Titles with Rule, Power, Authority, and Dominion

 DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

TITLES WITH RULE, POWER, AUTHORITY, AND DOMINION

Eph 1:15-23

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

NIV

There is one more truth within this passage that we need to contemplate. There is no question about the need for our hearts to be enlightened so we can know the hope to which we have been called. There is no question about his incomparably great power for us who believe. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly realms, but now we should realize that Jesus is far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, with every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Although Paul wrote this letter some two thousand years or so, ago we are still in the present age, for the age to come will be after the resurrection of all the saints and when there will be a new earth and new heaven with the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven and there we will live forever in the presence of God. Therefore, we are still in the present age, and as such Jesus is far above all rule. First, we need to understand that he is far above any rule we can exert in our own lives. What authority can we have over our lives, if Jesus is far above any authority? It is possible for us to have any power over our own lives when Jesus is far above any power. Maybe this rule, authority, power and dominion is just regarding the nations, but we have to believe this is meant regarding the life of a believer. His power over our lives is far above any power we can have over our lives, in fact, we have no power because we have submitted ourselves to his will, his rule, his authority, power and dominion. The one other truth we need to consider is about this title situation. Jesus has every title that can be given, so then can we really have any title at all? Because Jesus has every title given, there seems there would be no titles left unless we share some of the titles that Jesus has. Is that possible that we can share a title with Jesus? We know he has the title of “Great Shepherd” or “Great Pastor” for that is what a pastor does in some sense, shepherding the flock God has given to him. But what about assistant pastor, or music pastor, or whatever other pastor title we come up with? Jesus already has those titles unless the only titles that Jesus has been given are spiritual heavenly titles. We know his titles include Son of man, Son of God, I Am, Savior, Light of the world, Bread of life, King of kings, Redeemer, Beloved Son, Only begotten Son, Holy One, Deliverer, Lord of Glory, Chief corner stone, Lord of lords, and Prince of Peace, as well as any other title that has ever been given. We do wonder, if we should be so bold as claim any title for ourselves, other then what we have been given the right to, such as children of God. Yet, we know people who would like to be known as the worshipful Reverend so in so, or whatever other title they can add to their name. Every denomination of man has devised a plethora of titles for every aspect of leadership, or service. It almost seems that we are searching for titles to be known by other than a child of God. In the past, we have gone by a bible toten, or bible thumping, Spirit filled, follower of Jesus. It seems our culture, even the whole of mankind is obsessed with titles, and it has carried over into the church. What title can we give ourselves that gives us rule, power, authority and dominion? The only titles we should be concerned with are the titles of Jesus and that he is our Lord and Savior.