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This summer a storm came through the city I live in. There was some rain, thunder, and lightening, but the major impact of the storm was in the wind. I stood at our sliding glass door, (not the safest place to be) watching the eighty to a hundred foot tall pine trees bending in the 80 mph+ wind. As I watched, I prayed the trees would not fall towards the house.
Meanwhile, my husband was at a fellowship potluck with our church family. Others who left before him drove home as huge pieces of tree branches and other debris flew across the highway in front of them. My husband came home a little later and missed the flying debris, but he had to try to repeatedly maneuver around the massive trees that had fallen across the roads including our own street.
After the storm, many people were without power for up to a week. Everywhere I drove around town, I could see tall trees snapped in half or completely uprooted with their entire base and roots lying horizontal on the ground. In addition, there were broken branches littering the streets and yards. The storm was three months ago, but crews are still cleaning up fallen trees. The power of the wind changed our city.
We’ve lived in Oklahoma with tornadoes, and my family lives in the Houston area where hurricanes come through (one this summer that did similar but more extensive damage), but where I live does not usually experience this kind of wind power. It was awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time.
As we continue in Ephesians today, we will understand a greater power, an unsurpassed power.
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that 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 rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.[1]
Ephesians 1:15-23 (emphasis added)
In this section, we have been taking a closer look at Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers particularly in knowing God. Last week, we examined two ways of growing in our knowledge of God: knowing the hope to which God has called us and knowing “what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (vs 18). This week we will consider the third way Paul prays for believers to know God: know His power.
First, we will work through verses 19-20a, and then we will explore why Paul thought it important for believers to know God’s power. Did you notice the words (even in English) that Paul chose – immeasurable greatness, power, working, great might? It seems Paul does not want us to have any confusion of how awesome and “powerful” God’s power is.
“immeasurable greatness” – We will see the extent of God’s power in verse 20, but this phrase reveals the sufficiency and more of God’s power toward believers. It’s immeasurable. God has already graciously supplied through the Holy Spirit all the power that we will ever need. Often we pray for God to give us power or strength for this or that, but as we’ve seen throughout Chapter 1, God has already blessed us with every spiritual gift including the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s prayer is that we will know and understand what we’ve been given, and that we will live in light of what God has graciously given.
A few examples:
Sharing the Gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). And “but our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
Persevering in suffering: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). And “But he [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Obeying God’s will: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). And “Him we proclaim, warning everyone teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:28-29).
“immeasurable greatness of his power” – the Greek word dunamis from which we get our English words dynamite and dynamo. This is incredible, life-altering power.
working – the Greek word energeia from which we get our English word energy. The Holy Spirit is energizing, working in, empowering.
great – the Greek word kratos. It is another word for power and can also translated as strength or dominion (1 Timothy 6:16).
might – the Greek word ischus which “carries the idea of endowed power or ability. In all those ways [the above four words] the Holy Spirit empowers God’s children.”[2]
If we have any doubt as to the immeasurable greatness of God’s power towards us who believe, Paul adds: “that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places (vs 20). The power that God wants us to know, His power that indwells us by the Holy Spirit is the same power that raised Christ from the dead, the culmination of God’s redemptive work. Let that truth saturate your heart and mind. God is amazingly gracious and generous.
Next week, we will continue seeing God’s power demonstrated in Jesus’ exaltation and victory/dominion, but for now let’s cover why Paul wants us to know the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward us both in the future and present.
It is easy to lose context when we are studying small portions of this passage each week, but if you look back through Chapter 1, you will remember that we have a future with God in glory forever. We have an inheritance awaiting us (vs 14, 18). Paul emphasizes God' power towards us to affirm how incredibly secure our future is. One of my favorite verses about God’s power is from Proverbs 21:30: “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.” Not even an idea we imagine, regardless of lack of ability to carry it out, could succeed against God’s power. Our future with God is secure.
God’s power toward us secures our future with Him, but there is also a present aspect as we noted in several of the passages above under “immeasurable greatness.” The believers Paul wrote to lived in an area influenced by the cult worship of Diana or Artemis. False gods can often be made to seem very powerful, but even if you know a false god has no power in of themselves, those who worship the false god can certainly exercise power through peer pressure impacting those who disagreed socially and economically. We can understand this as we look at the impact different human leaders currently have. It would have been an encouragement to Paul’s readers to know that the Holy Spirit that dwelt within them was of immeasurably greater power than anything in creation.
Along the same lines, Paul wrote that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). He then instructs the Ephesians on the specifics of the armor of God to put on. However, before he even told the Ephesians anything about spiritual warfare, he prefaced: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:1).
We need God’s power for life in this world. We need His power to stand firm. We need the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward us, securing the future He has promised us.
Reflection
1. What are ways you have seen the immeasurable greatness of God’s power evidenced in history, in creation, or in your own life?
2. How have you grown today in knowing the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward you? What stood out to you? What amazes you?
3. Most of us do not live day-to-day in light of the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward us. What is one specific way you can begin to live in light of what you’ve been graciously given?
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 1:15–23.
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