EPHESIANS 1v20-23

The centre of his prayers

Paul now turns his attention to the One who is at the very centre of God's purposes.  Having spoken of the unlimited power of God, available to every believer, he says this is the same power He used in the resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and glorification of Christ, and that believers are vitally and indivisibly united in Him.   Astonishing truth as this is, only the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit can effect this in our experience.   We remind ourselves of the emphasis of verse 19 "the exceeding greatness of His power to usward"; this power knows no bounds.   It has already been demonstrated:

• The power of God in His resurrection      Paul says in Romans 1v4 that the One who came of the seed of David according to the flesh was in the resurrection "declared to be the Son of God with power."   This involves much more than the physical aspect of resurrection, and brings in status, disposition, and authority such as He did not have in the flesh.   The resurrection brought major changes in His role for God in this world.   The physical change was significant enough.   Three days before they had laid His emasculated body in the tomb.   According to the record the skeletal structure was stretched to the limit, His bodily juices were totally dried up, His life blood had drained from His body, yet three days later He stood in total control of His body, soul and spirit and in command of every situation.   This is power indeed, and it is available to us!  No longer the lowly , meek and mild Jesus, whom men can abuse, but the Son of God with power whom many will adore.
• The power of God in His ascension        He first describes the destination, then the journey.   "He set Him (seated Him down) at His right hand in the heavenlies."  The right hand is the place of authority  ( law of first mention-Genesis 48v14-17).   The right hand of God is the supreme seat of power; "in the heavenlies" is the place of universal power.   There, in that lofty place, is Christ in a resurrection body.   Time and time again this truth is reiterated in scripture; Hebrews 1v3& 10v12 "sat down on the right hand of God."   Colossians 3v3 "Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."    There He is, almost 2000 years later, and will remain there until all His enemies are crushed.   The journey commenced 40 days after His resurrection (Acts 1v9-10).   In the language of Psalm 68v18, Paul quotes in Ephesians 4v8 "....He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive"...he continues in 4v10 "....He ascended up far above all things."   The all things includes the material universe, and everything in it, including invisible spirits.   Notice the continued use of superlatives.... not merely glory but the riches of glory; not only power but the exceeding greatness of power; and now, not only above, but far above...far above all heavens, as to space, far above every principality, and power, and might and dominion.....that is every living entity within that space!   Every one, nothing left out, everything in the material world, everything in the spiritual world, He is far above all, He is there by Divine power, He has no rival.   Paul spells it out and we dare not miss any detail.   The word "all" in v21 should read "every single one"; the extent of His Divinely appointed, and Divinely empowered superiority is every individual one of the things mentioned.   Every single principality, every single power, every single might, every single dominion.   Paul says simply in Colossians 2v10 "He is the head of every principality and power."   It is difficult to differentiate between these words, but principality (arche) seems to be the extent of rule; power (exousia) could be the elevation  of rule, the base word meaning privilege, the dignity it confers on the ruler; might(dunamis) is the effectiveness of rule, the main idea being supernatural force; dominion(kuriotes) is the existence of rule in a given time period.   Whatever aspect of authority we can mention, the risen, ascended Christ, is supreme.
• The power of God in His exaltation      This supreme position is over every name that is named, throughout the whole of this age, also in the age to come; from now and to perpetuity, all things are under His feet.   He is not merely saying that Christ will reign in the future, he is saying He reigns now!   He reigns privately, and invisibly from heaven, the day will certainly come when He will reign publicly and visibly.   We sing boldly, today, on the authority of Holy scripture;
•                Jesus, name above all names
                  Beautiful Saviour, glorious Lord.
                  Emmanuel, God is with us.
                  Blessed Redeemer, Living word.      Above every name, spanning all time, all things under His feet!   This by the power of God; there will come challenges to His supreme exaltation, but they will fall.   In due time He will bring the purposes of God to fruition and none shall frustrate.   This is what we mean when we say JESUS IS LORD!   We dare not miss the impact of what follows......."God gave Him to the church which is His body......."; gave Him, the risen, ascended, exalted Lord Jesus Christ to the church, gave Him only after His supreme exaltation, gave Him as HEAD OVER ALL THINGS to the ones so closely united to Him they are what the body is to the head in human terms.   He, the head over all things in existence, is our head in a caring and loving union.   God exalted Him first, united us next, and now we have a living and indissoluble relationship with Him.   This union is so close we are described as "the fullness of Him which filleth all in all."   In the plan of God, wonderful as the thought is, the church is now the indispensable compliment of Christ, in a living, vital, and indestructible union.   Chapter 2 develops how this incredible truth came into being.