DAY 7
Pray to Know the Greatness of His Power (Part 2)
‘…that power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.’ Ephesians 1:19-22
As we conclude this first week, we continue to focus on Paul’s prayer for us to grasp the greatness of God’s power available to us. Here, Paul highlights several key elements of this power.
First, God’s power raised Christ from the dead. Why did Paul use the resurrection rather than other great Biblical events, such as creation, to speak about God’s power available to us? Because surely, in Christ overcoming death, and therefore all the powers of sin and death, He overcame the greatest opposition to the will and love of God. If sin and death couldn’t hold Christ, then it can’t hold us! What could provide greater comfort than knowing the power in us conquers all, even death?
Second, God’s power exalted Christ to His right hand. It is so important that we don’t stop at the resurrection, as central as this is, but move on to an understanding of the ascension (see Acts 1:9-11). Through the resurrection, we can say that Christ lives and reigns forever. Here, Paul is emphasising Christ’s exaltation and authority above all things, including evil powers.
Third, God’s power subjected everything to Christ’s rule, ensuring ultimate victory despite present challenges. Christ has already won the decisive battle, the enemy is effectively defeated, but we are now in the in-between time, knowing that ultimately victory is assured.
Fourth, Christ’s rule benefits the Church, His body, illustrating our profound union with Him. This union assures us that in every battle, we possess all necessary power through Him.
DEVOTIONAL
by Hannah Clayton
QUOTABLE QUOTE
“God is not looking for extraordinary characters as His instruments, but He is looking for humble instruments through whom He can be extraordinarily seen.”
– Christine Caine - activist, evangelist, author
Prayer points
-
- Pray that the Lord may grant us a deeper revelation of the incomparable greatness of His power, filling us with confidence that overflows to those around us.
- Bless our church to increasingly understand the power of being in union with Christ, recognising that we have everything we need through this incredible partnership.
- From this place of understanding, let’s pray again for anyone in need of healing or a miracle. Speak the power of Jesus over each request and thank God for His victory over all!