Behold The Greatness of Your God's Power
Behold the Power of Your God!
Eph 1:19-23
Andy Woodfield, HCC, 6-10-2007
I have titled this mornings message “Behold the power of Your God! In 1 Cor 1:18 Paul says
" For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
How can this be? How can there be such opposing views when it comes to the gospel, to the preaching of the cross?
The perishing world considers the cross foolishness because it is intellectually ludicrous that some man in history by dying on a Roman cross by crucifixion could somehow provide for you and me a means of salvation from our sinful condition and restore peace between us and God. It is literally the exact opposite of what a sophisticated Greek philosopher would embrace – this weakness, this death, this substitution, this blood – it is disgustingly abhorrent to the educated thoughtful mind. (1 Corinthians 1:23). It quite simply makes no sense to the educated mind.
Now to the Jews the cross was a stumbling block, it was the last thing they expected in terms of the coming of Messiah, the cross was a sign of shame, weakness, failure, not victory, power and glory. They wanted a king who would bring them out from under the Roman thumb.
But for those who believe, both Jew and Gentile (v.23) the cross is the power of God, the “dunamis” of God. It is not weak or foolish it is powerful. This power, this dunamis speaks to the capability and action of God to save immoral fallen mortal creatures from the certain judgment of the second death by giving life to their dead souls and bodies and restoring them to a dynamic blessed relationship with their eternal Creator God. This power, when spoken of in Scripture, stands in stark contrast to the powerlessness, inability and incapability of man to please God. Why is this so?
"because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7-8)
So then the cross rather than symbolizing weakness and foolishness is to the Christian the power of God. Paul could say I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16)
Do you believe this? Like Paul do you believe the cross and the gospel symbolize power? And if so how powerful are they?
There are many professing Christians who say they have experienced this power, this “dunamis” of God and yet they sit in churches this very Sunday with no assurance of the hope that they sing about. No victory over sin in their lives from week to week. They sin as a Christian just like they sinned before they were a Christian. Even more disturbing is that many professing Christians have given into a life of compromise with sin and the world. They have no sense of victory, no sense of power, they are easily drawn after false teachers who scratch them in this area of weakness. They are led to believe if they do certain things, follow certain rituals, then they will have, and experience, the power of God in their lives. What grieves me in all of this is that in time these people find that these so called super apostles, super messengers, don’t deliver what they promise and many turn back to the provisions of Egypt, which is the biblical symbol of the world.
In our text this morning Paul gives his answer to such people as to how it is possible to be overcomers and mature in their faith. What seems impossible with man is possible with God. The answer Paul tells us is found in recognizing and trusting in God’s Power.
READ: Eph 1:19-23 Here we take up the text half way through Paul’s pray for the Ephesian believers
In the previous message from Ephesians 1:15-19a we saw that Paul was praying with a passion for these believers:
- That they might know God experientially,
- That they might know hope through God’s calling,
- That they might know the Riches of the glory through God’s inheritance
- and that they might know surpassing greatness through God’s power.
Paul knows that if the believers know these four things then they will not only be assured of their salvation but will continue in their salvation as they grow up in their faith and love. However, if they do not know these things as personal realities then they will easily be overcome by the flesh, the world and the devil.
So Paul highlights the source of the believers power. 19b These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ,
Beloved the source of our power is through Jesus Christ, This same Jesus whom the world considered weak and impotent God offers as the means to sovereign, eternal power.
Paul stacks up three nouns in this prepositional phrase, (in accordance with the working of the strength of His might) in order to modify the phrase, “the surpassing greatness of His power.”
He wants the believers to know what this power is:
- An operative power: The Greek word translated “working” is evne,rgeia from which we get the word energy and speaks of actual or active power of God as opposed to potential power. This is the operative power of God. Paul uses this word 3x in this letter here and in 3:7; 4:16. evne,rgeia is supernatural power that is in actual operation
- An authoritative power: The word “strength” come from the Greek word kra,toj, from which we get theocracy, the rule of God; autocracy, the rule of the wealthy, thus this word has the meaning of strength, might, dominion and mastery. The verb form of this noun shows the idea of this authoritative power. A power that flows from a dominion of mastery.
"who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen." (1Timothy 6:16))
"To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:11, NASB95)
"to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 25, NASB95)
- An inherent power: The word “strength” (ivscu,oj) speaks of that power which is inherently possessed and in this case it is the power that God possesses.
All these words are closely related to one another and overlap each other. By way of illustration, a bulldozer has the ability, capacity, and potential of routing out trees. By looking at it one senses its inherent or possessed strength (ivscu,oj), but when its engine is fired up and roars and it begins to move its power of mastery and dominion (kra,toj) over trees becomes obvious. However, when it comes to tree and knocks it down flat one sees the activity (evne,rgeia) of it’s power.
We can conclude from this word study that the end of knowing God intimately is that we might understand the awesome operative, authoritative and inherent power of God that is directed to all who are believers. This is not a secret or special power or a higher power you need to ask God for No! This is the power that is yours in Christ, a power that is freely available to every believer:
Paul now gives the Ephesian believers and us the evidence that the surpassing greatness of God’s power toward us who believe is genuine and attestable. He does this so that we might have great confidence that we can become all he has in the earlier part of the chapter said we are to be. That there is no reason to feel weak and beaten down by the world the flesh and the devil.
We will see from Eph 1:19b -23:
PROPOSITION: Four Dynamic Evidences of God’s Power to give us confidence of a right relationship with God, of our hope, riches and power through Christ. (I want you to get these four dynamic evidences down this morning – commit them to memory)
The first evidence of God’s power is…
1. The Dynamic evidence of the Resurrection of Christ: which He brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead
The working which God worked was the raising of Christ from the dead. In other words God’s power is more powerful than the jaws of death. The power of physical death is so final, so complete, so, divisive in its separation from life. It is a one way door to darkness with not return or exit. It is cold, unfeeling, comfortless and hopeless.
Yet as Barnes so ably puts it:
“The power which was exerted [at the resurrection of Christ] was as great as that of creation. It was imparting life to a cold and "mangled" frame. It was to open again the arteries and veins, and teach the heart to beat and the lungs to heave. It was to diffuse vital warmth through the rigid muscles, and to communicate to the body the active functions of life. It is impossible to conceive of a more direct exertion of power than in raising up the dead; and there is no more striking illustration of the nature of conversion than such a resurrection.” (Barnes)
However, the resurrection of Jesus Christ speaks of much more than the raising to life of a dead man. It speaks to such grand subjects such as the divinity/diety of Christ, victory over the realm of death, and the cause of death, it speaks to the atonement, propitiation, satisfaction of God’s wrath, redemption from slavery to sin and the hope of transformation and ultimate glorification. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that authenticates our Lord ministry, it sealed His redemptive work, marked the beginning of His glorification, and was a public testimony of the Fathers acceptance of His sacrifice.
[AW Pink said concerning the resurrection] … “The resurrection of Christ was necessary not only to evince God’s acceptance of His satisfaction on our behalf but as a necessary step to secure the application of the merits of His sacrifice to us, to communicate "the sure mercies of David" (Acts 13:34) to us. "Because I live," said He, "ye shall live also" (John 14:19); otherwise He would be a Bridegroom without a bride, a Redeemer with no redeemed, the living Head of a lifeless body. God’s raising of Christ from the dead was the pledge that He would quicken into newness of life all for whom He died. The Corn of wheat which died "bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:24). (PINK)
The Greek construction of “He raised Him from the dead” indicates that Christ was raised “Out of the dead” out of all those who had died and who remain buried in the earth. This was no hoax or farce of deception. This was a dead man not just coming back to life but a dead man breaking the bonds and shackles of death with a power that death could not vanquish – the power of GOD!
The Christian faith is dependent on the resurrection of Jesus Christ because it is his resurrection to life that testifies that the power of death has been broken. Death could not hold this man! And for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ they too will partake in the resurrection of these mortal bodies.
"For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection," (Romans 6:5, NASB95)
"knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him." (Romans 6:9, NASB95) This clearly implies that during those three days He was under death’s power. He was death’s prisoner, He was death’s "lawful captive" (Isa. 49:24), held fast in its terrible grip. Christ not only died but was "buried," and for three days remained in the death state. Hence God raised Him not merely from death but "from the dead," from the state of death: had He "revived" or quickened Him immediately after His expiring on the cross that would have been raising Him from "death" but not "from the dead." Christ gained a victory not only over death but also over the grave. The two are distinguished in "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55).
This victory of the resurrection is the basis of the believers hope:
(1 Corinthians 6:14) "Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power."
(1 Peter 1:3) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"
(Colossians 2:15) "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." This verse clearly implies a concerted effort on the part of the powers of evil to oppose His resurrection and ascension? How else did He "triumph over them"? Why was "the King of glory," on His entrance into heaven, greeted as "the LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle" (Ps. 24:7-8)? Ii is because of His victory over the infernal forces?
The point is clear. If you want evidence of the power of God working on your behalf then look no further than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You may question God's power in our lives, but Paul is telling you that what God is doing in YOU is in accordance with the same surpassing greatness of power that raised Jesus from the dead and exalted Him to heaven. If you still aren't sure God will follow through on His promises, remember He fulfilled His plan for Christ. He raised Him out of the grave, shattered the chains of death, and drew Him to His side in heaven. He will do the same for YOU. There is no reason for you to be insecure. You must understand that God has the power to secure you and fulfill the hope and bring you into the inheritance that is yours in Christ.
This brings us to the second demonstration of the power of God to give us confidence of a right relationship with God, of our hope, riches and power through Christ.
2. The Dynamic evidence of the Exaltation of Christ: and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places v.20,
Here is the second way God exercised His power in Christ. He not only raised Christ from the dead physically but he seated Him at His right hand.
This alludes to Psalm 110:1 which says "A Psalm of David. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”" (Psalm 110:1, NASB95)
“The general sense in this verse is, that the Lord Jesus was exalted to the highest conceivable dignity and honour. Comp. Philippians 2:9; Colossians 2:10. In this beautiful and most important passage, the apostle labours for words to convey the greatness of his conceptions, and uses those which denote the highest conceivable dignity and glory. (Barnes)”
The right hand is a symbol of divine power and sovereignty. Christ is exalted to the place of supreme privilege, honor and authority. There is no conceivable higher place of rule existing.
The location of this exaltation is to be noted – Christ is raised to the heavenly places – this speaks of the place where God dwells. It is from this place that every spiritual blessing flows (1:3). It is a position of ultimate glory and grace.
Knowing where Christ is and where the blessings flow from should dramatically alter the way we live our lives. If you are a Christian then you are in Christ. If you are in Christ then what is a reality for Him is a reality for you even though that reality will be realized in the future. Paul could exhort the believers in Colossee not to look to earthly religious practices for their hope of a future but to look to Christ.
" Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3, NASB95).
But notice with me in verse 21 that Paul adds to this exalted place by giving it further definition:
i. far above all rule and authority v.21
Here Paul is describing the powers over which Christ rules. Although the NASB translates it far above the idea is not so much the distance of supremacy as it is one of primacy being over. He is over all…
· Rule –( avrch,) always signifies “primacy” whether in time: beginning, or in rank: power, dominion, office. In this context it clearly refers to rank in rule and power, whether among men or angels, and the sense is, that Christ is exalted above all. This places Jesus Christ in first place of all rule – He has the right to be Lord of all lords, King of all kings .
· Authority (evxousi,a,) = the freedom to act and hence authority and so speaks of Jesus Christ being exalted above all known authorities human and angelic.
ii. and power and dominion, v,21
· power – (dunamis) = inherent power – In other words Jesus Christ has the greatest inherent power available in all of Creation both physical and spiritual
· dominion (Kuriotars) = power or position as lord – rarely used outside the NT.
From these four terms (rule, authority, power, and dominion) we can see that in our battle as Christians we who have been raised up with Christ have His power at our disposal. Therefore there is no need to fear demons, evil spirits, governments or other earthly authorities because they will all ultimately have to bow the knee to the One who has the right over them. We do not have to heed any other rule or authority in our lives except the rule of Christ, we are not under any other power or dominion but Christ’s alone thus you can have the assurance that you can know God.
Paul gives yet some more qualification to Christ’s exaltation…
iii. and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come v.21.
Here Paul highlights the character and nature of this exalted Christ. Jesus has a name which is above every other name – that it the sum total of His attributes and characteristics exceeds all other beings. By nature there is none equal to Him. His is a name sufficient for the believer to call on no matter what trouble we might find ourselves in.
As Mediator, Christ was and is both God and man, or the God-man, and as such He has been exalted and rewarded. His divine glory is no longer eclipsed, for instead of acting in the form of a servant, He now reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11, NASB95)
His humanity has been elevated to heaven and glorified with a glory that outshines every other creature. Though He is still clothed with flesh, yet his divine glory is not now veiled as it once was. His humanity is now filled with all the divine perfections of that which a created nature is possibly capable of. It is not deified but glorified.
John Owen wrote regarding Christ’s humanity,
"It is not made omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, but is exalted in a fullness of all Divine perfections and infinitely above the glory of angels and men. For the substance of this glory of the human nature of Christ believers shall be made partakers of it, for when we shall see Him as He is ‘we shall be like Him’; but as unto the degrees and measure of it, His glory is above all that we can be made partakers of."
And if this were not enough Paul reminds us that none of this is temporal or time related but is eternal and true for every age, present and future. What security we have in Christ! What confidence should fill our souls, what purpose and direction, what comfort and peace. We are so blessed to know God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Why? Because as He was raised so to we will be raised –
" But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, NASB95)
So far we have seen God’s power through the dynamic evidence of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, through the exaltation of Christ and now thirdly we see the power of God through…
3. The Dynamic evidence of the Victory of Christ: And He put all things in subjection under His feet,v.22
It is one thing to be given a position of ultimate authority it is another to be allowed to exercise it. Here we see God’s power evidenced in Christ’s victory over all things. In Heb 2:6-9 we read that the first Adam lost control over this creation but the second Adam has taken it up again.
The metaphorical language of “Under His feet” carried the idea of victory over ones enemies. This is illustrated in Joshua 10:24 (cf.2 Sam 22:38-39). Joshua had his generals place their feet on the necks of the five defeated Amorite kings. In similar fashion God has placed everything under the feet of His Son showing that everything is ultimately subject to Him.
All creatures whatsoever are in subjection to him; they must either yield him sincere obedience or fall under the weight of his sceptre, and receive their doom from him. (Matthew Henry)
"then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:24-28, NASB95)
O what Glory beloved! O what triumph! O what victory is ours in Christ!
God’s power is displayed in the resurrection of Jesus, in the exaltation of Jesus, in the Victory of Jesus over His enemies. This now brings us to v. 22b – 23 where we see the fourth evidence of God’s Power. It is…
4. The Dynamic evidence of the Body of Christ: and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (v. 22b - 23)
The final demonstration of God’s power is the giving of Christ who is the head over everything to the church. What Paul is emphasizing is that the one who is head over all creation is also head over the new creation the church which is His body. The power of God is being evidenced through the body of Christ the church of which Jesus Christ is the head.
There has been much discussion over what head means however in this context yet when used metaphorically in the Scriptures it always means, ruler, person of superior authority or rank.
“Picture him as the king over many territories that are not fully subdued to him. This text is declaring that Christ is indeed the king of the universe. He is "above ALL rule" (v. 21). He is over "EVERY name" (v. 21). God put "ALL THINGS" under his feet (v. 22). He is head over "ALL THINGS" (v. 22). And by this authority he will sovereignly fill all his territories with absolute sway. He will accomplish his purpose in every sphere. He will make himself unmistakably known in every place. He will be preeminent in every nook and cranny of the universe. Even the outer darkness of hell will be filled with his authority and his power and his wrath and the knowledge of his wisdom. (Piper – Eph 1:15-23 message)
But just what does verse 23 mean? “the fullness of Him who fills all in all."
John Piper speaking of this phrase says that “God AIMS to fill the universe with the glory of his Son, Jesus, by making the church the showcase of his perfections. Or, to put it another way, and include the idea of body: God means to fill the universe with the glory of his Son by putting the church on display as the embodiment of his Son.
Christ fills the universe with his glory by showing the universe his body—how he chose her, how he destined her, how he came for her and taught her and suffered for her and died for her and rose for her and reigns for her, how he called her and justified her and cleansed her and kept her and will raise her and glorify her and satisfy her forever and ever with himself.”
The sixteenth-century French reformer John Calvin said about Ephesians 1:22-23, "This is the highest honor of the Church, that, until He is united to us, the Son of God reckons Himself in some measure imperfect. What consolation it is for us to learn, that, not until we are in His presence, does He possess all His parts, or does He wish to be regarded as complete!" (Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979], p. 218).
The incomparable Christ is incomplete until the church, which is His body, is complete. Paul prayed that we might understand these great truths--and that's my prayer for you.
God has a great plan for every believer. He brings it about with His great power and dwells within us to bring it to fulfillment. No wonder Paul said, "We are more than conquerors [Gk., hupernike, "super conquerors"]" (Rom. 8:37)! He also said, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph. 6:12). To combat those forces we need to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; put on the whole armor of God" (vv. 10-11). God's power is not only available to us it is in us.
Do you know who you are? Do you know your hope, your riches and power?
Conclusion
And so we have seen today that God’s eternal power that works within us is seen in
The dynamic evidence of the resurrection of Christ
The dynamic evidence of the exaltation of Christ
The dynamic evidence of the Victory of Christ
The dynamic evidence of the Church of Christ
Let me leave you with some summary lessons we can take from these verses
- The cross truly is the power of God because without the cross there would be no resurrection, exaltation, victory or church.
- At a time where there is an unparalleled departure from simplicity and devotion to Christ this passage should call you back to your first love and remind you that to truly live is Christ and to die is gain
- There is no reason for any true believer to think he lacks the power to live a life that pleases God
- There is no place for exalting demonic authorities because in Christ they have been defeated and have no jurisdiction over a believer’s life.
- Living our lives in the light of the Power of God as evidenced through Christ will cause us to know our hope, our riches, our power to live an uncompromising life for God.
- Christ is our glorious head and as such every time we gather to worship we must come in submission to Him and His purposes for our lives and for His church, we must come to exalt Him in our prayers and songs and study of His word – We must seek to glorify Him in all things.