2015.10.11 Ephesians 1: 15-23
Paul´s prayer
Good morning everyone… I´m glad that you are here.. I
have Good News for you today… The Lord Jesus will help and comfort you no
matter what disaster strikes your life… Even if you are suffering great loss…
Disease and death… Just like the video that we saw… A friend of mine lost her
son 2 weeks ago… He was 19 years old…
I went to the funeral on Thursday… They are deeply
wounded… They cannot understand why this happened… Because they are not
believers…. There is nothing in their world view that prepared them for such
terrible sudden irreversible loss… I cannot stop thinking about it…
So I would like to begin with a question this morning… Can a disaster like the death of a loved
one also be something good?
It is never easy to experience such a tragic loss… When a
loved one dies suddenly… We are shaken to the core of our being… The worst sudden
disaster in my memory is the Tsunami of December 26 2004… 230,000 people lost
their lives… A disaster of Biblical proportions… My understanding of the Word
of God is that every disaster is a warning of judgment… and a call to repentance….
That was the message of every prophet that ever lived… It was the message of
all of the prophets in the OT… It was the message of John the Baptist… It was
the message of Jesus…. It is our message today as we proclaim the Good News… It
is truly Good news… It is good news
exactly because judgment is certain… And we need forgiveness for our sin and
rebellion… Every one of us needs a
Savior… Unfortunately the tragic loss of this young man…. This terrible grief
and emptiness… is often just a temporary shock to the systems of those who knew
and loved him… Right now they are deeply saddened… But soon time and the cares
of this world… will snatch away the treasure that is hidden in this disaster….
The Gracious chance given by the Lord…. The chance for everyone who has been affected…
to search their hearts and cry out to God for forgiveness and mercy…
John Piper wrote this in response to the Tsunami of December
26 2004…
“It
is a double grief when lives are lost and lessons are not learned.
Every
deadly calamity is a merciful call from God for the living to repent…”
He went on to say that there
are two lessons in every disaster…
“Lesson
one: weep for the dead. Lesson two: weep for yourselves.
One
word from Jesus would have stopped it. He did not speak it. This means there is
design in this suffering. And all his designs are wise and just and good.
One
of his designs is my repentance. Therefore I will not put God on trial. I am on
trial. Only because of Christ will the waves that one day carry me away bring
me safely to his side. Come. Repentance is a good place to be.”
”Lektion eins: weinen um die Toten. Lektion zwei: weint
über euch. Ein Wort von Jesus wäre es aufgehört haben. Er sprach nicht es. Dies
bedeutet, es ist das Design in diesem Leiden. Und alle seine Entwürfe sind weise
und gerecht und gut. Einer seiner Entwürfe ist meine Reue. Darum will ich Gott
nicht vor Gericht gestellt. Ich bin auf dem Prüfstand. Nur wegen der Christus
wird die Wellen, die eines Tages zu tragen mich weg bringt mir sicher an seiner
Seite. Kommen Sie. Reue ist ein guter Ort zu sein. " John Piper
Genuine
repentance is the treasure that can and will redeem every disaster in our
lives…
One
day Jesus
was asked about recent disasters that
had occurred in Israel… He used
those examples to teach and He called
for repentance… turn with me to Luke
13..v1…
Luke
13: 1-5 NKJV
1
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose
blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said
to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other
Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you
repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in
Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all
other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you
will all likewise perish.”
Luke 13: 1-5 slt 2000
1 Es waren aber zur selben Zeit etliche eingetroffen, die
ihm von den Galiläern berichteten, deren Blut Pilatus mit ihren Opfern
vermischt hatte.
2 Und Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihnen: Meint ihr,
daß diese Galiläer größere Sünder gewesen sind als alle anderen Galiläer, weil
sie so etwas erlitten haben?
3 Nein, sage ich euch; sondern wenn ihr nicht Buße tut,
werdet ihr alle auch so umkommen!
4 Oder jene achtzehn, auf die der Turm in Siloah fiel und
sie erschlug, meint ihr, daß diese schuldiger gewesen sind als alle anderen
Leute, die in Jerusalem wohnen?
5 Nein, sage ich euch; sondern wenn ihr nicht Buße tut,
so werdet ihr alle auch so umkommen!
V3… Were they the worst of sinners?...
3 I
tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
3 Nein, sage ich euch; sondern wenn ihr nicht Buße tut,
werdet ihr alle auch so umkommen!
Every
loss… Every disaster… Is a warning and a call to repentance… When those things
happen…. We need a firm foundation under our feet…
Last week as we looked at the first part of Ephesians 1…
I said that this wonderful truth about God… This study of Theology is vital for
us as believers… Because we need a firm foundation under our feet… God has revealed Himself to us… He is the
author and finisher of our faith… He
has redeemed us… Paul is driving this Theology… This truth about God ´s
unfailing love and sovereign plan…. deep into our hearts and minds… He is
putting that firm foundation under our
feet….
The reason?... So that when disasters strike us… We will know how to walk out or Christian
life… We will know in whom we have believed… We will hang on to Jesus even in
the hardest of times…
How we need the Lord Jesus… How we need to hide His Word
in our hearts… How we need to teach our children the Word of God…
It is the Word of God that the Holy Spirit uses to teach
us and to equip us for the hard times…Isaiah 43 v1,2… and for service… 2
Timothy 3…15-17…
Let´s turn to Ephesians now… ch1.. v 15…
This is Paul´s prayer for the believers…
Ephesians
1: 15-23 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: 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, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power
toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 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.
Ephesians 1: 15-23 slt 2000
15 Darum lasse auch ich, nachdem ich von eurem Glauben an
den Herrn Jesus und von eurer Liebe zu allen Heiligen gehört habe,
16 nicht ab, für euch zu danken und in meinen Gebeten an
euch zu gedenken,
17 daß der Gott unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der Vater
der Herrlichkeit, euch [den] Geist der Weisheit und Offenbarung gebe in der
Erkenntnis seiner selbst,
18 erleuchtete Augen eures Verständnisses, damit ihr
wißt, was die Hoffnung seiner Berufung und was der Reichtum der Herrlichkeit
seines Erbes in den Heiligen ist,
19 was auch die überwältigende Größe seiner Kraftwirkung
an uns ist, die wir glauben, gemäß der Wirksamkeit der Macht seiner Stärke.
20 Die hat er wirksam werden lassen in dem Christus, als
er ihn aus den Toten auferweckte und ihn zu seiner Rechten setzte in den
himmlischen [Regionen],
21 hoch über jedes Fürstentum und jede Gewalt, Macht und
Herrschaft und jeden Namen, der genannt wird, nicht allein in dieser Weltzeit,
sondern auch in der zukünftigen;
22 und er hat alles seinen Füßen unterworfen und ihn als
Haupt über alles der Gemeinde gegeben,
23 die sein Leib ist, die Fülle dessen, der alles in
allen erfüllt,
Once again we are reminded even in Paul´s prayer of all
of the wonderful things that already belong to us… All of it because we are in Christ…
Now days some people say, “Well, it's not enough to have
Christ…. It is not enough to have the Bible… IT´s not that important… You have got to have fresh revelation… You've
got to have visions… and messages from prophets or angels…. You've got to have a deeper experience…
You see, there are people who say it is Christ plus
Something… They may proclaim
the deeper Christian life comes from Supernatural experiences… Or legalism… Or
deeply felt emotional experiences… Or human philosophy… They are really saying
that The Bible is not enough… Some proudly proclaim their experiences Or strict legalism… Or
self-denial is what really gives them that Christian edge… Jesus plus… That´s what gives them Super Christian status…
Paul´s answer to that is crystal clear… He says… Baloney… Don't let anybody mess up
your mind with that kind of stuff… Let read his own Holy Spirit lead words… Remember
that Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians at the same time as he wrote the
Ephesians… turn to Colossians 2: 6-10…
Colossians
2: 6-10 NKJV
6 As you therefore have received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him
and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with
thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through
philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to
the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For
in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and
you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2: 6-10
slt 2000
6 Wie ihr nun Christus Jesus, den Herrn, angenommen habt,
so wandelt auch in ihm,
7 gewurzelt und auferbaut in ihm und gefestigt im
Glauben, so wie ihr gelehrt worden seid, und seid darin überfließend mit
Danksagung.
8 Habt acht, daß euch niemand beraubt durch die
Philosophie und leeren Betrug, gemäß der Überlieferung der Menschen, gemäß den
Grundsätzen der Welt und nicht Christus gemäß.
9 Denn in ihm wohnt die ganze Fülle der Gottheit
leibhaftig;
10 und ihr seid zur Fülle gebracht in ihm, der das Haupt
jeder Herrschaft und Gewalt ist.
v6… so walk in Him… you have received Jesus
Walk in Him…
v7…
rooted and built up in Him… established and taught… And
be thankful…
v8… beware…
be careful… Watch out…. for those who tell you that you
need something more… They are lying and trying to cheat you… to pull you away
from Christ… That´s the really big
problem with all of these things… They are not
the key to the deeper Christian
experience… They draw us away from
the Lord Jesus… They draw us away
from the study of the Word of God…
v10…
It´s all in Him… We are in Christ… folks He is all we need…
We are complete in
Christ... That is the doctrine of
salvation that the New Testament teaches… There is no reason to chase something
more...
Back to Ephesians…
Ephesians 1: 15-17 slt 2000
15 Darum lasse auch ich, nachdem ich von eurem Glauben an
den Herrn Jesus und von eurer Liebe zu allen Heiligen gehört habe,
16 nicht ab, für euch zu danken und in meinen Gebeten an
euch zu gedenken,
17 daß der Gott unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der Vater
der Herrlichkeit, euch [den] Geist der Weisheit und Offenbarung gebe in der Erkenntnis
seiner selbst,
In
Ephesian 1 Paul has very carefully
outlined the believer's resources and position in Christ… He has told us who we are and what we possess... It is a magnificent statement of the
accomplishment of salvation… And there's nothing missing... Verse 3 is written in the past tense… God has
already done it all for us… We are in Christ…
And so in verse 15…
He prays
that we will understand what he's just said… We need to understand this book… Early
in the book of Acts we see the total supremacy of the study of… and teaching of… the Word of God… Acts 6… says the elders devoted themselves to the study of the Word
and prayer….
Paul
studied the Word to teach Biblical truths to his people… And
then he prays that God will release His Spirit to help them to understand it…
because the human mind can't completely understand it… v17…
v17…“I
pray for you that God would grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him.” We
can and should pray for wisdom and revelation as we study the Bible…
God wants us to learn the Word of God so that we can
apply it to our lives… We learn that we are seated in the heavenlies so that we
can walk in this world… and stand against the enemy… The Holy
Spirit is the Teacher who takes the Word
of God and makes it alive to our
hearts and minds…
When Ephesians 1 says, “The eyes of your heart being enlightened… It's talking about our understanding… It´s the
thinking process… This idea has nothing to do with feelings and emotions…
Paul prays that we not only understand the greatness of God´s plan… but That we
will understand the greatness of His power… v19…
Ephesians
1: 19,20 NKJV slt 2000
19
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when
He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly
places,
19 was auch die überwältigende Größe seiner Kraftwirkung
an uns ist, die wir glauben, gemäß der Wirksamkeit der Macht seiner Stärke.
20 Die hat er wirksam werden lassen in dem Christus, als
er ihn aus den Toten auferweckte und ihn zu seiner Rechten setzte in den
himmlischen [Regionen],
Paul, here, is describing the power of our position in
Christ… He uses several words to show us
the big picture of the power that God has put at our disposal…
The Greek
Language is so rich… The largest language ever in History… There
are four different words for “power” in verse 19 alone… Let´s look
at them…
Power
1 dunamis…
means inherent power…
2 energeia…
means operative Functional power...
3 ischus…
means endowed power…
4
kratos… means ultimate power...
v19…
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power..." That's dunamis, from which we get the English word Dynamite…
Then
in the next phrase we see three more power words… according to the working of His mighty power…
Here he uses Energeia… This is the basis for our
word “energy… the word translated “mighty” is ischus…. It could be
translated power or might… and then
he ends with Kratos… It is sometimes
translated as power or dominion…
What Paul is
saying is there’s lot´s of power.. God´s power ready to work for you… and it's yours because you are in Him…
We even have a
tremendous power that we often don´t use… We have to power to resist sin and to
follow Jesus… Power to walk with Him in Righteousness…
So now we can make a list of the things that God has
equipped us with… What is all of this Power
for?… Is it so that we can speak to our
wallets… Or demand perfect health
and wealth… I don´t see that in the
Bible… Let´s look at what we do see in the Word of God…
God´s
Power in Us
1 Power
to evangelize… Power to proclaim the Good News… Romans 1:16…
2 Power
to suffer… Power to endure suffering for His sake… 2 Cor 4:7…
3 Power
to do God's will... Phil 2:13 and last…
4 Power
to serve… Col 1: 28,29…
First we have Power
to proclaim the Good News… In Romans 1… v16… Paul said…
Romans
1: 16 NKJV slt 2000
16 For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
16 Denn ich schäme mich des Evangeliums von Christus
nicht; denn es ist Gottes Kraft zur Errettung für jeden, der glaubt, zuerst für
den Juden, dann auch für den Griechen;
The Good News of the Gospel is the Power of God…You have
that power… You have the power to
evangelize your colleges and family and even your neighbors…
When Paul went into Thessalonica…
in chapter 1 verse 5… he said1
Thessalonians 1…v5…
1Thessalonians
1: 5a NKJV slt
2000
5 For
our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the
Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among
you for your sake.
5 denn unser Evangelium ist nicht nur im Wort zu euch
gekommen, sondern auch in Kraft und im Heiligen Geist und in großer Gewißheit
|
Next.. God has
given to us Power to suffer and endure…
Turn to 2 Corinthians 4… v7…
2
Corinthians 4: 7-9 NKJV slt 2000
7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power
may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not
crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed—
7 Wir haben aber diesen Schatz in irdenen Gefäßen, damit
die überragende Kraft von Gott sei und nicht von uns.
8 Wir werden überall bedrängt, aber nicht erdrückt; wir
kommen in Verlegenheit, aber nicht in Verzweiflung;
9 wir werden verfolgt, aber nicht verlassen; wir werden
niedergeworfen, aber wir kommen nicht um;
We are nothing but clay pots… Crack pots… But the Power is excellent… And it is all GOD…
Power
to evangelize… power to suffer…. Power to do God's will… We often fear that we don't have the ability
to obey and do God's will… Turn with me to Philippians
2:13…
Philippians
2:13 NLJV slt 2000
13
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
13 denn Gott ist es, der in euch sowohl das Wollen als
auch das Vollbringen wirkt nach seinem Wohlgefallen.
The Bible is clear… God´s Power is here in us… because we
are In HIM…
And
finally… Power to serve…
Turn to Colossians 1: 28…
Colossians
1: 28,29 NKJV slt 2000
28
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we
may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor,
striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
28 Ihn verkündigen wir, indem wir jeden Menschen ermahnen
und jeden Menschen lehren in aller Weisheit, um jeden Menschen vollkommen in
Christus Jesus darzustellen.
29 Dafür arbeite und ringe ich auch gemäß seiner
wirksamen Kraft, die in mir wirkt mit Macht.
We labor… we strive…. It´s hard work this Christian life…
It will cost us our lives… We proclaim Jesus to a lost and dying world… But It is His Power… working in us and through
us to transform our lives… and to
transform others through us…
Back to Eph 1…
v21…
Ephesians
1:21-23 NKJV slt 2000
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.
21 hoch über jedes Fürstentum und jede Gewalt, Macht und
Herrschaft und jeden Namen, der genannt wird, nicht allein in dieser Weltzeit,
sondern auch in der zukünftigen;
22 und er hat alles seinen Füßen unterworfen und ihn als
Haupt über alles der Gemeinde gegeben,
23 die sein Leib ist, die Fülle dessen, der alles in
allen erfüllt,
verse
21 “ – far above all principality… There are two greek words
here… 1 archē… 2 exousia... Archē is the word for the first leader or
ruler… Exousia is the one for the second
leader… One who has delegated authority….
Jesus is above all principalities and powers and
dominions and all these other things... He is
above every name that is named… which means every person in the universe… is
under Him… in this age and in the age to come… and He has put all under His
feet…
Nothing supersedes the Lord Jesus Christ… There is no greater power in the universe... No one can ever change anything that He's
planned.. because no one has greater power…
And listen here… No one can love you more… He is love by nature… and we're secure in Him… How do we respond to all
of this…? How do we respond to God´s
grace and mercy… Paul tells us what we should do in response to His Grace… turn
to Romans 12 as we close…
Romans
12: 1,2 NLT
Neues Leben
1 And
so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God
because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the
kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t
copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a
new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s
will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans
12: 9-11 NLT
Neues Leben
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really
love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other
with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be
lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
9 Täuscht nicht nur vor, andere zu lieben, sondern liebt
sie wirklich. Hasst alles Böse und stellt euch auf die Seite des Guten.
10 Liebt einander mit aufrichtiger Zuneigung4 und habt
Freude daran, euch gegenseitig Achtung zu erweisen.
11 Werdet nicht nachlässig, sondern lasst euch ganz vom
Geist erfüllen5 und setzt euch für den Herrn ein.
Romans
12: 12,13 NLT Neues Leben
12
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always
be eager to practice hospitality.
12 Freut euch auf alles, was Gott für euch bereithält.
Seid geduldig, wenn ihr schwere Zeiten durchmacht, und hört niemals auf zu
beten.
13 Wenn andere Gläubige in Not geraten, steht ihnen zur
Seite und helft ihnen. Seid gastfreundlich und öffnet für Gäste euer Haus.Rejoice…
be patient in trouble… keep praying… Amen? Amen…
Let´s pray…
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