Category Archives: Sovereignty

Authority, Bible, Head, Scripture, Sovereignty

HE IS THE HEAD

COLOSSIANS 2:10

“and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;”

What a week! Since his inauguration, President Trump has taken control of the U.S. government and started putting into place the promises he made during his campaign. Not all of these promises will be fulfilled due to conflict with those who oppose his plans. Nevertheless, he is the head of the U.S. for the next four years and will govern in a way that he said he would. We know God establishes kings and kingdoms. God has allowed President Trump to be in this role, just as He allowed President Biden to govern the past four years.

Our verse today shows us a much bigger head of authority. That is Jesus Christ! Paul says, “He is the head over every ruler and authority.” The Greek word for “head” is kephalé which “primarily denotes the physical head of a body, but it is also used metaphorically to signify leadership, authority, or the source of something. In the New Testament, kephalé is often used to describe Christ as the head of the Church, indicating His supreme authority and leadership.” (Strong’s Lexicon)

APPLICATION

Every ruler in every nation is there because God allowed them to be there. Some are good rulers, while others are not. We should pray for godly, Christian leaders for every nation on earth. Only His Spirit can effectively guide rulers to rule justly and honorably. Ephesians 1:22-23 says this about Christ’s headship. “22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Do you remember what Jesus told Pilate when he was questioning Him before His crucifixion? In John 19:10-11, we see this exchange. “10 So Pilate said to Him, ‘Are you not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?’ 11 Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.’” 

So, how does this verse apply to you and me? We need to be aware of the sovereignty of God in all situations. I truly believe every person who ever supervised me was placed there by God for me. I have had good bosses and not so good bosses. God has a plan for each of us. He placed Jesus as head over all authority. So, trust His placement of authorities in our lives.

Lord, I may not always agree with those who are over me, but I will yield to their authority because You have allowed them to have that over me.

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Bible, God's Will, Plan, Scripture, Sovereignty, Works

HE WORKS ALL THINGS

EPHESIANS 1:11

“In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will,”

It is one thing to have a certain task to complete. It is a whole other thing to be responsible for everything. That is why some people who excel in one level of management flop when moved up to a higher level. They do well managing one or two tasks, but when they are responsible for a whole department with multiple moving parts, they can’t handle it.

Aren’t you glad our God can handle it? Paul says in today’s verse, “who works all things.” God has been described by some as the universal agent. He is the one who controls everything. Albert Barnes says this about that statement, “The agency of God is seen everywhere. Every leaf, flower, rose-bud, spire of grass; every sunbeam, and every flash of lightning; every cataract and every torrent, all declare his agency; and there is not an object that we see that does not bespeak the control of an All-present God.”

APPLICATION

1 Corinthians 12:6 uses the same word. “There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” How about Philippians 2:13? We see the word used twice there. “for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” God is at work – always. The Word says God never sleeps nor does He slumber (Psalm 121:4). He doesn’t fall asleep watching over you (unlike me when I watch tv with my wife, lol).

We can rest in the fact that God is always working in our lives to accomplish His perfect will. That’s what the end of today’s verse says – “in accordance with the plan of His will.” The word for “plan” here is boule, which means “more than God’s immutable plan of physical circumstances. It always also includes the Lord’s purpose in them.” (HELPS Word-studies) So, rest in this fact – God’s got this!

Lord, thank You for “having this.” I can rest in Your promises.

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