Page 53 - Ephesians

I’m not playing with this. Paul said that God has to open your
eyes to that. That doesn’t happen naturally. You’re not going to
think of that on your own. Then he says in 19-23,
“That they might know the exceeding greatness of the
power”.

The power that’s available to them as Christians. Most of all he
says, “Show them that they are in Christ. Above every name that
is named, and seated with Him in heavenly places.” Only blind
Christians, are discouraged Christians. Only blind Christians,
are anxious Christians. Only blind Christians, are depressed.
Only blind Christians, fret. Only blind Christians, worry. Only
blind Christians, are victims of their circumstances. Only blind
Christians, are in bondage to sin. If God opens our eyes, and we
see ourselves far above every name that is named, seated with
Christ in heavenly places. We would never be discouraged again!

Then he says, “Lord, you’ve got to open their eyes to something
else”. “It’s so hard to live the Christian life. Man, it’s a struggle.
Persecution, family responsibilities, and then, my horrible job.
You’ve got to have a lot of willpower to live the Christian life.
What a war! What a battle!” That’s not, what the scripture says.
“Lord, open their eyes to the power that’s available to them, to
live the Christian life.”

In the Old Testament if you wanted a picture of power, you have
the awesomeness of “Creation”. But in the New Testament God
uses “The Resurrection”, to display His might.

“The power that He wrought in Christ when He raised Him
from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of the
majesty on high above every name that’s named”.

Power, to live the Christian life? You have the Life, of the
Almighty One!! Not something, called “power”. That’s why he
ends this way. He doesn’t say, “Lord, Thou hast given the Church
power.” In the last verse, 22 it says, “He gave Him, to the
Church”. Not power. You have the Life of the eternal One.