The Power of Our New Identity

Ephesians 1:15–23 CSB

15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. 20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Paul beings this section by commending the church at Ephesus.

Let your faith in Jesus and love for one another be your testimony.

If we are to be known for anything let it be the depth of our faith in Jesus.

Faith in Jesus gives us the boldness to evangelize, to speak truth, to change the world with the gospel of Jesus.

All the boldness in the world becomes powerless if not tempered with the display of love and care for our fellow believers.

I know the modern church speaks about how we should love and care for the lost and there is truth to that…

The reality is this - if we cannot show love to those in our own family then how will those outside believe what we are saying?

Paul continued to let them know that he was praying for them… the subject of his prayer?

Let us pray for spiritual insight not just situational change.

Of course the Spirit Paul is speaking of is the Holy Spirit, our down payment for our inheritance.

The first request is that we receive “wisdom”

Wisdom doesn’t just imply being knowledgeable but involves the ability to act on what one knows and believes.

Pair this with the revelation of God and not only do we know and experience God and His truth but we are to act on that truth.

In other words with have the ability to understand and apply Scriptural truth in our daily living.

Our prayer should be not too just change our situation but too pray for god to change HOW you see the situation.

When God opens your eyes, you can walk through hardship with confidence because you understand WHAT God is doing in you, not just around you.

Let your decision be shaped by your future in Christ, not your fear in the present.

This is the hope we have in Christ.

It is not wishful thinking - it is a settled assurance - it is what allows the believer to stand confidently in the face of persecution and even death.

No matter what happens in this life because of the hope we have in Jesus we can be confident

People who know where they are going don’t panic over temporary detours

Hope doesn’t make life easy… it does make it bearable, it makes it steady

Our worth is defined by what God has already given you in Jesus.

Our worth isn’t defined by success or comparison, or the worlds approval.

Paul tells us to grasp the riches of our inheritance and the greatness of God’s power

We don’t need the world’s applause when you already have an inheritance from God

Our new identity in Christ is filled with power.

Paul tells us that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is now at work in us.

So many of us live as if salvation only forgives our past but has no bearing on our present

God’s power is not just for us but it is at work IN us

We don’t have to be stuck in sinful patterns because we are not trapped - God’s grace is sufficient

We don’t live in our strength anymore

This truth doesn’t just apply to us individually but as a church as well…

The church is not weak or irrelevant.

The church is not an afterthought - we are God’s chosen instrument to reach the world with the gospel

On a massive ship, the rudder is small compared to the rest of the vessel - but it determines the direction of the entire ship

The church may not look impressive by worldly standards…

We may not be perfect - let’s face it, we are not perfect - but we are God’s plan.

The power of our identity is not about feeling strong - it is about living differently because Jesus reigns and His power is at work in us.

We are not called to be flashy - we are called to be faithful, and God works through faithfulness.