What I am about to write stirs up the anger of Satan and his minions. His pride is insulted when the supremacy of Christ is declared. Even more, he hates it when Scripture informs our worldview demoting him to a lesser position far below the majesty and supremacy of Jesus Christ.

Paul described the Lord in this way “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world” (Colossians 1:15-16).

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote “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” (Ephesians 1: 21-22).

We are seated with Christ on His throne in Heaven (Ephesians 2:6) and have been given a heavenly perspective so we can conduct Kingdom business on Earth. We are able, through teaching and preaching, to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (II Corinthians 10:5).

While the never-ending cultural skirmishes can seem overwhelming at times drawing our attention away to focus solely on our earthly struggles, the most impacting spiritual battles we engage in are fought first in the heavens where counterfeit thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities are at work in the unseen world. These false authorities attempt to deceive the Church regarding her authority blinding our eyes to the ultimate power of God. The authority of Jesus Christ when understood and demonstrated demolishes the falsehoods and well-crafted deceptions too readily believed by the uninformed, both within the Church and without. 

Paul clarifies our mission regarding how we are to teach and train the Church, “So, we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ” (Colossians 1:28). Warning and teaching go hand-in-hand.

Those warnings and teachings may sound contrarian and even controversial to those under the influence of illegitimate spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. These dark forces are constantly at work attempting to deceive believers and non-believers alike when the supremacy of Christ is not understood. 

For the days ahead and the challenges those days will reveal, we need to revisit our heavenly position seated with Jesus on His throne – a place of absolute authority. Once we see that image we will be able to move forward with the kind of authority that will demolish hellish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. In order to do so, we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ and to His position as King of kings, and Lord of lords, in both the seen and unseen world.