Feb. 14, 2024

Ephesians 1:15-23, Prayer of thanksgiving for the Ephesians church. This is also the recipe for their joy. He was encouraging them. He was reminding them of the power of God that is available to them.

If we sin, we affect the body. (1 John 2, ¹ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous).

Focus on Jesus Christ. We serve a mighty God. (Ephesians 1, ²⁰ Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places).

Far above: Christ is exalted far above. He is the supreme, holy God. God has no beginning and no end. (Ephesians ²¹ Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come).

(1 Corinthians 15, ²³ But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ²⁴ Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. ²⁸ And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all).

We bow now, or we bow later. (Philippians 2, ⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father).

(Romans 8, ³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord).

We should live in victory. (Ephesians 2, ⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus).

(Acts 4, ¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved).

God rules right now and also in that which is to come. (Ephesians ²¹ Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come).

Jesus is Lord of all. Jesus is our final authority. (Ephesians 1, ²² And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, ²³ Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all).

Jesus is the head of the church. We are His body. The preeminence of Christ: (Colossians 1, ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven).