Resurrection Authority

Ephesians 1:15–23

“15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet,…”

PRAY

If it’s not already, Easter should be one of your favorite holidays! We’re proclaiming that our savior isn’t dead, like the hopeless things of this world, but alive! So often, though, we talk about the resurrection, but we miss the amazing opportunity to make that practical in the life of a disciple.

Of course, we’re familiar with how the resurrection brings us hope.. how it fills us with joy… but what does the empty tomb of Jesus mean for you in your daily life as a disciple of Christ?

In the first chapter of Paul’s letters to the Ephesians, he teaches us the answer to that very question. The very same power of God that was active in bringing Jesus back from the dead is alive and at work in the daily lives of Christians today. It is the power to make the follower of Jesus wise… It is the power in the sanctification of the disciple. So I wanna walk through the way Paul praise for the believers and emphasis, and from what he prays for them, we will see a list of ways that the power of God that resurrected Jesus also works, and refines, and sanctifies

Vs. 19-20 - 19 …what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Often, we view the resurrection from the lens of our great hope.. or our joy.. our future inheritance..

Paul’s prayers for his fellow believers reveal…

Christ’s resurrection proclaims the mighty power of God,

The resurrection reveals God’s strength and might unto salvation (vs. 15-16)

2 Corinthians 4:13–14 “13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.”

Vs. 15 - For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,

Vs. 16 - do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

2. The resurrection reveals God’s strength and might unto sanctification (vs. 17-18)

faith and love for other believers (vs. 15)

Vs. 17 - that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

spirit of wisdom (vs. 17)

spirit of revelation in the knowledge of him (vs. 17)

Vs. 18 - I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

eyes of heart enlightened

Hope for today - know the hope of calling

Bright hope for tomorrow - Eternal perspective - know the riches of the glory of his inheritance for all the saints (vs. 18)

3. The resurrection reveals God’s strength and might unto glorification (vs. 19-22)

-Jesus is high and lifted up

Vs. 21 - …far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Vs. 22-23 - 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

When you hear of the faith and love of other saints, give thanks and pray for them!

Vs. 15 - For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,

Vs. 16 - do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

Paul did not cease to give thanks for Ephesian believers

Vs. 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

God will give a spirit of wisdom

revelation of the knowledge of him

(think of road to emmaeus right after resurrection… didn’t udnerstand the scriptures until Jesus revealed them)

Vs. 18 - I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Eyes of your heart will be enlightened to know

-the Hope of his calling

-riches of his glory (inheritance of the saints)

Vs. 19 - and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

-greatness of his power

The keys to all of the above: the Resurrection!

Vs. 20a - which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead

Authority established

and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Vs. 21 - far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Vs. 22-23 - 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Before the Face of God, Book 4: A Daily Guide for Living from Ephesians, Hebrews, and James 20. Growing in Wisdom

Coram Deo

Is it possible that one reason for the weakness of the Christian church is that many preachers only preach—and many Christians only want to hear—a “simple gospel”? God grant us churches in which members ask questions, challenging their teachers to dig and grow in their spiritual wisdom. Paul links power with growth in knowledge and wisdom. If he is right, you should hunger and thirst for knowledge that leads to righteous power. (RC Sproul)