie.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2297,2230,2231,2296],"tags":[1341,3284,3232,3282,3283,1883],"class_list":{"0":"post-53628","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-redeeming-god","8":"category-redeeming-scripture","9":"category-redeeming-theology","10":"category-z","11":"tag-be-the-church","12":"tag-crusade-evangelism","13":"tag-ephesians","14":"tag-ephesians-120-23","15":"tag-omnipotent","16":"tag-power","17":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n
You have the Power! (Ephesians 1:20-23)<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n