Prayed…
Lord, we pray to continually hold fast to You
Thank You that we can come before You in a corporate setting
We take our place and pray out Your purpose
Thank You for Your will, plan, and the ministry of Your Spirit
You are such a good and faithful Father
We draw deeper unto You every day
Lord, we know there is so much more that You have in store for us
Scripture focus…
(17) “[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, (18) By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), (19) And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, (20) Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], (21) Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. (22) And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], (23) Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].”
(Eph. 1:17–23 Amp.)
(6) “And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)… (10) For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”
(Eph. 2:6, 10 Amp.)
Shared…
The following except is taken from The Authority of the Believer by John A. MacMillan:
The Divine Purpose of the Ages
In This Age
He sits far above “every name that is named, not only in this world” (aion, age) (1:21); the great names of this age are below our Lord. The writer of Hebrews took pains to point out to Israel that even Moses was inferior to Messiah (Christ), as a servant is less than his Master. But what an effort religious leaders are making today to show that Jesus was only a man, and as such to be ranked with the best men. Over the door of one of the great church buildings of New York, appear figures of some world famous men—such as Emerson, Einstein, Confucius, Buddha, etc., and with them the figure of Christ as one among many! Not so speaks the Spirit of Truth; in His setting forth of the majesty of the Divine Son of God, there are none that can be compared; He is “far above” all. In this continued attempt to exalt humanity, there is to be recognized the working of him who deceived our first parents with the falsehood, “Ye shall be as gods.”
The Age to Come
“But also in that which is to come” (1:21). The coming age also yields no name that ranks with that of our Lord. In that age, moreover, the now-dominant spirit-forces shall be bound. Their successors, the glorified Church, shall recognize the preeminence of their exalted King. United with Him as Head and Body, they will have become manifestly His “fullness.” He fills “all in all,” but has chosen to do so through His Body. Thus, in the age to come, the members of Christ shall have an active ministry for God throughout the limitless extent of His universe.
Under His Feet
“Hath put all things under his feet” (1:22). The feet are members of the Body. How wonderful to think that the least and lowest members of the Body of the Lord, those who in a sense are the very soles of the feet, are far above all the mighty forces we have been considering. Yet so it is. What need for the Church to awake to an appreciation of her mighty place of privilege. Exalted to rule over the spiritual powers of the air, how often she fails in her ministry of authority or grovels before them in fear.
Head over All
“Head over all things to the church” (1:22). We have little grasped the force of this marvelous truth. We think of it as if it indicated that Christ was simply in all things and circumstances and places the Church’s Head. Let us reverse the words to bring out more clearly their deep significance: “Head to the church over all things.” His being Head over all things is for the Church’s sake, that the Church, His Body, may be head over all things through Him. We need to sit reverently and long before these mighty truths, that their tremendous meaning may grasp our hearts. In this attitude, the Spirit of Truth can lift us into their comprehension, which the human mind alone will always fail to compass.
The Failure of the Church
We saw in a previous section the Lord as Head over all. His position and power are supreme. Why, then, is there not more manifest progress? Because a head is wholly dependent upon its body for the carrying out of its plan. All the members of its body must be subservient, that through their coordinated ministry may be accomplished what is purposed. The Lord Jesus, “Head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22-23), is hindered in His mighty plans and working, because His Body has failed to appreciate the deep meaning of His exaltation and to respond to the gracious impulses which He is constantly sending for its quickening.
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Continued Praying…
Lord, we love that You continually are speaking and revealing Your plan to us
You give us wisdom, strength, and peace
Thank You for the Word that was inspired by You to edify the Church
Help us to hear and obey of when to speak and when to listen
Calling for ears to be open to hear!
We yield more to You
Lord, we agree that the Church will rise in liberty!
We will not align with the opinions and principles of the world
Leaders taking their places of authority and standing for the truth!
Jesus, be magnified and glorified today!
Father, we pray for the predestined paths that You have prepared for us
Pleading the blood of Jesus over the pathways and walkways we are to walk individually and corporately
Every member of the body of Christ rising and stepping up
Calling for an increase for Her to rise up!
Not our own plans or ideas, but Yours!
We choose to cooperate with You even on a greater level
Centering in on Your plan and way
Continually standing strong on Your Word!
Men, women, and children bending in a spirit of prayer
Conditions are to be lined up now!
Taking authority over disunity and static that has tried to get the Church out of the path she has been called to go
Lord, we need an awakening to more of Your presence and glory!
Calling for more supernatural happenings and miraculous events
New opportunities coming our way to do Your will and help others walk in the right way
Declaring a turnaround—a spirit of seeing and knowing actively working in this hour!
Calling for things to get in order—the right aligning!
We break the hold of depression in trying to derail and stop the future that we have been called to!
Declaring a new day, a new plan, and a new strengthening!
Pushing away doubt and fear!
Jesus, hold us close!
We look unto You today!
