We are chosen, holy, blameless, adopted as sons, accepted, in the beloved, redeemed, forgiven, predestined, have obtained an inheritance, sealed with the Holy Spirt of promise, a purchased possession, to the praise of his glory. Today we will go deeper into how our identity in Jesus and how that out works in our every day life. Still in the book of Ephesians and we will start in the middle of the Apostle Paul's prayer for all believers. His prayer is that we may know and experience the reality of our true identity in Christ Jesus. This is the will of God. This is the heart of our Father.
Ephesians 1:18 (b) - 23 ...that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
That we may know the hope of His calling. This means know, experience and live in confident expectation of His calling. Living in the riches of the glory of His inheritance in us.
Interestingly calling here means an invitation to a feast, which is activated when we receive Him. ?In eastern culture journeying together and especially sharing a meal is considered a special honour of intimacy in relationship.
?Jesus invites us each day to spend time with Him, in His presence, receiving from Him. In ?a spiritual sense a love feast of special honour and intimacy.
In the future we will be together with Him and see Him face to face and participate in the continual love feast of all feasts, which is called the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Salvation is not just a future deliverance from evil, darkness and death. It is a present reality. ?Whilst we are saved at the moment we receive Jesus, each day is a new day to know and experience the riches of His glory of the inheritance in the saints.
To live in the present reality where fear has no place, evil has no power, lies have no access and death has no hold.
Oh that the whole body of Christ may know and experience what are the riches of His glory of the inheritance in the saints. We are His inheritance and He is our inheritance.
Let us read on. Ephesians 1:19-20 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward ?us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when ?He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Exceeding means to transcend, surpass, excel. God's exceeding greatness of His power. ?His power is exceedingly great, it is inherent, it is miraculous, it is victorious.
His power is toward us! This is inherent into us.
His power is resurrection power!
This power worked within Christ, the Son of God, Son of Man and raised Him from the dead. Jesus came in human body that was birthed, grew older and died, rose from the grave and ascended into heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father in heavenly places.
This amazing power of God is working on behalf of all believers. So we may know and experience this life giving, transforming, victorious power as a present and future reality.
In the previous message on true identity we read we are blessed with every spiritual blessing ?in heavenly places in Christ.
?As Jesus is so are we. His identity is our identity. Our identity is His identity.?
His life giving power healed (physically, spiritually, mentally), gave words of knowledge and unlocked the secrets of the heart, drawing all who willing to the Living God. This was through Jesus' finite body. We can be confident and expectant that His life giving power works in and through us, as we like Jesus surrender to the Father's will.
His power is of such magnitude that He breathed eternal life and glory of the Living God into ?a dead body. Jesus the first human body to be resurrected in a glorified eternal body.
His power is ascension power!
Jesus ascended back up to heaven. Jesus' resurrected body in His Spirit is poured out in the hearts and minds of all who believe and receive Jesus right to rule and reign.
Here we begin to understand that the heavenly places are a realm of position, power, might ?and dominion. A place of ultimate authority that transcends time and space dimensions. It is only the realm where God's will is done, but His right to rule and reign is worshipped. The Kingdom ?of heaven came down to earth in Jesus.
So this mighty power of God brought Jesus to the right hand of the Father in heavenly places. ?At the right hand is a place of special honour and privilege, power and authority.
In our series Visions of Heaven we saw a glimpse of the majesty and splendid of this reality. ?Where the 24 elders lay down their golden crowns. We pause for a moment to acknowledge ?that even tho He raises us up in His identity and position of special honour, power and authority, ?a position of kingship, He is the King of all kings. Praise His mighty name!
His power is dominion power!
Above all. Far above all principalities and powers. Far above all forces of darkness, might ?and dominion.
In Him we have our true identity ruling and reigning over self and the powers of darkness, ?being transformed by His resurrection, ascension and dominion power. Spiritually this is our present reality. Physically this is our future reality.
Verse 22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
His name, His power, His identity, exalted above all and given to us.
Let us think in the physical world. Have you ever seen a headless body? It is dead, has no power, no identity, no life.
For the body to be complete and fully functional it must be one with the head. For the head to be complete and fully functional it must be one with the body.
Here the Apostle Paul gives us a word picture to help us to understand and experience this reality. To apply this reality to our every day life.
Even tho God does not need us to be completed or fully functional in this world, He knew we needed Him to be complete and fully functional. Therefore out of His great love He chose to ?be completed in us so we could be complete in Him. Such sacrificial love.
In verse 22 we read the application. All things are under Jesus' feet. The feet are part of the body and as we are the body, all things are under our feet. The powers of darkness have to obey. ?Our selfish desires are under our feet. We have the power, might authority and dominion.
It is His power, His might, His authority and His dominion that we let Him apply to our life, starting with our hearts and minds. As He is ruling and reigning in our hearts and minds, we are ruling ?and reigning against the powers of darkness and selfish desires.
Our dependency is in Him. His will to do the will of the Father becomes our will. No longer do our selfish desires have power over us. We tear down thoughts that are contrary to His identity and ?our identity in Him.
Fear has no place, evil has no power, lies have no access and death has no hold.
We are the visible representation of the Living God. We are His body on earth, by His Spirit ?the continuing incarnation of Christ. Him in us. We in Him.?
It is because of His great love He gave us a part in His mission. We testify of Him to the principalities and powers. We herald in His Kingdom, beginning in our hearts and minds.
Ephesians 3:10-12 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
The church or the body of Christ is the earthly expression of the Living God carrying His Kingdom within. Triumphant with Christ over the powers of heaven and earth. It is His working power, His mission, His ministry, His expression, His story in our story, to the praise of His glory.
This same power of God that worked in Christ Jesus when He became our identity, raised Him from the dead and carried Him into the heavenlies is the same power that works in and through ?us. Jesus was exalted into a position of special honour and of the highest authority.
This power is toward us, to work in us and through us. He gives it all to us. It is the immeasurable power and authority of the Living God that is available to us each day.
Jesus said, the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church. The powers of darkness have been defeated. Our selfish desire or flesh have been defeated. It is the daily journey to live in that reality, in surrender to His will.
All things are subject to Christ Jesus. In His love, truth and power we stand!
