“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20, 21 (NIV)
A LOOK BACK
– GOD’S POWER AT WORK IN US
I think we first need to identify what this power is. Paul has already defined that for us:
• What is this power at work in us?
“I pray that the eyes of your heart maybe enlightened in order 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. 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 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 be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 1:18-23 (NIV)
When Paul writes that God’s power is at work in us, he makes it really clear that the power he is writing about is resurrection power. The very same power that He used to raise Jesus from the grave is at work in our lives, too. I get excited about the working of the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the one helping us make it day to day. Giving us the power to be overcomers in this life. Look how He's blessed you...
1. He blessed us with every spiritual blessing
…who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (1:3)
I think we first need to identify what this power is. Paul has already defined that for us:
• What is this power at work in us?
“I pray that the eyes of your heart maybe enlightened in order 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. 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 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 be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 1:18-23 (NIV)
When Paul writes that God’s power is at work in us, he makes it really clear that the power he is writing about is resurrection power. The very same power that He used to raise Jesus from the grave is at work in our lives, too. I get excited about the working of the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the one helping us make it day to day. Giving us the power to be overcomers in this life. Look how He's blessed you...
1. He blessed us with every spiritual blessing
…who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (1:3)
2. He chose us
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight... (1:4)
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight... (1:4)
3. He predestined us
to be part of His family
...In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ... (1:4, 5)
4. He graced us
...his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves... (1:6)
... the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (1:7, 8)
5. He redeemed us
In him we have redemption... (1:7)
6. He revealed His will to us
And he made known to us the mystery of his will... (1:9)
7. He sealed us
...Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (1:13)
8. He made us alive
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions... (2:4, 5)
9. He raised us
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (2:6)
10. He created us for good works
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works... (2:10)
11. He reconciled us
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ (2:13)
12. He joined us together in the church
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (3:6)
13. He reveals his wisdom through us
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (3:10)
14. He rooted and established us
...being rooted and established in love... (3:17)
15. He fills us with His fullness
...that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (3:19)
Now that’s certainly immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine. To be real honest, I can ask for a fancy car or a big house. And I can even imagine something far greater that I will ever have. But how could I ever ask God to do all that He has done for me? How could I even think about asking Him to sacrifice His own Son so that I can have all these spiritual blessings? How could I ever imagine that God would do all this for me after the way I’ve ignored and disobeyed him time after time? I understand I'm sinner and I'm not perfect. I blow it from time to time. Yet there is God still loving me for who I am; Frankly the whole idea just overwhelms me. It should overwhelm us; we need to be reminded of what God has done for us.
The power of God is alive and working in you right now! Get excited God has great things for you...you are loved....In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ... (1:4, 5)
4. He graced us
...his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves... (1:6)
... the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (1:7, 8)
5. He redeemed us
In him we have redemption... (1:7)
6. He revealed His will to us
And he made known to us the mystery of his will... (1:9)
7. He sealed us
...Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (1:13)
8. He made us alive
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions... (2:4, 5)
9. He raised us
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (2:6)
10. He created us for good works
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works... (2:10)
11. He reconciled us
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ (2:13)
12. He joined us together in the church
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (3:6)
13. He reveals his wisdom through us
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (3:10)
14. He rooted and established us
...being rooted and established in love... (3:17)
15. He fills us with His fullness
...that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (3:19)
Now that’s certainly immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine. To be real honest, I can ask for a fancy car or a big house. And I can even imagine something far greater that I will ever have. But how could I ever ask God to do all that He has done for me? How could I even think about asking Him to sacrifice His own Son so that I can have all these spiritual blessings? How could I ever imagine that God would do all this for me after the way I’ve ignored and disobeyed him time after time? I understand I'm sinner and I'm not perfect. I blow it from time to time. Yet there is God still loving me for who I am; Frankly the whole idea just overwhelms me. It should overwhelm us; we need to be reminded of what God has done for us.
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