2026-04-19 Head over all, for the Church

 (Eph1:22-23)

Last time we looked at Paul’s prayer, but we haven’t quite finished Ephesians chapter one yet. As I was reading, I realised that the last two verses are rich that we shouldn’t rush past them. So today, I want to slow down and take us into Eph 1: 22–23, and see what God might be speaking to us. Let’s read it: 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way

1, Jesus is the Ruler over all.

In the Greek, the phrase “placed under” means to bring into full submission. So when the Bible says God has placed all things under Christ’s feet, it gives us a picture of complete victory. In Joshua 10:24, after the enemy kings were defeated, Joshua asked his commanders to put their feet on the necks of those kings. It was a declaration that the battle is finished, the enemy is under authority, victory has been won. Philippians 2:9 says, therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. 10, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.  Do you see the scope of that? Heaven, earth, and under the earth, nothing is excluded. Through the cross, Christ won the battle. He is not just a ruler among many rulers. He is the supreme ruler over all things! The King of kings and the Lord of lords. Hebrews tells us that nothing is outside His authority.

But sometimes we look at the world today, wars, conflicts, evils, and we wonder, “Is God really in control?” Do you know what’s happening in Iran today? In the midst of pressure and persecution, Iran is one of the fastest-growing Christian communities in the world. In 2014, there were about 370,000 Christians. Today, some say there are over a million. In History, the church is not growing in easy times but under pressure and persecution. Why? Because Jesus is not limited. Under pressure, He shows signs and wonders, dreams, and visions to lead people into His eternal Kingdom. Nothing can stop His Kingdom advancing on earth! We see this happening amongst us too! So what looks like darkness does not limit God. What looks like opposition does not stop His Kingdom. Because Jesus has overcome.

2, He is the head over all for the church.

v.23 doesn’t just say that Jesus is head over everything. It says God appointed Him to be “head over everything for the church.” God has placed all things under His feet, and appointed Christ as head over everything for the good of the church. Years ago, a believer told me, “we’re victorious. The battle is finished.” I said, “yes, and no.” Yes, Christ, the Son of God, has already won the battle. But the whole universe is waiting for His body, the church, to live out this truth, so that all creation can reveal His victory. Think about it: a lion, the king of the jungle. He has the strength, authority, and strategy. He knows how to win. But what if his body doesn’t respond to his head? Will he still win? No. Not because the head is weak, but because the body is not responding. The same for the body of Christ.

Hebrews 2:8, and put everything under his feet. In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. We don’t see it yet! Why? Because people are still living in rebellion, disobedience, and sin against Him. The Head has overcome sin and Satan. But His body should be aligned with the Head. If the Head says, “Open doors,” but the body stays in fear and says, “No, that’s scary.” If the Head says, “Forgive and love your enemies,” but the body holds onto bitterness and says, “No, I’m hurt.” If the Head says, “Come to me, I’ll give you rest,” but the body spends more time on social media, will the body still be victorious? Or will it end up under the feet of the dragon?

As Rev 12:17 says, the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Who are those on the sand of the seashore? Remember what God promised Abraham in Gen 22:17: “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” There are God’s people called to be like the stars, and others like the sand. Are they the same? Definitely not. So what are you becoming? Are you becoming more like Christ, the Morning Star? Or more like the sand, earthly, shaped by the self? What we become in the future depends on who we are aligned with now. Are you aligning yourself with a Christ-centred mindset, trusting the Father and doing what He calls you to do? Or with an earthly mindset, driven by pride, worry, people-pleasing or past hurts? Your faith, expressed through action, shapes your life.

3, Living under His headship.

Clearly, Jesus wants His victory to be ours. V,23 says, “which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” This means the church is not just a group of people gathering together. We are His body, living members connected to the Head, filled by His Spirit, and meant to express His fullness: His love, His resurrection power, His truth, and His presence, because He fills everything. So how does He make His fullness visible on the earth? Through His body, through you and me, through both the 10am and 2pm congregation here at OTBC and all believers.

But this only happens when the body is connected to the Head. If the body is not aligned, there is no fruit, and it cannot express His fullness. So how do we live this out? By staying under His headship, by doing what He says and what pleases Him. That’s why reading the Bible is crucial. Otherwise, we won’t even know what God wants us to do. But when we choose to follow Him, a battle comes.

In Exodus 17, we see when God brought Israel out of Egypt, Amalek came and attacked them. This wasn’t a random battle. Because v.16 says, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation. Amalek targeted the weary, the worn out, and the ones at the back (Deut 25:17–18). And throughout the Bible, Amalek becomes a picture of the flesh, the sinful nature within us that oppose God. The bible says, our enemy is not people, not your husband, your wife, or your colleagues, who don’t listen to you. Romans 8:7 says, the sinful mind is hostile to God. It’s the thoughts we hold onto that resist God’s commands. Galatians 5 tells us that the flesh and the Spirit are in conflict. When the Head says, “Trust Me,” the flesh says, “No, I want control.” When the Head says, ‘Step out in faith,’ the flesh says, ‘No, I want to stay where I feel safe.” When the Head says, “Forgive,” the flesh says, “I’m still hurt.” When the Head says, “don’t love the world or anything in it.” the flesh says, “But the world looks so fun.” Do you see the battle?

It’s not that Jesus is not ruling. It’s that something in us resists His rule, because we prefer what feels familiar and safe. In Exodus 17, as long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed. But when his hands dropped, Amalek gained ground. What does that show us? Victory is connected to dependence on God. When we pray, listen to Him, and obey His truth instead of our own feelings, we overcome. But when we lose that alignment, when we stop praying, give in to the flesh, we become negative, and we become no difference from unbelievers, we fail to reflect the fullness of Christ. That’s why the Bible says we must not make peace with the flesh. We are called to fight and deny it. When the flesh rises, when fear comes, when bitterness speaks, we lift up our hands, like Moses did, and bring it to Jesus. We read the bible, we say, “Lord, I choose You over myself. I choose Your way over mine. Because You are head over all, for me.” And as we yield to Him and His truth, we walk in His victory, we overcome, and we begin to live and express His fullness on the earth.

Prayer:

Yes Lord, You are worthy. You’re worthy of all honour, of all glory, and of all our surrender. We thank You that the Father has placed all things under Your feet and appointed You to be Head over everything for the church.

You are the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the One who has defeated every enemy—sin, temptation, death, and Satan. And You did not win by force, or by retaliation. You won through humility, obedience, and surrender to the Father’s will, even to death on the cross. Because You trusted that the Father’s will is best.

Now, if you want to make this confession prayer personally, you’re free to repeat after me, and say: “Lord, I confess there are areas in me that resist Your rule. Forgive me for holding onto my own thoughts instead of trusting in You, for choosing comfort instead of obedience, for making decisions out of worry or control instead of praying and allowing Your guidance. As a member of the body, I’ve often acted as the head and failed to respond to You in my circumstances.

Today, I humble myself before You. I lay down my pride and my need for control. Lord, breathe into me and make me alive to You. I thank You for Your forgiveness, and now I choose to forgive (any bitterness or anger I hold against others). Holy Spirit, I ask You to release Your resurrection power into my heart, to tear down every stronghold that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and to break every agreement with fear, control, bitterness, and unbelief. And I choose to come under Your headship again. Jesus, You are my Head. You are my Lord. Teach me to listen to Your voice and give me the strength to obey. Make me a living part of Your body, responsive, surrendered, and led by You, so that my life will reflect Your fullness and bring glory to Your name.

Small group discussion questions:

1, What stood out to you most from today’s message about Jesus being “head over all”? Why?

2, What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is ruling over all for the church - for you?

3, Can you think of an area in your life where you find it hard to follow Jesus as the Head? What makes it difficult?

4, The sermon talked about the body needing to respond to the Head. What might it look like for you this week to respond more quickly to Jesus?

5, Which “voice” do you recognise more in your life right now - the voice of the Spirit or the voice of the flesh? Can you give an example?

6, When Jesus says things like “trust,” “forgive,” or “step out,” what is usually your first reaction? Why do you think that is?

7, What is one practical step you can take this week to align your thoughts and actions more with Christ? (e.g., prayer, forgiveness, obedience in something specific)