The Authority of Christ

Ephesians 1:19–23 and the Prayer for Enlightened Believers

If you can turn your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 1, Ephesians chapter 1, we're going to be reading verses 15 to 23. Please stand for the reading of God's Word. For this reason because I've heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and the love toward all the saints I do not cease to give thanks for you remembering you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give you the spirit of wisdom and Of revelation and the knowledge of him having the eyes of your hearts enlightened.

That you may know what is a hope to which he has called you or the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints. And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe? According to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ When he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places of 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.

He put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church. Which is his body the fullness of him who fills all in all you may be seated. Merciful Lord Jesus we come before you this morning.

We ask that you would bless the preaching of that great word. We ask Lord that you'd fill our hearts and our minds with the scriptures this morning and receive That what you've laid before us and we pray God that you would Be magnified and glorified in our time and worship in Jesus name.

Amen. Well friends indeed. We have a Savior who is risen who is Who has conquered? Death and Hades who is at the right hand of God the Father and as a result of that truth. Today's message is going to center around the authority of Christ.

That this Jesus that we know This Jesus that we worship on whom we give our life and our time our adoration. That this Jesus is worthy and he is authoritative. He's authoritative Because of who he is intrinsically.

He's also authoritative in what he has accomplished. He's also authoritative in that he was given a great authority from his father. And so today's sermon from Ephesians chapter 19. We're gonna be in chapter 1 verses 19 to 23 this morning as our main text and again in verse 19 It begins with what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe?

According to the working of his great might. Paul is continuing his petition and request To the Lord for the Ephesian Church notice again what it begins to say in verse 16 he says I do not cease to give thanks for you Remembering you in my prayers.

And then he gives us a taste of what his prayers were in regard to the Ephesian Church in verse 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father and the Father of Glory may give you the spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him having the eyes of your hearts enlightened that you may know What is the hope to which he has called you?

Paul is demonstrating the appeal the prayer that he is making on behalf of the Ephesian Church. And he continues that petition and request to the Lord for the Ephesian Church and his request is not notice what it's not.

His request is not that they receive more power from God in order to continue in their faithfulness to the gospel. But instead the request is for the Ephesian believers to know or recognize the power of God toward those who believe.

What a marvelous Reminder that is, you know often in our Christianity. We we see individuals and we hear preachers who? Try to unlock some hidden power or mystery of God in the scriptures and say well you you will receive more power if you do this.

You'll receive more power. If you believe this you'll receive more power if you read this the reality is what Paul is bringing out through the inspired text to the Ephesian Church is What we see in verse 19.

What is the immeasurable greatness of his power? Toward Those who get things, right? Toward those who have the right? Incantation toward those who have the right. Set of mindsets or doctrines. It's those towards who believe.

This immeasurable greatness of his power is for those who believe. You know, there are some movements in Christianity as well that teach that. Later on after your initial conversion there is more power or anointing that can be received from God.

But you know, the truth is is that God has given you everything That you require for life and for holiness at the moment. That he turned you from a child of darkness to a child of light. He has given you everything necessary that you need the moment that he Regenerated you that he gave you a new heart and as long as you walk in him and you Acknowledge his sovereignty in your life God will continue to empower you with that same power that raised you from spiritual depravity and from the grave.

And he will continue to work that in you that which is pleasing in his sight. And so I want you to know this morning church. That the power of God is available To you if you're following along in the insert for today's teaching in God's salvation work.

He is demonstrating his great power. God Is demonstrating his power in the salvation of his people when God saved you? You know what God was doing. Not only was he saving a wretch. But he was demonstrating his power.

In that he is changing that wretched sinner. Changing his inward being his inward parts to be transformed completely regenerated Through the finished work of Jesus Christ in that God is providing an example of his great power.

His great power we think of today's world and the conflicts that exist therein and we see these great Powers these military powers these governmental powers and all that they can do with their military might.

But you know one thing they cannot do. They don't have the power to change the human heart. You have in the world stage you have world leaders saying this person's wrong that person's wrong and this person needs to remove or that person needs to be removed and They're trying to use their military might to demonstrate their superiority.

Well, you know what God Demonstrates his superiority by saving us and changing the heart. All the issues that the world leaders are facing today Could be only resolved by the changing of the human heart and no military power.

Has the power to change that? Only the Lord God Almighty and so God is able to change a human heart. Demonstrating his great power and might I want you to write that in there as well. He is demonstrating his power and might notice again.

What verse 19 says what is the Immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might. The Greek the Greek word used here for power is anomies from which we get the word dynamite this is dynamic explosive power and This power is made available to those who believe.

If you believe in Christ this morning God has given you a wellspring of power. To do that what she has commanded us. One of the distinctions between the old and new covenants is the fact that God has now written his law his covenant on our hearts so that we can now obey and partake in the glorious law of the Lord God.

Not that we have a license to do that, which is wrong and to sin. But rather we have a license now to do that which is right that is the power of The Lord God working in the hearts of the believers. God is working in us through his denominates his power his dynamic power in order and he's doing it in order to highlight His power in order to highlight all the strength that we require is found only in him.

All the strength all the fitness that the believer required is Found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. So that you know that the power that God gives isn't for you to use in a way That is grandiose and to bring you the glory.

But rather God empowers his saints in order to bring him the glory for the believers heart and mindset is changed from Self-glory for self-pleasure to now bringing glory and fame to another namely Jesus Christ our Lord.

And because of this power that God gives we we can walk with confidence Walking in the power of his might to do that which is right. Now when we lack power in our lives We need not look for so-called secrets in order to unleash some hidden power from within or from God.

But simply recognize this truth brothers and sisters that the moment that God adopted you He gave you the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. Just in a couple of weeks. We'll be Celebrating the resurrection as we do every Lord's Day.

You know the Easter celebration or the Resurrection Sunday is not just the only day of the Of the year in which we get to recognize and worship the risen Savior. We recognize his authority and his sovereignty every day and especially when we gather on the Lord's Day.

Amen. But we also recognize That the same Spirit the same power that rose Jesus from the dead. Is that work in you? To bring your dead spirit from the grave into immortality. Now this power that I speak of is not ours.

But it is God's Working in us according to his great might. The Greek word that's used here for the word working Is energy of which is where we get the word energy from? So the word working is related to the word energy or or basically exerting energy or exerting work.

Reminding us that it is God's energizing work of the Holy Spirit that is empowering the believer. To be more than just conquerors. You see what God supplies Through his spirit is this power? This work in us.

So that he gets the glory. The Christian doesn't get power. So that he can show off and show God what a great person he is rather He enables us by his spirit working in us. It is his power his energizing work working in and through you the believer the saint.

The text also Uses the term might which is the Greek word Kratos. Which can also be translated as strength in different translations and that Distinctive attribute of divine nature is often praised in the New Testament doxologies for such as first Timothy 616 first Peter 4 11 Jude 25 Revelation 1 6 Revelation 5 13 you see all these doxologies.

Praise and remind us of the might the strength of our God. Now why is it important that we are reminded of God's strength of God's might. Well because the reality is though although I'm preaching to you this morning about God's power and authority.

Sometimes in life even as Christians we may feel powerless. We may feel like we have no strength like we can't come accomplish that which God has asked of us like we can't even get through our home life like our marriages may be crumbling and our Children are suffering and we find ourselves sometimes in the in in the reality of life that life is difficult and often time We feel powerless.

And friends. I want you to know this morning that God is able to empower you and he has empowered you. Recognize that sometimes in life you're gonna have these two realities that are going to clash. This is a Reality that says I'm weak.

I'm poor. I am needy. Yet also this reality which says of us also that in Christ. We are rich fulfilled and empowered and Those two are not always necessarily just in conflict. But also they need to be Reconciled in that we need to believe what God says about our condition.

We need to believe what God says about our situation and not succumb to that Which we see with our eyes or that which we experience of our senses. But rather trust and have faith in God and not put our faith in that which is seen.

But that which is unseen for that which is seen is temporary. Can I tell you that all of your problems? Your marital problems your financial problems your issues with your health your issues with your children your issues at work are temporary.

They're all temporary and they're fleeting according to God's Word. Do you not know that you yourself are but a vapor a mist that's here for one moment and then gone the next. Do you not recognize this about yourselves dear brothers and sisters that though you may live in this world?

You are not of this world. Recognize also this important fact brothers and sisters. That though life is difficult and life is hard and there are things that have to be overcome. You are called to be an overcomer.

You are called to be more than just conquerors through him who loved us and who called us according to his purpose and that Which God calls us to he will empower us to do and fulfill for his great glory and fame.

Isn't it amazing that in our faith God gets all the glory? God gets all the glory because it's his power. It's his might working in you. It's not your might. It's not your power. It's often in those times in life where we succumb to the temptation of doing things in our own strength in our own power.

That's when we see the walls of our own kingdom begin to crumble. When we begin to use our strength our power our thinking ability our prowess in order to accomplish the things that God has called us to.

You know the Bible makes this point very clearly that that often time we see the pitfalls in Society today even amongst preachers, you know, if you've been watching the news the the main pastor of the Hillsong group.

The guys are familiar with the Hillsong music a church that started in Australia the founding pastor stepped down due to scandals and Questionable behaviors and one of the things that the scripture is very clear about is that God is calling you to have Character to have the character of Christ to have the character that God supplies through the Holy Spirit and Oftentimes we elevate individuals who have a natural gifting.

No doubt the founding pastor of the Hillsong Church is a gifted speaker. No doubt is he gifted in many areas of life? But gifting cannot be exalted over character. One must have the character the mind of Christ and it's often amongst those who have that character that godly character.

That we see them not fall into the pitfalls of the world and of scandal and salacious news cycles. This is all done only in the strength that God supplies. You see in the burden of Paul's prayers that the mighty power of God may be known and experienced by its operation in us who believe.

Thus pointing us to the authority by which this power is accessible namely Jesus Christ our Lord. I Know I want you to turn to Ephesians 1 20 with me and it says in that text and that he Referred to the great power the immeasurable greatness of his power.

According to his great might that he God the Father worked in Christ God the Son when he raised him from the dead and Seated him at the right hand in the heavenly places praise God. You see God is demonstrating his great power and he's he's bringing everything to bear in the Resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

I want you to write that in there. You're following along in today's teaching God demonstrate this power by Christ's resurrection and ascension. Notice the text again verse 20 that he worked in Christ this immeasurable greatness of his power was Manifested was made clear was made known to us by what means?

He says in Christ when he raised them from the dead. Referring to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. So great is the resurrection of Christ. That the power of God is made known and magnified.

I want you to turn if you can to Romans chapter 1. Romans chapter 1 we see Paul in verse 3 to 4 of chapter 1 of Romans verses 3 and 4. He says the following concerning his son Who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power.

According to the Spirit of Holiness by his resurrection from the dead Jesus Christ our Lord God demonstrated his great power. And his great might by raising Jesus from the dead and seating him at his right hand.

God declared Jesus the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. Demonstrating or in other ways saying that this is my son in whom I am well pleased that Jesus is indeed the one that was sent by God and Powered by God and is setting the template and model for us as Christians to follow.

I want you if you can't turn to one more text in Acts chapter 2. Following that same line of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead notice what the early Christians declared about Christ's resurrection in Acts chapter 2 starting in verse 32.

Yes, this is the Apostle Peter Proclaiming this great Pentecost message and he says this Jesus God raised up and of that we are all witnesses. Therefore being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit.

He has poured out this That you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens. But he himself says the Lord said to my Lord sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool let all the house of Israel therefore know for Certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ.

This Jesus whom you crucify. God is demonstrating his great power by raising Jesus from the dead, you know the the Jews who were opposed to Christ. They thought that by killing the man they would kill the movement.

They thought by killing the man. They would solve the problem of this false Messiah. But instead they were doing what God had put in their hearts to do because Jesus was ordained before time to be a propitiation for our sins a ransom sacrifice that would provide for us in eternal salvation.

And God demonstrated his power and Authority even over the unbelieving Jews by using them to bring Jesus our Savior to the cross and That through the cross He purchased a people for God by every tribe nation and tongue.

God's power and salvation is threefold. Number one he demonstrated his power in the weakness of Christ's death on the cross though to human eyes Jesus death could have been seen as a defeat by By his kneeling to the cross.

Yet The New Testament writers saw this the the the crucifixion of Christ the raising of Christ in the cross over the city. The New Testament writers saw this as a victory for Christ over the powers of darkness Demonstrating God's power over sin and darkness.

So one of the things that God accomplishes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that he he elevates Christ over all the Powers and principalities over all the the demonic forces of darkness That would be raised up against the knowledge of Christ and of God notice again What it says in verse 20 of Ephesians 1 in our main text he worked in Christ According when he raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly places.

And Peter on that Pentecost message Harkens back to Psalm 110 where it says in that prophetic song that the Lord said unto my Lord sit at my right hand And to make your enemies your footstool. They were proclaiming this truth that Jesus was though.

He was murdered and was placed in a tomb. He has been Resurrected from the dead. He now is not only resurrected But this is he's also Ascended to the right hand of the father where he is now living ruling and interceding on our behalf.

Isn't that marvelous? That's why Peter could say to the Jews who were listening to him that the house of Israel can know this for a certainty. That God has made him Jesus both Lord and Messiah Christ.

God has demonstrated his immeasurable power By raising Jesus from the dead Putting him at his right hand Demonstrating God's power over sin and darkness. Number two. The second thing that God demonstrates Through the resurrection and through the power of God unto salvation is this that God demonstrated his immeasurable power by raising Jesus From the dead to a glorified and incorruptible state.

Throughout scripture we see times in which people are raised from the dead. But what's what makes Jesus's resurrection unique is that Jesus's resurrection is not just on to Another form of human life or existence where they were again He could die or perish but instead Christ was raised again bodily from the grave to life incorruptible.

That which was mortal namely the flesh has now put on Immortality and that is setting the template for us as well as Christians. That though the flesh may fail us and though one day there's appointed for men to die and face the judgment.

We will certainly die in this flesh unless the Lord Jesus comes back in glory before then but truly We look forward to a resurrection of the dead to a body of incorruptible status. Just like on to the Lord Jesus Christ and his incorruptible status and body.

Well, that well, can you just imagine for a second? What that day will be like? First and foremost when we see him face to face in All that he is in all the glory. That that that that is rightfully his and the day in which he will transform our lowly existence and our lowly bodies to be transferred and Resurrected like and on to his glorious body.

Words fail to describe how amazing that day will be and We still look forward to it. The third way in which God demonstrated his power in the resurrection of Christ and the salvation of his people is That he by the working of God's power Again is seen in the ascension of Christ far above all rulers.

Showing that Jesus is God's chosen and appointed representative and the head of all things it is by Jesus's perfect obedience in ministry of the cross and in his resurrection and Ascension that the father vindicates his son by bestowing the name that is above all names.

Showing that the power and the authority of the Godhead rest now fully in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is shown to be magnified glorified and ascended over all of his enemies. And Remember that when you face trials and tribulations.

When you find yourself in a place of great difficulty when you feel like you have no power left. Recognize who it is that reigns above the heavens. Look no further than heaven itself. And know that your strength comes from there reminds me of the psalmist in Psalm 121 from where shall my help come from.

I Shall lift up my eyes to the mountains and find that my help is from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth. When you find yourself struggling. Just look up to heaven and know that there's a God who supplies all of your strength.

All of the power that is required is found in Jesus. May you look to him? For all that you need for he has supplied it richly through the Spirit of God. Now what's interesting about this language of the Lord's Ascension?

Regarding the Lord's Ascension. Should we imagine it as? As Christ somewhere invisibly in the clouds above us. Not necessarily. That's not the the point of the language. But as John Calvin points out in reference to the Ascension language of Jesus Christ He says that when it is said that he's lifted up to the Father's right hand.

It does not mean any particular place. But the power which the Father hath bestowed on Christ that he may administer in his name the government of heaven and earth. So John Calvin rightfully points out in Regard to the language of Ascension that he's far above every rule and and kindred and nation and language and he's above all authorities and powers and Principalities.

This is not to say that he is like of the the Greek gods who are somewhere on Mount Olympus or somewhere in the clouds. But rather this is a language of dominion that he has dominion over Everything the sphere of heaven and earth all of it belongs to him.

Remember what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 28 before his Ascension to glory. He says all Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and behold. I am with you always even until the end of the age. Christ has all Authority not just on earth, but also in heaven and because of that he is able now to give us marching orders.

And he tells us right after saying that he has all authority. He doesn't say go and be happy go and be blessed or or go about your day. He says go and make disciples. The authoritative Christ has spoken and he has given us what it is that he expects of us.

He desires for his people his disciples His regenerated people to go and make disciples of all nations praise God. Christ is indeed ascended and God has demonstrated this power by Christ's resurrection and Ascension.

Ephesians 121 then goes on to give us more details as to the ascension of our Lord by saying this that he is far above all rule and authority and power and Dominion and above every name that is named that only in this stage but also in the one to come praise God.

Once you know this if you're following along in the insert write this. Jesus is above all things in the earthly Spiritual realms. Jesus is above all things in the earthly and spiritual. That's the point of Paul when he brings up all of these different facets of authorities and powers where he again says he's above all Rule, he's above every earthly rule and every spiritual rule.

He's above every authority in this world. That means that he is greater to any president any prime minister any mayor any Congress person any senator any dictator any queen or Queen he is over them. He has authority over them.

Not only the earthly authorities, but also even the spiritual authorities. He has power not only over the things are the rulers of this world. But also of the rulers of the ages which are the spiritual Principalities and powers that we see Paul mentioned elsewhere in scripture.

He's above every Dominion. Which is to say that he's above every kingdom that can be named on this earth and every kingdom that is unseen to human eyes. He's above it all. He's also above every name that is named earlier today in our Sunday school in our evangelism course, we talked about the fear of man.

Here's one good reason why you should not fear man. Because Christ has a greater name than all of them which is to say that his authority is Greater than any name that can be named in this age and also in the age to come as a good side note to that text.

We see that scripture consistently especially in the New Testament narrative refers only to two ages this age and the age to come. Oftentimes people get convoluted and confused about okay. Well is the age to come gonna be this thousand-year reign or is it gonna be seven-year tribulation period or what?

It's gonna be like can I tell you that? Eschatology is actually a lot more simpler than you think it to be and Jesus made it perfectly easy for us to comprehend in Matthew chapter 12 when he talked about two ages.

This age and the age to come and then Paul taking that same eschatology that same stance as the Lord Jesus goes on to say that Jesus is named as above every name that is named not only in this age. But also in the one to come.

There's two ages that we are to be worried about preoccupied with it's this one and The age in which while it is still day we can work that day the age in which we are living in. But also the age to come which is when God makes all things new in Jesus Christ.

When God makes all things reconciled to himself and That is the age to come the eternal state. And so brothers and sisters, we know that Jesus is above all things in the earthly and spiritual realm since he has all Authority he has all authority.

This Jesus in whom we have power is above all things as he is Lord over all. The same Lord who confessed of your mouth and believed in your heart that God raised from the dead that brought you to a confessional salvation is the same Lord who is over everything in The earthly and spiritual realms and this is a theme that is found throughout the narrative of the Bible.

I Want you to know this today brothers is being encouraged by the fact that Jesus is above all earthly powers. He's above all the nations the Kings and Queens in their governments. He's above every corporation.

He is above every household. He's above every marriage. He's above your finances. He is above your issues. He's above your addictions. He's above your problems and he's above every single one of you and everyone that you know Jesus is above he's Lord he's Lord and Because of this when the scripture says that Christ is above that is to say that he is at an elevated status and That he has authority over the things which are below him.

This is kingly language. It's the same kingly language we see in Psalm 110 When the Lord said unto my Lord sit at my right hand. This is a decree of rulership. Until all his enemies are under his feet under his feet dominion.

Jesus Christ indeed is today reigning as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We're not waiting for some future enthronement of Jesus as some in the evangelical world would say that we're they were waiting for Jesus to Establish his kingdom in Jerusalem.

Can I tell you this that Jesus is now reigning in the true new and heavenly Jerusalem? He's enthroned today. He's King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Not just yesterday. Not just today, but forever. He is Lord.

We're not waiting for him to be enthroned he is enthroned. He has dominion. He is the king and because of this truth We can rest assured. What is there to fear? Should we fear the day-to-day life and circumstance that we find ourselves in?

Should we fear man? Should we fear a proclamation of the gospel? We should not fear and time and time again. God gives us that decree that word. Do not fear. Do not be afraid and oftentimes a company with a Phrase of assurance such as what the Lord Jesus gave us in Matthew chapter 28.

I will be with you always. Even until the end of the age. Can I tell you that Jesus is with you in your circumstances today? Whether you're Exalting and the greatness of life or you are down the dumps because of circumstances and and life Jesus is with you in whatever circumstance you may find yourself in today.

He's with you. He loves you. He says I'll never leave you nor forsake you. This Jesus is of great love and compassion for his people. May you know that truth? May you know that compassion that love that he has but also know this the authority of this risen Savior that we name and call.

You see Jesus is above the rulers. Spiritual beings who rule he's also above every authority. He's above every Dominion. He's above every angel. He's above every demon. He's above every power. He is above every name that is named not only in this age.

But in the one to come all hail the power of Jesus's name amen, and again here we receive an eschatological promise an Insight namely again if there's two ages this one and the one to come. No mention of intermediate 1 ,000 year reign but instead our hopes are to be set on Christ who is exalted now at the right hand of the Father and Will be exalted forever even into the eternal state that which is the age to come this language of Christ having been exalted over all of these powers and Principalities are things that we see also in first Peter chapter 3 verse 22.

We won't read that at the moment, but we also see in John 3 31 by the words of John the Baptist. Where he says he will be above all. That he is above all. Jesus indeed is above all things as John the Baptist proclaimed in John 3 31.

Jesus indeed is The one who has all authority in heaven on earth. And one of the interesting things about that statement that Jesus made of himself. Is that elsewhere in the book of Revelation we are confronted with this imagery on Revelation chapter 1 verse 7 one who Was said of that he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him.

And then in verse 8 in Revelation chapter 1 We see the ones the one who is coming speaks. And he says I am the Alpha and the Omega. The one who is who was and who is to come the Almighty. The Lord God Almighty.

The word Almighty means having all authority. Jesus Christ is God Almighty. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. Who? Can question his right to rule. Who can bring a cause or an accusation against our risen Lord?

Jesus stands above it all. Therefore you should stand in him. What is the Lord accomplishing? In verse chapter 1 verse 22 of Ephesians and he put all things under his feet and Gave him as head over all things to the church.

I Want you to write this if you're following along the teaching. God is subduing Christ's enemies by putting all things under his feet making Jesus head Over all things pertaining to the church. Some may take this verse again to mean that Jesus is particularly Head of or to the church.

But more literally the text says that he is head over all things to or for the church. There is given to the church and for the church's benefit. We receive a head who is also head over all things, which I believe is the proper Understanding of the text here in Ephesians chapter 1.

Now this is incredible news for you, and I this is incredible news for the church because the church has authority and power to overcome all opposition because her leader and head is the Lord of all and all his enemies are under his feet.

You know the imagery of Christ of the imagery of being under Christ's feet Goes well with the imagery of Christ being above all things because if Jesus is the head the body of Christ is the church. Not only are all things underneath Christ but they're also underneath the church.

The church Plays a vital role an eschatological role in the world to come and it will be Christians who are going to be ruling and reigning the world to come. What a fabulous hope we have not that we will be just simply rulers who will rule with an iron fist.