Angelic Conflict part 327: Current work of Christ – Eph 1:18-23; Act 10:36; Psa 22, 23, 24.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 327: Current work of Christ – Eph 1:18-23; Act 10:36; Psa 22, 23, 24.

 

 

11. His universal lordship over all creation, the earth, and the heavens.

 

Eph 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

 

Eph 1:19 These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

 

Eph 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

 

Eph 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.

 

Eph 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

 

Eph 1:23 which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.

 

In Eph 1:20-23 it is brought out that Christ not only became Head over the church by virtue of His resurrection and ascension, but has resumed His position of Lord over all creation. Satan's rebellion is put down and the strong man is bound. It is God's good pleasure to finish the victory over time through the calling out of the body of Christ, then the completion of the sin of Israel in the Tribulation, and then the fulfillment of the unconditional covenants to Israel in Millennial reign of Christ.

 

The general idea is, that Christ is elevated above all ranks of creatures, however exalted and by whatever name they may be known. As in this he refers to the "world that is to come," as well as this world, it is clear that there is a reference here to the ranks of the angels as well. Hence we are higher than angels and we are in union with the One who is above all things, earth, the heavens, and all creatures, men and angel.

 

There is nothing wrong with desiring promotion but to lust for promotion, as with all lust in all areas, is a path to misery and evil. What promotion do you really need when you are in union with the One who is above all things?

 

Satan desires to instill lusts in any areas in our hearts so that we seek them with all our heart rather than our Lord, in whom is the highest promotion.

 

There is nothing wrong with seeking things or having ambitions in any area, but to seek for those things with all your heart is to say that they are the source of happiness and fulfillment in your life and you couldn't be more deceived. How great is your darkness when you think you're in the light.

 

Priority makes passion.

 

As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves. [Hamilton, Federalist 10]

 

All men have priority and therefore passion, and simply put, then it only matters what his priority is.

 

Jer 29:13

'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

 

All your heart means top priority in the conscience. Every member of the human race has one.

 

Phi 3:12

Not that I have already obtained it [resurrection life], or have already become perfect [mature], but I press on [dioko = the pursue zealously] in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

 

Act 10:34 "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality [between Jew and Gentile],

 

Act 10:35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him.

 

Act 10:36 "The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)

 

Rom 10:12

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him;

 

Col 2:9-10

For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

 

Such would be impossible if He had not been literally raised from the dead as the One who had power to lay down His life and take it again.

 

12. Shepherd of the flock. The Shepherd dies for the sheep, cares for them, and returns in glory to reward them.

 

In His death on the cross, Christ fulfilled the anticipation of Psalm 22 that He would die as the good Shep­herd for His sheep.

 

Psa 22; 23, and 24 form a trilogy on Christ the Shepherd.

 

In Psa 22, the Good Shepherd dies for the sheep.

 

Joh 10:14-15

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

 

In Psa 23, the Great Shepherd lives for the sheep and cares for them.

 

Heb 13:20-21

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

In Psa 24, the Chief Shepherd returns in glory to reward His sheep for their service.

 

1Pe 5:4

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

 

Though the PT is in view with this crown the faithful believers who persevere will also receive the crowns of life and righteousness.

 

Rev 22:12

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

 

So we start with the sacrificial spiritual and physical death of the good Shepherd.

 

Aijeleth Shahar (or Hash-shahar) is interpreted to mean "the doe (or hind) of the morning" or "help at day-break." It may have been the name of the tune to which this psalm was sung.

 

Psa 22:1 For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar.

A Psalm of David.

 

My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

 

Psa 22:2 O my God, I cry by day, but Thou dost not answer; And by night, but I have no rest.

 

Psa 22:3 Yet Thou art holy, O Thou who art enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

 

Psa 22:4 In Thee our fathers trusted; They trusted, and Thou didst deliver them.

 

Psa 22:5 To Thee they cried out, and were delivered; In Thee they trusted, and were not disappointed.

 

Psa 22:6 But I am a worm [tola worm], and not a man, A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

 

He cannot be delivered by His cry. He can only be delivered when it is finished!

 

In ancient times the crimson grub, a very rare worm, was actually kept, bred, and cultivated by the Jews as well as some other nations.  When several thousand of these crimson grubs were mature; fully grown, then they were crushed to death. Out of the crushed bodies of those crimson grubs would flow a deep red blood, which was used for a dye. When cloth or clothes were washed in this dye, they would be dyed a beautiful crimson red.  This lovely color never faded, and could never be washed out or removed. 

 

The Crimson worm [coccus ilicis] is a very special worm that looks more like a grub than a worm. When it is time for the female or mother Crimson worm to have babies (which she does only one time in her life), she finds the trunk of a tree, a wooden fencepost or a stick. She then attaches her body to that wood and makes a hard crimson shell.  She is so strongly and permanently stuck to the wood that the shell can never be removed without tearing her body completely apart and killing her.

 

The Crimson worm then lays her eggs under her body and the protective shell. When the baby worms (or larvae) hatch, they stay under the shell. Not only does the mother’s body give protection for her babies, but it also provides them with food – the babies feed on the LIVING body of the mother!

 

After just a few days, when the young worms grow to the point that they are able to take care of themselves, the mother dies. As the mother Crimson worm dies, she oozes a crimson or scarlet red dye which not only stains the wood she is attached to, but also her young children. They are colored scarlet red for the rest of their lives.

 

After three days, the dead mother Crimson worm’s body loses its crimson color and turns into a white wax which falls to the ground like snow.

 

The earth that is the stage of the AC is decorated and adorned with many types that depict the warrior-poet-priest-king and His victorious sacrifice.

 

Psa 22:7 All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

 

Psa 22:8 "Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him."

 

Ignorance and arrogance is blindness.

 

But our Lord continued on the cross and continued to trust:

 

Psa 22:9 Yet Thou art He who didst bring me forth from the womb; Thou didst make me trust when upon my mother's breasts.

 

Psa 22:10 Upon Thee I was cast from birth; Thou hast been my God from my mother's womb.

 

Psa 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help.

 

Psa 22:12 Many bulls have surrounded me ;Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

 

Psa 22:13 They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion.

 

Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.

 

Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And Thou dost lay me in the dust of death.

 

Psa 22:16 For dogs have surrounded me [packs of dogs]; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet [David, 1000 years BC, would have never known of this type of execution].

 

Psa 22:17 I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me;

 

Psa 22:18 They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.

 

Psa 22:19 But Thou, O Lord, be not far off; O Thou my help, hasten to my assistance.

 

Psa 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword, My only life from the power of the dog.

 

Psa 22:21 Save me from the lion's mouth; And from the horns of the wild oxen Thou dost answer me.

 

Vv. 22-31 announces the resurrection of Christ.

 

Psa 22:22 I will tell of Thy name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise Thee.

 

Through God the Holy Spirit He has been telling of His person and praising the person and plan of His Father in assemblies all over the world. He is the same yesterday, today, and yes forever. This, vv. 22-31, could not be done unless He was resurrected.

 

Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

 

Psa 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

 

Psa 23:3 He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name's sake.

 

Psa 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;

Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

 

Psa 23:5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

 

Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.