God's Great Power is Working Toward Us Who Believe

We are to pray that God would help His people know Him more fully. As we thank God for faith that allows us to thrive in the world (15-16), we pray for growth in wisdom for one another (17-18a). This wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of God our Father is not only possible, but as God’s gift to his children, we should fully expect to receive it as we pray for one another. If you’re trusting in Christ’s righteousness and sacrifice on the cross alone for your salvation, through repentance and faith, you have had the eyes of our hearts enlightened to know three realities:

the hope to which God has called us,

the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and (as we’ll see more today)

the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.

This morning we’ll unfold the third request in Paul’s prayer and see him, again, break out in a doxology or praise as he’s meditating on the incredible power of God that is the foundation for these requests.

SLIDE: SERIES GRAPHIC

Let’s pray, asking God to broaden our vision to understand Him more as we look at his Word.

Pray

SCRIPTURE SLIDES

SLIDE: Proposition

God's Great Power is Working in You so that We Will Bring Him Glory

God has engineered the Body of Christ to function in such a way that there is an individual component that is always intended to be contributing to the collective thriving of every local church, and the capital “C” Church. This is “you” (or “me”) and “we.”

Paul prays that we would:

SLIDE: Outline

Understand the Greatness of God’s Power (19-21)

Understand the Greatness of God’s Person (21-23)

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I. Understand the Greatness of God’s Power (19-21)

God’s power (δύναμις) is the word from which we get dynamite and dynamo.

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God’s power is immeasurably great (19a).

The greatness of God’s power goes beyond all we could ever want or need.

ILL: This winter I took the boys to a father-son retreat and we had a great time. One of our speakers was a professional archer who shot a bullseye from 100-yards on a cold, winter day.

Now, his goal was to hit that small red circle on the target, and he did. But imagine if he were to pull that bow back with all his might, aim slightly higher and shoot far beyond that target. Well, for our purposes he would have missed, but that arrow would have gone beyond the target.

Similarly, God’s power goes beyond everything you or I can imagine.

Extraordinarily great, exceedingly great, surpassingly great.

There is no end to the greatness of God’s power because there is no end to him.

God is infinite

God is omnipotent, all-powerful

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God’s immeasurably great power is toward us who believe (19b).

A biblical understanding (which always includes application) of God’s power is the means God uses to bring us to our glorious inheritance he speaks of in verse 18. God does not save you by his power, and then sit back to watch you struggle through life trying to make it on your own power.

ILL: We have a new litter of rabbits at home and they are super cute. Now, we don’t want to keep them, so don’t get the wrong idea. But they are cute.

When you have new animals, not to mention actual children who are far more valuable, you put all your necessary effort toward being sure they are properly cared for. They have food, water, shelter, space to grow, and yet you nurse them along.

As they grow, you use your power to create larger space for their movement, change the kind of food they eat, and wean them from their mother (unless she does it on her own) so they can continue to grow.

Everything they need for a thriving life is right there when they need it. When our power is applied toward them, they will grow because it is their nature to grow.

God does not shield us from his great power. In fact, the immeasurable greatness of God’s power is not simply available, but working toward those who believe. And as it works toward us, if we are in Christ we will grow because it is our new nature.

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2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Paul continues...

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According to the working of his great might (19c)

Paul is provoking confidence in those who believe. You ought to be feeling a fire in your belly to give thanks to God and go live for God’s glory.

All of this power is working (ἐνέργεια from which we get “energy”) “toward us who believe.”

This is working power. The energizing force of the Spirit that empowers believers to live for the Lord.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (God’s Ultimate Purpose [Baker], p. 397) points out that there is a logical flow here:

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“He first speaks of energy, a power in action; and then says that it comes from a force which is irresistible, which in turn comes from the ocean of God’s might, the eternity of God’s illimitable power.”

Notice, Paul does not pray that they will have power, or have more power. Paul prays that they (and we) would know through understanding and active application the active power of God .

Paul says it this way in his letter to the Philippians:

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Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

God’s great (immeasurable, surpassing) working is

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Manifested in the resurrection of Jesus (19b-20a)

Paul doesn’t mention the cross here, because in the resurrection of Jesus the cross is assumed. While the cross purchased our redemption, the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus portrays Christ’s victory which is our inheritance in Christ!

Point of Application

Many who profess to be Christians are not living in accordance with God’s might power. They seem content to understand the world’s way of describing our problems, feeling defeated and as though they’re not able to either overcome or endure with joy.

If that describes you, you need honestly to ask:

“Do I have new life in Jesus Christ? Where I once was dead in my sins, am I now alive to God through His resurrection power?”

It takes nothing less than a resurrection from the dead to make a genuine Christian and to give all the necessary power to them for victorious Christian living when God’s methods are applied to help a person grow in Christ.

Doubt

At times all of us are tempted to doubt, to wonder if God can do a certain thing for us or through us or ultimately bring us into His presence. But when we look at what He brought about in Christ, at what He faithfully accomplished on behalf of His Son—and at His assurance that He will just as faithfully accomplish His work on our behalf (through the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us)—what ground do we have for doubting?

Christian, do not feel and act insecurely, forsaken, or powerless! The same unlimited divine power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise us from the dead, and the same power that seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places will seat us there with Him.

In the meantime, that resurrection power is at our disposal for living to His glory (Eph. 1:19–20; 3:20). Paul overflows with this praise in chapter 3:20:

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Ephesians 3:20 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

It is so certain that this power will bring us to glory that Paul spoke as if it has already occurred, because it has already occurred in God’s eternal plan (2:6).

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II. Understand the Greatness of God’s Person (21-23)

Ephesians 1:20–23 ESV

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.

To be seated at God’s right hand is to be exalted above all power and authority.

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Jesus was exalted above all power and authority

Paul alludes here to

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Psalm 110:1 ESV

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

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Psalm 8:6 ESV

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

To be seated at someone’s “right hand” was to be afforded the highest of honor, privilege, and authority. In the OT, God’s “right hand” symbolized many things:

victory (Ps. 20:6; 44:3; Isa. 41:10),

the position of favor (1 Kings 2:19; Ps. 80:18; Jer. 22:24), and

power (Exod. 15:6; Ps. 89:13; Isa. 48:13).

Christ’s exalted status cannot be shared with anyone. Although you and I have our inheritance in Christ, be certain to understand that we are always under Christ.

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Jesus was given dominion over all power and authority

Not only has he been exalted over all, but all have been placed in subjection to him. This is a present reality and not merely a future hope. (Ps. 8:7; 1 Cor. 15:27; Heb. 2:8)

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1 Corinthians 15:27 ESV

27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.

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Jesus was made head over all things to the Church so that we will properly represent Christ on earth.

Jesus in his exaltation over the universe is God the Father’s gift to the church!

Paul’s use of the word “head” (kephale) in this passage to indicate the authority of Jesus over the entire cosmos, including the church. The “head” is the ruling, guiding, and sustaining power over its body. This will become important later in Eph. 5 and Paul’s discussion of the relation between husband and wife.

Application ?s

What are some evidences that you have experienced God’s mighty power in salvation? What signs should raise some doubts about this?

How would you counsel a person who was living a very worldly life, but who said, “I’m going to heaven because I believe in Jesus”? Should you give him assurance of salvation?

Which is a more certain evidence of God’s saving power: Performing miracles or a godly life (see Matt. 7:21–23)?

Restate

SLIDE: Proposition

God's Great Power is Working in You so that We Will Bring Him Glory

Communion Transition and Prayer

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