49-08b A Prayer for Understanding, Pt 3

Introduction

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2823 Haydn’s Music

Haydn, the great musician, was once asked why his church music was so cheerful, and he replied: “When I think upon God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap, as it were, from my pen, and since God has given me a cheerful heart it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.”

Joy ought to be a distinguishing mark of the Xn. If you remember from our study in Philippians, Xn joy is not dependent on favorable circumstances but even in the most difficult times, joy—inner thankfulness to God for His goodness which is not interrupted when less than desirable circumstances intrude on my life. We’ve come thru a difficult political season, there are stresses with COVID, perhaps there’s financial pressure added to that…but in these things we have joy. That joy should be manifest in our private lives and when we gather together as the church.

Why shouldn’t we be joyful? In Eph. Paul has described the spiritual blessings that belong to us, salvation, forgiveness according to the riches of God’s grace (vs 7). God has revealed to us the mystery of His will—that all things are to be summed up in Christ—the goal of all human history is heading toward its ultimate restoration found in LJC. With that, all believers will forever be with the Lord—enjoying eternity with the One who saved them from their wretched condition.

What could be more satisfying than that? Well, actually there is something…to come to a deeper understanding (spirit wisdom and revelation) of these blessing even now. That’s the purpose for this prayer in ch 1.

Review

1. Understand God’s Purpose

What God has called you to is to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29-30). And with that is the promise of future glorification (hope) where you will be like Christ (1 Jn 3:2).

2. Understand God’s Possession (vs 18b)

This is the 2nd of 3 reasons Paul prays for understanding. Some commentators believe the apostle is speaking about the riches of our inheritance. This has been a subject on Paul’s mind (vs 11).

Grammatically there is a better understanding—this is speaking about the glory of God’s inheritance which is the saints. Now, that God’s people are called “saints” is due to the outworking of His grace (already highlighted in previous vv). And now, all those who have been chosen of God, who have put their faith in LJC for salvation and the forgiveness of sins, we are called “His inheritance.”

We know that God possesses all things. The universe is His b/c He is the Creator.

Jeremiah 27:5 NASB95

“I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight.

Psalm 50:10 NASB95

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills.

Psalm 104:24–25 NASB95

O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions. There is the sea, great and broad, In which are swarms without number, Animals both small and great.

Under the inspiration of HS Paul calls “saints” His inheritance in a special sense. Spurgeon “They are His peculiar treasure, His crown jewels.” Vs 14 reveals that God will redeem His possession on the day of consummation. Believers, saints, holy ones, those whom He set apart unto Himself when He chose them before the foundation of the world…they are His inheritance.

Now, pause for a moment and reflect on what this means. Does this not reveal how precious God’s people are to Him? And why are they so valuable to Him? He rescued them from the state of condemnation, fully deserving the wrath of eternal hell, having purchased them with the precious blood of Christ, even still while bearing too many traces of the former state, God then justified each one putting the righteousness of His beloved Son on their account and sees them as He sees Christ. God’s people are as precious to Him as is Christ to whom they are united by faith and have become partakers of His resurrected life.

Oh what God did, to ensure His inheritance! notice Paul says we are “the riches of the glory of His inheritance.” vv 4-8

Spurgeon “Look to the glorious landscapes of rock and hill and dale and mountain—turn your eyes from grassy slope to snowy summit sparkling in the sun—and while you admire all things, remember that God has costlier works than these! None of these cost the Lord an Incarnation and a death! Look, if you will, to all the majestic halls of Heaven where the lamps of Glory are lit with supernal splendor, but neither angel, nor cherubim, nor seraphim cost their Lord bloody sweat! Then look at His people—view “His inheritance in the saints”—for it is there that the Son of God, taking upon Himself human nature, sighed and groaned and sweat great drops of blood and felt the agonies of death!

As the Lord looks over all that He has made, He sees nothing that has cost Him suffering and death till He comes to His people! Jesus knows what the saints cost Him. He estimates them at a rate usual among men, for men say, “The price is what it will fetch,” and Jesus knows what His people fetched when He redeemed them by giving Himself for them! Measured by that standard, God has, indeed, riches of glory in His inheritance in the saints! And then there comes great glory to God from the workmanship which He puts into His people.”

Understanding this should prompt you to live a life of devotion and dedication to the Lord since He will be glorified in us.

2 Thessalonians 1:10 NASB95

when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

3. Understand God’s Power

One of the greatest threats facing the church today is apathy. Apathy rules in this life. Webster defines as being without feeling, emotion, interest or concern. It is an attitude that is everywhere around us. (Laodicea) Apathy has a number of indicators within the church but often its first sign is in church attendance. What drives people to church today is convenience. People will go to church not b/c they are eager to worship God Most High, not b/c they are enthusiastic about fellowship with other believers, and not b/c they are energized by the discovery of God’s truth. People go to church b/c it is convenient. They go when they can, and if its not convenient, well—no big deal.

Over 100 yrs ago: Spurgeon “Everywhere is apathy. Nobody cares whether that which is preached is true or false. A sermon is a sermon whatever the subject; only, the shorter it is the better.”

What does apathy stem from? I believe it has to do with our view of God. Do we have a high or low view of God?

Tozer “The church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men. This she has done not deliberately, but little by little and without her knowledge - and her very unawareness only makes her situation all the more tragic.”

One antidote to apathy is to rediscover the power of God. We confess that God is omnipotent. But what does that mean for living the Xn life? I’m not sure many contemplate that question. Paul’s prayer for wisdom and revelation will help us to better understand the power of God.

Now, Paul really wanted to make sure he gets his point across so he piles up words, different terms/synonyms to help understand something of the significance of God’s power. 4 different words to convey this.

dunamis—dynamic, ability, strength, force; “the surpassing greatness (to throw over or beyond a mark—magnitude of power). In Rom 8:7-8 Paul states the natural man does not have power, ability to please God. So this is power to accomplish the task stated.

The next 3 are part of the phrase “working…might”

energeia “energy” the inherent power that belongs to and is exercised by God.

kratos “strength” refers to manifested strength (could refer to physical strength that is being demonstrated) sometimes translated “dominion”

ischus “might” “endowed power” 2Th 1:9 ; 1 Pt 4:11

Psalm 62:11 NASB95

Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God;

Jeremiah 10:12 NASB95

It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.

Jeremiah 32:17 NASB95

‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,

The power of God is demonstrated in many ways thruout Scripture. But as Ironside says “Our attention is not called to the power that created the heaven and the earth, to the power that brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and led them in triumph to the Land of Canaan, nor to the working of mighty miracles through the Lord and His apostles, but to the greatest manifestation of the power of God” the resurrection of LJC

Ironside, H. A. (1937). In the heavenlies : practical expository addresses on the Epistle to the Ephesians. (pp. 92–93). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.

What Paul is speaking about is God’s power that is demonstrated toward us who believe. If we’re honest I think there are sometimes we wonder if God can really do a certain thing for us or in us. Or we might have grown so accustomed to His power that we’re slipping toward apathy.

The result of God’s power is demonstrated in 4 areas:

1) The resurrection of JC

Just as the death of Christ demonstrates supremely the love of God, the resurrection demonstrates HIs power.

Philippians 3:10 NASB95

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Paul’s desire is to know the full comprehensive power of God that is manifest in LJC. Speaking of this power: JA Fitzmyer “It emanates from the Father, raises Jesus from the dead at his resurrection, endows him with a new vitality, and finally proceeds from him as the life-giving, vitalizing force of the ‘new creation’ and of the new life that Xns in union with Christ experience and live.”

Paul knew there was no power in the Law—Rom 8:3

He knew there was no power in his flesh to overcome sin or to offer himself in service to God—Rom 7:18-24

The power of God that brought about the resurrection also continues to be the “vitalizing force” of new life that every believer has come to experience (in salvation and sanctification).

Christ’s power not only saves, but it enables you to defeat temptation, to endure trials, lead a holy life, boldly proclaim the gospel, faithfully and fruitfully serve Christ.

2. The Ascension of JC

Seated him…position of highest honor and authority. To sit at god’s rt hand is the symbol of divine power. That is given to one person—LJC.

3. The Sovereignty of JC

vs 21

Some people profess Christ as Lord but really have little to no understanding of what it means.

Notice what is significant about this phrase:

In Jewish terms—rule, authority, power, dominion—used to describe the realm of angelic beings. In Judaism, there was the belief that God had delegated authority over the nations to angelic beings with the notion that what happened on earth is reflected by what is described in Dan 10:13,20. They understood the powers of these angels—and Paul’s point: the Power of God applied to Christ cannot be overthrown/defeated b/c it surpasses the authority of everything else. Even over every name that has been named on earth.

J.C. is far above everyone/everything. Above Satan & his world system. Above holy/fallen angles. Above saved/unsaved—for all time throughout eternity. This is the picture of His sovereignty and God’s power is manifest thru it.

4. The Preeminence of JC

We see God’s power in Christ’s supremacy over the entire universe. By virtue of the resurrection, Christ was given restored dominion over the cosmos—everything w/o exception has bet put in subjection under Him. (quote Ps 8:6)

Gk hupotasso “rank under, put in subjection, to submit”—military term expressing subjection to a commanding officer. In unequivocal terms, Paul says the J.C. has been given absolute right to rule, exercise authority, and control over the entire universe. Everything will submit to His authority.

As far as believers are concerned—He has been placed as head over the body—fig of speech “superior rank”—metaphorically describes the relationship of Christ to the body—which is described as the church here—as such a living relationship.

Not only is the church the body of Christ but as His body—it is filled by Him.

Christ is the one who fills all things with all things—includ. the church. As Christ imparts His fullness to believers His presence, His animated life, His gifts, and graces—they fill the church which is becoming all that Christ intends.

Understanding God’s purpose, possession, and power causes us to consider not only the riches of God’s grace that imparts new life to us in salvation but also knowing His plan is for our sanctification and glorification, that we are His treasured possession and the surpassing greatness of His power is in us who believe—you are able to pursue holiness, righteousness, and truth, living the godly life God has called us to live. As you do, God is conforming you to the image of His Son…tremendous joy is ours b/c of this prayer for understanding. Pray it for yourselves, for your family, for one another in the church, pray it for me—as I’ll pray this for you.