Christ’s Universal Power Over All
Introducing Christ to the world community, especially His universal power over all the inhabitants of heaven, of earth, and of hades, St. Paul says:
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”- Philipp. 2:6-11.
Oh yes, the Lord’s supreme power is now universal over all. For the 7 spirits and the 7 angels of God the Father, constituting the greatest power of the Father was given to Him, when He ascended the great single White Throne of His Father and sat with Him on His right hand of Power! Out of Love, the Father shared His universal power with His only begotten Son, the moment His Son ascended to heaven – Ref..: Rev. 22:1.
That Christ’s universal power is extended to heaven, and all the angels and God’s spirits there have been put under His control was revealed to the church of Sardis. I quote:
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These things saith He that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars…”-Rev.3:1 .
This heavenly report indicates that the powers in heaven have been made subject to Christ Jesus, Prince of peace. On earth, all the demonic principalities and powers having conflict with the saints were conquered at Calvary by His blood and power-Col. 2:15. Similarly, Satan and all his fallen angels were also made subject to Him, so that the saintly warriors might be able to carry out His redemption work throughout the world through His universal power on earth.
Following the Lord’s universal great victory over the devil and his accomplices, immediately after His glorious resurrection from the dead, He made an announcement of the world evangelism, and issued a solemn command to all His ministers to that effect, saying:
“All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world”-Matt.28:18-20.
Having cleared the way for the global soul-winning project by means of His sacrificial death, whereby the adversary was put under control, the spiritual mandate was granted to His anointed ministers to effect deliverance world-wide. Christ, being the Head of His universal Church, made a pledge that wherever His anointed commandment-keepers would go to make disciples of the pagan nations, He would accompany them to confirm His word with supernatural signs and wonders-Mk.16:19-20.
Time For Preparation For Power
It’s worthy of note that the green light was not given to the Apostles to preach the gospel immediately after His resurrection from the dead at the time when they had not received the power of the Ruler of the universe, namely, Christ. Oh no, it was not the Lord’s will that the gospel message of salvation should be delivered in the weak flesh, the effect of which is negative. This is because He did not launch the programme of world evangelism with the weak flesh.
Revealing the secret of Christ’s power for soul-winning and miraculous acts, the Apostle Peter said:
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devils; for God was with him”-Acts 10:38
In the same way, the Twelve and their followers were commanded to walk just as the Lord walked, and so they were ordered to wait and prepare themselves for the descent of the power of Christ Jesus, by which He had succeeded in winning souls into the kingdom in the city of Jerusalem. Beloved, they were told to tarry (wait) in the city of Jerusalem until the prophetic day of the outpouring of Christ’s own Holy Spirit upon them-Lk.2:49. And they did wait for the needed power for salvation. The required power for redemption came on the historic day of Pentecost in the presence of all the religious people in the city of Jerusalem-Acts 2:1-5.
Though the prophecy of the baptism of the Lord’s Holy Ghost was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, according to Joel’s prophesy, it was only about 120 believers in Christ that were baptized by Him on that day. Those who followed false teachers were left out, being reprobates-2 Cor.13:5. The baptism of the 120 indicated that they were the Lord’s elect.
As soon as the power of Christ was received, the green light for world evangelism was given! Thence the anointed Apostles began to implement the heavenly programme of salvation, by way of the power from on high. With the descent of the strength and power of Christ, the herculean task of soul-winning became light. Divine miracles occured. The captives of Satan of all walks of life that believed were set free.
The Lord’s promise of His power was fulfilled, and is still being fulfilled in the lives of repentant believers.
Upon the application of the Lord’s universal power, everything is obeyed. Though the defeated devil and his human agents did the best they could to bring the programme of redemption to a halt by persecution, they failed completely. From Above came their help.
Mystery of Obedience to Christ’s Power
Being the Lord of lords and King of kings, it has been ordained that all things or problems must be obedient to Him and His people.
