Daily Bread – October 14, 2023 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) Ephesians 1:21 – …far above all principality, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named – not only in this world, but also in the one to come; The power invested in us is the power Christ Jesus now possesses. The power is so immense, and the work of grace so great, that we need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to begin to understand it (Ephesians 1:17-18). This power was given when God raised Jesus from the dead, set Him at His Own right hand, and poured out the Holy Ghost upon us. We should not imagine for ourselves some small position we have earned in the framework of divine authority, but rather, that which has been fully vested in Christ Jesus. We have nothing other than that which Jesus has. There are not various degrees of favor or a structure of hierarchical positions around Christ Jesus. We are seated together with Him, and there are no other positions available (Ephesians 2:6; John 1:12, 15:1-5, 17:21-23; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3-4). The power of Christ Jesus is superior to every imaginable hostile power. There are principalities, powers, and dominions existing in the heavenly, or spiritual, realm – but all of them are subject to Christ Jesus (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 1:16, 2:10, 15; 1 Peter 3:22; Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 7:26). They are also subject to us, because we are seated together with Christ Jesus in this heavenly realm and vested with His authority (Ephesians 3:10, 6:12; Luke 10:19; Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:7; Romans 5:17). The power and authority of Christ Jesus has no limits, but extends into all situations everywhere and for all time. There are at least two more ages to come. First, there will be the age when Christ Jesus will rule with His saints for 1000 years, then after that, there is the final and eternal age of the New Heaven and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1-2; Isaiah 65:17, 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13). In the final age, Christ Jesus will offer up to the Father a Kingdom where all rebellion has been subdued and death has been destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). Christ Jesus reigns now and throughout the coming age for 1000 years to subjugate all things to the will of the Father, and to destroy forever the last enemy, death (1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:41-45; Acts 2:35; Hebrews 1:13, 10:13). His reign and dominion are everlasting – they reach unto time without end. Hallelujah – our God and His Christ shall reign forever and forever! (Revelation 11:15, 12:10; Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 4:3, 7:27; 2 Peter 1:11). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen