Ephesians 1:15–23 gives us a prayer by one Christian for others that, among numerous requests, they might understand “what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph 1:19).
This power is illustrated as the text continues. We enjoy the same kind of power that the Father exerted in Christ’s resurrection, exaltation, being placed over all things, and being given as Head to the church (Eph 1:20–23).
This are powerful illustrations for God’s power, and the power He exerted there is the same power to us who believe!
But how exactly do we see that power at work in us?
By doing a mere search of all of Paul’s “power words” in Eph 1:19 (power, working, strength, might), the New Testament gives us many passages. I’ve tried to grab some of them to illustrate for us in a few ways how God’s power is “toward us who believe.”
Power to Save
The gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). We “were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God” (Col 2:12). The word of God and Christ Himself are both said to be “the power of God,” saving power that is to us by faith in the message of the gospel (1 Cor 1:18, 24; 2:4–5). We are saved by the power of God.
Power to Sanctify
We are able to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” and “to please Him in all respects” because we are “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might” (Col 1:10–11). Again, we are “strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,” resulting in “being rooted and grounded in love,” better understanding the love of Christ, and being “filled up to all the fullness of God” (Eph 3:16–19). We are sanctified by the power of God.
Power to Serve
Whatever our spiritual gifts may be, we are “serving by the strength which God supplies” (1 Pet 4:11). We serve God “according to the working of His power” (Eph 3:7) and “labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works in” us (Col 1:29). We serve by the power of God.
Power to Sustain
We can “know Him” (Christ), “the power of His resurrection,” and that through “the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10). How? By obeying Paul’s command—“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Eph 6:10). Whatever suffering and spiritual warfare comes our way, we are sustained by the power of God.
Power to Glorify
This action by God is yet to be, but what a hope it is. (And if you can think of a good synonym for glorification that starts with “s,” let me know!) Christ “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:21). Speaking of our death and resurrection and what happens to the physical body, Paul explains, “It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power” (1 Cor 15:43). We will be glorified by the power of God.
God saves, God sanctifies, we serve, God sustains, and God glorifies—all by His glorious power. May God open the eyes of our hearts to better understand His power to us today!
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David Huffstutler is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Troy, MI. He blogs here, where this article also appeared. It is published here by permission.
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