The Power of God That It Is

Notes: Valor - The Power of God That It Is

Pastor Jason Powell

November 17, 2015

Ephesians 1

Harvest OC

Having something is a lot different than knowing how to use it.

When we have something and know how to use it makes a profound difference.

The Bible tells us that God provides us all that we need.

As believers we have an endlessness of riches that God has given us that we don't typically use to its full advantage.

The Ephesians are a growing healthy church that Paul is writing to. He helps open their eyes to see the riches they have been given in Christ.

There are a lot of affirming truths as we read the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians is all about us as believers. Paul wrote this while he was in prison.

Ephesians 3:1 NKJV

[1] For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-

The earliest manuscripts did not have the name of Ephesians on it. Ephesians was added later, it was more like a circular that went around in the area when Paul wrote it.

Ephesians 1:15-16 NKJV

[15] Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, [16] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Paul is thinking, thanking and praying for them.

Ephesians 1:17-18 NKJV

[17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, [18] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Paul is praying that they will get supernatural wisdom from God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV

[6] For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Jason thinks of...

2 Kings 6:17 NKJV

[17] And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

This is the kind of enlightening that Paul wants us to see in our view of God.

1. The Hope that we have

2. The holiness we are given.

3. The heavenly power we are given.

Ephesians 1:18 NKJV

[18] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

God has brought us from death to life.

Ephesians 1:14 NKJV

[14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

God chose you before the world started.

Revelation 17:8 NKJV

[8] The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Ephesians 1:6 NKJV

[6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:7-11 NKJV

[7] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace [8] which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, [9] having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, [10] that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him. [11] In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Ephesians 1:12 NKJV

[12] that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV

[13] In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

When you understand what God has done for you, it brings hope.

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

[6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

We have hope in knowing that God has called us. God is with me.

2. The Holiness that I am called to.

Ephesians 1:18 NKJV

[18] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

God is bringing you into glory. We are the inheritance that God gets.

Why are we called to holiness? Don't you understand the amount of love that God has for you?

Ephesians 1:4 NKJV

[4] just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

When we understand that we get God at the end, it should change us completely.

3. The Heavenly power that belongs to me.

Ephesians 1:19 NKJV

[19] and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

We can rely on the power that God provides.

Ephesians 1:20-23 NKJV

[20] which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. [22] And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, [23] which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The power of the Holy Spirit is working in you right now. You need to accept it as the power of God that it is.