Now that we’ve gazed upon His beauty, let’s gaze upon His strength. A Scripture passage that I suppose has opened up my perception of God’s power more than any other is found in the first chapter of Ephesians. In his letter to the church at Ephesus Paul shared his prayer for the church that they know several things, not the least of which was “the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe.” (v.19) He then goes on to describe the vast strength of “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father” as He was described in v.17.
He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens—far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way. (vv.20-23)
Wow! Did you really read that? According to this passage, God’s power was demonstrated by raising the Messiah from the dead. Now, that’s power! In fact, according to Romans 1:3-4, it was Christ’s resurrection from the dead that established Him as the powerful Son of God. But it doesn’t stop there. Did you notice that the Father gave Jesus a seat of authority far above every other ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given? That’s Power with a capital P. But that’s not all; that place of honor is not only His for this present age (which, by the way, indicates Christ is already in charge), but also will be His in the age to come. Now, that’s exponential power! And if that wasn’t enough He put everything under the feet of Jesus and appointed Him as head over the church. Now to realize the power of God is one thing, but to realize that the power that raised Christ from the dead and set Him at the right hand of God is the same power that is at work in me is quite another.
Wouldn’t you agree that the greatest display of God’s power is the work of redemption in the life of an individual? By redemption I don’t just mean the work of saving us—that in itself is quite remarkable. But the work of sanctifying us is equally remarkable. He doesn’t just provide for our salvation, He “enables [or qualifies] us to share in the inheritance of the saints.” He imputes His righteousness to us making us righteous. It’s a work in which He persists and that in itself is another proof of His patience and faithfulness.
Philippians 1:6 – I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 62:1 – I will not keep silent…I will not keep still…until her righteousness shines like a bright light, and her salvation like a flaming torch.
Just how does God go about completing the work He began in us? Though the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think—according to the power that works in you—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 2:13 – For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to will and to act for His good purpose.
There’s a good definition of grace: God giving us the desire (enabling you to will) and the ability (enabling you to act) to do His will. It is by the working of His power that the gift of His grace is given.
Ephesians 3:7-12
I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of His power.
This grace was given to me…to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of the Messiah, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.
[cp. Col. 2:13-15 – And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.]
This is according to the purpose of the ages, which He made in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness, access, and confidence through faith in Him.
What Paul was saying was that it was the power of God that gave him “the gift of grace,” or—to use our definition from Philippians 2:13—the desire and the ability to do the will of God. Only God has the power to give desire and ability; only God has the power to bestow grace. And the grace (the desire and ability) that He gave Paul was to proclaim the Messiah to the Gentiles and to shed light for all about God’s eternal plan which up to that point had been hidden from understanding.
God bestowed His power on Paul, and that power was released in Paul’s life to accomplish God’s purpose as he obeyed. When God called Paul to this ministry He supplied the grace—the desire and the power—to obey. Paul did not resist the grace of God or run from God’s call, but in obedience He accomplished that for which He was called. And that is the same way His power is at work in our lives today. God extends His grace—He gives us the desire and the power to do His will; as we obey the call to do His will, God’s power is unleashed to do above and beyond all that we ask or think.
Sadly, there is another scenario that develops in the case of disobedience. There’s a small phrase in Psalm 78:61 that could almost be missed. It says, “He gave up His strength to captivity…” Why would He do such a thing and allow His strength, His power to be held captive? Verse 62 says, “He surrendered His people to the sword [which was the result of surrendering His strength to captivity] because He was enraged with His heritage.” We only need to back up to v.58 to find out why He was enraged. “They enraged Him with their high places and provoked His jealousy with their carved images.” You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to see that they broke the very first commandment. The result was that God withheld His power from their lives. His design is that we be a conduit of His power, but disobedience keeps the power of the Holy Spirit in us restricted from having His way. But His design for us is “to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16,19) O that we would be a people through whom God reveals His strength and power.
Psalm 77:14 – You are the God who works wonders; You revealed Your strength among the peoples.
Our discussions over the last few days haven’t even scratched the surface of the multi-faceted wisdom of God. No wonder the Psalmist could ask for only one thing—the most important thing.
I have asked one thing from the Lord;
It is what I desire:
To dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
Gazing on the beauty of the Lord
And seeking Him in His temple.
– Psalm 27:4
