New Life At New Hope Through God's Resurrection Power

New Life at New Hope through God’s Resurrection Power

Pastor Glenn Newton Jan. 11, 2004

18 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may

know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in

the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is

like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised

him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far

above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given,

not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things

under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23

which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Eph. 1:

18-23

Last night I was up all night coughing and when I finally went to sleep, I was praying, God

help me to not be tired in the morning, because I have your good Word to share

tomorrow..... I woke up 8 minutes before the alarm this morning, raring to go... not

because I had enough sleep, but because I’m excited this morning about sharing the

message that Through the Resurrection Power of God that is at work in us.... He can take

that which is dead and make it alive again..... Do you believe that this morning?

This morning You do believe that what the Word of God says is True don’t You? Then

let’s live like it.

Martin Luther once was so depressed over a prolonged time that one day his wife

came downstairs wearing all black. Martin Luther said, “Who died?” She said, “God

has.” He said, “God hasn’t died.” To which she replied, “Well, live like it and act like it.”

(Preaching Today)

I want to remind you of what you committed to do last week. I put it you bullitins

underneath the prayer requests. The two things that we have committed to praying for in

our own lives and in the life of our church.

1. God help me to be 100% sold out to you in every area of my life.

2. God help me to love people the way that you do.

Friends if we will pray this prayer together and believe that God will bring it about in our

lives..... the message that you hear today will be unleashed in your life.... the resurrection

power of God can be turned loose in your life and it will affect everything you do, and

everyone you meet.

In our passage this morning... the apostle Paul is writing to the Christians in the church at

Ephesus and tells them that he has been praying that they would begin to be aware of the

exceptional and immeasurable greatness of the power which was at their disposal through

the resurrrection of Jesus Christ. And friends that what I want us to know today before

you leave this place, This same resurrection power is at our disposal today. We need to

know what God can do in our lives if we we would allow Him to release His awesome

resurrection power in us.

Let’s look at verse 18 this morning.

18 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may

know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in

the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

One of my most urgent prayers goes right along with what Paul is praying for this church

in Ephesus.... God help our young Christians, God help those of us who have known you

for a while .... God help all of us to see with “New Eyes” the richness of this hope that we

have in You...... God help us to realize the greatness of what You have done in our

lives.... God help us not to forget that you took that which was dead

Do you remember friends? Christians don’t forget...... You were dead in your sins... you

were lost to this world before God extended His Grace to you... and you found Christ.

Look at how Paul describes this to his readers in Eph. 2:1

EPH 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used

to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of

the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also

lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and