Power

Introduction

A. Ever seen a magic act? Sleight of hand tricks with cards and objects amaze us. I suppose the greater the illusion the more we are amazed. Although the illusions can be explained, it is obvious that magicians must spend hours upon hours practicing to perfect their tricks. As children we may watch a magic act and unable to process what is happening, we ask the traditional question—how did that person do that? As adults we are entertained but not fooled. While we may not be able to explain the “how” of the trick, we do believe that the magician has done anything special. We know that there is some “trick” or illusion or special circumstance that allows us to be fooled.

B. Magic shows can be fun and entertaining, but we know that they are not real. But real life is different. Or is it? Like a child watching a magic show, we see what is happening around us and we begin to think this is real. We get caught up watching the show that we see what the magician wants us to see. The magician distracts us with his hands and eyes. He points to an object and we look at that object and do not watch his other hand. There is a noise that distracts us and in that split second of distraction, the magician does something which allows the trick to be completed to applause and amazement. And in life much the same thing happens. There are so many things that can distract us while we go through life. And in that distraction we don’t see what is really happening. And then we are fooled, amazed, entertained, or frustrated.

C. Let’s be straightforward. Paul is writing to Gentiles residing in Ephesus. They are surrounded by the power, majesty, and distraction of Rome. From almost any vantage point in the city, a person can see the temple of Artemis or Diana. It is dedicated to Caesar Augustus—savior, god, the great uniter; the one by whom time is measured. And the vast majority of the city believes. This is reality. But Paul knows this is a distraction. And so he writes to believers not to get distracted; to understand that what they see is not all there is; to not be amazed by the power of Rome but to remind them of the real power that exists. Today we want to be reminded of these things as well.

Thanksgiving Prayer

A. Paul follows the traditional letter writing style of his day if not the traditional length. After a greeting and a brief word of thanksgiving, a traditional letter in Paul’s day usually had a prayer section. Paul follows this traditional form. Verses 3-14 was one sentence. Verses 15-21 is one sentence as well. Paul also introduces the major concepts which comprise the letter—faith and love. In the first three chapters, Paul will write about faith and in the last three chapters faith expressing itself in love. But the first part of the prayer is for insight.

B. In verse 17, Paul prays that the Spirit will give wisdom and revelation in order that the believers will know God better. Paul’s prayer begins with the believers opening their hearts to the Spirit’s work. Paul will write in 4:30 not to grieve the work of the Spirit in the life of the believers in terms of how they live as children of light. In this case, the idea is that the Spirit is at work in the lives of the believers and part of the work of the Spirit is to help us to know God better. Paul isn’t praying for believers to know more facts about God but to become intimate with God. Paul’s prayer is for greater intimacy with God.

1. Paul has already written in verse 5, that God has adopted us as his children. God has given us a place to call home and it is with him.

2. In verse 8, Paul writes that God’s grace has been lavishly given to us.

3. This is the character of God—Father, lavish giver of grace and again in verse 5, all done out of his pleasure. In other words, God doesn’t have to be pleaded with—God does these things because at the core of his being, he wants to.

C. Paul in verses 18-19 prays for three things. While the NIV doesn’t pick up a repetitive word, Paul uses the word “what” three times in these two verses to designate the three things he wants his readers to know. “…in order that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us…” Hope, wealth, and power.

1. Hope of his calling is a reference to the past. God has called you, Paul says. This call resulted in your current hope. Hope has to do with expectation. The calling was the call of salvation. Having been called out of sin, we now have hope. Hope to be with God; expectation to be with God.

2. Wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints is a reference to the future. Paul’s point is that we are God’s inheritance. Certainly in 1:14, Paul has spoken of our inheritance but this is followed by the point that we are God’s possession. Here in verse 18 the pronoun has changed. It isn’t our inheritance that is the focus but “his” or God’s inheritance. We are his possession. We are the inheritance of Christ’s work. You see Paul wanted his readers to understand that their future was secure. Because God is going to get his inheritance. The end of this world will mean that God is bringing his inheritance (us) to him.

3. Power is a reference to the present. This power is directed toward us. This power is for us. It is a power that is available for us. Paul heaps up four different words for power in this sentence. “That power is like the working of his mighty strength…” The point is that this power is active. Paul goes on to say that the power is the same power that God exerted in raising Jesus from the dead. This power not only resurrected Jesus from the dead never to die again, but brought about Jesus’s complete rulership over all things now and in the future. Including the church. Jesus is the head of the church. This power is presently active and available for God’s people.

So What?

A. Paul’s prayer in this section reminds us of two things. First, God welcomes a relationship with us. He is God. He is the one who initiates relationship. He is the one who blesses and he is the one who wants us to live holy lives. But his true nature and character is to be with us. He adopts and gives grace lavishly because he wants us near. He gives us the Holy Spirit to demonstrate that we belong to him but he considers us his inheritance. This is so different from the context of Paul’s writing. Caesar didn’t want relationship with people; he demanded relationship; he forced relationship; he united through force not through love and certainly not at his own expense. This is the God who calls us to be his children. We place our faith in this God.

B. Second, this section reminds us that real power is found in God and that God has shared that power with us. Notice verses 22-23. Christ is head over all things for the church, which is his body. Christ is the head. Jesus is Lord. But we are his body. If Christ is head, then the body goes with him. If Christ wins, the church wins.

1. Archaeological digging has been going on around the ancient city of Ephesus for a long time. Some of the ancient edifices still stand. An inscription was found in one of the ancient houses. “Rome, the ruler of all, your power will never die.”

2. In Paul’s day, time was marked through Rome. Rome’s power was absolute and undeniable when Paul wrote his letter. There were those living in that ancient town who believed that Rome would last forever. Rome’s power was impressive but it was temporary.

3. Go back to 1:10. What does Paul say about time? Time is organized around Christ because Jesus is Lord. Look at 1:21. What does Paul say about authority? Christ has all authority now and forever. Nations rise and fall. Nations when in power play with the calendar and time. Nations see themselves as standing forever.

4. But there is only one who has power now and forever. There is only one who has authority over every earthly and heavenly rule.

5. Paul reminds his readers and us as believers that this world’s powers are nothing in comparison to Jesus. There are many “magicians” using sleight of hand to draw our attention. Don’t get distracted. Keep your eyes open to the spiritual reality of God’s world. Invitation.

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