← Back to sermon library

Good morning. It truly is a blessing 
for us to worship our great and mighty God with you this morning. 
Please take your Bibles and turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 
one. Ephesians chapter one. The book of Ephesians is a pastoral 
and theological letter written to Christians. That is, those 
separated to God to fortify church unity. First, with what is to 
be believed, orthodoxy, and then that which is to be practiced, 
orthopraxy. So we'll read the first chapter 
of Ephesians. We'll read the whole chapter. Ephesians chapter one. Paul, 
an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. To the saints 
who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus, grace to you 
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed 
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed 
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. just as He chose us in Him before 
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without 
blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as 
sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure 
of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which 
He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him, we have redemption through 
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches 
of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom 
and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of his will, 
according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself, 
that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, he might 
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in 
heaven and which are on earth, in him. In him also we have obtained 
an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him 
who works all things according to the counsel of his will, that 
we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his 
glory. In him You also trusted after 
you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, 
in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy 
Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance 
until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his 
glory. Therefore, I also After I heard 
of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in 
my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father 
of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation 
and the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being 
enlightened, that you may know What is the hope of His calling? What are the riches of the glory 
of His inheritance in the saints? And 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, 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. And he put all things under his 
feet and gave him to be head over all things to the church, 
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Our great God, Lord, we thank 
you for your word. We thank you that you have revealed 
yourself to us both through nature and through divine revelation, 
that you have given us truths that we may know more about you 
and about your wondrous works. And I pray this morning, Lord, 
that you would Open our eyes to the great truths contained 
in your word, that you would edify the saints, and that if 
there are any who have not closed with Christ here this morning, 
that you would make them alive, that you would call lost sinners 
into marvelous light. We pray above all, Lord, that 
you would be glorified. We pray this in Jesus' name. 
Amen. Now, the first chapter in the 
book of Ephesians speaks of God's purpose of reconciliation by 
the covenant of redemption. In verses 3 to 14, and then the 
apostle explains that he does not cease to pray in thanksgiving 
and intercession for the saints, which is a community of people 
chosen by God. those who are chosen by the Father, 
redeemed by the Son, and sealed with the Spirit, or those purposed, 
purchased, and claimed by God. Paul explains that he intercedes 
for the saints for increased spiritual understanding, that 
they may know the hope of his calling the riches of the glory 
of the inheritance, and the exceeding greatness of God's almighty power. Today's sermon will be on the 
exceeding greatness of God's almighty power, and our text 
will be verses 19 to 23. And it is the apostles' prayer 
that the saints may know the exceeding greatness of God's 
almighty power. This will be examined, first 
of all, the supremacy of God's almighty power, second, the demonstration 
of God's almighty power, and third, the immensity of Christ's 
exaltation. Everyone here has probably heard 
somebody trying to trick you in some manner by presenting 
this false dilemma, by asking the question, if God is all-powerful, 
can he make an object that's so big that he himself can't 
move? Now, this false dilemma is a false dilemma because two 
options are given, and both options presume upon something that is 
not correct, and it's intended to trap you, to get you to admit 
to something that is inaccurate. It presents two options, both 
of which are based on a faulty understanding of God and his 
power. It is the trap to confirm error 
and is a deficit understanding of God's almighty power. It presumes 
that if God can do something, then therefore he must do it 
upon our wishes. And therefore, if he is neither 
able to do it or not powerful enough to make it, then it presumes 
that all-powerful is synonymous with do-anything. However, God, 
as we know, in fact, cannot do anything. The divine being cannot 
act contrary to his nature. He cannot sin, he cannot change, 
he cannot lie, he cannot die. God can do All things congruous 
to the divine will in harmony with his perfect, infinite wisdom. What he does do is he does according 
to his holy, divine will. So what is the key takeaway of 
this? It's that God is all-powerful. All power is derived from and 
delegated by God. God is almighty. So our first point is the supremacy 
of God's almighty power in verses 19. Now, in order to best understand 
God, and in order to best understand the exceeding greatness of the 
almighty power of God, then we must unhitch our assumed perceptions 
of God from our creaturely finite limitations and weaknesses. We 
want to think that if we cannot understand or experience something, 
then we can't acknowledge that God can. However, God is not 
dependent or contingent upon any of his creation, nor are 
we God. So our text says, the exceeding 
greatness of his power. Now, by way of creating all things 
of nothing, by the word of His power, God's almighty power therefore 
exists before the foundation of the world. Let me explain. We think of time. Time is measurement 
of irreversible succession of change, or of movement, or of 
one-directional progression. It is based upon daily rotations 
of the Earth and annual orbiting of the Sun. The Earth and the 
Sun are both the result of God creating the cosmos. That is, 
the beginning of time, or in the beginning. Therefore, prior 
to the beginning of time, prior to the beginning of the cosmos, 
God existed. Now, this isn't a matter of turning 
back a clock for additional reverted increments of time, nor is it 
a matter of extending the timeline backwards for unrecorded succession 
of change. However, God fills all time and 
space. God's existence is infinitely 
timeless. This means God doesn't wait. 
This means God doesn't learn. This means God doesn't react. And God is not caused. There 
is nothing that is antecedent to God. Therefore, God's power 
is unsurpassably absolute. This means that God is not influenced, 
forced, or overpowered. He does not act upon information 
or undergo change or suffer under anything. Nor is he moved into 
or out of his perfection. He is absolute. God doesn't outsource 
power. God doesn't obtain power. Rather, 
by virtue of his very essence, God himself is power. He is not just all-powerful. 
God is omnipotence itself. God is power. God is almighty. Or to put it another way, I'm 
sure you've heard, all that is in God is God. So then you might 
naturally ask, well, what is God? God is a spirit, infinite, 
eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, 
justice, goodness, and truth. God's power is as God's being, 
infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. Timeless, transcendent, self-existent, 
self-sufficient, independent, uncaused, most absolute and supreme. So what are the implications 
of this? The implications are eternal, 
perfect actuality or pure act. He eternally accomplishes his 
holy will, ultimate, efficient, causal power. God is most powerful 
and that without change. Now, if I said, let's all sprint 
to Chilliwack Lake and back together, we would find very quickly that 
we tire, we deplete our energy source, and that we decline and 
that we fail. However, God's power is infinite, 
it is boundless, it is immeasurable, it is inexhaustible, non-depletable, 
unthwartable, and immutable. This means that God's creation 
cannot deplete or exhaust God's power. It cannot overthrow Him, 
nor thwart Him, frustrate, confound, nor exasperate Him. It cannot 
cause God to suffer under it, or cause God in any way whatsoever. God's creation cannot overpower 
God. God is Almighty. So you might say, well, that's 
all in good, and it's easy to read that in a book or write 
it on paper or to just preach it from a pulpit within the walls 
of a church, but what about actual historic events throughout history? For example, what about the serpent 
deceiving Eve in the subsequent fall of all humanity into sin, 
misery, and condemnation? Even there, God is all-powerful. But what about the Egyptians 
enslaving and oppressing God's chosen nation? Even there, God 
is all-powerful. But what about the Babylonians 
sieging, destroying, and exiling God's city, temple, and people? Even there, God is all-powerful. What about the Romans arresting, 
mocking, reviling, and crucifying the Messiah? Even there, God 
is all-powerful. But what about Nero persecuting, 
destroying, and exiling Christians? Yes, even there, God is all-powerful. Even the Roman Colosseum, public 
spectacle of brutality, brutally and violently persecuting martyrs 
of the faith? Even there, God is all-powerful. What about the Pope, usurping 
the place of Christ and deceiving multitudes? Even there, God is 
all-powerful. But what about Henry VIII declaring 
himself to be head of the church and shortly after Bloody Mary 
executing faithful Christians for preaching justification by 
grace alone, through faith alone, and Christ alone? Even there, 
God is all-powerful. But what about government sanction, 
affirming, celebrating, promoting, or legislating the murder of 
the vulnerable, abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, sovereign self-autonomy, 
expressive individualism, godlessness, sodomy, homosexuality, homosexual 
marriage, gender dysphoria, and subsequent rewarding of the evildoer 
while punishing those who do good? Yes, even there, God is 
all-powerful. Now, as we contemplate God's 
almighty power and how we apply it to historic life events, perhaps 
it's a better way to ask questions such as this. What about when 
God judges the living and the dead and brings all things into 
unity under Christ, when earthly rulers past, present, and future 
are brought before the throne of God, where will their power 
be then? What about Satan and his evil 
forces of darkness? Some have a tendency of dualism 
in their thinking of God and Satan as though equal in power 
and infinity, but Satan, just like the Egyptians, just like 
the Babylonians, just like the Popes, and just like the rulers. 
Satan also is one of God's creatures, and whatever power he may have 
is entirely from God and at his disposal. God alone is all-powerful. Revelation 19 says, And I heard, 
as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many 
waters, and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia, 
for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. So what do you fear? Or better 
yet, who do you fear? If you are not in Christ, then 
fear God and His wrath upon all who do not believe, who do not 
repent and turn to Christ alone for salvation. Psalm 34, verse 
4 says, I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered 
me from all my fears. If you are in Christ, what do 
you fear? Just as Noah and company were 
carried safely through the deluge of judgment, so also those in 
Christ will pass safely into glory. Nothing in death can overthrow 
the power of God, and so also nothing in life can overthrow 
the power of God. God is all-powerful. Isaiah 41 says, Fear not, for 
I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your 
God. I will strengthen you. I will 
help you. I will uphold you with my righteous 
right hand. The exceeding greatness of his 
power toward us who believe, according to the working of his 
mighty power. Our text continues, which he 
worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated 
him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 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. The exceeding greatness of God's 
almighty power is here demonstrated in the resurrection and exaltation 
of Christ. Which brings us to our second 
point, the demonstration of God's almighty power. Namely, in Christ's 
resurrection and Christ's exaltation. So first, the demonstration of 
God's almighty power in Christ's resurrection. Our text says, 
raised him from the dead. That is, death to life. Firstborn from the dead, resurrected 
and victorious. He was raised because buried, 
buried because dead. So this necessitates questions. 
Well, why did he die? He died because he suffered and 
died to satisfy the wrath of God and to purchase a people 
for his own possession. Well, why was this necessary? 
Because the wages of sin is death. Why are the wages of sin death? 
Because all of fallen mankind is lost in sin, in need of redemption. 
Why so? Because God is holy, and God 
is righteous, and God is just. So, he was raised because he 
was buried, he was buried because he was dead, because we see here 
what we read in the Son of God, accomplishing the work of redemption 
for us. He was raised, but raised to 
what? Christ was exalted to the utmost 
heights of glory. He was seated at the Father's 
right hand in the heavenly places. Now you might hear that and you 
might think, but I thought you just said that God is a spirit. How, 
if God is a spirit, how can the Father have a right hand in the 
heavenly places? What we have here is called an 
anthropomorphism or anthropomorphic language, which means having 
a human form. It is figurative language in 
scripture. It figuratively attributes human 
characteristics to God. And we know that it's figurative 
because in John 4.24 says God is spirit. It is creature accommodating 
language. We cannot relate to God, so we 
cannot understand as God is. As we are God's creatures, it 
is creature-accommodating language. It is not literal, materialistic 
view of the divine. Rather, expressions meant to 
accommodate man's temporal standpoint. We want to be able to relate 
or to imagine something in order to grasp it. However, we are 
not God. We are God's creatures, so we 
cannot relate to God, nor can we imagine God. However, we can 
account for God as he has revealed himself. The doctrine of God is the foundation 
interpretive key for all subsequent theological discourse. So, for 
example, when a text speaks about the external works of God as 
unfolded in time to his creatures, we don't isolate that from the 
rest of scripture to try to define who God is by his eternal essence. 
We take that which scripture speaks about God, of his essence, 
to formulate that doctrine and bring it with us when we then 
subsequently understand the works of God as unfolded in time to 
his creatures, communicated to us according to our temporal 
standpoint. So the doctrine of God, by the 
doctrine of God, a careful formulation of God that we take with us as 
foundational building blocks of interpretation. So right hand, 
seated at the Father's right hand, figuratively means the 
place of greatest honor, nobility, dignity, and authority. The humanity 
of Christ invested with highest exaltation and blessing while 
the divinity of Christ always eternally co-equal with the Father 
and undivided in essence and glory without conversion, confusion, 
or blending of divine essence with the human nature. Seated 
hymn also means a completed work. Christ, the triumphant messianic 
branch of David, abiding in the Holy of Holies, with the Father, 
in an everlasting kingdom of glory. John 12, 41 says that 
Isaiah saw Christ's glory and spoke of Him. What is this in 
reference to? What did he see? Isaiah 6 says, 
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting 
on a throne, high and lifted up. And the train of his robe 
filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim, each 
one had six wings. With two he covered his face, 
with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one 
cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his 
glory. And the posts of the door were 
shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was 
filled with smoke. So we see the demonstration of 
God's almighty power in the resurrection of Christ, and secondly, in the 
exaltation of Christ. In our text it says, far above 
all principality and power and might and dominion, far above 
all, Christ exalted to the greatest power, worldly and heavenly. material and immaterial, current 
as well as future, far above all and above every name that 
is named, all under his feet, at his command and absolute disposal. In Philippians 2 we read, The 
exceeding greatness of God's almighty power is demonstrated and the immensity of Christ's 
exaltation of universal power and authority. So that brings 
us to our third point, which is the immensity of Christ's 
exaltation, namely, universal power and authority. So the universal power and authority 
of Christ's exaltation, first of all, to all creation. says 
all things, all things under his feet. Again, this is figurative 
language, meaning total subjection to the power of Christ who reigns 
on high. Both in heaven and on earth, 
there is nothing that is not subjected to him. He is King 
of kings, Lord of lords, faithful and true, the Lord God Almighty. Universal power and authority 
Second of all, to the church militant and the church triumphant. Christ's kingly power to subdue, 
rule, and keep those whom he purchased with his precious blood 
in an undissolvable union. Third, the relation of Christ 
as head over the church. It is not as though he is in 
deficit and in need Rather, the Church, which is Christ's body, 
is filled by Him, the fullness of Him who fills all in all, 
and communicates all good things to the Church with power over 
all things for her good. Christ fills His body, the Church, 
with all its members, and the gifts and graces of the Spirit. Christ as head and representative. We do not stand before God self-represented. We do not stand on our own, by 
our own merits, by our own works, attempting to plead our own cause. 
Rather, Christ, as a lamb that had been slain, pleads our cause 
by his blood and merits. Christ is the church's beloved 
and friend. the chiefest among 10,000, preeminent, 
full of glory and majesty. Christ to the church is altogether 
excellent, altogether glorious, altogether admirable, altogether 
precious, altogether desirable. He is altogether lovely. Nothing can be desired that compares 
with him. Christ is holy to be feared, 
desired, and loved. John Owen wrote, Glorious in 
his way of rule and the administration of his kingdom, full of sweetness, 
efficacy, power, serenity, holiness, righteousness, and grace, in 
and towards his elect, of terror, vengeance, and certain destruction, 
towards the rebellious angels and men, Glorious in the issue 
of his kingdom when every knee shall bow before him and all 
shall stand before his judgment seat Now it is this power the exceeding 
greatness of God's almighty power That is the power of God towards 
those who believe First of all being preserved by God's almighty 
power Our text says, "...towards us who believe according to the 
working of His mighty power." That is, the working of faith 
in believers itself is an instance of God's almighty power being 
called, drawn, and quickened by the power of God and also 
kept by the power of God. The power of God in the whole 
of our salvation. 1 Peter 1 says, Blessed be the 
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His 
abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through 
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance 
incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, 
reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God 
through faith, for salvation, ready to be revealed at the last 
time. Just as by God's power we are 
born again, so by God's power we are kept regardless of various 
trials. In fact, by God's power we are 
kept through trials. Matthew Poole wrote that all 
the parts and steps of spiritual life, from the first beginning 
of grace and regeneration to the consummation of it in glory, 
are of God. The power of God towards those 
who believe, secondly, at the resurrection of the dead. With 
Christ raised and exalted as our head or as our public figure 
or representative or federal head, of those whom have been 
purposed, purchased, and claimed by God. Colossians 2 says, buried 
with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him 
through faith and the working of God who raised him from the 
dead. Christ is the basis of our hope. 
He is the basis of our hope in the resurrection. He is risen 
and exalted and sits as our head, our representative, our mediator, 
and our advocate. In Romans 8, we read that, if 
the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in 
you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life 
to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you. In conclusion, what blessed assurance. Saved to the uttermost, not by 
my power or lack thereof, but God's almighty power. And Christ 
our Redeemer is exalted on high, and ever lives to intercede for 
us. Hebrews 7 tells us that, but He, because He continues 
forever as an unchangeable priesthood, Therefore, he is also able to 
save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since 
he always lives to make intercession for them. John Flavel wrote, 
think how safe the people of God in this world are, whose 
head is in heaven. Why do we tremble thus? Do we 
not see our head above water? If he lives, believers cannot 
die. John 14, 19, Because I live, 
ye also shall live. Yes, it is true that no man may 
come to Christ except by the power of God. John 6, 44 says, 
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws 
him. But embracing Christ, that is, 
receiving and resting on Christ, is not forced or driven involuntarily. The unregenerate, by fallen sinful 
nature, does not seek after God and rejects Christ in opposition 
to him. So you're probably asking, how 
then does a rebellious nature in opposition to and at enmity 
with God come without being forced involuntarily? By the power of 
God, the old man dies in Christ and is made new in Christ. That 
is, a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5 says, if anyone 
is in Christ, he is a new creation. All things have passed away. 
Behold, all things have become new. And the new man, drawn by 
the Father, is now genuinely and earnestly willing, not by 
self-generation of fallen human nature, but by the power of God. Psalm 110 says, in the day of 
God's power. I'm sure you're all familiar 
with Ezekiel 26. I will give you a new heart and 
put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone 
out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put 
my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and 
will keep my judgments and do them. Now, when we consider a 
grafted branch that's grafted to a rootstock, The branch that's 
grafted, it doesn't sever itself and relocate itself onto the 
rootstock. It cannot do that itself. However, 
when it is severed and when it is affixed to the rootstock, 
then it must take hold and live. If you have not taken hold of 
Christ, then abandon any hopes of a self-generated righteousness 
or justification. Come unto Christ, all who are 
weary and burdened, and He will give you rest. Take hold of Christ, 
receive Christ, rest on Christ, embrace Christ. John 6, 37 says, 
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one 
who comes to me I will by no means cast out. Give praise to 
God, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let's pray. Our eternal 
almighty God, Lord, we acknowledge that you are the one true living 
God. It is you who created all things. 
All things are from you and through you and to you. You have created 
us and sustained our lives and it is for your purpose. Lord, 
we praise you for your power, that you are not limited as your 
creatures are, for you are an eternal creator and we are your 
creatures. And as we cannot comprehend your existence. Thank you that 
you have revealed yourself to us both in nature, that man is 
without excuse, and by your special revelation, that we might account 
for who you are. And as you have revealed yourself 
to us, I pray that you would open our eyes to your greatness, 
to the greatness of your almighty power, and that you would cause 
us to revere you more. So I pray that you would increase 
our faith. I pray that you would also expand our understanding 
of your truth, that we might have the wisdom to apply these 
things in daily life. whether there are times of prosperity, 
that we would acknowledge that it is by your hand, by your power, 
and to praise you and to thank you, or in times of various trials 
and adversity, that nothing has overthrown you, that none of 
your creatures has overpowered you, whether that be rulers or 
dark forces, Nothing overpowers you. You alone have. You alone 
are all-powerful. You alone are almighty. Help 
us, I pray, Lord, to trust you, and I pray that you would grant 
us the grace to glorify you in all situations, whether it is 
what we would desire or for our ease, but acknowledging you are 
good, and you are almighty. So, Lord, we praise you. Pray 
also that you would advance your kingdom here locally. And again, 
if there are some here who have not closed with you, I pray, 
Lord, that you would shine light in darkness, that you would make 
dead sinners alive, that you would call lost dead sinners 
into marvelous light. Pray that you would be with your 
people. Pray that you would bless your people. And we pray this 
in Jesus' name. Amen. To close our morning worship 
service, we're going to turn and sing the doxologies that's 
found on page 570 in the hymnal. Stand with me together as we 
sing the doxology. ♪ Praise ye the Lord ♪ Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise Him above all the earthly 
host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Seated for a brief time of meditation. 
When the piano is finished, you are dismissed.