Sermon Theme
If you were to ask God for anything for someone you love or cared about, what would you pray for? More than likely the context of the person would lead you what to ask for:
- Miraculous cure for someone terminally ill, and keen sense of God’s presence
- Strength and courage for someone facing a tough challenge
- Wisdom and patience for parents raising kids in a very confusing and scary age
In our first reading from Ephesians 1, Paul shares his list as to his prayers for the Ephesians
- A Spirit of wisdom and revelation so they would know God better
- Their spiritual eyes opened so they would know the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints.
- With spiritually opened eyes they would know God’s incomparably great power for believers
It is this last prayer point that we focus on today. The INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER of God for believers is something we all need to have eyes wide opened to see.
Sermon outline
- THE POWER OF GOD FOR US WHO BELIEVE
- JESUS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD
- THE BEFEFIT TO US OF CHRIST’S REIGN
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Sermon Outline
Readings
Heidelberg Catechism LD 19
50 Q. Why the next words: "and is seated at the right hand of God"?
A. Christ ascended to heaven, there to show that He is head of His church, and that the Father rules all things through Him.
51 Q. How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us?
A. First, through His Holy Spirit He pours out His gifts from heaven upon us His members.
Second, by His power He defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.
Ephesians 1:17–23 (NIV84)
17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Text
Ephesians 4:1–16 (NIV84)
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called—
5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
8This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
