Lesson 3 Review: The Power of the Exalted Jesus

Introduction

Memory Text: “Through the Holy Spirit, believers may know “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:19,20, NKJV).

Paul’s prayer for the believers in Ephesus is that they experience through the Holy Spirit the immensity of the power God makes available to them in Jesus. Unlike the auto manufacturer showing off the prototype of its Devel sixteen, God’s divine might is not measured in horsepower, or magic but is seen in four cosmos-shifting, salvation-history events: (1) the resurrection of Jesus; (2) His exaltation at the throne of God; (3)all things being placed in subservience to Christ; and (4) Christ being given to the church as its Head (Eph. 1:19-23).

What do Paul’s prayer reports in Ephesus suggest as the native language of prayer?

‘Paul’s prayer reports in Ephesians suggest that thanksgiving is the native language of prayer. We gather up the blessings of God and thank Him for them.’

What does it mean to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17)?

‘It does mean that, blessed by God’s Spirit, we move through life with hearts open to the presence and power of God, seeking cues for thanksgiving to Him. It means a readiness to process the issues of life in the presence of God, to seek divine counsel as we experience the twists and turns that life brings.’

Why did Paul pray for a fresh blessing of the Spirit?

Paul prayed for a fresh blessing of the Spirit to give needed spiritual insight focused on a deepened understanding of Jesus (“in the knowledge of Him,” Eph. 1:17).

What three topics does Paul pray for special insight on for the Ephesians?

1.       “the hope to which He has called you” (Eph. 1:18, ESV)

2.       “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18, NKJV)

3.       “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:19, NKJV).

What did Paul mean when he prays for special insight on these three topics?

1.       ‘When Paul prays for insight for them about “the hope to which He has called you” (Eph. 1:18, ESV), he prays that they will be alert to the past actions God has already taken for their salvation (Eph. 1:2-9,11-13) and to the glorious future He has planned for them (Eph. 1:10, 14).’

2.       ‘When he prays for insight into “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18, NKJV), he is recalling the Old Testament idea of believers as God’s inheritance (Deut. 9:29, Deut. 32:9, Zech. 2:12; compare Eph. 1:11).’

3.       ‘When Paul prays for spiritual insight about “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:12, NKJV), he imagines the Holy Spirit bringing fresh understanding of the immensity of God’s power and actualizing it in their experience.’

What is Paul’s intention in his prayers in summary?

‘In all these prayers, Paul wants these people to experience for themselves what they have been given in Jesus.’

How does God begin the expansion of the third topic of insight?

Paul begins by pointing to two salvation history events as the premiere illustrations of God’s power: (1) the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and (2) the exaltation of Jesus to the throne of the cosmos (Eph. 1:20).

Why are these two topics the premiere illustrations of God’s power?

The resurrection of Jesus is a nonnegotiable belief of the Christian faith. It is because Christ is risen that faithful believers await the grand, future resurrection to eternal life at the time of Christ’s return.

The imagery, that God “seated Him [Christ] at His right hand” (Eph. 1:20, NKJV), is drawn from Psalm 110:1. The exaltation of Christ has a high profile in Ephesians. Believers are “seated with… Him [Christ Jesus] in the heavenly places” Eph. 2:6, ESV). Paul refers to this illustration as a prelude to Christ’s filling all things and giving gifts to His church (see Eph. 4:8-11).

How should we see the exaltation of Jesus Christ?

Rather than a merely static image of Christ on the Father’s throne, we should see the exaltation of Jesus Christ as the dynamic NT picture of the exalted Christ going forth by His Spirit in all the world, conquering and to conquer.

What is one of the notable features of religious life in Ephesus?

The interest in naming deities and powers in spells was a feature of religious life in Ephesus (See Acts 19:13), and among some even today.

What is the relationship between Christ and “the powers”?

The exalted Jesus is “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.” (Ephesians 1:21, NKJV).

What benefit does the exaltation of Christ to the throne of the cosmos and His rule over all things in heaven and on earth provide for His church?

‘God has made Christ victorious over all evil powers. The church, closely identified with Christ and supplied by Him with all its needs, is itself guaranteed victory over those foes.

How can we believers know the exalted Christ and experience God’s power in our lives?

Paul believes that God will answer his prayer. He also affirms the efficacy of celebrating God’s power, revealed in Christ, in God’s own presence and asking for it to be active in the lives of believers.

In Conclusion,

The power of the exalted Christ is available to us all, the Church closely tied to Christ can have the guarantee of victory over foes. I pray that God helps us to understand what we have in Christ in a way that what we have in Christ saves us in Jesus’ name.