Power Of God In Our Life

Good morning. Let's bow in prayer. Our God and Father, we're thankful for your word. We're thankful for your work in this body, Father. We thank you for the spirit that indwells that we see the word and it's made alive in our lives. But this time, Father, we bow before you and ask that you would just assist me, assist the hearers, assist the ones who are seeking but yet have not found you.

Let them know that you are seeking them. And Father, we just again, And we bow before you and seek you out this day. In your word, in Jesus' name. Amen. We'd have you turn to Ephesians. Familiar passages.

How many times have you read through it? familiar but yet we need reminded i went through the first part of this chapter earlier this year and we come to the prayer that paul addresses the ephesian church so let us learn from this in chapter 1 verse 15 for this reason because i have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation and of knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance and the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power towards us who believe. According to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority power and dominion above every name that is named not only in this age, but also to the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills it all in all.

Paul is reminding the church and reminding us as we look into this what has happened in this great and glorious salvation that we have in Christ he displays it earlier in this chapter of this mighty working of the Godhead and closes out that end of talking about this marked seal in the Holy Spirit which guarantees us our inheritance. But a lot of times we forget that, do we not? We forget it because we're in the midst of the turmoil.

We're not yet, as we think of the Beatitudes, we're blessed, but yet we're still mourning and we're looking ahead. Everything is looking ahead. Paul shows his love for the church and reminds them that he is faithfully praying for them and giving thanks. Again, a reminder to us of where this, you know, he testifies it to later in this chapter. Our glorious inheritance.

And sometimes we think our inheritance is here. As we strive after things that are empty. We wonder what's going on. And we have to have clarity by the Word of God to understand who we are in Christ. Chapter 2 is familiar because it shows this. We were on a swing.

I love to sit on the swing in the morning and meditate. How were we before? We were like that show. I never watched it. Land of the Living Dead. You know, The Walking Dead.

They're always all those people. I don't know why you'd watch it. I don't want to offend anybody if they watch it, but it's it's how we were We were once dead in our transgressions trespasses But now we have this glorious inheritance The God of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of glory He asking for the spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge Him having the eyes of our hearts enlightened that we will know what is the hope in which He called us That's faith, is it not? too often we live as there's blinders on us we see ourself we see our circumstances and we don't get the big view some of you were in hospitals this past week or last week Joyce and Butch it's not easy it's not fun but we know we're being we're being mold and shaped all of us.

Paul reminds us that this prayer is an example to us quite frankly if we're praying for one another and understanding this glorious inheritance we have as the saints. Sometimes that's going to take our mind off of our own sinfulness and remind us the pattern of what we need to be. It brings us on track As we think of the power of God and that great power he demonstrates here, he's encouraging them.

He said we've all, all who believed and trusted themselves have that power. But quite frankly, that power in us isn't something like the world sees. It's not that pride that, you know, puffs us up and we can do anything. We're like a soldier who's crazy going into battle. We're those that are mindful of our surroundings. We're mindful for what God's given us.

I just reminded that in 2 Corinthians. And turn there. This kind of gives expression to what's really going on. For we have this treasure in jars of clay to show forgive me for turning too quick chapter 4 we read in our New Testament It gives a description of our life as we walking along As we think we not making headway We don't think we're making headway with even our own flesh that we're fighting against.

We don't think we're making headway in our families ministering the gospel or in our workplace. But we have this treasure in jars of clay. We are the jars of clay. to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not driven despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken.

Struck down, but not destroyed. Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. As we're carrying this, the cross of Christ, yeah, it's impermanent on our hearts. It's what we believe. It convicts us. It guides us.

It compels us, as he writes later in this chapter. It drives us to better service and better love for our neighbor. As Tim's instructed us in these past few weeks on being kind, we cannot take out effect that we're human responsible. That's the power of God that he sees fit to work in us. And we understand that what we carry is the saving power of the cross.

It's not by our endeavors or how we are kind. You know, we just, we do it. We ask for it. And we're willing servants. and again Christ is that perfect example of enduring the cross in its scorn and shame he will always be our example as we strive and look ahead it's never going to be anything else but we do learn from one another do we not imperfect as we are the instruction here in Ephesians is always to be praying and building up one another so back to Ephesians we are If faith lived out in our weaknesses, we understand the power of God as we overcome these obstacles in our lives.

And there's many obstacles, you know. When I try to think through how to address the body of Christ, it's amazing of how many things that God brings to your mind. afflicted struggles it's rampant it's who we are as a people of God do not forget that when we were dead in our sin we were calloused we could care less what our spouse thought or our kids thought but now by the power of God and working of his spirit he's given us this new heart to think about an issue like kindness see Peter writes that also and addresses it his divine power has given us all we need in life and godliness and then he addresses what we're to do and that's where the spirit and we see his power working as we endeavor to do his will as we understand this, what he's called us to, this hope, it's not here, is it? No, it's ahead of us.

It's this inheritance we have with one another, this glorious inheritance in the saints, as Paul says in verse 18. I was thinking about this body as well as we understand our love towards one another that just didn't happen that was faithful saints through the years and now too that faithfully pray for this working of a unity in love towards one another that would be expressed in our community, that they would see our love towards one another, and that's how the gospel goes out. That co you working with who not quite lovable and those acts of kindness you doing which are only by the power of the Spirit you can do As you trot along, I think it's adequate to say we're trotting along.

It's like a journey, but yet it's a difficult path. We're looking forward. In the midst of it all, we know that trouble awaits us. Around the corner. You're in the midst of trouble. But yet realizing the work of Christ.

What he's accomplished. Not forgetting it's the Father's. The Father's purposes. He was well pleased to set these things in motion. It was Christ's willingness to go to the cross. To purchase a people.

In the spirit. indwells those who believe. It shows us the power that is, quite frankly, it's nothing you can really describe to you, unbelieving friend. How can you take a dead person and make him alive? That's what Christ has done in us. He's made us alive. Because we were driven by every passion of our flesh, Ephesians 2, carrying out the desires of our body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind.

But it was His rich kindness. As I reflected on this, we think about this anticipation looking ahead I challenged the high schoolers today and you think Christ has accomplished everything. He's at the right hand of the Father. It's not quite accomplished until the consummation. When we will be His people and He will be our God, the things that were lost in Adam are restored.

Paul's reminding them if they love God or not because we're reminded in the scriptures if you don love the saints the love of God not in you We examine our hearts Do we love God Yes. Yes. This power that's not of our own. You see that working out as we think about prayer. Look at Psalm 34. I just thought it was appropriate David longed for the days we live in as he testifies and again the power of God is seen as we understand the word of God we understand the word of God and the spirit of God wrote it just as Paul would testify it was the spirit working in me so is the spirit working through David to proclaim these promises to us.

It's a good template for our lives. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast, and the Lord let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me. Again, let us exalt His name together.

The lifting up, the encouraging of one another. Why we meet on Sundays. It's to encourage and edify and build up. And hopefully it's something that's driven by our weak endeavors. As being mindful of others. I know life's busy.

Life is crazy. But there is always time for prayer for one another. That's what Paul is trying to encourage the body. Before he instructs them on putting off and putting on and conforming. Justification has already happened. We are all made right in the eyes of God.

But sanctification is the hard work of looking into the word of God. And humbling ourselves in saying yes. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. To know my God by His Spirit is to know the power of God working in us That I will make this boast whether I am afflicted with disease or death itself, I will make my boast in my God.

For He's done such great things and marvelous things. He's brought me from death to life. I will make my boast in the Lord. I don't think I'm pulling too far away from what Paul wanted to say in Ephesians. He wanted them to see the full measure of the salvation. He wanted them to be encouraged and lifted up and strengthened.

And here's verse 4, Psalm 32. I sought the Lord and He answered me. He delivered me from all my fears. those who look to him are radiant and their faces are never ashamed this poor man cried and the Lord heard him I think we can all ascribe to that he heard us I would say to you who are away from the grace of God that it's this promise that you need to know.

Seek the Lord while he may be found. This time of redemption for you who have tasted the fear of the Lord and yet, I don't know, well, you're looking in your own strength. Understand that he will transform you. Are you still in your sin? Is it all happy? I'd testify and many here would testify that sin's a dreary place to be.

Even in our battle in it, we know it's not mastering us. We're made new by this justification work of Christ. And when Jesus Christ has proclaimed our hearts and when it's cursed, we... Father, forgive them. we we will be the ones who march with that banner of truth and hope it's what Peter said Be ready. Be ready. This hope that lies within you is going to bring somebody to a place of, wow, where is God?

Why are you acting that way? Why are you so kind to me? Why did you not curse me out? Why did you ask forgiveness? These are the things. As we think of the fruit of the Spirit, that's the power of God working in us.

Are we heavy laden? not in Christ if we're in our sin we are heavy laden we're drowning call out to Christ for us in Christ we're beat up at every time this is what Paul says in Corinthians I'm perplexed but yet not surprised because I know the world doesn't understand that God's put me in this place to go out. Yeah, that's why we're worshiping with the saints today. To go out and battle.

To proclaim something that's far more powerful than any principality. See, that's why he addresses later in this chapter. Far above all rule and authority. the spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead you want to win that co-worker or family member over do the things he calls us to do by acts of kindness not for anything for the gospel an ambassador of Christ carries the flag of Christ upon his heart Not proud humble aware always seeking to please God and love his neighbor In the process, self has to be battled against, I know. look at these promises in the psalmist come my children listen to me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord verse 11 what man is there who desires life and love many days that he may see good keep your tongue from evil your lips from speaking deceit turn away from evil and do good.

Seek peace. Pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous. His ears towards their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off the memory of them from the earth. You see the urgency of coming to Christ?

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears. He delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. He saves the Christ in spirit. There we see our Redeemer. Our Redeemer who is at the right hand of God.

It looks forward to this consummation when we are I always like to see I like what Jonathan Edwards writes here Now Christ the great Redeemer shall be most perfectly glorified God the Father shall be glorified in Him. And the Holy Spirit shall be most fully glorified in the perfection of His work on the hearts of all the church. and now shall that new heaven and new earth or that renewed state of things be completely finished after the material frame of the old heavens and the old earth is destroyed and I saw a new heaven and new earth for the first heaven and the first earth that passed away and now will the great redeemer have perfected everything that apprehends to the work of redemption, which he began so soon after the fall of man, and who conceive of the triumph of those praises, which shall be sung in heaven on that great occasion. So great, greater than the fall of the Antichrist, the beloved disciple John seems to want expression to describe these praises and say it was the voice of many waters and as the voice of many thunders saying hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth but much more inexpressible will those praises be which will be sung in heaven after the final consummation of all things how shall the praises of that vast and glorious multitude be as a mighty thundering indeed that's what we hope for that's what we anticipate but in the midst of it all if I encourage the people of God rest in the author and perfecter of our faith Jesus Christ rest in his word and meditate on it as you go throughout the week pray for the saints and the unity and the love that we would have towards one another and persevere by his spirit and long for the day when we will all meet together with loved ones and friends that have all rested in the finished work of Christ let's pray in his name Father, when we think of this glorious salvation, we are like little children.

We can't even put a word to the majestic power of your hand in our lives. But oh, we do anticipate it. we anticipate you working this week in the simple things in the things that disturb us the things that quite frankly Father we rest in you to remove you made us alive in your son and we praise you for that and we thank you for this church and we praise you for your work in Jesus name Amen