The Exceeding Greatness of His Power Towards Us Who Believe

Ephesians 1:15–23 NKJV

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 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 and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 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. 22 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.

Paul’s prayer for knowledge is expanded into three main aspects.

That you may know what is the hope of His calling

That you may know what are the riches or the glory of His inheritance in the saints

That you may know what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe

Last week we looked at the first two. We saw the hope of his calling which is a calling to holiness and being the perfect image of Christ. The Christian calling is a high calling. We consider the impact of this knowledge on us. Knowing that Christ has apprehended us to be perfect and holy generates in us a desire to be holy. Many Christians who don’t have knowledge of the hope that God is making us into the image of Christ may see holiness as something undesirable or unattainable. The hope of our calling not only shows us that it is attainable it gives us the confidence that it is a certianty. We will be holy. This confidence urges us to press towards that mark of that high calling.

Knowledge of the riches of the glory of the inheritance in the saints we considered to be the inheritance mentioned in vs 14 of which the Holy Spirit is said to be the down payment. If the Holy Spirit, who is God, is said to be the down payment then the inheritance itself can not be less than the down payment and yet no thing is greater than God so the inheritance must be God. We considered that we are God’s inheritance and God is ours. Christ said in John 17:3

John 17:3 NKJV

3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Christ is coming again to receive us unto himself that where He is we will be also for ever.

So this morning we are looking at the third aspect of Paul’s prayer for knowledge which is that you might know what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. Paul is enlarging our thinking concerning this Power that we might see just how great this power is

Firstly he says

Ephesians 1:19–20 NKJV

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 and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Resurrection Power

The power that God used to raise Christ from the dead is the power to bring the dead to life. Why would Paul that this is the same power that he works toward us?

We get some insight in Eph 2:4-6

Ephesians 2:4–6 NKJV

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

The power that saves us is the same exceeding great power that raised Christ from the dead. This is the mighty power of God that opens the eyes of the lost. Our salvation is like a dead person coming to life. It is the same power by which Christ called Lazarus up from the grave. The effectual call of God calls us out of death into life.

It is also said to be the power which seated Christ at the right hand of God in heavenly places.

so its...

Kingdom Power

Ephesians 1:20–22 NKJV

20 which 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 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. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

What are heavenly places?

We saw this phrase in vs 3 and is shows again Eph 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

So one way to view this is that there are heavenly realms or dimensions. In these heavenly realms there are spiritual principalities and power rulers of darkness and spiritual host of wickedness. Satan and all the host of fallen angels who have power as it says in Eph 2:1-2

Ephesians 2:1–2 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

So Satan here is called the prince of the power of the air. He has great power which he exercises over the sons of disobedience. And he is prince over all the fallen angels which which we are now engaged in warfare.

So Christ has been made to sit at the right hand of God in heavenly places spiritual realms. However, Paul says that he sits far above all principalities and power and might and dominion. The exceeding greatness of the power of God which He has bestowed upon Christ by seating Him at His right hand, is so far above all other power in all other dimensions. It is a great misconception to think that God is in a war with Satan. There is no competition. The power of Christ is far far above all other power and might and dominion.

And also every name that is named.

Ephesians 1:21 NKJV

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.

So this would include any false god’s or demons like Baal or Moloch or Asherah or Marduk. The name of Christ is far above any name of any god the name of Jesus is above every name and His power and authority is above any god or spirit He is more powerful than any curse or spells or conjuring where any of the names of demons or false gods are used. Not only now but forever.

And God have put all things under His feet. Which is to say He had power over all things.

Ephesians 1:22 NKJV

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

So Christ who has all authority and all power and dominion over everything and everyone. Paul says He has been given to the church to be head over all things.

The exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe.

Head of the Church

So the picture that Paul gives us here is that the church is the body of Christ. We are the hands and feet of Christ in the world and He is the head. So just like our bodies are controlled and directed by our mind so the church should be under the complete control and direction or Christ.

Christ has been given all power and authority and He is our head.

As our head we should obey His every command otherwise we cripple the body.

So what has Christ commanded?

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.