WEDNESDAY'S WORD- PRINCIPALITIES - Sadell Bradley - 09/02/2020

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD

PRINCIPALITIES

Sadell Bradley

09/2/2020

"Thrones, dominations, principalities know now with a terrible certainty that mere force of arms has no power which compares with that living word of the crucified Nazarene, that bears with it Eternal Life, and directs the duty of a world of men whom he can lead, but who bend no knee to power. " - Edward Everett Hale - American Clergyman

WAREHOUSE T-SHIRT FUN-RAISER

We're excited about our new T-Shirts! and our partnership with Home State Threads. For every T-Shirt sold, $10 will go to the Warehouse for Missions. Click here to purchase one of the many styles available. Our goal is to sell 500 T-Shirts to raise $5,000 for AV/Sound renovations in the lower level of our church, and to assist parents of CPS students. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! - Sherman & Sadell

A PRINCIPALITY is a state ruled by a prince. To the left is a photo of the British principality of Wales, which is ruled by Prince Charles. So a principality is territory, just as a municipality is a city or town that has corporate status and a local governing body. In Scripture, a principality can be both earthly and heavenly. Principalities are part of the celestial or angelic hierarchy that includes cherubim, seraphim, thrones or elders, dominions/dominations or lords, celestial choir virtues, powers and authorities, principalities or rulers, archangels and angels. Each of these have differing roles and responsibilities in God's Kingdom. Principalities or rulers are the angels that guide and protect nations, or groups of people, and institutions such as the Church. There are also Satanic principalities that wield power and there is a continual waging of war over territory not just in earth, but in Heaven. The most notable example of this is in Daniel 10. A messenger angel was attempting to respond to Daniel's prayer, but was withheld for 21 days because the Prince of Persia detained the angel. Michael, the Archangel intervened and the message was delivered, though more fighting would ensue. There is always more going on than what we see.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL. In Ephesians 6:11-13, the Apostle Paul reminds us that there's a war going on. He admonishes us to put on the whole armor of God, the spiritual battle gear that we will need to take our stand against the strategies and schemes of the devil. The Greek word for devil diabolos means a slanderer or false accuser who unjustly criticizes to hurt or malign, to condemn, and to sever relationships without reason. The devil will make charges that bring down to destroy. He employs craftiness and deceit to have us think we're fighting other people. In verse 12-13 Paul instructs us, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. This is a truth that Christians cannot forget, in a time like this when so much verbal and typed sparring is going on.

JESUS IS KING - AND REIGNING

In Ephesians 1:19-23

Paul prayed that we would comprehend that Jesus Christ is LORD and is ruling and reigning above all of this fray, "I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself." He is far above. He's sitting down. He's not concerned. Be comforted, no matter what you see or hear, that God is still in charge.