Living By Resurrection Power

Introduction

Ephesians 1:15–23 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked 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 above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things 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.

EPH1.15

Lion King re-imagined...I’ve seen it a thousand times as our children have grown up. The genius of the folks at Disney is that when they make an animated children’s movie they always have a number of lines in there that only adults are going to get. This way, parents don’t mind taking their children to see the movie because they’ll probably enjoy it too. Even folks without children will go to see some of these movies.

In The Lion King, Simba, the heir to the throne, had been tricked by his wicked uncle Scar into thinking that he had caused his father’s death. So Simba ran far away from the Pride Land as young lion cub. He runs into this Meerkat and Wart Hog team named Timon and Pumba. And he grows up with Timon and Pumba, living by the motto, “hakuna matata,” no worries. But things got so bad in the Pride Land that Simba’s childhood friend Nala comes looking for help. Guess who she runs into in her search? You got it, Simba, Timon and Pumbaa.

Here Simba’s buddies had thought that he was just a fun loving lion, with no responsibilities. And Nala shows up and breaks the news that their buddy is the king. Of course, they don’t believe her and fall out on the ground in laughter. Timon says, “Lady, you’ve got your lions crossed.” But Nala persists and Simba has to admit that was going to be king, but that was a long time ago. So Timon says, “Let me get this straight. You’re the king? And you never told us?” Simba says, “Look, I’m still the same guy.” Then Timon’s eyes get big and he says, “But with power!”

It was one thing to have a buddy that was a great guy. But it was quite another if that guy has power. What’s the underlying message? We all want to be close to power. If we know somebody with power, we think, “that’s going to make life better for me.” You’ve heard this phrase haven’t you? “It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.” I remember when I was a senior in college trying to get a job. I was at the annual conference of the NSBE. All kinds of companies come out to this conference, and you don’t know if they’re sending out someone with influence, or just someone to fill a spot at the booth. One of the members of my chapter said, “there’s somebody here from Motorola I want you to meet.” My first question was, “Is he somebody who can get me a job?” Once I found out that he was someone authorized to offer me a job, I put my game face on and went to work.

We want to know people with power. And usually it’s not simply because people with power can make things happen for us, it’s because we know that’s the road to obtaining power and influence ourselves. The problem is our eyesight is often too limited, our desires are often too weak, and our hopes are often too small because our eyesight, desires, and hopes are focused almost exclusively on ourselves.

What our text declares is that two thousand years ago, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead, what was on display was the surpassing greatness of God’s power. What was on display was the might of his strength. And what’s amazing is that the apostle Paul says in v. 18 that this surpassing greatness of God’s power is at work in those who believe in Jesus Christ. The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead is presently at work in those who follow Jesus. You want to be close to power? You want power? Then you have to be close to Jesus. Let me be clear. I’m not talking about the power to get a job, or the power to do well in school, or the power to do whatever we desire. I’m talking about the power to live the life that God calls (demands) that every living person live. It is impossible to live out God’s call to you and to us apart from resurrection power.

The apostle says so much in his prayer, but I want to focus on three things he says in vv. 18-19, The Hope of God’s Call, The Riches of God’s Glorious Inheritance, and The Greatness of God’s Power.

The Hope of God’s Call

Our text starts in v. 15, but if we were to back up and read the first 14 verses, we would hear the apostle Paul beginning this letter praising God for his glorious grace; the glorious grace of God that is seen in God’s choosing to save rebellious sinners before the foundation of the world; in his choosing to redeem them, to bring them back to himself, by the blood of Jesus Christ; that blood through which the forgiveness of our trespasses comes. The lavish grace of God is seen in revealing to us the mystery of his will, his purpose set forth in Jesus Christ to unite all things in Christ. Then Paul says that God has given the Holy Spirit to those he saved as the down payment of their inheritance until they acquire full possession of it. We don’t have time to do this justice this morning, but don’t miss how much this chapter, indeed how much in this entire letter, Paul grounds the Christian life in the work of the Triune God. The Father has blessed us in Christ. He has chosen us in Jesus Christ. He has predestined us for adoption in Christ. Because he has done this for us in Christ, we are redeemed by Christ. We have redemption by his blood. We have the forgiveness of our trespasses by his blood shed on the cross. And this blood bought redemption by Jesus Christ, which was predestined by the Father, is sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Far from a confusing doctrine that should be avoided, the work of our Triune God, Father, Son, and Spirit, is a cause for praise and rejoicing. Because of the firmness of God’s salvation Paul, in vv. 15-16, is led to thankfulness and prayer for the saints in the Ephesian churches. Saints simply means “holy ones.” “Saints” isn’t special title given to a few worthy Christians. It is a reference to those who have repented of their rebellion and their sin and turned to God through faith in Jesus Christ. If that describes you, then you’re included in this prayer. What does he pray in v. 17?

Ephesians 1:17 ESV

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Wisdom and revelation is the work of the Holy Spirit. And the goal of this wisdom and revelation is the knowledge of God. It is to know God. Not to know God for the first time, because as Christians they already know God. But it is to know God better. It is to continue growing in their knowledge of God. That their life should not be one of simply drudging through the daily grind hoping for a better tomorrow. No. There should be a growing in their knowledge of God. And resurrection power is necessary if that’s going to happen.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

The ESV has a lower case ‘s’ for spirit, but this is more likely a reference to the Holy Spirit. Wisdom and revelation is the work of the Holy Spirit. And the goal of this wisdom and revelation is the knowledge of God. It is to know God. Not to know God for the first time, because as Christians they already know God. But it is to know God better. It is to continue growing in their knowledge of God. That their life should not be one of simply drudging through the daily grind hoping for a better tomorrow. No. There should be a growing in their knowledge of God. And resurrection power is necessary if that’s going to happen.

Paul knows that if this wisdom and revelation is continually given to them, then v. 18 will happen. The eyes of their hearts will be enlightened to understand the hope of God’s calling. What is the hope of his calling? Let me say a couple of things first before answering that question directly. First, please note with me that these are all pronouns. Every time Paul says “you,” it’s “y’all.” Every time he says “yours,” it’s “y’all’s.” Our tendency is to default to an individual, privatized reading of passages like this. Sure, these things apply to me as an individual, but he’s speaking to the Christian community in Ephesus about his prayer for them collectively. He prays that the “God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you all the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, have the eyes of you all’s hearts enlightened, that you all may know what is the hope to which he has called you all.” Secondly, notice that it’s having the “eyes of your hearts” enlightened. The hope of God’s call doesn’t start with what we see with the eyes in our heads. The hope of God’s call begins with God opening up the eyes of our hearts. This is the Spirit’s work. We don’t enlighten the eyes of our hearts, we have them enlightened by the Holy Spirit. This is a prayer for spiritual insight to grab hold of and live by the truth of God’s purposes, not our own.

What is the hope of his call? What is the hope of God’s call? This is important because no one is exempt from God’s call. No one gets a pass. No one is excused. Here’s his call. In it says that Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel.” Let me give you some examples of what the call is:

The hope of his call is that through this enlightenment, we begin to realize all the blessings that he has declared in vv. 3-14 of this chapter.

He will make himself much more plain in chapter 4 when he says in vv. 1-3

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

, as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

The hope of God’s call to the followers of Jesus is intimately connected to the ways they walk together as his people. He calls us to harmonious, loving fellowship with him and one another in Jesus Christ. That is across all barriers, race, class, gender, age, likes, dislikes, abilities and disabilities, socio-economic status. This is the call. And when the eyes of our hearts are enlightened we realize that we have no means of living out that call without the resurrection power of God. And we are regularly asking how’s it going? How are we doing? Where is there conflict? Where is there disruption? Where is there “things are not the way I want them to be” going on in our lives that is pulling us away from the hope of God’s call in Jesus Christ? Paul wants us to know the ‘hope of God’s call.’ Hope is a present reality that also points us to the future. Hope points forward to something that’s coming. This hope is connected to what he has already said, that God is going to sum up/unite all things in Jesus Christ. What we look forward to is the fullness of life in the presence of God, unimpeded by any corruption in us or in the world. We struggle because right now we are impeded by corruption in ourselves and in others. We do endure life in this world that can crush hopes. While we look forward to the fullness of life in the presence of God, we are called right now to live a new life in Jesus Christ. And we need resurrection power for that.

, For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

, For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

God calls us to holiness. He calls us to harmonious, loving fellowship with him and one another in Jesus Christ. That is across all barriers, race, class, gender, age, likes, dislikes, socio-economic status. God calls us into the experience of opposition and unjust suffering for Jesus Christ without retaliating. This is the call. Let me stop for a moment and ask you, “How’re you doing?” How’s it going for you? Can you see that you have no means of living out that call without the resurrection power of God? Where is there conflict? Where is there disruption? Where is there “things are not the way I want them to be” going on in your life that is pulling you away from the hope of God’s call in Jesus Christ? Paul wants us to know the ‘hope of God’s call.’ Hope is a present reality that also points us to the future. Hope points forward to something that’s coming. What we look forward to is the fullness of life in the presence of God, unimpeded by any corruption in us or in the world. We struggle because right now we are impeded by corruption in ourselves and in others. We do endure life in this world that can crush hopes. While we look forward to the fullness of life in the presence of God, we are called right now to live a new life in Jesus Christ. And we need resurrection power for that.

The Riches of God’s Glorious Inheritance

The second thing Paul says he wants us to know and understand are the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints. This is really parallel to the hope of God’s call. For just like the hope of God’s call, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance point us forward to something that is to come in the future. Listen, we ought to slow down and try to wrap our minds around what the apostle is praying for…

τίς ὁ πλοῦτος τῆς δόξης τῆς κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις

He describes this in terms that are meant to get you excited. These words are included here so that we might understand that there is nothing better, nothing more satisfying, nothing more exciting than belonging to God through faith in Jesus Christ. The question is, do you believe that? If I came to you and said, “you didn’t know this, but you are the long lost nephew/niece of Bill Gates. And even though you don’t know him and you weren’t looking for him, he knows you and is now establishing a relationship with you. Not only that, but you will inherit majority stock in Microsoft.” Chances are that you’d be excited.

There is a rich, glorious inheritance to come. He describes the future in terms that are meant to get you excited. These words are included here so that we might understand that there is nothing better, nothing more satisfying, nothing more exciting than knowing Jesus Christ. The question is, do you believe that? If I came to you and said, “you didn’t know this, but you are the long lost nephew/niece of Bill Gates. And even though you don’t know him and you weren’t looking for him, he knows you and is now establishing a relationship with you. Not only that, but you will inherit majority stock in Microsoft.” Chances are that you’d be excited.

But can I tell you that doesn’t compare to what’s being described here. In v. 14 he said that the promised Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. The inheritance is life with God himself. Right now, in Jesus Christ, we get God the Holy Spirit as a downpayment. The down payment is the first installment. And it’s always the same in kind as the full payment. What is the believer’s full inheritance if the Holy Spirit is the down payment? It is nothing other than God himself. The Holy Spirit is the pledge of your inheritance which affirms that God belongs to you.

However, when he prays in v. 18 that we know the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints, there’s a subtle shift that’s meant to blow our minds. The prayer is not that we know what our inheritance is, it’s that we know that we are God’s glorious inheritance.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Ephesians 2. Intercession for Their Growth in Knowledge, 1:16b–19

God’s people, comprising both Jews and Gentiles,177 are his inheritance, his own possession, in whom he will display to the universe the untold riches of his glory

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” ( ESV)

Christians, do you know who you are? Paul uses this language to let us know that God has a rich, glorious inheritance that is unmatched by your wildest dreams and imaginations.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Ephesians 2. Intercession for Their Growth in Knowledge, 1:16b–19

God’s people, comprising both Jews and Gentiles,177 are his inheritance, his own possession, in whom he will display to the universe the untold riches of his glory.

‘That God should set such a high value on a community of sinners, rescued from perdition and still bearing too many traces of their former state, might well seem incredible were it not made clear that he sees them in Christ, as from the beginning he chose them in Christ’.178 As a consequence, then, Paul prays that his readers might appreciate the extraordinary value which God places on them. He views them as in his beloved Son and estimates them accordingly. And this is true of all who are ‘in Christ’.

Paul uses this language to let us know that God has a rich, glorious inheritance that is unmatched by your wildest dreams and imaginations.

Christians, do you know who you are? Do you know who you are? I know that you’re still struggling with sin. I know that you continue to disappoint yourself and others. Fatih in Jesus doesn’t mean that we no longer bear the traces of our former selves. It means that we are God’s beloved.

What is this imperishable, unfading, undefiled inheritance that is kept in heaven for us? It is beyond our capacity to fully understand.

Christians, do you know who you are? Paul uses this language to let us know that God has a rich, glorious inheritance that is unmatched by your wildest dreams and imaginations.

Paul uses this language to let us know that God has a rich, glorious inheritance, and it’s us. In he puts it this way,

Romans 8:19 ESV

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

We live by resurrection power now, knowing that God will put his beautiful, diverse, redeemed people on display for the whole creation to see the riches of his glory.

God’s inheritance will not be a little private party for each individual but rather as we join that ‘great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb’.

And what’s at the center of this inheritance? You got it, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ rising from the dead secured this inheritance.The glory of the resurrection is God’s determination to call people to himself that they might belong to him and that he might belong to them.

The Greatness of God’s Power

The third thing he prays for us to know is the immeasurable greatness of God’s power in we who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead. If the first two prayer requests primarily point us forward to the hope that’s to come and to the full inheritance that’s to come, this one clearly defines how it is that God’s people will make it to that day. What does he want us to know? The immeasurable greatness of God’s power, not towards, the preposition is better translated in we who believe. The Bible gives us great displays of God’s mega-power. What is our supreme example of this mighty power at work? Is it the flood from Noah’s day? Is it the parting of the Red Sea? Is it the falling down of the walls of Jericho? Is it delivering Shedrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace? Is it delivering Daniel out of the lions’ den? Is it Jesus’ walking on the water, or healing the sick? The pinnacle of God’s power at work is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

God has done what man cannot do. He raised Jesus Christ from the dead. First, he arrested the natural process of decay, refusing to allow his Holy One to see corruption. Then he did not just reverse the process, restoring the dead Jesus to this life, but transcended it. He raised Jesus to an altogether new life (immortal, glorious and free), which nobody had ever experienced before, and which nobody has experienced since—or not yet.

The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in every person who believes in Jesus Christ. Do you see why I said that our desires, our hopes, and our longings are too small? We don’t really know the fullness of what God has given us in Christ. That’s why Paul’s prayer was necessary. Notice that he’s not praying for a fresh blessing. There’s no need to pray for a fresh blessing. He’s already praised God in v. 3 for blessing us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. This prayer is a prayer for knowledge. This prayer is not a prayer for power or hope or endurance or inheritance or richness although all of these things are mentioned. It is a prayer for knowledge and understanding. It is a prayer that God would reveal to his people that which they would not know unless God reveals it through his Spirit.

Here’s why we need to know that resurrection power is at work in those who follow Jesus Christ. We need to know it so that we don’t become complacent with regard to the things of God. We need to know it so that we don’t become or stay spiritually lazy. We need to know it so that our eyes will be fixed on what matters most.

You don’t need resurrection power to get good grades. You don’t need resurrection power to get a promotion. You don’t need resurrection power to lose weight or get in shape. You don’t need resurrection power to do a lot of things that you want to do (most things). But we are desperate to know and exercise the resurrection power of God if we are going to do anything of value for the kingdom of God either as individuals or, most importantly, as a church. N.T. Wright,

“Christians are already, as it were, ‘resurrection people.’ Their bodies still need to be transformed, but in terms of the resurrection related imagery of sleeping and waking, they are already ‘awake’, and must stay that way.”

You need resurrection power to pursue the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace when things get rough. You need resurrection power to patiently endure suffering as a witness of Jesus Christ. You need resurrection power to truly love people who are unlovable. You need resurrection power to live free from the seemingly all consuming preoccupation you have with yourself. You need resurrection power to not seek power for yourself, but to instead use any power and authority you have for the benefit of others. You need resurrection power to live the life that God calls us to live; self-denying, self-sacrificing, truth telling, praise giving, promise keeping, neighbor loving, hope filled, Jesus believing, God glorifying life!