Sermon for 5/23/2004
Ephesians 1:18-23
The Strategy of Power
Introduction:
A. Linda Down discovered real power and she needed it. She had dealt with the limitations of cerebral palsy all her life. One day, she got this crazy idea of running the New York Marathon. But Linda walked with difficulty, so running seemed out of the question? She used canes with arm clamps to steady her arms. On top of this she was 25 pounds overweight and jobless. In a state of depression, she began reading in the Scriptures about the power of God at work in people’s lives. She read Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. While training, she listened for God. She thought as she was running in the dark at night: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction about things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). She thought about her limited dreams, her inability to see beyond the obstacles of life. Faith, she said to herself, was running in spite of the insurmountable obstacles. As the New York Marathon began that cold morning, some 12 years ago now, she wore gloves on her hands to soften the impact of the crutches. It was windy on the bridge and uphill. She had not expected the beginning to be so difficult. As she finished the mile long Verrazano Narrows Bridge, there were no runners in sight ahead of her. Spectators were gone for the most part. But one little girl ran out into the street and cheered her on, “You can do it!” Others on the curb later applauded and cheered and shouted. They brought tears to Linda’s eyes and helped her to keep going. Ten hours later Linda was still running in the dark through dangerous neighborhoods. Some admiring spectators walked with her for safety. Then an ABC-TV camera crew showed up and followed the story of her courage. She continued to run. She wore a hole in one sneaker from dragging it across the ground; her hands ached and throbbed; her arms became black and blue and swollen; she couldn’t speak to anyone because of fatigue, but she continued to run because she prayed: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Then two parks and recreation trucks in Central Park came by and stayed with her to light the way. After 11 hours of struggle and over 27 miles, Linda crossed the finish line. People were crying and Linda was crying at the response and support that she had received from God and these people. She thanked God for the power to do such a miraculous thing. Later she was invited to the White House and was pictured on the front page of the New York Times. Her story was not just a story of noble effort, it was the story of the power of God at work.
B. Then I think of a dream that I have always had. I am being chased by someone and my legs can barely move or I am trying to reach for something and I cannot jump high enough or I just don’t have the strength to do this or that.
C. There have been times in my life like that. Barely have enough strength to get out of bed in the morning. Whether it be from physical or emotional problems, you have no energy, no strength, no power.
WBTU:
A. God desires for his people to put their trust in His power. This is the lesson of these Scriptures. It talks about the power the church has to carry on the Lord’s work.
B. The story is told of a small boy trying very hard to lift a heavy stone. His father, happening by, and noticing the son’s failure, said to him, “Are you using all your strength?” “Yes, I am,” the boy said impatiently. “No,” the father replied, “you are not. You haven’t asked me to help.” We have a power source, a source of strength, that we need to tap into if we are going to do anything.
C. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly, or have it to the full- John 10:10. Our mission statement says that we are sharing our lives with the gospel. This means that our lives are to be filled with strength and God’s power. Christ gives us the power, the strength, to do things for him. Gives us the strength to share a powerful life.
D. My friends, if we tap into our power source, we can do so much. If we fail to tap into the power source we can do nothing.
E. Beginning with verse 18, Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus would come to understand The power of God by which they should operate (vs. 19)
F. Local churches can use programs. We can use modern methods to instruct, organize, and deal with life’s situations. We can help people to learn how to be better parents, how to work on their marriages, how to study the Bible, how to teach, how to do in the local church. We can do all this and still miss out on the most basic strategy of all for God’s people- to operate by the power of God.
Thesis: This morning let’s talk about God’s power and how we can participate in that power.
For instances:
God is all powerful. He holds all the power and energy in the universe. We see three demonstrations of his power in these Scriptures.
1. The resurrection of Christ from the dead (vs. 20)
A. The cross presents us with the greatest display of God’s love; Christ’s resurrection provides us with the greatest display of His power.
B. Words from Songs sung this morning.
C. God raised him from the dead. 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.
D. (Phil 3:10 NIV) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection
2. The exaltation (ascention) of Christ. (vs. 20-21)
A. He is Lord, He is Lord, he is risen from the dead…
B. No power- angelic, demonic, or human- can compare to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
C. When those who claim the name of Christ walk in His power, it honors the One who sits on the throne.
3. The supremacy (king of Kings) of Christ on behalf of the church.
A. God’s power has made Jesus the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in both the material world and the spiritual world.
B. Jesus (Matthew 28:18)- All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
C. Jesus rules over the church to see that the church becomes all that God desires it to be.
D. Jesus rules for the benefit of the church!
E. Local churches need to realize that they have the King on their side.
How? A local church needs to be a visible expression of His power, a visible expression of His presence, and a visible expression of the Lord Jesus. A congregation should offer people a place where they can encounter and experience the kingdom of God. Clues in vs. 22,23
1. We are His Body.
A. A union exists between Jesus and the local church. Think of the human body. It has many parts- hands, ears, feet, lungs, arms, arteries, etc. Each part is important. When each part functions, the body is healthy. As the head, heart, arms, and internal organs function, life is maintained.
B. This is Jesus’ plan for the church. He gives power and direction (the brain) to do his work on this earth.
C. A church operates by God’s power when it functions as a body instead of an organization (business or club).
D. Notice the contrasts between an organization and a body.
1) Organization- meetings are formal and impersonal. Body- Gathers are informal and personal.
2) Organization- Leaders direct programs rather than guiding souls. Body- Leaders equip people for service and toward maturity.
3) Organization- Members simply sign up for programs. Body- Members minister to one another.
4) Organization- The goal is growth in numbers, output, quantity. Body- The goal is growth in grace and knowledge of God.
5) Organization- Attendance is the main responsibility of members, nothing more. Body- Daily interaction naturally occurs.
6) Organization- An overworked minority keep programs going. Like a road crew. Body- All members learn to minister to others.
7) Organization- Tasks and assignments need to be completed. Body- members are a visible expression of Jesus.
8) Organization- Many fail to connect and eventually drift away or become apathetic. Body- All members are in close fellowship.
2. We are the fullness of Him who fills all in all. You are my all in all
A. Jesus fills His church. As the body of Christ functions, it becomes the full expression of Jesus Christ. Christ gives power because all parts are connected to the power source.
B. People find in the church what they find nowhere else in this world- the Living Lord, Expressed powerfully through people.
C. Read Ephesians 4:7-16
3. Application
A. To please and honor God, a congregation must operate by His power. If we do it in our own power, it will not work. Weak and sick.
B. To operate by His power, a church must function as a body. Need to emphasize gatherings where Christians practice the “one-another” commands.
1) Our VBS this year is all about the one another commands. Power up. The Power of One Another by Bob Russell. This summer we are going over them in sermons.
2) Love one another
3) Accept one another
4) Serve One another
5) Comfort one another
6) Forgive one another
7) Honor one another
8) Bear One Another’s Burdens
9) Encourage One another
10) Pray for One another
11) Be Kind to One another
12) June 13th but carry it out all summer.
C. To function as a body, a church must give its highest priority to body life. A body operates by God’s power and life. A church must operate by God’s power.
Conclusion:
A. In Itasca, Texas, just before WW2, a school fire took the lives of more than 200 children. After the war, the town rebuilt the school and installed what they said was “the finest sprinkler system in the world.” The whole town was reassured by this precaution. They conducted tours of the facility and showed people the advanced sprinkler technology. As the town grew, it became necessary to add a new wing to the school. When they did, they made a shocking discovery. Seven years had passed since the school’s opening and the installation of the sprinkler system. When the builders added the wing, they discovered that the sprinkler system had never been connected. This is what can happen to a church.
B. This is what can happen to any individual.
C. In Romans 7, Paul is talking about the good that he wants to do but he is unable to do it. He does not have the strength or the power to do good and to avoid evil. However, he says at the end of this chapter (Rom 7:24 NIV) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?(Rom 7:25 NIV) Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!
