By MYRA D. COLGATE
CHEROKEE PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH
Apostle Paul wrote of Jesus,
“I pray that you will begin to understand the greatness of his power for us who believe in him. “This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
“Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come.
“And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church.
“And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.”
Ephesians 1:19-23 (NLT)
Later, in his next prayer, Apostle Paul wrote,
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!” Amen.
Ephesians 3:16-21 (NIV)
In these verses the Apostle Paul emphasizes that the “extraordinary divine force by which Jesus Christ was raised is the same power at work in and through believers” and that the power/ authority of the believer can really only enhance and benefit the church. All rule and every title includes whatever supernatural beings might be conceived of, perhaps not just only in the existence of angels and demons, or even perhaps advanced intelligence ‘whatevers’ developed as robots by imperfect mankind all with their own flaws. Christ is above them all, and us,—no matter what.
Apostle Paul, like the other rabbinic teachers of his day, pointedly brings out the changes that can be expected between the present days, (which he knew to be ‘evil’—including our days as well); and that of the days to come and future age when the ‘Messiah’ will ‘consummate His Kingdom’. His followers are to be the righteous society on the earth and all will be ‘under His feet’. He is Sovereign. ‘Psalm 8:5-6 emphasizes the destiny of man and Hebrews 2:6-9 shows that ultimately it is the Son of Man who rules over everything (Hebrews 10:13) head.’ Christ Jesus is to be not only the head of the church, but also everything else is under the headship of Christ. The fullness of Christ is in the same sense in that Christ fills all things.
Those who are believers are to rule and reign with Him. God is our Father and we can commit our prayers to him in confidence, and be completely ‘at home’ as He already dwells in our hearts, the core of our whole inner being. All of this surpasses even our knowledge and understanding so it truly is unknowable beforehand—His fullness is so great it cannot ever be completely known. His attributes are infinite. He allows believers to draw on His limitless and infinitely abundant resources.
The resources are unlimited and includes our health, well-being, physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally; our wealth, and all relationships—much more than enough for anything and everything needed to expand His Kingdom—inclusive of anyone and everyone who will choose to join in as family in love in the way He has stipulated.) (In Him knowledge for us will be complete only in Him, for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.)
God is love. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for (all of) our sins. We love Him because He first loved us. Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Remember that perfect love casts out fear because fear has torment). The one who fears is not yet made perfect in love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence… because in this world we are like him.
