And what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might (Eph 1:19).
I love me some "Star Wars." Especially the original trilogy. You know, the one that starts with Episode IV. Yeah, that only makes sense if you're fan.
It's loaded with classic characters. Princess Leia. Han Solo. Darth Vader. Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke Skywalker.
But let's be honest, these movies are entertaining but their theology was, shall we say, more than a bit wacko. There's that famous scene where the dearly departed Ben Kenobi urged young Luke to "use the Force, Luke."
Here in his letter to his friends in Ephesus, Paul instead tells us to understand the unlimited energy source that God works in and through our lives.
The apostle wants us to see "what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might" (v19).
Lose the Force, Luke. Let the power of Jesus do the work.
It's loaded with classic characters. Princess Leia. Han Solo. Darth Vader. Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke Skywalker.
But let's be honest, these movies are entertaining but their theology was, shall we say, more than a bit wacko. There's that famous scene where the dearly departed Ben Kenobi urged young Luke to "use the Force, Luke."
Here in his letter to his friends in Ephesus, Paul instead tells us to understand the unlimited energy source that God works in and through our lives.
The apostle wants us to see "what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might" (v19).
Lose the Force, Luke. Let the power of Jesus do the work.
This is a continuation of Paul's prayer that he began in Eph 1:16. First he asked God to shine His spotlight on the incredible hope we have in Jesus as well as breathtaking inheritance our heavenly Dad has for us (Eph 1:18).
He then prays that God would pull back the curtain and allow us to see His incredible power at work in our lives. The apostle asks that God give us a tour of the reactor of divine power.
Sorry, Iron Man. Your arc reactor is cool. But it's a 9 volt battery compared to amazing power of God that energizes the life of Jesus' followers.
He then prays that God would pull back the curtain and allow us to see His incredible power at work in our lives. The apostle asks that God give us a tour of the reactor of divine power.
Sorry, Iron Man. Your arc reactor is cool. But it's a 9 volt battery compared to amazing power of God that energizes the life of Jesus' followers.
Paul calls God's power "immeasurable" (v19). This is the Greek word huperballo/'υπερβαλλω. It means to surpass all measure, exceed to an extraordinary extent, go beyond all comprehension, something extreme or beyond comparison.
If you've placed your trust in Jesus, God's power in your life is off the scale. It pegs the meter. It's off the charts.
Stop and think about that for just a moment. Do you really understand what kind of supernatural energy is at your disposal?
That's why the apostle asks God to pull back the curtain and get a glimpse. The term translated as "power" here is closely related to our word "dynamo." His power in our lives is off the charts.
If you've placed your trust in Jesus, God's power in your life is off the scale. It pegs the meter. It's off the charts.
Stop and think about that for just a moment. Do you really understand what kind of supernatural energy is at your disposal?
That's why the apostle asks God to pull back the curtain and get a glimpse. The term translated as "power" here is closely related to our word "dynamo." His power in our lives is off the charts.
But not everybody has access to God's unlimited power. This isn't like "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Just because someone possesses the Ark, it doesn't mean they can access God's power like some sort of weapon of mass destruction.
No. Instead, the power of Jesus is "to us who believe" (v19). God only plugs in those who place their trust in who Jesus is and what He's done.
He lived a perfect life that we didn't. He died a brutal death that we should have. He rose to a new life that we don't deserve. He did it. We didn't.
We believe in what He did FOR us. This is NOT about the strength of our faith in Christ. This is about believing He's done for us what we could never do in a million years.
It's NOT the power of our belief. It's about the power of the One in whom we believe.
No. Instead, the power of Jesus is "to us who believe" (v19). God only plugs in those who place their trust in who Jesus is and what He's done.
He lived a perfect life that we didn't. He died a brutal death that we should have. He rose to a new life that we don't deserve. He did it. We didn't.
We believe in what He did FOR us. This is NOT about the strength of our faith in Christ. This is about believing He's done for us what we could never do in a million years.
It's NOT the power of our belief. It's about the power of the One in whom we believe.
This divine dynamo is the "working of His great might" (v19). We see another power-packed term here. "Working" is the Greek noun energeia/ενεργεια.
Looks familiar, doesn't it? Yeah, this means energy, power or force. In the New Testament, biblical writers only use it when talking about a supernatural power source, whether God or Satan.
This is the energy of God. This is the power of God. This is supernatural force of God. Lose the Force, Luke. Turn to Jesus.
Looks familiar, doesn't it? Yeah, this means energy, power or force. In the New Testament, biblical writers only use it when talking about a supernatural power source, whether God or Satan.
This is the energy of God. This is the power of God. This is supernatural force of God. Lose the Force, Luke. Turn to Jesus.
Speaking of Luke, the author of Acts used this same term when he related Jesus' last words to His followers.
"You will receive power (Gr. energeia/ενεργεια) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
His disciples find out just a few days later that this amazing power source is actually the Person of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4).
His indwelling Spirit is the reactor in each one of Christ's followers. And a huge purpose of plugging us into this divine dynamo is to tell others about Jesus.
The Apostle Paul certainly understood that. "Of this Gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of His power (Gr. energeia/ενεργεια)" (Eph 3:7).
He used God's supernatural energy to tell others about Jesus. A perfect example that with great power comes great responsibility.
"You will receive power (Gr. energeia/ενεργεια) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
His disciples find out just a few days later that this amazing power source is actually the Person of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4).
His indwelling Spirit is the reactor in each one of Christ's followers. And a huge purpose of plugging us into this divine dynamo is to tell others about Jesus.
The Apostle Paul certainly understood that. "Of this Gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of His power (Gr. energeia/ενεργεια)" (Eph 3:7).
He used God's supernatural energy to tell others about Jesus. A perfect example that with great power comes great responsibility.
We need to realize that Jesus can do absolutely crazy things in us and through us because the Holy Spirit is an unlimited source of energy.
Later in this letter to his buddies back in Ephesus, Paul suddenly explodes in praise over the off the scale power of God in his life.
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power (Gr. energia) at work within us" (Eph 3:20).
Later in this letter to his buddies back in Ephesus, Paul suddenly explodes in praise over the off the scale power of God in his life.
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power (Gr. energia) at work within us" (Eph 3:20).
Lose the Force, Luke.
©2013
Jay Jennings
©2013
Jay Jennings
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