Introduction

“‘The best of all is, God is with us.’” — John Wesley

Friends, welcome. If you arrived today with a weary heart, a worried mind, or a wandering list of what-ifs, you’re in good company. The church in Ephesus knew the press of pressures and the pull of distractions. And yet, through Paul’s pen, the Spirit lifted their gaze to a horizon that never dims. He reminded them of a Savior seated above every title you can name, a hope that holds like an anchor in deep waters, and a power—God’s own resurrection power—coursing through the veins of Christ’s body, the church.

Have you ever asked, “Does heaven notice me? Do my prayers rise higher than my ceiling? Is there more to my ordinary than meets the eye?” Paul answers with a resounding yes. Christ is exalted over all for the sake of his church. The saints—ordinary believers like you—are God’s inheritance, treasured and secure. And the very power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us right now.

Picture a lighthouse in a storm. The wind shouts. The waves slap. But the light keeps shining. Ephesians 1 is that light. It speaks of counsel that cannot be canceled, promises that cannot be plundered, and a Savior whose feet rest on everything that once stood over you. Paul does more than tell us about God’s blessings; he prays that we would see them, savor them, and stand in them. He asks that the eyes of our hearts would be bright with clarity—so we would know the hope of His calling, the riches of His inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power toward those who believe.

So, take a breath. Let grace meet you where you are. Your Savior reigns for you; your Father delights in you; and the Spirit strengthens you. You are not forgotten. You are not overlooked. You are part of the body that fills the world with Jesus’ presence. And as you hear this Word today, imagine the Lord setting a table for your soul—bread for the weary, living water for the thirsty, courage for the anxious, and joy for the faint.

Before we pray, let’s hear the Scripture in full and let it wash over us.

Ephesians 1:11–23 (KJV) 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Opening Prayer Father of glory, we thank You for Your Son, our exalted King, who reigns above every ruler and every name. Open the eyes of our hearts today. Let Your wisdom be more than a thought to us—make it a flame in us. Let us know the hope of Your calling, steady and sure. Let us taste the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and grant us strength to believe that Your resurrection power is working in us right now. Where minds feel foggy, bring clarity. Where hearts feel heavy, bring comfort. Where faith feels thin, bring fresh confidence in Jesus. Head of the church, shepherd Your people. Holy Spirit, seal this Word to our souls. We ask in the name of Jesus, who fills all in all. Amen.

Christ exalted over all for the sake of his church

Paul points us to a throne. Jesus sits there. He is alive. He is raised. He is placed high above every ruler, every force, every claim. That is not far-off news. That is good news for the people who belong to him. He wears the crown with his people in view.

Think about what that seat means. A seat at the right hand means authority. It means the work is finished and honored. It means decisions are made there that shape heaven and earth. From there Jesus orders history. From there he cares for his people. From there he brings his plans to pass when we feel stuck and small.

This place is higher than every power. Higher than any name that tries to stand tall in this age or any age that follows. Evil has schemes. Death speaks loud. But they all fall short before him. He is not in a contest. He reigns without strain. Your life sits under that strong hand.

And here is the wonder. God gave him to be head for the good of the church. This is the heart of the passage. The Father did not only raise the Son. He gave the Son to us. He set him over everything with the church on his mind. His rule is for the care, growth, and safety of his people.

Headship is close care. A head directs the body. A head nourishes the body. A head feels for the body. Jesus leads his people through his Word. He feeds them with grace. He binds them together when they come apart. He guards them when threats rise. He sends them on tasks that match his heart.

The body image matters. We are joined to him. His life flows to us. His wisdom guides us. His strength steadies us. The church is not a club or a crowd. It is his very body on earth. Where his people gather in his name, his presence is at work. He fills ordinary rooms with his life so that every member can serve and be served.

This shapes how we think about our life together. We look to Jesus for direction. We do not make our own map. We receive his gifts. We welcome his order. We trust him to place us where we fit. Some teach. Some serve. Some give. Some comfort. All depend on the one head who gives the growth.

Paul also speaks of power. He says there is power aimed at those who believe. It is not a small charge. It is the same power God used to raise Jesus from the grave and place him at his side. That power is at work right now. It does not sleep. It does not thin out over time.

What does that power do? It wakes faith when we feel empty. It helps us turn from sin when old habits press. It knits courage when fear shakes the hands. It gives patience to keep praying when answers do not come fast. It moves us toward each other with mercy and truth. It puts steel in our hope when we bury a loved one and sing anyway.

This power is personal and shared. Personal, because God meets your real life and lifts you up in concrete ways. Shared, because we taste it most in the body. When we sing and pray together. When we carry burdens. When we hear the Word and receive the table. The risen Lord moves among his people with strength that heals and builds.

The text reaches back to the start of the paragraph and brings up inheritance. In Christ we have a share in what God promised. Nothing is random here. God works all things with wise purpose. He has a plan and a people. He makes sure his will stands. And he gives his people a place in that will.

Notice the tender turn. The saints are the riches of his inheritance. That means God counts his people as treasure. He claims them as his own possession. He sets his love on them and says, “They are mine.” That is not pride talking. That is mercy speaking. The worth comes from his choosing and keeping.

He has marked his people with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the pledge. The down payment. The promise that what began will be brought to full redemption. The day is coming when every part of the purchased people will be made whole. Bodies raised. Tears dried. Sin no more. The presence of the Spirit now means the future is already pressing into the present.

Put it together. The Son reigns on high. He rules for the good of his people. His power works in them today. His Spirit seals them for the day when every promise is complete. This is why Paul prays that we would really see it. Not as words on a page, but as the truest thing about our lives.

The saints are God's inheritance and anchored in hope

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