The Power at Work Within Us
By The Will Of God, A Study Through Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 55:44
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I feel so powerless to address the issues goin on in our world! Does this sound like you? Maybe you have felt this way. We are on our own powerless, but the power at work within us can accomplish more than we could ever dream of. This power brought Christ back from the dead. Heck! it brought me back from death! If death cannot defeat this power within us, what do we have to be afraid of.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Power
Ability to do things, by virtue of strength, skill, resources, or authorization. In the Hebrew of the OT and the Greek of the NT there are several different words used for power. What the Bible says about power may be subsumed under four headings: (1) the unlimited power of God; (2) the limited power God gives to his creatures; (3) the power of God seen in Jesus Christ; (4) the power of God (by the Holy Spirit) in the lives of his people.
Today I want to talk about the
Unlimited Power of God - The Power at Work Within Us
Unlimited Power of God - The Power at Work Within Us
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
The OT refers often to this power as the “Mighty Hand” of God
The OT refers often to this power as the “Mighty Hand” of God
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.
you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.
It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
“It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.
and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
That same power, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm, His immeasurable greatness.
That same power, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm, His immeasurable greatness.
Is at work in you!
Is at work in you!
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Of this power I am proof.
Of this power I am proof.
God is ABLE!
God is ABLE!
Opening Up Ephesians Paul’s Praise to God (vv. 20–21)
Paul says in verse 20, “to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.” Witness the salvation of the Gentiles! Who would ever have asked or thought that God would save such spiritually profligate people! But he did! And God has done the same for many reading this book as well! Perhaps, in former days, you were just the sort of “far off” and spiritually mixed-up person we thought about in the last chapter.
Just imagine, did you ever think you would be sitting here?
I sure did not
My testimony
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
It goes on to tell how God sends Ananias who doesn’t want to go
That power is at work in you and in me.
It is only through the power at work within me, Jesus Christ/God, that I am here, preaching to you.
Have you tried everything you can? Have you tried and failed over and over?
Jesus says
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Why is it light? Because you are not the one bearing the weight. Jesus Is!
Why is it light? Because you are not the one bearing the weight. Jesus Is!
The power at work within you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
We can accomplish great things due to the power at work within us.
We can impact our world
We can impact our world
We can impact our country
We can impact our country
We can impact our state
We can impact our state
We can impact our city
We can impact our city
It is not hopeless
Why? because the power at work within us is the very power of God. It is the power of Him who spoke the world into existence.
It is the power of Him who delievers His people
It is the power of him who rose Jesus from the grave.
Jeremy Camp wrote the popular song
Same Power
Has these powerful lines
Lyrics
I can see
Waters raging at my feet
I can feel
The breath of those surrounding me
I can hear
The sound of nations rising up
We will not be overtaken
We will not be overcome
I can walk
Down this dark and painful road
I can face
Every fear of the unknown
I can hear
All God's children singing out
We will not be overtaken
We will not be overcome
The same power that rose Jesus from the grave
The same power that commands the dead to wake
Lives in us, lives in us
The same power that moves mountains when He speaks
The same power that can calm a raging sea
Lives in us, lives in us
He lives in us, lives in us
We have hope
That His promises are true
In His strength
There is nothing we can't do
Yes, we know
There are greater things in store
We will not be overtaken
We will not be overcome
The same power that rose Jesus from the grave
The same power that commands the dead to wake
Lives in us, lives in us
The same power that moves mountains when He speaks
The same power that can calm a raging sea
Lives in us, lives in us
He lives in us, lives in us
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
No wonder Christ says we will do greater things, The power in us
To Him be glory in our church, To Him be glory in my life.
To Him be glory in our church, To Him be glory in my life.
I am extremely grateful His power is at work in me.
His power has chosen me, adopted me and promises to save me.
Thank the Lord for His power to save.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
That Power is, or can be, working in you too.
That Power is, or can be, working in you too.