"I Got the Power!"

(NKJV)

The New King James Version Chapter 2

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We’re Built for This!

(NKJV)

The New King James Version Chapter 1

and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

The New King James Version Chapter 1

which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

The New King James Version Chapter 1

21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

The New King James Version Chapter 1

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

“I Got the Power!”

There are different kinds of power.

Economic

Political

Military

Influence

Show of Force

Manipulation

Fossil fueled

Nuclear

Electrical

But have we every really understood Resurrection power?

According to Newton’s Law, energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Which HAS to mean that the power that was used to raise Jesus from the dead was not just a one-time thing that disappeared on that first Resurrection Sunday morning!

Thesis: Jesus’ resurrection power is STILL at work in us!

In , Paul seeks to communicate to the Jesus-followers in Ephesus, and to us even today, about the three things, three facts he REALLY wants them to understand and grasp.

The hope we have because of Christ’s finished work on our behalf (v18) - pertains to the past

The riches of what it means to be in Christ, in terms of what is waiting for us (v18c) - pertains to our future

The investment of power in believers (v19-23) - pertains to our present

This 3rd fact is based upon understanding resurrection power.

Verses 19-20 are complicated, technical, theologically-loaded verses; let’s unpack this:

Paul uses 4 words for “power” in 1 verse

So, first, let’s look at what resurrection power IS, then where it’s STORED, then how it’s USED.

dunamis / power, “dynamite” = a spiritually dynamic force; a power that forces immediate change

mighty

kratos (autoCRATIC) power

working (Gk: energeian) = energetic/energy

He begins in v19 talking about the exceeding greatness of God’s dunamis

Paul uses a superlative to describe the vastness, measure, and breadth of God’s power

It is incomparably great

It surpasses comparison

It is quantitatively and qualitatively better than any other type of power

Paul starts off with referring to the “surpassing greatness” of God’s power, which he says is equivalent to, or ...

The New King James Version Chapter 1

according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead

Jeremy Upton Translation: ...is equivalent to the energizing of God’s inherent, overcoming, miracle-power that He demonstrated when He raised Jesus from the among the dead...

working, operation, energizing of, execution of, exercise of

ILLUS: Capt. Kirk would tell the person at the transporter controls to “energize”

Word 2 for power: His mighty (Gk: ischyos)

God is capable. His strength & power are inherent to Him. He inherently possesses capacity to do what nothing or no one else can.

Word 3 for power: His power (Gk: kratos)

This word for “power” is only ever used in the Bible of God! It deals with “controlling power” as in the ultimate Source.

rule, power, governing, control (democratic, autocratic, aristocratic, etc)

It is a power that overcomes all resistance.

And He decided to exercise that overarching, all-consuming power when He raised Jesus from the dead.

Word 4 for “power”: The working of (Gk. energeian)

working, operation, energizing of, execution of, exercise of

ILLUS: Capt. Kirk would tell the person at the transporter controls to “energize”

Transporter #1, #2

And He decided to exercise that overarching, all-consuming power when He raised Jesus from the dead.

God’s inherent, resistance-overcoming power had to be “energized”; it had to be ....

Resurrection power is DIRECTED

Resurrection power is DIRECTED

The autocratic power that is able to overcome any and all resistance to it, is inherently possessed by God

And He decided to exercise that overarching, all-consuming power when He raised Jesus from the dead.

But, remember how Paul’s discussion about resurrection power started: he EQUATED resurrection power to the “surpassing greatness” of the dunamis power in v19

The New King James Version Chapter 1

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead

Resurrection power has been DELEGATED

To Jesus

(NKJV)

The New King James Version Chapter 1

which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

The New King James Version Chapter 1

far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

“Seated” (v20) = “installed”

First, Jesus was raised to rule

He was installed in heavenly places to demonstrate to the entire world, physical AND spiritual, Who has the power!

Secondly, Jesus delegate it to believers

“towards” (v19) is the preposition “eis” which means “into” or “in”

The idea is that this incomparable, exceeding, surpassing huge power has been put into the ones who believe

This resurrection power was given/delegated to us to use in the here-and-now!

We have been giv

Jesus’ resurrection power is STILL at work in us!

Resurrection power wasn’t just for then; it’s been stored in Jesus-followers!

To what end?

Resurrection power is to be DEMONSTRATED

v21

The New King James Version Chapter 1

which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

The New King James Version Chapter 1

far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

He was installed in heavenly places to demonstrate to the entire world, physical AND spiritual, Who has the power!

But, secondly, not only was resurrection power delegated to Jesus, but He delegates it to the Church (v22-23):

The New King James Version Chapter 1

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

Installed as the headship of the Church, Jesus demonstrates that power by delegating it to us to use in the same dominions that He does in v21!

This resurrection power was given/delegated to us to use in the here-and-now!

We’re Built for This!

Jesus-followers, who make up the Body of Christ, have resurrection power to demonstrate and to exercise and to energize in this world.

It’s time to stop being a casual observer; resurrection power allows us to become enthusiastic participants in God’s Kingdom expressions and expansions in the here-and-now

Resurrection power allows us to become enthusiastic participants in God’s Kingdom expressions and expansions

It’s time to stop being a casual observer; resurrection power allows us to become enthusiastic participants in God’s Kingdom expressions and expansions in the here-and-now

CLOSING STORY: “Shut Up and Fish”