Ephesians 1:19: Knowing God's Surpassing Power

Ephesians 1:19: "(so that you will know) ... what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."

The Ephesian believers were called of God to live out a redeemed lifestyle in the midst of a pagan city where idolatry and sexual promiscuity were considered cultural values. Now they had been delivered from the realm of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Yet, their everyday lives were still surrounded by the darkness with all of its temptations which were fueled by the force of habit. Against this constant pressure Paul declares his fervency in prayer for them, specifically for three things: First, that they would know the very real hope brought to them by the Indwelling Spirit that could carry them through every circumstance; second, that they would understand the riches of their heavenly inheritance to be eternally greater than anything the world could offer them; and lastly, that they would recognize and experience the dynamic power of God in their struggle to persevere and grow in faith despite the opposition of sin and culture.

The power of God here is certainly the power granted to us via the Indwelling Spirit of God. Paul elsewhere declares that it is this power that enables his ministry. But the real question for us is: "how do we know the power of God? How do we harness it? How do we lose it to work in our lives, and what is the relationship between our working and God's working in and through us?"

Perhaps the best answer to this set of questions is found in Paul's own assessment, given to us in Colossians 1:29: For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Notice that Paul does not consider the power of God to be something that is somehow separate from his own diligent obedience and passionate activity. He labors! He strives! Yet, in all of his running he is ever resting in the fact that only that which is enveloped in the power of God will succeed. It is the power of God that is at work, fulfilling the plan of God through the discipline and persevering labor of those who are passionate about fulfilling the call of God on their lives. Simply put, we will know that the power of God is at work in us when we are laboring, striving to do His will, His way, and always for His glory. 

Lastly, note that the power Paul prays for in Ephesians 1:19 is not available to everyone. It is not indiscriminately granted to all who desire something from God. Rather, it is pointed "toward us who believe." Those who reject the Son of God have no claim on the power of God. This blessing is reserved for the family, for those to whom the Indwelling Spirit has brought new life, and who are now going back into the realm of darkness as agents of rescue.

The Ephesian believers lived in a culture that posed two dangers to them. First, it was tempting. It put beautiful, enjoyable sins right in front of the everyday. Second, it was antagonistic. It hated the fact that, in Christ, believers had a stable foundation and standard by which to judge the culture and find it wanting. Against this set of challenges the Christ-followers would be quite weak if not for the presence of the Spirit of God. Paul's prayer aligns with this as he asks God to enlighten their spiritual eyes so that they can see, understand, appreciate and appropriate the treasures that are theirs; namely, hope, riches, and power.

Our days are not much different from theirs. We live facing the challenges of temptation and opposition everyday, if we're truly denying self, taking up the cross and following Jesus closely. And the very same blessings Paul wanted the Ephesians to know are ours as well. The hope, riches, and power available to us in Christ, through the Spirit, are God's way of facilitating our perseverance through trying times and circumstances. If God is for us, who can prevail against us?

Hope this helps,

David