Ephesians 1:19-23
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-Everyone is looking for power. I was in the gym a while back on the treadmill and I saw these young guys who were pobably around the age of eighteen, and all three of them were looking in the mirror on the wall flexing, but pysical strength is not the only power people desire
-political power
-those within a local body of believers who want power, seems familiar to me
-But there is only one who is all-powerful
-Paul just prayed that they would know the greatness of His power, now Paul explained the greatness of that power
-power - dunamis = dynamite
-God is omnipotent = all-powerful
My faith has no bed to sleep upon but omnipotence.
Samuel Rutherford
-His power toward us who believe, we are beneficiaries of His great power
-How do we receive such power? the Gospel v.3 - blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
-Jesus is enough, we do not need Jesus and something else, we are satisfied in Christ
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
The Power of the Resurrection
The Power of the Resurrection
-worked = effected, to cause to bring about
-seated at His right hand = usually in reference to His victory after resurrection, His exaltation
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
-a display of the power of God with victory over His enemies
-seated above all others, victory over demonic spiritual forces
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
-in this age and the age to come = Jesus is the all-powerful, sovereign Lord
-put all things under His feet
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
The Power of the Headship of Christ over the Church
The Power of the Headship of Christ over the Church
-Christ was given as a gift to the church
-to be head over all things to the church
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
-The point is that Christ is head over everything for the benefit of the church
-We have a Savior who is fully in control, He is fully Lord, He is fully God
-Why describe Christ as head
1 to remember the church is His body 1 Cor 12.
19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
2 to remember that the body can only grow from its head, from its source, from Christ
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
3 to remember that there is one body, that Jews and Gentiles have brought into the one
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
4 to remember that Christ is the sovereign victorious Lord
-As the Head the fullness of Christ fills all
-Paul further explained our spiritual inability, we need Christ to fill us
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
-Notice Christ fills the church, we do not need anything but Christ
-It amazes me when individuals in a local church, desire something else, give me the next motivational quote, give me smiling Joel’s twelve steps to a happy life, we have Christ, we have all we need, He fills us - I’ve actually heard professing Christians who do not desire the very Word of God, how can this be?
-Now notice back in v. 19 - toward us who believe, the all-powerful God empowers His church
-Christ fills the church so that the church is empowered
-Why did Paul pray that the Ephesians would know they have power in Christ?
-power to evangelize
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
-power to endure
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
-the power to consider it joy when you face trials of various kinds, the power that Paul and Silas had to worship God at midnight while imprisoned, the power to know that God is always working for good for those that love Him, the power to run race looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith
Fight on! For God himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, “looking unto Jesus”
Charles Spurgeon