Ephesians 1:19-23 Script [V1]

Introduction

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If you look at these people … this is a star-studded line-up …

These are people, who are considered the ‘kings’ or ‘queens’ of their respected field …

They got that title … because they are leagues above everybody else at what they do …

There’s something transcendant about them … it’s like they were chosen to be that …

like they were

… born to sing (Elvis Presley - King of Rock n Roll, Beyonce - Queen B)

… born to write literature (Shakespeare)

… born to play football (Lionel Messi)

… born to take over the music world (Michael Jackson)

As we behold them … all we can do is marvel at how great they are ..

For all these stars … their talent, their super-power

would’ve been obvious to all …

From when they were kids people would tell them

they’re the next big thing ..

The world is shouting from the rooftops

“WOW you’re amazing! You are the future!!!”

For example … Michael Jackson … The world followed his life since he was a kid.

The world watched him ascend to heights no other pop star has ever been …

To the world - their power, their aura, is obvious …

So far in Ephesians, Paul has been praising God, for what he has done for us …

- HE CHOSE us before anyone of us were born.

- He’s done a Stevie Wonder on us …

Signed, Sealed, Delivered us.

We’re GOD’s now

So in ephesians …

God says we’re the chosen ones … !!

God says we have an ‘incomparably great power’ at work in us …

God says … the church … is the presence of the future …

But the thing is …

Ain’t nobody be telling us this …

This world - that is still under the rule of the evil spiritual powers -

is doing everything to take our minds away from this TRUTH!

We’re spending one more week in Paul’s prayer at the end of chapter 1.

Today we’re focusing on verses 19-23 …

This is not a prayer for power …

This is a prayer for KNOWLEDGE of the power that is at work in every believer …

If the devil can make us forget about the ‘INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER’ for those who believe (v. 19)

He can get us to sin, not be united

tempt us to place our allegiance in something else we falsley think is ‘more powerful’

Because … People will call out whatever name or thing that they believe is powerful to save them …

Well our passage, tells us we have access to the greatest power in the world …

This is why we need this prayer.

Paul prays that we don’t just ‘KNOW’ … but that we ‘KNOW’

There’s a difference between knowing, and KNOWING

and my prayer today … is that we might KNOW from our hearts

THE POWER of God at work in us.

This is a power beyond anything this world has known or seen.

The same power, working to bring about God’s plan, is the same power at work in you …

power that is working to bring about God’s cosmic plans for the world. is the same power for those who believe - his chosen ones. He chose you before you were born.

That is amazing - God’s cosmic plan to save the world is to reconcile all things under Christ

The individual believer - has a place

And the belivers corporate, the church - has a place …

I don’t know what example you’d choose to showcase God’s power … You’d want to choose the best one right?

Genesis 1; God created the world thru just his word. Magnificent Power

Exodus 14:21-22: Maybe the parting of the sea to free Israel from Slavery in egypt. That is an amazing display of power

Maybe one of Jesus’ Miracles

Feeding 5000 people,

Calming the seas and waves with just a ‘SHHHH’

There’s SOOO MANY examples of God’s power to choose from …

Paul chose the CROSS - as THE ultimate example of God’s power …

If you want to see the ULTIMATE display of God’s power

There’s nowhere better than Jesus and the Cross.

I have 4 aspects of God’s power for us to marvel at

Whilst we’re focusing on Jesus and Cross … I also want us to remember remember that everything we’re saying about Jesus is also true for you! because we’re ‘in CHRIST!’

But don’t worry if you forget, i’ll try and wrap it all up for us in the end …

1) A death-conquering power

#1 God’s power is a death-conquering power

Verses 19-20: that power is the same as the mighty strength

Ephesians 1:20 “he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead ….”

Right off the bat … this is a power, that is beyond anything this world has ever seen …

We live in an age where technological, military, and economic power is at at all time high!

Technology … we live in an age of A.I, biotechnology, space exploration.

If Elon Muks has his way, we might be able to Go on holidays to mars soon.

Economic power -wielded by big multinational corporations … New York City, is my second favourite city ever (Sydney is my fave). I feel that physically, walking through this concrete Jungle with TOWERING SKYSCRAPERS with the names of these BIG COMPANIES just plasted over me!

I just feel like a small, insignificant being …

So many powerful things, in this world … powerful people …

But no power in this world … has ever been able to defeat … death

The best thing the world can do is

avoid it, defy it

delay it

There has been attempts to

extend human lifespan, through genetic engineering, reverse the effects of aging,

Despite these efforts … the best we can do is delay it … once death comes … there’s nothing we can do …

there’s nothing you can do!

Maybe, within a couple of minutes, you can do something …

A couple of hours … pretty much all hope is gone

A couple of days … that corpse will be rotting and the stench, unbearable …

But God’s power - is one that can conquer death!

EVEN AFTER 3 DAYS, When Jesus was good as dead, and his body was meant to be rotting … Death couldn’t hold him down like that …God’s power resurrected Jesus from the dead!!!

The power at work in the believer is the same as the mighty strength that he ‘exerted when he raised Christ from the dead’

Right off the bat, this power is already other-worldly!

This is a power that this would would do ANYTHING to have … but NEVER grasped …

A death-conquering power.

2) A God-reconciling power

#2 it is a God-reconciling power

v. 20 “It’s the power that raised him and … seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms

Meaning - as Jesus ascended to heaven - Jesus is reconciled back with his father in heaven

Since God, is above ALL rule and authority and power and dominion and name …

Well that is where Christ is now.

Re-united again with his father ….

To be reconciled with God is to be LIFTED UP, to be ascended above all things, because that’s where God is …

But it’s so much better than that … God has elevated Jesus to the most honoured place of all.

The place at God’s right hand …

Illustration: we use that language already, ‘that’s his right-hand man or woman’.

It’s not merely location, but it indicates confidence, and favour shown to that person.

The most favoured seat in all of the land, is the one next to the king!

For Jesus to be at his right hand, indicates God’s complete confidence and favour towards him.

We use ‘right-hand man’ in everyday language … But the bible uses it too! When Paul uses it, he was alluding to Psalm 110 - a famous psalm about God’s king, and it mentions the position of the ‘right hand’

Psalm 110:1 NIV

1 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

This is God (the LORd) speaking about his chosen King (also Lord)…

the chosen King who will sit at God’s right hand, to rule alongside him …

That’s where Jesus is now … At God’s right hand, making his enemies a footstool …

Also … that that is where you and i are! Spiritually … (and soon to be, physically)

Colossians 3:1 NIV

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Those who have been raised with Christ … are already with Christ where he is - seated at the right hand of God!

Isn’t it great that God’s reconiliation … is not for us to be hired-hands, to be servants, or employees …

But as favoured sons and daughters, sitting at his right hand …

God’s power, reconciles us to God!

You can try as hard as you want … to reconcile yourself to God

You can do as much Good works, Law abiding, as much religion as you want! …

You won’t be able to

It is only those who believe in JESUS! that will experience this God-reconciling power!

That is the power available to those who believe! You have been reconciled to God!!! That is where you want to be! you don’t want to be in hostility against God, if you are … then it’s only God’s wrath waiting for you .. but if you’re reconciled… it is only God’s favour and confidence and blessing for you!!!

God’s power is a God-reconciling power …

Should I go into the above all powers and names ting here??? … or save it for king-making power????

3) A purpose-restoring power

#3 it’s a purpose-restoring power

That’s what the ‘placing all things under his feet’ means in v. 22

Ephesians 1:22 “and God placed all things under his feet …”

I think Paul has another psalm in mind .. Psalm 8 - which is a psalm about humanity. Praising God, the creator of humanity, why he would even regard mere humans like us, that he would create us in his image, and that he would want to Crown them with glory and honour …

When God created mankind … He gave them a purpose,

to rule his creation, under his rule …

… or another way to put it … He wanted humanity to have everything ‘under his feet’ …

So, Psalm 8:6 marvels at this truth …

Psalm 8:6 (NIV)

6 You made them [.i.e. Humans] rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:

God’s power, gives us God-given purpose!

to live out what God created us to be!!!

I don’t know where you look to for purpose in life

I spent some time online to find how to ‘find my purpose’. Here’s an article that i think is representative of all the others …

1. Identify the things YOU care about

2. Reflect on what matters most to YOU

3. Recognise YOUR strengths and talents

4. Imagine YOUR best possible self

5. Cultivate positive emotions … Gratitute, Awe …

6. Look to people YOU admire

Do you notice how approach is all-inward … looking into myself to find purpose …

get myself to cultivate emotions

If i don’t look to myself, i look to someone I admire …

I didn’t see anything about God …

If there was someone who knew what our purpose is, where to find - it is our Creator …

It is God …

So … as long as we, reject God … you’ll never find true purpose in life …

you might find temporary fulfilment!

in your achievements,

in your material possessions …

But they won’t last …

God has the power to restore your purpose … to what you were meant to be, since he created you!

The first Adam might have failed … by default, as the first human god created, he is the first ‘head of humanity’

Because he sinned, rejected God, and looked to hself … he couldn’t fully live out God’s purpose …

Therefore, anybody who is ‘in adam’ …

- literally, everybody born in the history of time -

Is affected by sin, and can’t fully live out God’s purpose …

We need another ‘head of humanity’ … that’s why God sent the man Jesus Christ!!! to be another tpye of Adam.

But unlike him, he conquered death and sin … and fulfils God’s purpose for humanity …

therefore, anybody who is in Christ …

i.e. literally every body who BELEIEVES in him

Can live out that purpose!!!

Only in Jesus, can you find true purpose …

That is God’s power, working in you …

4) A king-making power

#4 God’s power is a king-making power

If you think the King is powerful?

Well how about the one who puts kings and queens in place??

As they say … the person who you should really fear aint the king … it’s the King-maker

v. 22 “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything … “

There’s this netflix show that i really enjoyed watching in COVID … Called “the last Kingdom”.

It’s set in the Viking age of the 9th Century, before England was England, divided into multiple kingdoms

Wessex

Mercia

Northumbria

East Anglia

The main character, Uthred, wasn’t a king, but dubbed as the ‘King-maker’.

His was a soldier - no one could match his fighting skill

But he had the brains to match it. to think BIG PICTURE …

If you were a king, you wanted Uthred on your side

When he fought for the Vikings, they would win battles, and their king would prevail

When he fought for one of the Aglo kingdoms, they would win battles, and their king would prevail

The guy who you should fear ain’t the king, but the king-maker!!!

The one who gives kings their authority …

You know, the bible says … any type of authority that exists is from God

Here’s two passages

Daniel 2:21 NIV

21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

God is the ultimate King-maker.

Even the wisdom, and skill and knowledge to wield that authortiy is from God.

The apostle Paul also writes in Romans ..

Romans 13:1 (NIV)

1… there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

All power and authority comes from God

He puts people in power … that includes Jesus Christ … whom he has placed … (v. 21:

‘far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the PRESENT AGE, but also in the one to come)

All these … are under Jesus’ feet.

So ‘putting under his feet’ is more than restoring humanity’s purpose … because Jesus is human …

it also depicts how powerful Jesus’ Kingship will be … because Jesus is God!!

These powers aren’t simply inferior to Jesus,

they are subject to Him …

There is no authority that won’t come under Jesus Rule …

God is both, the king and the king-maker!

Any kinda rule on earth, no matter how good or powerful you are … is limited …

Michael Jackson might be the king of pop … but can he play football like Lionel Messi.

His ‘kingship’ only applies to Music

Michael Jordan might be the best basketball player of all time … but can he … write the next hamlet … like Shakespeare …

His ‘realm’ is limited to the basketball court …

King Charles … is only King of the United Kingdom, and the commonwealth … his rule is limited … to that ..

Jesus Kingship … is over the whole universe …

His rule is not limited by anything …

God’s power is what put him there …

the one that (v. 22) “appointed him to be head over everything … “

God made Jesus King over the whole universe!

God is both, the king and the king-maker!

restores us to our God-ordained purpose, to rule the world, under God’s rule

4.1 putting it all together #Psalm2

So … this is a great power … who would go against it???

It’s more common than you think. Psalm 2, gives a snapshot of what happens if you try and go against God’s power …

Psalm 2 NIV

1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. 8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” 10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. 12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

no need to turn there, but i’ll give a quick summary

The psalm begins by asking the quesiton

Why would the nations would even consider to plot to fight against the Lord, God’s King ???

The Lord, doesn’t even see it as a threat … He laughs in the rebels’ faces. He says …

“AIGHT … IF YOU COME AT THE KING??? YA BETTER NOT MISS”

…and oh my goodness the rebels were sooo off the mark ..

The Lord breaks them with a rod of iron

The Lord dashes them to pieces like pottery …

It’s not even a contest …

So, the psalm concludes with this takeaway …

If those kings had any common sense, any wisdom … they’d submit to the Lord and kiss his feet!!!

…

If anybody had any common sense! They’d submit to Jesus and kiss his feet!

You cannot go against this power … it’s too strong, too powerful …

the only wise thing is to submit to it …

5) all this power … is for the church

As Those who are in Christ … We don’t have to be afraid of it … This power … is working for You …

Verse 22.

“God appointed him him to be head, over everything, FOR the church

This is a gift beyond imagining …

God made Jesus King over the universe - FOR the benefit of the church … which is his body …

If Christ is the Head, we’re the body … and all things are Under Jesus’ feet .

That means ... all the principalities and powers, … are also under your feet

The power of evil and death cannot threaten you …

it’s so easy, to think that we have nothing to do with God’s plan … we’re just small … insignificant … surely, God has bigger things to worry about than me …

But no … God’s power, is for the church

and who makes up the church? other than individuals who ’BELIEVE’

The power that is working within us, is greater than we can ever imagine. No matter what we face on this earth, it can’t possibly trump us …

I like that Body-metaphor …

It shows that the church is a heavenly reality - we’re raised with Christ! who is in the heavenly places…

but it is also an earthly reality … the Church is christ’s body …

It means that what happens on earth matters. Paul doesn’t say much about that yet, we’ll have to wait until Chapter 4…

This passage, exhorts us … to pray … that we TRULY KNOW this power …

Because EVERYTHING in this world is working against us to you tell you otherwise … !

The church is weak …

the church is out-dated …

The church is hypocritical …

There might be truth to that … but THE FIRST THING to say about the church, is that IT IS CHRISTS!!!!

Therefore, we need to pray for this knowledge … We pray that the eyes of our minds AND hearts can see this power …

God’s power is a death-conquering power!

We’ll die one day, but we’ll be resurrected again, like Jesus

it is a God-reconciling power!!!

We’re God’s now … signed, sealed, delivered … highly favoured … beloved children

it is a Purpose-restoring power!

Only in God will you find what it really means to be human … your true purpose …

it is a King-making power …

God has made Jesus HEAD over all … Jesus rules the universe for you … when it’s all said and done, we’ll get to sit with Jesus as his right hand …

What gives us strength … is knowledge of this power ….

I’d like to pray to that end …