Check His Record!

Ephesians 1:20–23 NASB95

20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

It would be nice if everyone were really who they say they are. But employers all over the world try to avoid hiring unqualified people who could pose certain risks to their organizations. So employers begin researching what’s on record about an individual. Looking at their employment history, education history, criminal history, credit reports, and driving records. Their aim is to get a more complete picture of a candidate.

Paul is closing out his prayer request for them to get the picture, and then moves to further emphasize the energy of GOD. To further understand the power of GOD toward his children who believe in Jesus, Paul praises the work GOD has already done in Christ. Paul doesn’t expound on the hope or value, but he felt the need to expound on God’s work or performance. What demonstration do we have of kind of power GOD has as a resource for his children? How will we further realize and connect with it, and get a more complete picture of it? Check his record!!

Paul provides 4 past demonstrations of the greatness of God’s power. And every one was worked in Christ Jesus our Lord. And every last one can only be done by GOD the Father.

Resurrection

The first was waking Jesus up.

Steps to getting someone up. Sternum rub, physical force. Sound force is another, about 50-70 decibels, a conversation or vacuum cleaner. Light energy, 200 lux for a certain time. Sun gives 120,000 lux of light.

But when a persons spirit is no longer there, to give sensory. CPR. Death is the most fatal blow to human being on earth. It is when the spirit no longer gives life to the body and the soul departs from the body. Jesus decided, based of the love of GOD, to give his life for humanity. He died at a time with no technology could save him. And even if they had advanced technology like we do, a defibrillator wouldn’t have worked. It sends electric energy through the body to jump start the heart. But Jesus had been one day, two days, and until the third day. No electric device or any other device would work. That’s not the power needed to awaken someone from the dead. Jesus says John 6:63, the Spirit gives life. Thus, for life to be awakened and separated from the realm of the dead, it is purely a spiritual matter.

Who woke Jesus up? The apostles are clear, over and over again. GOD raised or woke Jesus up. Peter claims it and confirms that he is an eyewitness, Acts 2:32, 3:15, 4:10. Not only that, but raised him and he still lives.

Application: Remember, this is God’s power toward us who believe. There will be attitudes and motivations that feel depleted and dead. If GOD has the operative power to raise Jesus and he still lives, he has the power to raise the things that have fallen in our lives.

Exaltation

But then the second operation is seen in what happened after his resurrection. According to Acts 1:3, Jesus spent 40 days with his apostles, deepening their knowledge about the kingdom of GOD. On that last day, he gave instructions for them to stay in Jerusalem. And all of sudden Jesus started levitating in the air. Now the word “lifted” is passive in acts 1:9 is passive, indicating that there was a force lifting Jesus. Wire flying stunts for theatrics started in the early 1900s, so that was too late. Human aerial vehicles also didn’t arrive until early 1900s. Yet there was a power lifting him, and 11 men were watching it. Then a cloud came and took him where they could no longer see him. That’s known as his ascension. But what’s more significant is what happened after ascended. Again, these witnesses all agree that Jesus was seated somewhere, and still sits there. At the right hand of GOD, which is a place of honor with royalty. It fulfills Psalm 110:1 where David says, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit at my right hand. Right hand signifies the place of honor, but also represents favor, triumph, and power of GOD. Hear Ex 15:6. Mark 16:19, Acts 5:31, and Acts 2:33, Jesus was seated there, in the heavenly places.

Furthermore, it’s how high this seat is and what all it is above, that further displays the amount of operative power it took. Not talking about human forces, but Ephesians constantly reminds there are spiritual forces behind all human forces. So Jesus seat of honor and majesty is far above all positions of power, administrative control, ability, and ownership that exists in the heavenly realm. Further any name in this era or the eternal era. Jesus is above them all. Understand, he was seated there, he did not seat himself there. Thus a higher power, that being his father, had to give him that seat.

Application: Whatever depth of mess, trouble, etc, GOD has the power to exalt you out of it. I hear David in Ps 40:1-4 saying his feet were stuck, and GOD lifted him out!

Subjugation

So he was awakened then exalted. I like this third one, because it everything that exists was put under his feet. Under his feet is quoted from Psalm, Ps 8:6. But can also be seen in the rest of Psalm 110:1, sit at His right hand until enemies are made footstool. A footstool was commonly mentioned with kings. It was used metaphorically to show who is superior or most significant and who is inferior or insignificant. Whoever is at the level of the footstool is inferior. The Psalmist and Paul says all things have been put under his feet, and his enemies a footstool. Inferior in rank, power, and name, but also all have been made to bow down. (Example: Sports, team inferior in rank, but not made to serve other team) Whatever Jesus says, goes. What Russia is doing right now is an effort to subjugate Ukraine. Humans subjugate by war.

Application: If evil administrations seek to torment you with a plot to destroy, they must go through Jesus! Just like satan was in the heavenly realm discussing Job with GOD, that’s the situation for us today. That’s the operative power toward us!!!

Domination

Paul uses word connection, whereas enemies were put under his feet, he then says he was given as head over. All things were subjugated to him. But was also granted to be head. Head in the text simply means “In charge”. Now many look at this text and mistake what it’s saying because we’re used to hearing what Paul says in Colossians 1:18, Jesus is the head of the body. But that’s not what this verse is saying. He’s been granted as head or the boss of “all things”. Then he says “to the Church”. Now for those who attended bible class a coupe months ago, remember the term “church” is not a proper translation for the Greek word ecclesia. Most proper would be the “out-called” or “called-out”, or an assembly of them. In fact, this terminology for God’s people becomes more evident throughout this letter. But this text isn’t referring to specific assembly, because Paul has all the “out-called” in mind. So Jesus given as head of all things, “to the called-out”, the sense of that phrase is for their benefit.

Then Paul says that “called-out” is his body. The body concept, used by Paul to indicate relationship with one another and with Christ. That body concept is commonly understood. But Paul gives another aspect of GOD’s purpose for the called-out in relation to Christ, the fullness of Christ. The completeness, nothing lacking. Consider how Paul describes it up a level, that being the father to the son. Col 1:19, 2:9. Now the called-out is referred to as His fulness. Jesus fills the universe, is over everything in general. But to the called out, he fills with his Spirit, filled with grace, filled with gifts, filled with his strength, filled with his love!!! It is not for pride in the “called-out”, rather to boast in Christ.

Application: What power? One that has given his Son preeminent domination over all things. I don’t, but the one that does fills me completely.

Conclusion: Check his record in Christ!!