1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,000 My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine, 2 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:27,000 For Thee all the follies of sin I resign. 3 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:41,000 My gracious Redeemer, my Savior, art Thou, 4 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:54,000 If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, it is now. 5 00:00:54,000 --> 00:01:07,000 I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me, 6 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:21,000 And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree. 7 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:35,000 I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow, 8 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:55,000 If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, it is now. 9 00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:09,000 In mansions of glory and in less delight, 10 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:22,000 I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright. 11 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:36,000 I'll sing with a glittering crown on my brow, 12 00:02:36,000 --> 00:03:01,000 If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, it is now. 13 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:08,000 It is now. 14 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:19,000 He is born, He is risen from the dead, 15 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:32,000 And He is born. Every knee shall bow, 16 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:57,000 Every tongue confess the Jesus. 17 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:26,000 O God, I love Thee, I love Thee, 18 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,000 ["Pomp and Circumstance"] 19 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,000 ["Pomp and Circumstance"] 20 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,000 ["Pomp and Circumstance"] 21 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,000 ["Pomp and Circumstance"] 22 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,000 ["Pomp and Circumstance"] 23 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:42,000 ["Pomp and Circumstance"] 24 00:06:42,000 --> 00:07:05,000 I'm going to sing about Jesus, I'm going to sing about Jesus, I'm going to sing about 25 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:20,000 Jesus, I'm going to sing about Jesus, I'm going to sing about Jesus, I'm going to sing 26 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:46,000 about Jesus, I'm going to sing about Jesus, I'm going to sing about Jesus, I'm going to 27 00:07:46,000 --> 00:08:00,000 In the end we are blessed followers of every God-born Son. 28 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:14,000 Who had an macabre child rich since hisони Limits and has won His honor. 29 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:25,660 O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming. 30 00:08:25,660 --> 00:08:37,580 O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming. 31 00:08:37,580 --> 00:08:44,580 I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 32 00:08:44,580 --> 00:08:51,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 33 00:08:51,580 --> 00:08:58,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 34 00:09:21,580 --> 00:09:28,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 35 00:09:51,580 --> 00:09:58,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 36 00:10:21,580 --> 00:10:28,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 37 00:10:51,580 --> 00:10:59,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 38 00:11:21,580 --> 00:11:29,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 39 00:11:51,580 --> 00:11:58,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 40 00:12:21,580 --> 00:12:29,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 41 00:12:51,580 --> 00:12:58,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 42 00:13:21,580 --> 00:13:29,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 43 00:13:51,580 --> 00:13:59,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 44 00:14:21,580 --> 00:14:28,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 45 00:14:51,580 --> 00:14:58,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 46 00:15:21,580 --> 00:15:29,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the 47 00:15:51,580 --> 00:15:58,580 disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple 48 00:16:21,580 --> 00:16:29,580 of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of 49 00:16:51,580 --> 00:16:59,580 Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, 50 00:17:21,580 --> 00:17:29,580 I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 51 00:17:51,580 --> 00:17:58,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 52 00:18:21,580 --> 00:18:28,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 53 00:18:51,580 --> 00:18:58,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 54 00:19:21,580 --> 00:19:28,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 55 00:19:51,580 --> 00:19:58,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am 56 00:20:21,580 --> 00:20:29,580 the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the 57 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:58,880 disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple 58 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:20,040 of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of Jesus, I am the disciple of 59 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:25,040 familiar realm that is true also in the religious realm. 60 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:30,200 I talked to a friend of mine who is a member of the largest 61 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:34,080 Protestant denomination in the United States, 62 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,520 a former pastor in that group, and he told me 63 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,320 that as of a few months ago now, 64 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:44,400 there were several thousand of their churches 65 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:50,200 that either had or were in the process of getting rid of their pastors. 66 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,480 Now there may have been some good reasons for that, I don't know. 67 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,320 But I know that there is upheaval going on within that group and it only represents 68 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:59,800 what's happening in many places. 69 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:04,120 It's not only true in Protestant churches, it's true in the Roman church. 70 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:08,760 Who's the authority in the Roman church? Is it the Pope? 71 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:13,360 Or is it the U.S. Council or Conference of Bishops? 72 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:16,440 Or in fact is it the will of the majority of the Roman Catholic people 73 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,120 because they disagree with what Rome says? 74 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,520 And are we seeing a rebellion coming against papal authority 75 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:27,720 in the Roman Catholic churches in the United States? I think we are. 76 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:33,120 It is a day of rebellion against authority. 77 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:38,120 I believe the decline in an institution or in a civilization 78 00:22:38,120 --> 00:22:41,600 is always characterized by a breakdown of authority. 79 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,840 Some other things too, but certainly that, 80 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:51,440 decline is characterized by a breakdown of authority. 81 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:55,880 Can we not say that the inevitable failure of human authority 82 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:59,200 in whatever realm it is, 83 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:07,160 is actually humanity's failure itself to recognize its ultimate authority? 84 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,440 I think that is the case. 85 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:14,320 Man is in rebellion against his maker. 86 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,200 And until that is corrected, 87 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:22,680 no institution of human authority is safe 88 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,000 because man in his heart is in rebellion. 89 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,800 And therefore when civilization begins to decline, 90 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:33,760 man's rebellion will be expressed in many different ways. 91 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:39,200 Indeed a man cannot even rule over himself. 92 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:44,920 Fowing out of Paul's prayer for the Ephesian Church, and for us by extension, 93 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:49,200 is a remarkable statement regarding ultimate authority. 94 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,000 It is a statement regarding the Lord Jesus Christ. 95 00:23:53,000 --> 00:24:00,920 He presents the Lord Jesus as supreme authority in every respect. 96 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:06,520 Now when we speak of someone or something as being supreme, 97 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:13,960 what we are saying is that that person or thing is the highest in rank or authority. 98 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,920 There is nothing greater than that which is supreme. 99 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:23,280 So when we talk about the supremacy of Jesus Christ, 100 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:27,600 what we are asserting is that he is the ultimate authority. 101 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,920 He is the highest of rank. 102 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,280 There is no authority that is over him. 103 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:39,600 There is no rival to his power. 104 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:43,840 Jesus Christ is the ultimate authority. 105 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,960 He is supreme in every respect you can think of. 106 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:51,600 Notice with me Paul's words beginning in verse 19, the last part of the verse. 107 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:56,720 These are in accordance with the working of the strength of his might, 108 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:00,920 which he brought about in Christ when he raised him from the dead 109 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:05,160 and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 110 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:10,520 far above our rule and authority and power and dominion, 111 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:17,080 and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 112 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,040 And he put all things in subjection under his feet, 113 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,960 and gave him as head over all things to the church, 114 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:30,520 which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all. 115 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:34,600 I believe that there is no authority in this world that is secure 116 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:40,040 until Jesus Christ is acknowledged as the final authority. 117 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:43,080 When he is recognized rightly and supremely, 118 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:47,160 every other proper authority is then established. 119 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:51,960 The problem with the rebellion in our age is that Jesus Christ 120 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:56,520 is not acknowledged and recognized as supreme. 121 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,320 But notice with me the realms that Paul speaks about 122 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,520 in which he is supreme. 123 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:06,280 In the first place, Paul suggests to us that the Lord Jesus Christ 124 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,720 is supreme in the realm of death. 125 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:14,840 He says regarding him that God brought about his power in Christ 126 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:20,760 when he raised him, Christ, from the dead. 127 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:25,400 Death was unleashed at the fall. 128 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:30,760 The record of that is found in Genesis chapter 3. 129 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:36,840 God warned Adam and Eve that disobedience would bring death. 130 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:40,840 And when they disobeyed, they began to die. 131 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:47,080 Death is a judgment upon sin. Practically speaking, I believe that God 132 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:51,480 instituted death as a judgment in order to limit the impact 133 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:56,360 any one person could have in leading rebellion against God. 134 00:26:56,360 --> 00:27:03,320 There have been some notable rebels against the Lord, but inevitably death 135 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:07,000 has taken them. And I believe one reason that God 136 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,880 instituted death as a punishment was to limit 137 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:16,840 the impact any one person could have. Death reigned as king, 138 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:24,200 as the king of terrors, as Job calls it, until the time of Jesus Christ. 139 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:30,200 Finally, death sank its fangs into the sinless Son of God 140 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:35,240 and it pumped its venom into him at the cross. 141 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:42,920 Jesus drained the power of death into himself and then willingly gave 142 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:48,680 himself to death's authority, said it was finished, gave up his spirit, 143 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:52,440 and chose to die at that moment. 144 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:58,360 The Lord Jesus Christ, three days later, on that first Easter 145 00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:04,680 morning, took up his life again. He defeated death who thought he had 146 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:08,680 gained the victory. What a shock it must have been for Mr. Death 147 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:14,440 on Easter Sunday morning the first. As we sing in the hymn that is often 148 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:18,600 sung around Easter, Death could not keep its prey, 149 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:26,280 Jesus my Savior. He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord. Up from the grave he 150 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:31,080 arose with a mighty power for his foes. 151 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:36,200 The Lord Jesus Christ is supreme in the realm of death. 152 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:40,520 As the Apostle Peter preached on the day of Pentecost in the second chapter of 153 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:44,760 Acts, he mentions this blessed truth and he 154 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:47,800 says in the 24th verse of that second chapter, 155 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:55,480 and God raised him up again, putting an end to the agony of death 156 00:28:55,480 --> 00:29:02,040 since it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 157 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:06,920 The Lord Jesus Christ submitted himself to death. 158 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:13,080 He willingly entered the realm of death, 159 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:20,120 and then came back from the dead to let us know that death had indeed 160 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:28,040 been conquered, that he was the victor. It was impossible for death to hold him 161 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:33,240 in its power, and when he came back he put an end to the agony 162 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:38,760 of death. Not just the agony of death for he himself, but the agony of death 163 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:43,800 for us. Because he lives, we too shall live. 164 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:48,280 The Lord Jesus Christ alone today possesses the keys 165 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:53,560 to death and Hades. I'd like you to turn over to the book of Revelation in that 166 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:58,680 first chapter where we see a vision of the glorified Christ. 167 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:05,000 And notice with me what the Apostle John sees and hears. 168 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:12,280 He heard a voice and turned around and describes to us 169 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:19,080 in verses 13 through 16 what he saw, and then in verse 17 of Revelation 1 he 170 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:24,040 says, when I saw him I fell at his feet as a dead man, 171 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:28,120 and he laid his right hand upon me saying, do not be afraid, 172 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:35,240 I am the first and the last, and the living one, and I was dead, 173 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:42,600 and behold I am alive forevermore. And then he says, and I have the keys 174 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:47,640 of death and Hades. What did Jesus mean by that? 175 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:53,560 Well the idea behind his possessing the keys is that he possesses the authority, 176 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:58,760 the authority over it. As surely as the Lord Jesus Christ was 177 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:05,320 raised, so he will raise every child of his. 178 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:09,960 If in fact the Lord Jesus Christ is supreme over the realm of death, 179 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,160 if in fact he has conquered our greatest and last 180 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:19,560 enemy for us, what else need we fear all of our lives? 181 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:24,920 We already have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 182 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:30,600 What other enemy is so fearsome to us that we should quake before it 183 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:37,000 if he has conquered that last, that ultimate enemy, death on our behalf? 184 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:41,720 I submit to you that because he is supreme in the realm of death, 185 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:46,680 there is nothing that should make us fearful. We can lay down our heads 186 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:55,240 in peace at night knowing that our Savior is Lord of death and of Hades. 187 00:31:55,240 --> 00:32:03,240 We can face dangerous days. We can walk to the stake of martyrdom 188 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:10,840 unafraid because our Savior is the Lord of death. He is supreme in that 189 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:18,120 realm. He possesses the keys to death and Hades. 190 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:24,280 As we move on through the next verse in the first chapter of Ephesians, 191 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:29,320 we see that he is also supreme in the realm of the heavenlies. 192 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:33,800 It says he brought about in Christ his power when he raised him from the dead 193 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:38,040 and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly 194 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:45,640 places far above our will and authority and power and dominion. 195 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:49,960 I submit to you tonight that the Lord Jesus Christ is not only the Lord of 196 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:53,800 death, but secondly he is supreme over the 197 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:58,040 heavenlies. The heavenlies is of course a phrase 198 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:01,400 that is found in the book of Ephesians exclusively, 199 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:04,760 but it's found several times in the book. We've seen it already in the first 200 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:09,240 chapter. The heavenlies refers to the realm of 201 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:15,800 spiritual privilege for the child of God. Or to put it a different way, 202 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:23,400 the heavenlies is the realm of ultimate reality. Follow with me if you will. 203 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:27,800 Several years ago when I was pastoring in Kentucky, the man who was responsible 204 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:32,360 for the greater Cincinnati airport attended our church. 205 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:38,280 He invited me to come out to see what he did and how the control tower 206 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:41,560 worked. And so I gladly took him up on that 207 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:47,240 opportunity. One day went out there, went up into that tower and watched 208 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,840 the controllers as they handled the airplanes. 209 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:54,200 It was amazing to me to watch the computers 210 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:58,280 keep track of those airplanes that were 40 and 60 and 100 miles away. 211 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:03,560 Little blips and dots on the radar screen. 212 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:10,520 And these skilled men would speak over the microphone after that pilot 213 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:14,600 and they would follow a certain course on that radar scope. 214 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:17,720 And finally at last after several minutes 215 00:34:17,720 --> 00:34:21,800 you could look in the distance and see a little dot 216 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:24,680 and it would get closer and closer until finally down before as the 217 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:31,480 airplane would land on the runway. That tower was the control central for 218 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:36,120 the airplanes. That's what controlled those airplanes 219 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:41,640 flying out those 50 and 100 miles away so that they would not collide. So that 220 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:46,920 they would come to the right place and land there safely. That was control 221 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:50,840 central. I want to suggest to you that that's 222 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:59,000 a picture of what the heavenlies is. The heavenlies is control central 223 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,920 for the events in this world. 224 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:07,160 We look at the events that take place and we wonder 225 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:15,320 why does this happen? What is behind this scheme of things? 226 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:24,200 Why does it happen this way? The answer is that the events that we see 227 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:28,200 are controlled in another realm. 228 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:34,840 Control central, the heavenlies, is actually in control of the events 229 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:40,040 in this world. History 230 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:45,720 actually gets its course from the supernatural realm 231 00:35:45,720 --> 00:35:50,200 which is called in the book of Ephesians the heavenlies. 232 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:54,440 That's very interesting in light of the fact that our intelligent and enlightened 233 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:58,520 age denies that there is a supernatural. 234 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:03,960 But the events in this world actually ultimately are controlled by the 235 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:09,880 supernatural realm, by that dimension of spiritual reality. That can be 236 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:14,920 proven over and over in the word of God. Most clearly as I've seen in the book of 237 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,480 Daniel. 238 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:24,120 The heavenlies is furthermore our place of citizenship. 239 00:36:24,120 --> 00:36:29,400 That is, it is where we get our essential identity. 240 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:32,680 We are citizens of heaven, says the apostle. 241 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:37,800 That's not true of the unsaved. Those who are outside of Jesus Christ are said to 242 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:42,600 find their citizenship in this world. Words like that are used over in the 243 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:46,040 second chapter of Ephesians where Paul speaks 244 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:51,080 to us and he says, in which you that is in your trespasses and sins 245 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:56,120 you formerly walked according to the course of this world, 246 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:59,800 according to the prince of the power of the air, 247 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:04,120 of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, 248 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:10,440 that is those who are not saved. He says, among them we too all formerly lived 249 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:14,440 in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires 250 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:18,440 of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath, 251 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:24,360 even as the rust. What about the unsaved? Well they walk according to the course 252 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:28,120 of this world because this is where they find their 253 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:34,600 identification. This is where they plug into their reality. 254 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:41,640 Jesus calls the unconverted in Luke 16 8, children of this world. 255 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:47,800 But not so the child of God. Of us it is said in Colossians 1 13 that Christ has 256 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:53,000 delivered us from the domain of darkness 257 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:59,400 and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son. 258 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:03,960 We have had a transference of our citizenship. 259 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:08,440 We are no longer citizens of the realm into which we were born. 260 00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:13,480 We are part of a new kingdom, a new reality, a new dimension, 261 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:17,960 which is called in Ephesians the heavenlies. 262 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:23,480 The heavenlies is the realm, the place of our identification. 263 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:26,600 That is why the apostle further tells us in Colossians 264 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:32,040 the third chapter, seek those things which are above. 265 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:36,280 In other words he says that is where your identity 266 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:43,640 is rooted. Therefore seek those things which relate to above to the heavenlies. 267 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:46,680 He says to us in the next verse, the second verse in the third chapter of 268 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:51,880 Colossians, set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 269 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:56,680 Why? Because that's where your citizenship is. 270 00:38:57,080 --> 00:39:05,000 Jesus Christ reigns as supreme over the kingdom of our citizenship. 271 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:09,400 You and I may have nothing of significance in this world as far as 272 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:13,880 it's concerned, but beloved we are richly endowed 273 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:19,640 in the real world, the real world. This is not the real world. 274 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:24,840 The real world is the heavenlies. That's where our citizenship is and that's 275 00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:27,800 where we have what he says in chapter one verse three, 276 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:34,360 every spiritual blessing in Christ. We may be as poor as church mice as they 277 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:39,240 say in this world, but when it comes to heaven, 278 00:39:39,240 --> 00:39:46,600 when it comes to the real dimension, there we are richly endowed because we 279 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:53,240 are princes. We are the royalty of that world, 280 00:39:53,240 --> 00:39:57,640 of that reality. The challenge for us of course 281 00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:01,960 is to live in light of that isn't it? Is to keep in mind 282 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:08,040 who our citizenship really is and to really set our affection on those things 283 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:11,640 and to enter into our riches in our experience 284 00:40:11,640 --> 00:40:15,400 in this world and we can do that. 285 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:20,120 The word Jesus Christ is supreme in the realm of the heavenlies. 286 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:28,280 It says here in Ephesians chapter one that he is seated at the right hand of 287 00:40:28,280 --> 00:40:33,800 God in the heavenlies. The right hand of God by the way 288 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:39,640 refers to the place of ultimate favor, the place of greatest power, 289 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:43,880 designated power. All that has been given to the Son 290 00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:48,440 in the heavenlies. Now there's a third realm that I want to point out and that 291 00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:53,080 is found in the next verse when it says that he is 292 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:57,480 seated far above all rule and authority and 293 00:40:57,480 --> 00:41:01,560 power and dominion. Now as I mentioned last week, what we 294 00:41:01,560 --> 00:41:05,960 have here is a series of titles and ranks 295 00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:12,440 which belong to angels. Sometimes these words are used 296 00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:16,520 of human authorities but it's clear since he is 297 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:22,200 speaking of the heavenlies that in verse 21 he first has in mind 298 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:27,080 the angelic realm. So I suggest to you that Jesus Christ is supreme 299 00:41:27,080 --> 00:41:31,000 over the angels. Let's think about that for a moment 300 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:36,040 then we'll close for tonight. In the first place the Lord Jesus Christ 301 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:40,120 created the angels. Just flip over to Colossians with me and 302 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:42,920 look at the first chapter in the 16th verse 303 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:46,440 where we have some of these same words used. 304 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:55,960 It says in verse 16, for by him all things were created 305 00:41:55,960 --> 00:42:03,240 both in the heavens and on the earth. Notice the distinction 306 00:42:03,240 --> 00:42:09,640 visible and invisible. Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or 307 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:14,440 authorities and there you have those titles and ranks again. 308 00:42:15,240 --> 00:42:19,240 Now whether those titles and ranks apply to the visible or the invisible, to the 309 00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:22,760 earth or to the heavens, it makes no difference because Jesus 310 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:26,760 Christ created all of them. It says in summary all things have been 311 00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:31,480 created by him. Literally it says through him. He is the 312 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:36,600 word, the agency by whom everything was created 313 00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:43,320 and it was also created for him. That is ultimately it is his possession 314 00:42:43,320 --> 00:42:47,320 and he will stand in judgment over all of his creation. 315 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:50,920 So the Lord Jesus Christ is supreme over the angels because 316 00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:56,280 he created them. We read in Job the 38th chapter that they, the sons of God as 317 00:42:56,280 --> 00:42:59,800 they're called there, were present of creation. That is the 318 00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:04,440 rest of creation. And so we would learn from that that the 319 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:09,240 angels were the very first thing that God created. 320 00:43:09,240 --> 00:43:13,560 That they were present then when the creation of Genesis 321 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:20,040 took place and it says they sang for joy. They rejoiced when they saw 322 00:43:20,040 --> 00:43:25,880 the magnificent power and wisdom of God displayed in his work in Genesis 323 00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:33,160 chapters one and two. These angels are spirit beings who have 324 00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:40,680 individual personalities. They are named and it says in Hebrews 12 22 that they 325 00:43:40,680 --> 00:43:45,560 are innumerable. There are myriads and myriads of them, 326 00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:55,560 thousands and ten thousands of them. Among the angels there are two groupings. 327 00:43:55,560 --> 00:44:00,120 There are those who are called the holy angels. 328 00:44:00,120 --> 00:44:07,000 Luke 9 26 uses that term. Obviously these are the angels who serve God. 329 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:13,400 These are the angels who are unfallen. 330 00:44:13,400 --> 00:44:22,200 The second group is called demons or fallen angels. 331 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:25,640 That term is not used but they certainly are mentioned right here in the book of 332 00:44:25,640 --> 00:44:33,720 Ephesians in the sixth chapter where our warfare is described in verse 12 333 00:44:33,720 --> 00:44:37,960 as being not against flesh and blood but against rulers, 334 00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:44,680 against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, 335 00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:48,520 against the spiritual forces of wickedness 336 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:51,560 and notice where it is. 337 00:44:52,760 --> 00:44:57,240 He's referring here to the fallen angels to the demons. 338 00:44:57,240 --> 00:45:01,080 You see sometime before Genesis chapter three 339 00:45:01,080 --> 00:45:10,280 pride was found in Lucifer who apparently was the very guardian of the throne of God. 340 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:17,000 Having found pride in him, God cast Lucifer out of heaven 341 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:23,400 and with him went a host of angels who were with him in his rebellion against 342 00:45:23,400 --> 00:45:27,240 God. Those are the ones which the Bible calls 343 00:45:27,240 --> 00:45:33,160 demons or fallen angels. 344 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:38,440 Now whichever grouping you wish to speak about whether the holy angels or the 345 00:45:38,440 --> 00:45:44,040 demons, these angels are highly organized 346 00:45:44,040 --> 00:45:47,320 and the purpose of their organization is that they might fulfill 347 00:45:47,320 --> 00:45:53,880 every wish of their leaders. Of the fallen angels the leader is none 348 00:45:53,880 --> 00:45:59,240 other of course than Satan. 349 00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:22,440 In Matthew 12 24 he is called the ruler of demons, the ruler of demons. 350 00:46:22,440 --> 00:46:29,640 You say is there really a personal devil? The answer that is absolutely there is. 351 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:36,440 There is a personal being in the invisible world in the heavenlies 352 00:46:36,440 --> 00:46:44,200 who is called Satan and Lucifer. He is the devil. He is the accuser of the 353 00:46:44,200 --> 00:46:49,240 brethren. He is at the top of the pinnacle. 354 00:46:49,240 --> 00:46:54,920 His is the organization of spiritual wickedness. It is called this world's 355 00:46:54,920 --> 00:47:03,480 darkness and with unbelievable cruelty and wickedness he designs a plan for 356 00:47:03,480 --> 00:47:06,840 the course of this world. How does he carry it out? 357 00:47:06,840 --> 00:47:12,040 Through the angels that are under him. Being highly organized and the 358 00:47:12,040 --> 00:47:15,160 organization being suggested by the terms that we see 359 00:47:15,160 --> 00:47:19,080 there in verse 21 of Ephesians 1. Being highly organized and 360 00:47:19,080 --> 00:47:25,560 they carry out his every wish. Now apparently not all of these beings 361 00:47:25,560 --> 00:47:32,440 are free to affect the world history 362 00:47:32,440 --> 00:47:39,320 right now as they shall be someday. Turn over with me to Revelation once more 363 00:47:39,320 --> 00:47:51,320 and to the ninth chapter. In this part of Revelation there 364 00:47:51,320 --> 00:47:57,480 is a series of judgments that are poured out upon the earth. 365 00:47:57,480 --> 00:48:02,040 First we recall there are seals that are opened. 366 00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:08,760 The seventh of the seals on the scroll opens to another series of judgments 367 00:48:08,760 --> 00:48:13,240 which are called trumpet judgments because of trumpet sounds with them. 368 00:48:13,240 --> 00:48:17,560 Now in verse 1 of chapter 9 it says the fifth angel sounded 369 00:48:17,560 --> 00:48:24,520 that is with his trumpet and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the 370 00:48:24,520 --> 00:48:28,040 earth and the key of the bottomless pit was 371 00:48:28,040 --> 00:48:32,760 given to him. Now there is obviously symbolic language 372 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:35,640 here but we're not really left in the dark 373 00:48:35,640 --> 00:48:40,200 as to what it's referring to. There is a personality in view in fact 374 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:45,480 it is a masculine form that is used there in verse 1. 375 00:48:45,480 --> 00:48:50,760 Him, to him the star that had fallen from heaven was given the key. 376 00:48:50,760 --> 00:48:56,520 Now what do we say the key refers to? Authority. 377 00:48:56,520 --> 00:49:03,320 And it says he opened the bottomless pit and smoke went up out of the pit 378 00:49:03,320 --> 00:49:07,400 like the smoke of a great furnace and the sun and the air were darkened by the 379 00:49:07,400 --> 00:49:12,200 smoke of the pit and out of the smoke came forth locusts 380 00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:17,160 upon the earth and power was given to them as the scorpions of the earth have 381 00:49:17,160 --> 00:49:20,680 power and they were told that they should not hurt 382 00:49:20,680 --> 00:49:26,520 the grass of the earth nor any green thing nor any tree. 383 00:49:26,520 --> 00:49:31,640 Now this is obviously not a natural locust because that's what they go 384 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:35,960 after. It goes on to say but only the men who do 385 00:49:35,960 --> 00:49:40,360 not have the seal of god on their foreheads. 386 00:49:40,360 --> 00:49:46,280 That is the worldlings those who are unregenerate in this time of the 387 00:49:46,280 --> 00:49:49,960 tribulation. And it says and they were not permitted 388 00:49:49,960 --> 00:49:54,440 to kill anyone but to torment for five months 389 00:49:54,440 --> 00:49:59,160 and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man 390 00:49:59,160 --> 00:50:05,720 and in those days men will seek death and will not find it and they will long 391 00:50:05,720 --> 00:50:11,800 to die and death flees from them and the appearance of the locusts was 392 00:50:11,800 --> 00:50:16,680 like and remember again John is using language here as best he can to describe 393 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:21,000 what he literally saw. He says it was like horses prepared for 394 00:50:21,000 --> 00:50:25,000 battle and on their heads as it were crowns like 395 00:50:25,000 --> 00:50:28,680 gold and their faces were like the faces of men 396 00:50:28,680 --> 00:50:33,400 and they had hair like the hair of women and their teeth were like the teeth of 397 00:50:33,400 --> 00:50:37,560 lions and they had breastplates like breastplates of iron 398 00:50:37,560 --> 00:50:41,400 and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots of many horses 399 00:50:41,400 --> 00:50:45,080 rushing to battle and they have tails like scorpions and 400 00:50:45,080 --> 00:50:49,160 stings and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five 401 00:50:49,160 --> 00:50:53,800 months. Now there are some people and I 402 00:50:53,800 --> 00:50:58,520 I think you probably have read some books which would suggest that these 403 00:50:58,520 --> 00:51:05,000 these things may be helicopters and there is I can understand why 404 00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:08,360 that might be said but I don't believe we're looking here at some instrument of 405 00:51:08,360 --> 00:51:12,040 human warfare. We're looking at something that comes out 406 00:51:12,040 --> 00:51:18,200 of the bottomless pit. We're looking at creatures that live they 407 00:51:18,200 --> 00:51:22,680 have power given just for five months 408 00:51:22,760 --> 00:51:26,600 when they might normally be thought to eat green things they 409 00:51:26,600 --> 00:51:31,800 actually torment people who are unregenerate that is their purpose 410 00:51:31,800 --> 00:51:35,400 and then furthermore in verse 11 it says they have a king 411 00:51:35,400 --> 00:51:42,920 over them the angel of the abyss his name in hebrew is abaddon 412 00:51:42,920 --> 00:51:47,880 and in the greek he has the name apollyon 413 00:51:47,880 --> 00:51:52,440 well we believe that these are the other names given for satan 414 00:51:52,440 --> 00:51:56,600 who is the ruler of the demonic world 415 00:51:58,680 --> 00:52:04,200 as it is true the world of darkness the angelic world of darkness so it is 416 00:52:04,200 --> 00:52:09,240 true of the holy angels they too have a leader one who is 417 00:52:09,240 --> 00:52:14,200 supreme and that one is jesus christ 418 00:52:14,200 --> 00:52:20,840 he is supreme over the holy angels they do his bidding 419 00:52:20,840 --> 00:52:24,840 turn back with me a few pages to hebrews chapter one 420 00:52:24,840 --> 00:52:29,320 we will not follow the whole argument of the author although it is 421 00:52:29,320 --> 00:52:35,160 a fantastic argument in this chapter regarding the superiority of jesus christ 422 00:52:35,160 --> 00:52:40,440 but regarding him it says that he when he had made purification of sins he sat 423 00:52:40,440 --> 00:52:43,480 down at the right hand of the majesty on high 424 00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:47,240 verse four having become as much better than the angels 425 00:52:47,240 --> 00:52:51,080 as he has inherited a more excellent name than they 426 00:52:51,080 --> 00:52:57,160 by the way that name is son s o n capital s o n 427 00:52:57,160 --> 00:53:00,360 and then he argues concerning this to which of the angels has god ever said 428 00:53:00,360 --> 00:53:04,600 about my son or to which of the angels god said i'll be 429 00:53:04,600 --> 00:53:09,480 a father he shall be my son to him he goes on down and talks about the 430 00:53:09,480 --> 00:53:13,960 superiority of christ and then in verse 14 it says are they the 431 00:53:13,960 --> 00:53:19,400 angels not all ministering spirits set out to render service for the sake of 432 00:53:19,400 --> 00:53:24,840 those who will inherit salvation so just as there is 433 00:53:24,840 --> 00:53:30,120 organization to the realm of satan so in the angelic realm over which christ 434 00:53:30,120 --> 00:53:35,640 rules there is organization the ministering spirits are organized 435 00:53:35,640 --> 00:53:42,040 into archangels and angels they are sent forth to carry out the 436 00:53:42,040 --> 00:53:45,080 bidding of god in the affairs of the world 437 00:53:45,080 --> 00:53:49,480 they struggle against the spirits of satan 438 00:53:49,480 --> 00:53:53,640 in the realm of the heavenlies in control central 439 00:53:53,640 --> 00:53:56,680 and according to the battle in control central 440 00:53:56,680 --> 00:54:02,840 so it falls out in this world read about it in the book of daniel 441 00:54:03,400 --> 00:54:07,800 the lord jesus christ when he comes back from heaven will come with an army 442 00:54:07,800 --> 00:54:13,160 of angelic angels he the general will bring with him 443 00:54:13,160 --> 00:54:20,520 a vast army of angels who will defeat the armies of the antichrist christ will 444 00:54:20,520 --> 00:54:24,360 subdue completely all wicked angelic powers as well as 445 00:54:24,360 --> 00:54:29,320 wicked men in revelation chapter 12 we find recorded 446 00:54:29,320 --> 00:54:35,080 for us the fall of satan and his angels from their present habitation in the 447 00:54:35,080 --> 00:54:38,280 air there is some sense in which while they 448 00:54:38,280 --> 00:54:41,640 are affecting the events of the world they don't have to dwell in the world 449 00:54:41,640 --> 00:54:46,040 they they have access to the air and to the 450 00:54:46,040 --> 00:54:50,280 heavenlies but in revelation chapter 12 which 451 00:54:50,280 --> 00:54:53,880 seems to be about the midpoint of the tribulation they are cast out of heaven 452 00:54:53,880 --> 00:54:58,120 to the earth and satan is extremely angry at that 453 00:54:58,120 --> 00:55:01,720 action of god read about it there in that chapter 454 00:55:01,720 --> 00:55:05,400 and then ultimately when we come to the end of the book of revelation the 20th 455 00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:08,920 chapter we read of the lord jesus christ taking 456 00:55:08,920 --> 00:55:12,360 satan the serpent and casting him into the bottomless 457 00:55:12,360 --> 00:55:16,680 pit for a thousand years and then when he is released so that a 458 00:55:16,680 --> 00:55:21,880 purpose of god can be established and carried out he is taken once more by 459 00:55:21,880 --> 00:55:26,440 the lord jesus christ and this time cast into the lake of fire where it says he 460 00:55:26,440 --> 00:55:31,560 will be tormented day and night forever and forever the lord jesus 461 00:55:31,560 --> 00:55:35,720 christ is supreme over the realm of the angels 462 00:55:35,720 --> 00:55:40,120 and though there is a rebellion against his authority by some of the angels and 463 00:55:40,120 --> 00:55:44,840 their leader one day they will be completely vanquished 464 00:55:44,840 --> 00:55:51,480 and overthrown by the lord jesus christ the point is this there is no realm where 465 00:55:51,480 --> 00:55:55,320 jesus is not supreme there are some more things pointed out 466 00:55:55,320 --> 00:55:59,560 here in the book of ephesians but we're going to leave it at that point tonight 467 00:55:59,560 --> 00:56:07,160 you know there are some people who are terrified of the powers of darkness 468 00:56:07,160 --> 00:56:13,160 no christian should have any cause for experimentation with them let me 469 00:56:13,160 --> 00:56:17,000 emphasize that we should not have anything to do with 470 00:56:17,000 --> 00:56:23,960 astrology with games with television shows including 471 00:56:23,960 --> 00:56:30,360 cartoons that have to do with the the powers of darkness 472 00:56:30,360 --> 00:56:34,120 they are very subtly woven right into to saturday morning you know that don't 473 00:56:34,120 --> 00:56:39,240 you parents we should avoid those things stay away 474 00:56:39,240 --> 00:56:44,360 from those things that are weird that are far out and perverse even toys 475 00:56:44,360 --> 00:56:48,440 that are offered for our children to play with because you see all of this is 476 00:56:48,440 --> 00:56:53,240 preparing the way for the overt exercise of the power of these wicked 477 00:56:53,240 --> 00:56:57,720 beings in the tribulation period we believers should have nothing to do 478 00:56:57,720 --> 00:57:00,600 with those kinds of things but on the other hand 479 00:57:00,600 --> 00:57:06,200 we do not have to tremble in fear before them either 480 00:57:06,200 --> 00:57:10,760 we must respect their powers 481 00:57:11,560 --> 00:57:19,080 we must respect the cynical wisdom that is satan's the evil wisdom that is 482 00:57:19,080 --> 00:57:21,960 his and understand that he is far more 483 00:57:21,960 --> 00:57:27,560 intelligent than we are as mere men and possesses greater power than we have 484 00:57:27,560 --> 00:57:35,480 but what's the verse of course greater is he that is in us than he who is 485 00:57:35,480 --> 00:57:39,640 in the world so remember that the lord jesus christ 486 00:57:39,640 --> 00:57:44,440 is supreme over that realm 487 00:57:45,160 --> 00:57:49,160 i'd like for you to take your hymnal and turn with me to 488 00:57:49,160 --> 00:57:59,160 number 240 as we sing all hail the power of jesus name 489 00:57:59,160 --> 00:58:04,280 then notice the next line let's sing in response of worship tonight to the 490 00:58:04,280 --> 00:58:09,160 supremacy of jesus christ about his power we'll pick it up word 491 00:58:09,160 --> 00:58:12,840 willing next week there in ephesians chapter one let's stand together as we 492 00:58:12,840 --> 00:58:22,680 sing 493 00:58:22,680 --> 00:58:41,960 blah 494 00:58:41,960 --> 00:59:04,400 And the fourth verse, please. 495 00:59:04,400 --> 00:59:14,720 O that with yonder sacred throne, we at his feet may fall, 496 00:59:14,720 --> 00:59:28,040 We'll join the everlasting song and crown him Lord of all. 497 00:59:28,040 --> 00:59:45,760 We'll join the everlasting song and crown him Lord of all. 498 00:59:45,760 --> 00:59:49,320 Let's bow together, please, in prayer. 499 00:59:49,320 --> 00:59:53,160 Remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is supreme. 500 00:59:53,160 --> 01:00:00,440 Over death, supreme over the heavenlies, supreme over angels. 501 01:00:00,440 --> 01:00:06,000 And let's make him supreme likewise in our lives. 502 01:00:06,000 --> 01:00:09,920 Sing with me, will you, a cappella, in closing prayer. 503 01:00:09,920 --> 01:00:35,240 O come, let us adore him. 504 01:00:35,240 --> 01:00:49,880 Christ the Lord, for he alone is worthy. 505 01:00:49,880 --> 01:01:07,720 For he alone is worthy. 506 01:01:07,720 --> 01:01:16,640 Christ the Lord. 507 01:01:16,640 --> 01:01:18,560 As we bow together in prayer, my friend, 508 01:01:18,560 --> 01:01:28,560 what does the supremacy of Jesus Christ mean to you tonight? 509 01:01:28,560 --> 01:01:35,760 Heavenly Father, we bless you for the Son, 510 01:01:35,760 --> 01:01:42,560 who has ascended back to the glory and is seated at your right hand. 511 01:01:42,560 --> 01:01:51,480 We bless you for his supremacy, his Lordship over every realm. 512 01:01:51,480 --> 01:01:57,880 Tonight our hearts have been encouraged as we see specific realms. 513 01:01:57,880 --> 01:02:05,120 May that all-important personal realm of our lives likewise be fully submitted to the one 514 01:02:05,120 --> 01:02:12,000 who is our Savior and our Lord. 515 01:02:12,000 --> 01:02:17,120 We pray this in his name, the name which is above every name. 516 01:02:17,120 --> 01:02:45,120 Amen.