DN Serving the Supreme One 1/30/2008

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DRAWING NEAR

January 30

Serving the Supreme One

God exalted Christ "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. And He put all things in
subjection under His feet" (Eph. 1:21-22).

Now and forever Christ is the Supreme One!

Yesterday we saw that Christ has both an exalted name and an exalted,
authoritative position. In verses 21-22 Paul elaborates on the extent
of Christ's authority, which is "far above all rule and authority and
power and dominion."

"Rule," "authority," "power," and "dominion" are designations for
angelic beings, whether good or evil (cf. Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:16). In
His incarnation Christ was made lower in rank than the angels that He
might suffer death on our behalf (Heb. 2:9). Now He has "become as
much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent
name than they" (Heb. 1:4), and the Father commands all the angels to
worship the Son (v. 6).

But Christ's rule extends far beyond angelic beings. In Ephesians
1:21 the phrase "every name that is named" is a general reference to
any form of authority--whether angelic or human, eternal or temporal.
Now and forever Christ is the Supreme One! Ultimately every knee will
bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).

The implications of that truth are staggering. For example Christ
precedes the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20, the heart of
Christian evangelism and discipleship, with this significant
statement: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth."

Ultimately your evangelism and discipleship efforts will bear fruit
because they are backed by the authority of Christ Himself. Does that
encourage you to seize every opportunity to share Christ and His Word
with others? It should!

Be faithful today, realizing that you represent the One in whom lies
all authority. Nothing can thwart His purposes.

Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to a lost soul or anyone else you
can encourage from the Word. Be sensitive to His leading.


For Further Study:
Read Colossians 1:15-23

1. What was Christ's role in creation (vv. 15-17)?

2. What is His role in the church (v. 18)? In salvation (v. 23)?

3. What place have you given Him in your life?


Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.

All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org

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Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places.

Colossians 1:16
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for
Him.

Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for
the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the
grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 1:4-6
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by
inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today
I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He
shall be to Me a Son"?
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
"Let all the angels of God worship Him."

Philippians 2:10-11
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been
given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Colossians 1:15-23
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that
are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for
Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in 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 may have the
preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should
dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the
blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and
blameless, and above reproach in His sight;
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and
are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which
was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became
a minister.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.

In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.

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In Christ,



Peter

Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@xxxxxxxxxx

STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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