As we face uncertain days ahead do you ever feel powerless to make any positive contribution in this crazy, chaotic world that seems to be in a free fall?
Even as God’s people we underestimate God’s power and forget that his power is inside us. We don’t fully grasp what God wants to do in us and through us.
The Apostle Paul prays that we will be spiritually enlightened about the power of God in us.
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19
• Whose power is it? God the Father
• What kind of power? Incomparably great.
• What does that mean? So great that nothing compares to it.
• Who is the power for? Us who believe.
The prayer continues:
:19 “That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…
• How was this power manifested? God’s mighty strength was demonstrated when he raised Jesus from the dead, and when God seated him at his right hand.
Paul concludes his prayer:
:21-23 “…far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, 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 head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
• Jesus is now seated at the height of all power, rule and authority. He has supreme authority over the universe in this present age. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is for us—right here and now.
• WHY? God appointed Jesus to be in charge of the church … because we’re his body.
• So whatever we need, whatever the church needs, it’s Jesus’ job to provide it. And because he is seated in the place of all rule and authority he has all the resources of heaven at his disposal.
As the church, we need power to fulfill our mission. We need power to be the fullness of Christ so we can be his representatives. We need power to do the work of Christ because he left us with that assignment.
God’s incomparably great power is for us who believe.
Power to be and power to do.
Power for sanctification and power for service.
God’s power works in us and through us.
Mind boggling, isn’t it?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this passage.
We serve an awesome God who is so generous to us
In this passage in Ephesians, God says He put all things in subjection under Christ’s feet. When we are yoked with Christ, this is the practical illustration God uses as we are in subjection. Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities and we the believer in the USA have the privilege to serve as a governing authority. We are not in subjection if the Church fails to recognize this privilege. For because of this you also pay taxes. How can the Church, which does not pay tax, be in subjection?
Janet, This is so cool because Ephesians 1 is the most recent chapter I committed to memory! My daughters and I hosted an event at our church, “She Is Beloved” and the theme verse was Ephesians 1:6, “To the praise and glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” I recited the chapter to the group, with an extremely dry mouth, but when I get close to the end, and I get to the verse of “the exceeding greatness of his power…” I could have been preaching it seemed, because that power is “to us ward who believe.” His Word never disappoints! God has used this scripture to instruct me that we are not powerless, but powerful in His Name.
Such an important reminder to us all during such unsettling times. I love how you broke it all down in such a way that it’s impossible to NOT be encouraged.
It’s almost impossible to overemphasize the value of Ephesians 1. It is rich the doctrines we need to live the Christian life every day.