THE SUPREME MYSTERY – THE BODY OF CHRIST
ACT I: Foundations Of A Supreme Mystery – Identification
2. A MYSTERY EMPOWERED (Eph. 1:15-23)
Introduction:
When I look back at how God brought me to where I am today, I can’t help but notice that he did so through a multitude of ordinary people who had extraordinary faith and love. I think of my friends, Tim and Kyle who first lived out before me a life of faithful and real devotion to the Lord and His Word – even while loving me despite my own rejections and rebellions. I think of Bill Mummert, the humble, plain-spoken, boot-wearing, cattle-raising small town rural Pastor who first led me into the Lord’s saving presence and was instrumental in my early discipleship. I think of my Father-in-law who, despite little formal education and essentially no formal training planted and has since faithfully pastored their church in a small Hindu village – and, until this past year – did so without receiving a dime from the church. Yet, he has shown and taught me so much about ministry and even theology. I think of students I’ve ministered to from toddlers to teenagers who have taught me much from their unique perspective and inquisitive nature. And, I even think of the countless individuals whom I have never personally met, yet have been encouraged and instructed through hearing and reading about their faithful and loving service unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
I look back and wonder. . . What about me? I am not any more limited or fallible than they. But what is my legacy? Who would include little-old-me me in their short list of people who God has used to empower and strengthen their Christian faith and walk? Who have I inspired for Christ? Who would say that their life was in some way positively altered simply by observing or being the recipient of my faith and love? Sure, some would argue that, as a Pastor, this is my job and I should have a long list. But is this always true? If pastors inherently have this effect, why are there so many ineffective churches with so few recent stories of transformed lives? Clearly, living a life of impact is dependent on something much more and different than a title and position.
What about you? How many people would put you on their short list? Why or why not?
PRAYER
THE WORD: READ EPHESIANS 1:15-23
A.) AFFIRMATION (vv. 15-16)
Last week, we were reminded through Scripture that God, according to His love and grace, sovereignly elects us to be adopted into His family, to make us part of a special people, and to shower us with every spiritual blessing in His Son Jesus Christ. Having elected us for this, God has further accomplished this purpose through the redemptive death of His Son – paying the only just price for our sin in order to free us for our new identity and position in Him. Then, having been chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son, we are re-born, sealed, preserved, empowered and united in the Holy Spirit.
We would be hard-pressed to find another passage of God’s Word that better or more strongly expresses Christ’s supremacy over everything – even the steps of our lives. But, now, Paul turns to prayer. This begs a frequent question: if God is the determiner of all things, what is the point of prayer?
It seems like such a difficult question, but the reality is that there is a very simple answer. Having confidence and certainty in God’s sovereignty is not a discouragement, but rather an inducement to pray all the more. Because we know that God is at work and that He is good, how much more confidently and excitedly can we come to Him in prayer – whether to praise Him for who He is, what He has done and what He will certainly do, or to petition Him knowing that His will is always completed?! Remember, prayer is NOT about our influencing God, but rather seeking to bring our minds and will into harmony and agreement with His!
And so Paul’s reflections on Christ’s supremacy naturally leads him into prayer. Specifically, he prays for the faithful example and love of all the saints (believers) in the church at Ephesus.
Notice that he says all, not ’some’ or ’certain’ of the saints. It is very common and cliched for churches today to refer to themselves somehow as “the church that loves people/our community.” It makes for a great slogan on a sign or perhaps even a bumper sticker, but what does it really mean? Would others be so quick as to praise both the church itself and all of its members for their unusual faith and love? Illus: Brookdale.
The Greeks had three different words to distinguish ’love.’ Here, Paul uses the word ’agape’ which refers to a divine, selfless and sacrificial love.
This is why we don’t just refer to our purpose here as “loving others.” We qualify it by saying we “love others sacrificially.” But do we? How committed to it are each and every one of us? If Paul were to write to PBC today, to what extent do you think he would say the same? Why?
In what ways might such praise be true and appropriate? Overly generous?
Paul doesn’t just pray for ’the church’, he prays specifically for the people who are the church! Further, his motivation for prayer is not the negative, or fear. Rather, he is motivated by good things and prays for those who are the church.
In the following verses we will see that when he prays for others, his focus is not on material blessings, but spiritual blessings! For these are far more important and valuable!
Further Study: Ro. 1:9; 1 Co. 1:4; Phil. 1:3,4; Col. 1:3; 1 Thes 1:2; 2 Thes. 1:3; Phil 4
B.) PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT OF MYSTERY (vv. 17-19)
1. “Spirit of wisdom and revelation.”
= identifying God’s will
= knowledge of Christ Himself!
ALL spiritual blessings begin with our understanding God’s communication to us, as given and guided by His Holy Spirit.
a.) “so that you may know Him better.”
And His communication begins and ends with our knowing Jesus
This refers to far more than just knowing “of” or “about” Jesus.
The word Paul chooses to use (epignosis) that we translate “know” refers to a deep, thorough and personal knowledge. The charge here is not just to know him like you might know your distant neighbor. Rather, it refers to knowing Jesus intimately as you (hopefully) know your spouse or best friend.
Further Study: Ro. 3:20; 1 Co. 2:10-11; 8:3; 13:12; Gal. 4:9; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:9
2. “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened”
“The heart” was universally considered to be the very epicenter of one’s being -
the control room of our emotion and will. That is, our spiritual core. (Too often we put
too much emphasis on knowing Christ with our mind (facts) and not enough on our
hearts!
“the eyes” refers to vision, in this case spiritual vision.
To know Christ intimately, we must first intimately understand what He has lovingly accomplished for us! The rest of verse 18 summarizes this in three aspects:
a.) “so that” (1) “you may know what is the hope of His calling,”
This hope is exactly what Paul has been writing about up to this point - Our election, redemption, adoption, inheritance, and eternal future with Christ!
The hope of sharing in His manifest glory
As the late James Montgomery Boice wrote: “By linking the idea of the ’call’ to ’hope’ Paul is saying that the calling of God . . . is not without context . .. God has called us to something and for something.”
Further Study: Ro. 5:2; 8:17-30; Col. 3:4; 1 Jn. 3:2
b.) (2) “the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,”
(This was already explained last week.)
c.) (3) “and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe,
according to the working of His vast strength“
Paul pulls out and unloads the adjectives and synonyms to make sure that we can not
and do not miss, mistake, or underestimate what he is saying.
“immeasurable greatness”, “hyperballon” in the original Greek. A. Skevington Wood
explains: “Literally, it suggests that the conception it is attached to is thrown over
into another sphere altogether.”1
“power (dynamis)” A raw strength or power of great potential. English n.: dynamite
“the working (energeia)” The inward propulsion or operation of power/energy.
“vast (kratos)” Power used in resistance, control, or to conquer/overcome.
“strength (ischys)” physical, bodily force.
This conduit to unlimited power is open to all “who believe.”
Have YOU plugged into it? Are you plugging into it regularly? Or are you needlessly
living an impotent life?
C.) FULLNESS BY AND IN JESUS (vv. 19b-23)
It is this same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead in ultimate and complete victory
over death and sin!!!
1.) It is saving power. (Ro. 1:16)
2.) It is sanctifying power (Eph. 3:20; Ro. 6:3-4; 8:11-14; Phil. 3:10)
“seating Him at His right hand. . .” A metaphor on Christ’s victorious ascension, authority,
power, and honor
“far above all. . .” Regardless of whatever grades of authority, power, and existence there
may be in the universe (on earth or elsewhere), they are ALL indisputably inferior to Jesus!
“everything under His feet” Not only are they all far inferior, but ultimately are in subjection
and under the power and authority of Jesus (Phil. 2:9-12)!
“as head over everything for the church. . .” This same truth, of course, applies also and
especially to the church (i.e. the community of believers). However, whereas He may rule
The authorities of the universe with power and force, He rules supreme over the church
through sanctification and love (5:25-27).
The church is an organism, not an organization or institution. As such, the vibrancy, health, productivity, and even the very existence of the church is inexorably tied into its vital, strong, complete, and perpetual connection to Jesus; just as the same is true of the body to the head.
“the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” As F.F. Bruce writes: “The fullness
of deity resides in him (Jesus), and out of that fullness his church is being constantly
supplied.”2 And yet out of that fullness, so is it extended to the world about us.
This fullness and power of Jesus is made available by the Father through the Holy Spirit for each and every one of us who is united in His Body (the church) and pursues to intimately know Him!!!
SUMMARY:
James Montgomery Boice sums up these verses beautifully:
The church is to be a transforming power – indeed, through the presence of the risen Christ within, the greatest of all powers in this world. Those who belong to the church are changed; apart from the power of Christ in their lives they do not even belong to it. Then, having been changed and having become members of the church, they are to work through the power of Christ in the church to transform the world powerfully. . . It is the victory of transformed lives as, through the church which Christ fills, the rule of Christ is extended forcefully throughout the world.3
Let us pray vv. 17-19 for one another.
