Endless Energy And Boundless Strength

Sermon for 2/22/2009

Ephesians 1:15-23

Introduction:

On May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens exploded with what is the most visible indication of the power of nature that the modern world has ever seen. At 8:32 am the explosion ripped 1,300 feet off the mountain, with a force of 10 million tons of TNT, or roughly equal to five hundred Hiroshima’s. Sixty people were killed, most by a blast of 300 degrees heat traveling at 200 miles an hour. Some were killed as far as 16 miles away.

WBTU:

A. Lot of things to talk about from these verses but I want to focus on power.

B. Vs. 19 Paul talks about God’s power. Other translations use adjectives like immeasurable and unlimited power, the exceeding and incredible greatness of his power. The NIV says incomparably great power. His power doesn’t compare, doesn’t match up to other powers. The NASB says the surpassing greatness of his power. This version is telling us to imagine the most powerful thing we know and God’s power surpasses even that.

C. How do we know God is powerful?

1. God is all powerful. Almighty God

2. God made the universe in 6 days

3. His miracles described in the Bible. Greatest - resurrection of Christ.

D. What happened when Jesus Christ rose from the dead? Mention three things:

1. The power of sin was broken.

a. (Gal 3:22) But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin

b. (Heb 9:26 NIV) But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

2. Jesus Christ destroyed the work of the devil.

a. When Jesus died, the devil and Christ where engaged in a battle.

b. (1 John 3:8 NIV) The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

c. (Gen 3:15 NIV) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

3. Jesus Christ has control over death.

i. (Heb 2:14 NIV) Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--(Heb 2:15 NIV) and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

a. (Rev 1:18) I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

E. In most Scriptures it says that God the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead. This account is no different. Ephesians 1:19-20- Working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ. God’s stamp of approval on what Christ did,

F. Three days in that tomb. He was not just sick, his heart probably burst, his lungs were damaged, lack of blood, wounds would have been enough. To bring a body like that back to life is impossible. (Mat 19:26 NIV) "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

G. Had a doctor come and give a talk on the state of Lazarus’ body after 4 days. Jesus body would have been in a similar state

H. Lazarus was raised to die again, but Christ was raised never to die again.

I. Ephesians 1:20- The ascension of Christ.

1. (Acts 1:9 NIV) After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:10 NIV) They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going.

2. (Eph 4:10 NIV) He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

J. When he reached God’s right hand, he was exalted. (Phil 2:9 NIV) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (Phil 2:10 NIV) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Phil 2:11 NIV) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

K. When Christ comes back, he will be fully above all rule and authority as described in Ephesians 1:21. Only in the church is he the head today. One day He will be completely over all. (1 Cor 15:24 NIV) Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (1 Cor 15:25 NIV) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

L. This power is the same power that is available to us. But we feel so powerless. Many Christians do not know this power- or they only know if from a distance.