Progressing in Power

Ephesians 1:3–23 LEB

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love, having predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace that he bestowed on us in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, that he caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in him, for the administration of the fullness of times, to bring together all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him in whom also we were chosen, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to the counsel of his will, that we who hoped beforehand in Christ should be for the praise of his glory, in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also when you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. Because of this I also, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (the eyes of your hearts having been enlightened), so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength which he has worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavenly places, above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this age but also in the coming one, and he subjected all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Ephesians 1:3–23 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 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. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:3-23

Introduction: We as humans like to connect with something bigger than ourselves. Last week (Apocalyptic Literature) God revealed a bigger perspective on History. With the Kids in VBS, the theme was going to Mars and Beyond, Now that is a big view. What is that view?

Paul tells us that view in one dramatic 2 sentence Praise Prayer....

26-God’s Purpose is to restore all things in Jesus.

Hugh Ross Illustration.

An ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of sovereignty.

On board the liner are several scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as they please; but all the while the great liner is carrying them steadily onward toward a predetermined port.

Both freedom and sovereignty are present here and they do not contradict each other. So it is, I believe, with man’s freedom and the sovereignty of God. The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history. God moves undisturbed and unhindered toward the fulfillment of those eternal purposes which He purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began. We do not know all that is included in those purposes, but enough has been disclosed to furnish us with a broad outline of things to come and to give us good hope and firm assurance of future well-being.

A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

So what has been disclosed?

1.He chose us (The People of God) to be on the ship (to be adopted into his family)

2.For a purpose to be Holy and Blameless

How did he do this?

Forgiving us sin through grace through Jesus’ blood

Than Jesus taught us this Good news.

And we believed this Good News and when we did.

Jesus gave us the promise of the Holy Spirit.

But this is just part of God’s purpose. The Bigger purpose is to bring all things together in Christ in the Heavens and the Earth. - Cosmic Purpose of Restoration.

27 - We are a part of the family whose head is over all of the Cosmos. - Picture

So, Paul turns and says, based on that good news, here is my prayer for you....

28-We Pray for the Spirit of Progress.

The prayer is actually for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, Not Progress.

Don’t think of it as progressivism - an idea that through our knowledge we will gain more power, and humans will then save the world.

Paul knows that his readers know the Gospel, but he wants them to keep growing in the Spirit who will take them deeper in the Gospel and most likely as we read the rest of Ephesians live it out well.

Now but Not Yet. The Reality is that Christ is ruler over all things now, but not all things have been brought under alignment or harmony with him. There is still sin, there is still pain, war, conflict, disease, etc. People are not perfect inside or outside the church. Not until Christ comes back again

The focus is also, not on us having the power to save our world by our knowledge, but it will grow us in humility and praise for the power that Jesus brings to save our world. - It will first grow our relationship with Jesus, and as that happens help us see how truly Awesome God is…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Now but Not Yet. The Reality is that Christ is ruler over all things now, but not all things have been brought under alignment or harmony with him. There is still sin, there is still pain, war, conflict, disease, etc. People are not perfect inside or outside the church. Not until Christ comes back again. So we often have to remind ourselves of the Gospel frequently...

And so the Prayer for us is to progress in three areas of knowledge (based in the heart. - Hebrew sense)

29-Progress in our knowledge of Hope.

That we would be Holy and Blameless before God in love.

That we would be apart of God’s Family.

And that this would glorify God.

And all of this by Grace. - by means of Jesus’ Death on the cross - his blamelessness, and his adoption Price.

Application Point: If mentoring or discipling someone....Pray for each other for this hope that we may be confident in our relationship with God.

30-Progress in our knowledge of Riches.

They are spiritual blessings in heaven where Jesus is.

His Grace

Redemption, forgiveness of sins

Wisdom and insight

The inheritance - The Kingdom in which Christ is over all things

The Holy Spirit.

Application Point: If mentoring or discipling someone...Pray that the spiritual blessings are realized now and for eternity.

31-Progress in our knowledge of Power.

Demonstrated in Jesus’ Resurrection - Power over Death

Confirms that the Gospel is true.

Christ is alive, - Supremacy over all man-made religions whose founders are dead.

Power and Authority over all rulers, authority, power, and lordship who were subjected to him.

In spiritual warfare, victory is ensured

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to the church to equip the Church to be his body - Tim Vink +Your Will Be Done.

Application Point: If mentoring or discipling someone....Pray for confidence knowing Jesus has all authority and has the power to bring everything to God’s purposeful conclusion.

Conclusion: Prayer Cards - Pray for neighbors, friends, family, people you are discipling, people who do not know Jesus yet....

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 20-23, 45-51 Belgic Confession: Articles 22, 27, 31 Canons of Dort: Head I, Articles 1, 3