Today’s post is adapted from a course at the Blue Letter Bible Institute, titled God’s Sufficiency for Godly Living. It is taught by Bob Hoekstra (1940-2011), former board member at Sowing Circle Ministries and author of the popular Day By Day By Grace devotional.
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 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, 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, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.
(Ephesians 1:18-19)
Notice Paul prays that the church would know three things in this short passage:
- the hope of Christ’s calling.
- the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints
- the exceeding greatness of His power toward us.
I want to talk about the third portion, but note the very thrust of the prayer. It is a prayer that the eyes of the believers’ understanding would be enlightened that they might know fully of certain things (the hope, riches, and power of Christ). Day by day, God wants His people to know and experience these things.
God wants us to know what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. Too much of the time, too many believers are drawing upon the sufficiency of man to try and live the Christian life. They look to human power to make each day work as Christians. That is not what God wants the believer to learn for it is something all men already know. We first saw that in Adam. It is in man’s very nature (corrupt as it is) to bear down, get tough, bite the bullet, and reach deep inside for the strength to carry on. This is nothing more or better than simply man drawing upon the insufficient resources of man rather than upon the abundant resources of God.
Rather than have His children focusing on their inner strengths, the Lord wants them to know what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards them, working on their lives. In fact, according to the working of His mighty power—
“Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”
(Ephesians 1:20 NKJV)
The power God wants His children to know about, to increasingly understand, and to walk in day by day is this great resurrection power that works toward His people. It is available to work upon their lives and then in and through those same lives. This is His power. This is the working of His mighty power that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. It is resurrection power.
dartise says
April 22, 2013 at 10:21 amI normally take pride in bearing down, getting tough, and bitting the bullet…I never thought about it being because I draw on my own resources. I always figured God put the will to work hard in me.
Randy says
April 22, 2013 at 11:16 amWell said…
Beautifully written …
Much needed …
Pam says
April 22, 2013 at 11:45 amLord, I believe… help my unbelief! Give me a bold assurance in drawing others to you, Lord. Your will be done!
Thanks, Chris, for an insightful message! We know how the story ends, so why not live each day joyfully anticipating His return?! Be blessed!
Eric says
April 22, 2013 at 6:43 pmThis power works in us when we read God’s Word rightly divided, believe it, allow the Holy Spirit to teach us the things of God (I Corinthians 2:9-13), and then present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) so that we walk in the Spirit. That is the exceeding greatness of resurrection power working through our lives.
Bob Demyanovich says
April 23, 2013 at 2:47 amThank you Chris for your ministry. What is this power? Outward displays of Godly power would not escape worldwide attention. So have all who have lived after our Lord and His apostles lacked power from God or have not believed? We read that God resurrected Jesus.
Act 2:32, 4:14, 10:40, 13:30, 13:47
Jhn 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
The power of God enables for His purposes. Act 1:8
The purpose of this world is the glory of God in Jesus. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. The ultimate purpose for all prophecy is in Jesus.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
So Eph 1:20 does agree that all power resides in Jesus.
So what is exceeding greatness of His power toward us? The gift of His only begotten Son that enables our membership in the body of Christ. The Spirit and the Bride say come.
1Cr 1:23-31
Bob Demyanovich says
April 23, 2013 at 2:54 am1Cr 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Mark Hayes says
April 23, 2013 at 3:52 am“That we might know, what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” Ephesians 1:19 Hallelujah.
I thank the Lord Jesus for His living truth, for the Holy Spirit whom He has poured into our hearts and makes known to us His ways. Strange though at times His ways may seem.
I have spent this day in much prayer,and the study of Derek Prince`s book “Blessing or Curse” and the scriptures therein, seeking to know our God`s will to be free of any further curses that I might have allowed into my life and my family`s.
Having several months before destroyed things stored in my home of the most abominable kind that should have been destroyed much earlier, I found myself walking the street today in Ebisu Japan, almost 6yrs to the date after having walked there when I was still a man at enmity with God but being led back as a lost sheep. (This was I add the place of my work when God in His mercy brought me to a condition under stern rebuke that I could no longer work and turned my eyes to Jesus).
While walking, the song “Give thanks with a grateful heart” was brought to my mind and I sung / hummed this for the 20 minute walk back to our accommodation. Alone at home while my family is at Tokyo Disneyland I continued through the book “Blessing or Curse” finding myself being led at times by the Good Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit in prayers of Repentance, Revoking and Replacing, for release from curses as yet not dealt with (as taught by Mr Prince).
It seemed a little strange at first, but His promptings were real, my Lord`s presence was near…..
Anyway some 3-4hrs after my walk with “Give thanks with a thankful heart” being sung / hummed, I came to page 250 of Derek Prince`s book where his advice for an immediate response to being released of a curse(s) is ….quote “to say Thank you”… and to “Now keep on thanking Him (Jesus) in your own words”….
The Lord had gone before me…
Truly “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” Ephesians 1:19
All glory to our God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
Thank you Lord Jesus for Your cross, and Your resurrected life alive in us who believe.
In Christ
Mark Hayes NZ
Jerry S. says
April 23, 2013 at 5:28 amPower (and authority) are found in the “footstool” and not only on one end of it, but both ends of it.
J.