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Ephesians 1.

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Let's pick up in verse 16

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through the end of the chapter.

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"I do not cease to give thanks for you..."

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the Apostle Paul speaking

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to the Ephesian Christians.

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The saints who are in Ephesus.

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"I do not cease to give thanks for you..."

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So Paul is actually speaking to them

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about his own prayer life.

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I don't cease to give thanks for you,

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"remembering you in my prayers."

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This is a window into the prayers of Paul.

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And he's going to tell them

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about certain petitions that he makes

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on behalf of these Ephesian Christians.

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"...Remembering you in my prayers

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that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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the Father of glory,

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may give you..."

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See, he wants and he prays for

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these Ephesians that God would

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give them something.

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It's a petition.

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May God give you "the spirit of wisdom

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and revelation in the knowledge of Him."

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He's praying for the spirit,
or a spirit your Bible may say

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of wisdom and of revelation

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in the knowledge of God.

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"...Having the eyes of your 
hearts enlightened."

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And he's asking specifically

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that their eyes would be open

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to three realities.

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One, "that you may know

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what is the hope of your calling."

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Or "the hope to which 
you have been called,"

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or "He has called you."

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"What are the riches of His 
glorious inheritance in the saints."

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That's the second petition.

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The third, "and what is the 
immeasurable greatness

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of God's power toward us who believe,

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according to the working

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of His great might that 
He worked in Christ

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when He raised Him from the dead

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and seated Him at His right hand

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in the heavenly places

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far above all rule and authority

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and power and dominion,

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and above every name that is named,

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not only in this age,

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but also in the one to come.

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And He put all things under His feet

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and gave Him as head over all things

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to the church which is His body,

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the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

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I want to draw your attention

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to verses 20 and 21.

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Let's go to the Lord.

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Father, it's Your Word.

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Thank You, Father,

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that You've given us a Bible.

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Oh Lord, You have given us a treasure.

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I pray for these my brothers and sisters,

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for myself,

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that we might have the eyes of our hearts

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enlightened and made aware

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and kept freshly cognizant of the fact

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that we possess the very words of God

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in a book.

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Father, I pray that this Word

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would be preached in this place today.

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That is the charge

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that You have given to me,

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and I pray that I would be able

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to be faithful to preach this Word

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as You intended it to be preached.

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I pray that You'd give us that help.

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Amen.

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Verses 20 and 21.

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Look at them.

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"...That He worked in Christ

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when He raised Him from the dead

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and seated Him at His right hand

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in the heavenly places

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far above all rule and authority

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and power and dominion

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and above every name that is named,

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not only in this age,

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but also in the one to come."

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Loaded.

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Loaded with foundational doctrines

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of our Christianity.

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Think about the doctrines specified here.

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One being that Christ was indeed dead.

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You don't raise Him from the dead

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unless He was dead.

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Two: That He's been raised from the dead.

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Three: Christ was raised from the dead

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by God the Father;

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by the power of God the Father.

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A fourth truth here: Christ 
has ascended up to glory;

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is enthroned at the right hand
of the majesty on high;

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the right hand of God the Father.

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A fifth truth here: 
Christ has been exalted

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far above all rule and authority

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and power and dominion.

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He is Lord. He is King.

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He is above all.

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And sixth, Christ now reigns supreme,

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not only through the end of this age,

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but out into the eternal age to come.

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Forevermore enthroned.

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He is there.

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This is the ultimate fulfillment

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of Him being seated on the throne

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of His father David

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at the right hand of His Father

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forever - this age and the age to come.

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These two texts -

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what a Christology is contained

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just here in these truths!

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Paul may go through them very quickly.

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Brethren, this is the bedrock

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of what we believe.

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I mean these truths right here -

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I'll tell you this,

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these truths fly in the 
face of Catholicism.

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Do they not?

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I mean, they want to exalt Mary.

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Everything about this text is
the exaltation of Christ.

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Flies in the face of Islam.

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Does it not?

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This is it.

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Well, you know what Paul's talking about?

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He's talking about 
the power of Christianity.

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And what I want to do is tie

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verse 19 through verses 20 and 21.

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You remember, we've been looking

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at these three petitions.

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They all start with the word "what."

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The third of them:

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What is the immeasurable

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or the exceeding greatness

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of this power of God.

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He wants us to have the eyes -

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how's he praying?

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God, enable Your people to see this!

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A power that is towards the believer.

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We're talking about the might of God

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that was worked in Christ.

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It's according to that.

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Not only that raised Him from the dead -

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you don't want to stop there.

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Many talk here that this is basically

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the power of resurrection.

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Brethren, it's beyond that.

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It's the power of ascension.

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It's the power of enthronement.

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It's the power of the 
ruling supreme Christ

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over every rule and authority

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and power and dominion.

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And it's forever!

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It's not just temporary.

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It's not a temporary enthronement;

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a temporary kingdom.

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It is forever.

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This age and the age to come.

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This is taking Christ not 
only out of the grave

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and up into life,

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but ascending up into supremacy.

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This is the power that is 
being put on the table.

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And what he's saying is,

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the power at work or towards you

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that is directed at the believer

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is in accord with this reality.

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We're talking about the 
power of Christianity.

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Have you come to know this?

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Have you come to know

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of a Christianity

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in which the power of 
God Almighty is real?

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That's the reality.

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Is there some sort of power

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that accords in your life

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that is somehow or another

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a reflection of Christ

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being raised from the dead?

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Make no mistake about it,

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this is the Christianity of Scriptures.

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We're not talking dead religion here.

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This is the authentic thing.

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This is the real thing.

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We need to come to 
grips with that reality.

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I think we are.

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I think we are largely.

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But brethren, don't be satisfied

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with powerless Christianity.

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Not in others.

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Not in yourself.

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Not in this church.

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Don't be satisfied.

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I mean, do you see what God is inspiring

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Paul to say to us?

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Brethren, we have every reason to expect

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that we - well, like I was praying before,

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that God is going to make a difference

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between us and Egypt.

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God is going to make a difference.

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Where this kind of power is unleashed,

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it can't help but make a difference.

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Where you have the power

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of Almighty God being unleashed,

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and you compare that to an environment

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where His power is not being unleashed,

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but people play at Christianity.

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Would you expect there is 
going to be a difference?

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Brethren, I hope you 
have that expectation.

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I hope in the days ahead
you have an expectation

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of a Christianity that resembles this.

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This is the only Christianity

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that offers any hope to this world.

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This idea of going out

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and just multiplying decisions,

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you know full well,

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regeneration is on the table, brethren.

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We need power that brings life.

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Power that brings exaltation.

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Power that brings enthronement.

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This is what he's talking about here.

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This is what he wants them to grasp.

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This is the real deal.

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We should never be 
satisfied with dead religion.

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Never.

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You see churches planted

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or the Gospel going forth

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in Nicaragua or in Mexico

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or in Lebanon or in China

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or in Indonesia.

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Brethren, we should not be content

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with anything but this.

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This is it.

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This is what we must have.

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It is a religion of power.

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We're talking about the God of power.

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The God who acts in power.


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Do you recognize that?

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That's what Christianity is all about.

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It's about the God who acts.

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It's about the God who arises.

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It's about the God who does something.

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If God doesn't do anything,

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we're dead in the water.

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And what he's saying is,
do you recognize?

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Ephesians, you're not dead in the water.

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Do you recognize the kind of power

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that is at work there?

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True Christianity is always

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the activity of God 
powerfully breaking in.

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Brethren, Christianity is not us waking up

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and reaching out towards God.

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It's God powerfully reaching down

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into the depths of where we're at

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and doing something;

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initiating something.

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Always that is the picture.

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Any notion of Christianity

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that's mainly the result

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of something that we do -

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you know what it is.

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It's always fake. It's always false.

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It's always fatal. You can be sure of it.

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Always.

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We are being faced by something here.

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Brethren, I remember.

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Now you talk about an unworthy view

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of Christianity.

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I had it.

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I have an image in my mind

278
00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:52,480
and thoughts that went on in my head.

279
00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,870
I can't even hardly believe I'd say this,

280
00:12:54,870 --> 00:12:59,858
but almost 30 years ago,

281
00:12:59,858 --> 00:13:03,692
it was the summer after 
I got out of college.

282
00:13:03,692 --> 00:13:05,702
New job.

283
00:13:05,702 --> 00:13:07,869
New car.

284
00:13:07,869 --> 00:13:10,835
Sunday morning - not gloomy like this.

285
00:13:10,835 --> 00:13:13,311
Sunny southwest Michigan.

286
00:13:13,311 --> 00:13:17,581
Sunny summer Sunday morning.

287
00:13:17,581 --> 00:13:23,730
And a buddy and I are 
headed to Lake Michigan.

288
00:13:23,730 --> 00:13:26,860
And I'm driving down that highway,

289
00:13:26,860 --> 00:13:29,444
and I look over,

290
00:13:29,444 --> 00:13:34,414
and I see a church building.

291
00:13:34,414 --> 00:13:36,141
And it's just that time when people

292
00:13:36,141 --> 00:13:39,466
are driving into the parking lot.

293
00:13:39,466 --> 00:13:45,747
Families are walking across.

294
00:13:45,747 --> 00:13:50,498
They're going into the building.

295
00:13:50,498 --> 00:13:55,931
Brethren, I remember thinking to myself,

296
00:13:55,931 --> 00:14:02,814
I'm going to need to 
take care of that one day.

297
00:14:02,814 --> 00:14:05,812
Basically, my mindset was this.

298
00:14:05,812 --> 00:14:07,149
They got up.

299
00:14:07,149 --> 00:14:08,669
They decided to go to church.

300
00:14:08,669 --> 00:14:10,816
That's how you be a Christian.

301
00:14:10,816 --> 00:14:13,363
I got up, decided to buy beer,

302
00:14:13,363 --> 00:14:15,770
throw it in the trunk, grab my buddy,

303
00:14:15,770 --> 00:14:20,704
head west to the beach.

304
00:14:20,704 --> 00:14:21,989
And the day's going to come

305
00:14:21,989 --> 00:14:23,728
when I need to get up

306
00:14:23,728 --> 00:14:25,737
on a Sunday morning and I need to decide

307
00:14:25,737 --> 00:14:30,207
to do that rather than this.

308
00:14:30,207 --> 00:14:32,636
Pretty much, that was 
my idea of Christianity.

309
00:14:32,636 --> 00:14:34,792
I possessed the willpower.

310
00:14:34,792 --> 00:14:37,084
I possessed the power to do

311
00:14:37,084 --> 00:14:40,648
or not to do the Christian thing.

312
00:14:40,648 --> 00:14:46,489
Christianity was a choice.

313
00:14:46,489 --> 00:14:48,513
It was a choice I could make.

314
00:14:48,513 --> 00:14:49,993
Those people chose church.

315
00:14:49,993 --> 00:14:51,941
I chose the beach.

316
00:14:51,941 --> 00:14:55,418
That's how it is.

317
00:14:55,418 --> 00:14:58,039
And you know as well as I do,

318
00:14:58,039 --> 00:15:02,682
all you've got to do is read this passage.

319
00:15:02,682 --> 00:15:04,714
What is the power?

320
00:15:04,714 --> 00:15:07,509
What is the exceeding greatness?

321
00:15:07,509 --> 00:15:09,826
The immeasurable greatness

322
00:15:09,826 --> 00:15:13,183
of the power - His power

323
00:15:13,183 --> 00:15:16,704
towards you; us-ward.

324
00:15:16,704 --> 00:15:19,616
Toward the believer.

325
00:15:19,616 --> 00:15:22,120
What sort of power is this?

326
00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:27,080
Ten thousand miles away

327
00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:29,568
from what I was thinking that day.

328
00:15:29,568 --> 00:15:32,801
Christianity is a matter of power.

329
00:15:32,801 --> 00:15:34,941
It is a matter of God.

330
00:15:34,941 --> 00:15:36,341
It always has been.

331
00:15:36,341 --> 00:15:37,757
It always will be.

332
00:15:37,757 --> 00:15:39,554
And you know,

333
00:15:39,554 --> 00:15:41,873
I mean, let's go back there 30 years ago.

334
00:15:41,873 --> 00:15:43,587
Let's supposed on a whim

335
00:15:43,587 --> 00:15:45,931
my willpower had said,

336
00:15:45,931 --> 00:15:49,254
"Hey, Shawn, we're going in here."

337
00:15:49,254 --> 00:15:51,563
This will be fun before 
we head to the beach.

338
00:15:51,563 --> 00:15:54,461
We're going to sit in this service.

339
00:15:54,461 --> 00:15:56,204
Maybe my conscience is bothering me.

340
00:15:56,204 --> 00:15:59,031
We've got to do some work here.

341
00:15:59,031 --> 00:16:01,173
And so on a whim, I pull in there.

342
00:16:01,173 --> 00:16:03,078
And let's just suppose for a second

343
00:16:03,078 --> 00:16:06,805
those really were God's people.

344
00:16:06,805 --> 00:16:08,731
And they were really going in

345
00:16:08,731 --> 00:16:11,015
to meet with a true church

346
00:16:11,015 --> 00:16:13,384
and a true man of God
was going to take the pulpit

347
00:16:13,384 --> 00:16:15,091
and really preach the Word of God.

348
00:16:15,091 --> 00:16:16,764
And he was going to do so in power.

349
00:16:16,764 --> 00:16:19,515
And I go in there in my willpower.

350
00:16:19,515 --> 00:16:22,630
What would I have had 
the capability of doing?

351
00:16:22,630 --> 00:16:24,767
Reality - what would 
that have looked like?

352
00:16:24,767 --> 00:16:26,323
It basically would have been

353
00:16:26,323 --> 00:16:29,649
a filthy pig walking in amongst doves

354
00:16:29,649 --> 00:16:31,786
or lambs, and what?

355
00:16:31,786 --> 00:16:34,246
What would I have done in my own power?

356
00:16:34,246 --> 00:16:35,897
I could have played the hypocrite.

357
00:16:35,897 --> 00:16:38,137
But I'll tell you how I was wired.

358
00:16:38,137 --> 00:16:39,855
Not so much the religious hypocrite,

359
00:16:39,855 --> 00:16:42,952
as much as I would have detested it.

360
00:16:42,952 --> 00:16:44,438
I would have hated being there.

361
00:16:44,438 --> 00:16:46,337
Everything in me would want to

362
00:16:46,337 --> 00:16:48,808
grab my buddy and run to my car

363
00:16:48,808 --> 00:16:52,562
and head west and get out of there.

364
00:16:52,562 --> 00:16:57,498
It would have been absolutely distasteful.

365
00:16:57,498 --> 00:17:00,694
And you know what the sad reality is.

366
00:17:00,694 --> 00:17:04,136
The sad reality is this:

367
00:17:04,136 --> 00:17:05,380
With our Lord telling us

368
00:17:05,380 --> 00:17:08,028
many are going to say to 
Him in that day, "Lord, Lord."

369
00:17:08,028 --> 00:17:11,014
You know I just prayed these verses.

370
00:17:11,014 --> 00:17:13,304
That many have a form of godliness

371
00:17:13,304 --> 00:17:14,984
and they deny the power thereof.

372
00:17:14,984 --> 00:17:16,789
You know what the very likelihood is?

373
00:17:16,789 --> 00:17:19,088
Most of those people 
or all of those people

374
00:17:19,088 --> 00:17:22,304
attending that church 
probably weren't saved either.

375
00:17:22,304 --> 00:17:25,615
I mean, if you're just 
basically taking it as a whole

376
00:17:25,615 --> 00:17:27,568
and summing up what's said in Scripture.

377
00:17:27,568 --> 00:17:29,648
How many good churches 
are across the land?

378
00:17:29,648 --> 00:17:31,450
You know what the very likelihood is?

379
00:17:31,450 --> 00:17:33,512
They were playing the 
religious hypocrites.

380
00:17:33,512 --> 00:17:37,933
I would have gone in as a pagan.

381
00:17:37,933 --> 00:17:41,193
But brethren, whether it's powerless

382
00:17:41,193 --> 00:17:42,892
religious hypocrisy

383
00:17:42,892 --> 00:17:44,853
or powerless paganism,

384
00:17:44,853 --> 00:17:46,763
we all land in the same boat.

385
00:17:46,763 --> 00:17:49,225
We are incapable of doing anything

386
00:17:49,225 --> 00:17:52,059
unless God comes down;

387
00:17:52,059 --> 00:17:53,651
unless God acts.

388
00:17:53,651 --> 00:17:55,318
That's the way it always is.

389
00:17:55,318 --> 00:17:58,209
I had no idea driving 
down the road that day.

390
00:17:58,209 --> 00:18:01,331
My ideas... oh, my ideas

391
00:18:01,331 --> 00:18:05,149
were totally unworthy of Christianity.

392
00:18:05,149 --> 00:18:06,894
Totally unworthy of what it was

393
00:18:06,894 --> 00:18:08,157
to become a Christian.

394
00:18:08,157 --> 00:18:10,920
Totally. I had no idea.

395
00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,927
I had an idea once it really happened.

396
00:18:12,927 --> 00:18:16,226
I had an idea once God 
really broke into my life.

397
00:18:16,226 --> 00:18:19,043
Brethren, this is how it always is

398
00:18:19,043 --> 00:18:22,232
unless God shows up.

399
00:18:22,232 --> 00:18:26,567
It's dead religion or it's dead paganism.

400
00:18:26,567 --> 00:18:28,436
That's how it always is.

401
00:18:28,436 --> 00:18:30,607
Some of you here know exactly that

402
00:18:30,607 --> 00:18:32,266
because that's where you're at.

403
00:18:32,266 --> 00:18:33,898
It's either dead religion

404
00:18:33,898 --> 00:18:35,337
or dead paganism.

405
00:18:35,337 --> 00:18:36,422
You've come in here,

406
00:18:36,422 --> 00:18:38,133
and you've got a form of godliness,

407
00:18:38,133 --> 00:18:40,179
but this kind of power we're talking about

408
00:18:40,179 --> 00:18:43,163
is not a reality in your life.

409
00:18:43,163 --> 00:18:45,694
Or you're just pagan.

410
00:18:45,694 --> 00:18:47,191
You come in here but you know,

411
00:18:47,191 --> 00:18:50,075
you're just like I would have 
been if I'd have gone in there.

412
00:18:50,075 --> 00:18:52,860
Everything in you is like 
the pig wanting the mire.

413
00:18:52,860 --> 00:18:54,427
You want it. You want it bad.

414
00:18:54,427 --> 00:18:56,802
All you can think about 
is getting out of here.

415
00:18:56,802 --> 00:19:01,169
All you can think about is the world.

416
00:19:01,169 --> 00:19:02,608
My willpower.

417
00:19:02,608 --> 00:19:06,064
What a pathetic thing is that?

418
00:19:06,064 --> 00:19:09,931
But that's basically what 
this world is all about.

419
00:19:09,931 --> 00:19:12,978
Self-righteousness, pride...

420
00:19:12,978 --> 00:19:14,350
Men's will.

421
00:19:14,350 --> 00:19:17,894
Men's willpower.

422
00:19:17,894 --> 00:19:20,304
Oh, what do we have?

423
00:19:20,304 --> 00:19:21,641
I had no idea in those days

424
00:19:21,641 --> 00:19:23,522
about the truth of Ephesians 1:19,

425
00:19:23,522 --> 00:19:25,752
that the Christian's 
salvation only happens

426
00:19:25,752 --> 00:19:28,248
when you have some sort 
of massive demonstration

427
00:19:28,248 --> 00:19:30,912
of the power of God in the sinner.

428
00:19:30,912 --> 00:19:35,276
A Christian happens as a result

429
00:19:35,276 --> 00:19:37,109
of something outside himself.

430
00:19:37,109 --> 00:19:38,779
That's the reality.

431
00:19:38,779 --> 00:19:40,418
It depends not on the human will

432
00:19:40,418 --> 00:19:41,640
we're told in Scripture,

433
00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,108
or human exertion, but 
on God who has mercy.

434
00:19:44,108 --> 00:19:45,648
You show me a genuine Christian;

435
00:19:45,648 --> 00:19:47,935
you show me a genuine 
Christian in this place,

436
00:19:47,935 --> 00:19:50,261
and I will show you something

437
00:19:50,261 --> 00:19:54,598
that God is responsible for.

438
00:19:54,598 --> 00:19:57,312
God is responsible.

439
00:19:57,312 --> 00:19:58,881
No boasting, brethren.

440
00:19:58,881 --> 00:20:01,337
We just simply cannot boast here.

441
00:20:01,337 --> 00:20:08,903
It's like Lord, why? Why me?

442
00:20:08,903 --> 00:20:12,579
And you know what rings back 
to our ears from Scripture is:

443
00:20:12,579 --> 00:20:16,722
"I chose to have mercy on you."

444
00:20:16,722 --> 00:20:19,364
That's the answer.

445
00:20:19,364 --> 00:20:25,388
To bring one soul to true repentance

446
00:20:25,388 --> 00:20:28,192
and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

447
00:20:28,192 --> 00:20:31,230
demands the immeasurable

448
00:20:31,230 --> 00:20:34,026
exceeding greatness of the strength

449
00:20:34,026 --> 00:20:36,298
of God's eternal might.

450
00:20:36,298 --> 00:20:38,837
And brethren, we're dead 
in the water without it.

451
00:20:38,837 --> 00:20:40,340
We need God.

452
00:20:40,340 --> 00:20:42,737
We need Him badly, brethren!

453
00:20:42,737 --> 00:20:45,518
We need Him badly!

454
00:20:45,518 --> 00:20:46,909
And I am so thankful

455
00:20:46,909 --> 00:20:49,335
that prayer meetings continue to be full

456
00:20:49,335 --> 00:20:51,022
because what that resonates

457
00:20:51,022 --> 00:20:54,396
is I'm among a group of people

458
00:20:54,396 --> 00:20:56,308
that feel that reality.

459
00:20:56,308 --> 00:21:00,028
We need You, Father! We need You!

460
00:21:00,028 --> 00:21:03,588
Is that not what these 
verses scream at us?

461
00:21:03,588 --> 00:21:07,522
We need Him.

462
00:21:07,522 --> 00:21:12,089
Paul's petition is that we 
would have eyes to see

463
00:21:12,089 --> 00:21:13,664
the reality of this power.

464
00:21:13,664 --> 00:21:15,416
Now, here's the thing.

465
00:21:15,416 --> 00:21:19,355
Let's tie verse 19 together

466
00:21:19,355 --> 00:21:21,447
with verses 20 and 21.

467
00:21:21,447 --> 00:21:27,341
And really, the point of attachment,

468
00:21:27,341 --> 00:21:30,216
it comes through a preposition

469
00:21:30,216 --> 00:21:32,928
that is several words from the end

470
00:21:32,928 --> 00:21:35,571
of verse 19.

471
00:21:35,571 --> 00:21:41,122
Your Bibles say, "according to."

472
00:21:41,122 --> 00:21:43,309
Or the NAS if any of you have that,

473
00:21:43,309 --> 00:21:47,249
"in accordance with."

474
00:21:47,249 --> 00:21:52,118
According to.

475
00:21:52,118 --> 00:21:55,549
You all see that.

476
00:21:55,549 --> 00:21:58,165
"That you may have the eyes

477
00:21:58,165 --> 00:22:00,593
of your hearts enlightened

478
00:22:00,593 --> 00:22:03,328
that you may know what is the immeasurable

479
00:22:03,328 --> 00:22:05,146
greatness of His power

480
00:22:05,146 --> 00:22:06,993
toward us who believe

481
00:22:06,993 --> 00:22:11,140
according to the working

482
00:22:11,140 --> 00:22:14,012
of His great might that 
He worked in Christ

483
00:22:14,012 --> 00:22:15,572
when He raised Him from the dead

484
00:22:15,572 --> 00:22:18,837
and seated Him at His right 
hand in the heavenly places."

485
00:22:18,837 --> 00:22:20,969
Two English words:

486
00:22:20,969 --> 00:22:22,790
either "in accordance"

487
00:22:22,790 --> 00:22:24,775
or "according to"

488
00:22:24,775 --> 00:22:29,414
all of your English Bibles say.

489
00:22:29,414 --> 00:22:32,622
It's a preposition.

490
00:22:32,622 --> 00:22:35,744
But what does it mean?

491
00:22:35,744 --> 00:22:37,355
Here's the thing I wrestled with,

492
00:22:37,355 --> 00:22:40,961
what does that mean?

493
00:22:40,961 --> 00:22:49,189
What am I supposed to take away with that?

494
00:22:49,189 --> 00:22:52,476
There's a lot of questions 
I ask of Scripture

495
00:22:52,476 --> 00:22:54,487
that I don't necessarily come away

496
00:22:54,487 --> 00:22:57,501
with such a thorough answer for as I want.

497
00:22:57,501 --> 00:23:00,930
But let's delve into this somewhat.

498
00:23:00,930 --> 00:23:03,025
In accordance with.

499
00:23:03,025 --> 00:23:05,550
Brethren, what does that mean?

500
00:23:05,550 --> 00:23:09,819
According to...

501
00:23:09,819 --> 00:23:15,583
It carries that meaning: "according to."

502
00:23:15,583 --> 00:23:21,575
It can mean "equivalent to."

503
00:23:21,575 --> 00:23:24,373
Equivalent almost carries the idea

504
00:23:24,373 --> 00:23:28,049
of equal to.

505
00:23:28,049 --> 00:23:29,908
Well, it does carry that meaning.

506
00:23:29,908 --> 00:23:33,764
But the word doesn't always have to

507
00:23:33,764 --> 00:23:40,910
carry that - it can mean:
"in proportion to."

508
00:23:40,910 --> 00:23:43,499
It can mean "in agreement with."

509
00:23:43,499 --> 00:23:45,642
It can mean "corresponding to."

510
00:23:45,642 --> 00:23:48,126
Or, "in conformity with."

511
00:23:48,126 --> 00:23:50,015
It's actually a preposition that has

512
00:23:50,015 --> 00:23:51,761
extremely broad range of use,

513
00:23:51,761 --> 00:23:53,700
but as it's used here,

514
00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:57,483
these are the ways that we can

515
00:23:57,483 --> 00:24:00,088
define the word.

516
00:24:00,088 --> 00:24:02,538
It's basically this idea

517
00:24:02,538 --> 00:24:09,154
that it indicates a standard.

518
00:24:09,154 --> 00:24:14,565
A standard that there is agreement with.

519
00:24:14,565 --> 00:24:16,551
Agreeable to.

520
00:24:16,551 --> 00:24:19,782
The standard is Christ's resurrection.

521
00:24:19,782 --> 00:24:21,835
What's happening in us

522
00:24:21,835 --> 00:24:25,776
is agreeable to that standard.

523
00:24:25,776 --> 00:24:27,717
That's really the idea here.

524
00:24:27,717 --> 00:24:29,958
But even that - does that really help?

525
00:24:29,958 --> 00:24:35,377
It's agreeable to.

526
00:24:35,377 --> 00:24:37,549
What are we dealing with?

527
00:24:37,549 --> 00:24:39,919
And here's the question that I'm asking.

528
00:24:39,919 --> 00:24:43,033
Does this mean it's agreeable to

529
00:24:43,033 --> 00:24:45,768
in the sense that there's a likeness?

530
00:24:45,768 --> 00:24:49,448
You know, when we use allegories

531
00:24:49,448 --> 00:24:52,692
or parables, we basically are describing

532
00:24:52,692 --> 00:24:54,792
something that is like something else.

533
00:24:54,792 --> 00:24:56,635
Is that what's happening here?

534
00:24:56,635 --> 00:24:58,371
Is there a likeness between them?

535
00:24:58,371 --> 00:25:03,025
Is there a similarity between them?

536
00:25:03,025 --> 00:25:05,318
Is it that it's saying:

537
00:25:05,318 --> 00:25:08,275
well, the power of God did this in Christ,

538
00:25:08,275 --> 00:25:15,421
and proportionately, maybe less,

539
00:25:15,421 --> 00:25:20,468
God's same power was at work in us?

540
00:25:20,468 --> 00:25:24,299
Is it saying that basically

541
00:25:24,299 --> 00:25:27,470
the magnititude of power - God's power

542
00:25:27,470 --> 00:25:30,968
that was at work in Christ -

543
00:25:30,968 --> 00:25:36,104
same magnitude is required

544
00:25:36,104 --> 00:25:42,573
to raise us from the dead?

545
00:25:42,573 --> 00:25:46,624
Is it the same power?

546
00:25:46,624 --> 00:25:52,109
Not just equal, but did 
the very same power

547
00:25:52,109 --> 00:25:55,246
that raised Christ from the dead

548
00:25:55,246 --> 00:26:00,397
pull us up with Him?

549
00:26:00,397 --> 00:26:03,857
Now, I just want to delve into this

550
00:26:03,857 --> 00:26:07,543
because look,

551
00:26:07,543 --> 00:26:13,955
if you think about this 
in the speed of reading,

552
00:26:13,955 --> 00:26:15,451
as soon as Paul tells us

553
00:26:15,451 --> 00:26:19,557
that he is praying about our eyes

554
00:26:19,557 --> 00:26:23,118
being opened to grasp the power

555
00:26:23,118 --> 00:26:25,040
that's towards us,

556
00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:30,621
immediately, he takes our heads

557
00:26:30,621 --> 00:26:33,537
and turns them to the resurrection

558
00:26:33,537 --> 00:26:36,438
and ascension and enthronement of Christ.

559
00:26:36,438 --> 00:26:37,499
Immediately.

560
00:26:37,499 --> 00:26:39,711
I mean, in the speed of reading,

561
00:26:39,711 --> 00:26:41,131
it's just bang!

562
00:26:41,131 --> 00:26:43,869
He does not allow us to think,

563
00:26:43,869 --> 00:26:46,375
as we think about the work

564
00:26:46,375 --> 00:26:48,563
that's happening in ourselves,

565
00:26:48,563 --> 00:26:50,327
he doesn't allow us to just sit

566
00:26:50,327 --> 00:26:51,535
and kind of ponder.

567
00:26:51,535 --> 00:26:54,930
There's no "selah" there.

568
00:26:54,930 --> 00:26:59,410
It's immediately look to the death,

569
00:26:59,410 --> 00:27:02,655
the resurrection, the ascension.

570
00:27:02,655 --> 00:27:04,516
Why? What's the attachment?

571
00:27:04,516 --> 00:27:08,025
How should we process this?

572
00:27:08,025 --> 00:27:10,149
Just listen to this.

573
00:27:10,149 --> 00:27:13,204
John Gill said,

574
00:27:13,204 --> 00:27:17,606
"The resurrection of any person

575
00:27:17,606 --> 00:27:20,220
is an instance of great power,

576
00:27:20,220 --> 00:27:22,364
but Christ's resurrection from the dead

577
00:27:22,364 --> 00:27:25,843
was an instance of peculiar 
and special power."

578
00:27:25,843 --> 00:27:27,433
So in John Gill's thinking -

579
00:27:27,433 --> 00:27:29,298
this is an old Baptist -

580
00:27:29,298 --> 00:27:35,294
he said yes, the work of God within us

581
00:27:35,294 --> 00:27:37,643
is great,

582
00:27:37,643 --> 00:27:39,409
but he has us look at Christ

583
00:27:39,409 --> 00:27:44,104
because it's a greater power.

584
00:27:44,104 --> 00:27:46,446
It's the standard by which everything else

585
00:27:46,446 --> 00:27:48,482
is measured.

586
00:27:48,482 --> 00:27:49,557
That's his idea.

587
00:27:49,557 --> 00:27:50,905
Matthew Poole.

588
00:27:50,905 --> 00:27:54,662
He was a Puritan commentator.

589
00:27:54,662 --> 00:27:58,451
He says what's being talked about here,

590
00:27:58,451 --> 00:28:00,746
the association, the connection,

591
00:28:00,746 --> 00:28:05,508
"the power God exercises

592
00:28:05,508 --> 00:28:09,938
toward believers is such as that was

593
00:28:09,938 --> 00:28:13,485
whereby He raised up 
Christ from the dead."

594
00:28:13,485 --> 00:28:15,224
Don't you love that?

595
00:28:15,224 --> 00:28:20,557
"...Is such as that was."

596
00:28:20,557 --> 00:28:23,306
Such as.

597
00:28:23,306 --> 00:28:27,080
He refrains from saying it's equal to.

598
00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:28,595
Just: "it's such as..."

599
00:28:28,595 --> 00:28:30,891
To me that feels like according to.

600
00:28:30,891 --> 00:28:33,531
It's like give me some more meat there

601
00:28:33,531 --> 00:28:35,170
to put my teeth in.

602
00:28:35,170 --> 00:28:38,666
Such as?

603
00:28:38,666 --> 00:28:40,466
Others.

604
00:28:40,466 --> 00:28:41,664
Some have suggested

605
00:28:41,664 --> 00:28:44,228
that the resurrection of Jesus

606
00:28:44,228 --> 00:28:47,710
is merely an illustration or a specimen

607
00:28:47,710 --> 00:28:50,710
of the power that should encourage us

608
00:28:50,710 --> 00:28:54,661
about what God is able to do in us.

609
00:28:54,661 --> 00:28:58,765
Some see the resurrection 
as a sort of pledge.

610
00:28:58,765 --> 00:29:01,346
There's that power there.

611
00:29:01,346 --> 00:29:02,852
There's no real connection

612
00:29:02,852 --> 00:29:04,923
between the power, other than

613
00:29:04,923 --> 00:29:07,294
it is a promise

614
00:29:07,294 --> 00:29:09,351
because that power happened,

615
00:29:09,351 --> 00:29:11,526
and what's accomplished there,

616
00:29:11,526 --> 00:29:15,812
now is a promise that in turn

617
00:29:15,812 --> 00:29:20,262
that power's going to be 
demonstrated upon us.

618
00:29:20,262 --> 00:29:22,665
Someone has said that the power in us -

619
00:29:22,665 --> 00:29:29,080
now this is someone 
else in church history.

620
00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,520
Someone has said that the power in us

621
00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:36,205
is not less than that in Christ.

622
00:29:36,205 --> 00:29:37,762
Don't you like that too?

623
00:29:37,762 --> 00:29:42,565
It's not less than.

624
00:29:42,565 --> 00:29:44,418
Think about that.

625
00:29:44,418 --> 00:29:48,831
They say, well, here's the 
power that raised Christ.

626
00:29:48,831 --> 00:29:52,950
And what happens in us is not less than.

627
00:29:52,950 --> 00:29:55,656
Do you see how they're 
just not wanting to commit

628
00:29:55,656 --> 00:29:58,762
to too much in what they say?

629
00:29:58,762 --> 00:30:00,448
It's not less than.

630
00:30:00,448 --> 00:30:01,850
Well, what are you saying?

631
00:30:01,850 --> 00:30:03,708
Okay, tell me then. Is it equal to?

632
00:30:03,708 --> 00:30:05,227
Or is it more than?

633
00:30:05,227 --> 00:30:11,985
At least Chrysostom said

634
00:30:11,985 --> 00:30:15,678
he believed that to heal a dead soul

635
00:30:15,678 --> 00:30:19,227
is a far greater thing 
than to raise the dead.

636
00:30:19,227 --> 00:30:21,299
He believed that the power at work in us

637
00:30:21,299 --> 00:30:22,643
is even greater than that

638
00:30:22,643 --> 00:30:29,700
which took place in Christ.

639
00:30:29,700 --> 00:30:31,679
Here's what I know.

640
00:30:31,679 --> 00:30:33,807
I know this.

641
00:30:33,807 --> 00:30:41,060
I know that Paul repeatedly;

642
00:30:41,060 --> 00:30:43,161
I know that the New Testament -

643
00:30:43,161 --> 00:30:46,501
the apostles, the apostle's doctrine -

644
00:30:46,501 --> 00:30:50,801
I know they were stunned

645
00:30:50,801 --> 00:30:52,913
by the resurrection of Christ.

646
00:30:52,913 --> 00:30:54,435
In the book of Acts,

647
00:30:54,435 --> 00:30:55,838
wherever they went they were

648
00:30:55,838 --> 00:30:58,732
proclaiming His resurrection 
from the dead.

649
00:30:58,732 --> 00:31:04,997
And they attached extreme significance

650
00:31:04,997 --> 00:31:08,275
to the power of that resurrection.

651
00:31:08,275 --> 00:31:09,861
Just think with me here.

652
00:31:09,861 --> 00:31:13,807
Acts 2:23 - don't turn there.

653
00:31:13,807 --> 00:31:15,682
Peter.

654
00:31:15,682 --> 00:31:19,207
He said, "This Jesus

655
00:31:19,207 --> 00:31:21,482
was delivered up according 
to the definite plan

656
00:31:21,482 --> 00:31:23,573
and foreknowledge of God,

657
00:31:23,573 --> 00:31:25,051
you crucified and killed

658
00:31:25,051 --> 00:31:27,263
by the hands of lawless men."

659
00:31:27,263 --> 00:31:30,885
Listen, "God raised Him up,

660
00:31:30,885 --> 00:31:34,838
loosing the pangs of death..."

661
00:31:34,838 --> 00:31:36,381
Even though the word "power"

662
00:31:36,381 --> 00:31:38,470
isn't specifically used here,

663
00:31:38,470 --> 00:31:40,756
he says this about death:

664
00:31:40,756 --> 00:31:43,833
"Because it was not possible

665
00:31:43,833 --> 00:31:46,454
for Him to be held by it."

666
00:31:46,454 --> 00:31:48,809
No possibility. Why?

667
00:31:48,809 --> 00:31:50,468
There is a power here

668
00:31:50,468 --> 00:31:52,218
that is above and beyond death.

669
00:31:52,218 --> 00:31:54,668
It's chains were ripped -

670
00:31:54,668 --> 00:31:56,597
"Up from the grave He arose!"

671
00:31:56,597 --> 00:31:58,154
We sing that song.

672
00:31:58,154 --> 00:32:00,608
It could not contain Him.

673
00:32:00,608 --> 00:32:02,872
It was not able. Why?

674
00:32:02,872 --> 00:32:04,407
Something was at work

675
00:32:04,407 --> 00:32:07,230
that was more powerful than death.

676
00:32:07,230 --> 00:32:09,705
And it could not - it did not have

677
00:32:09,705 --> 00:32:12,106
greater strength than that

678
00:32:12,106 --> 00:32:14,238
which was being unleashed in Christ.

679
00:32:14,238 --> 00:32:18,965
It was not able.

680
00:32:18,965 --> 00:32:21,379
That's the kind of thing 
the New Testament says.

681
00:32:21,379 --> 00:32:22,224
How about this?

682
00:32:22,224 --> 00:32:23,202
When you come over?

683
00:32:23,202 --> 00:32:25,949
Romans 1 - that glorious epistle.

684
00:32:25,949 --> 00:32:27,443
And at the very beginning

685
00:32:27,443 --> 00:32:28,865
as we're being introduced

686
00:32:28,865 --> 00:32:31,482
to these glories, right from the get-go,

687
00:32:31,482 --> 00:32:32,898
the first four verses,

688
00:32:32,898 --> 00:32:35,165
Paul hits these Romans

689
00:32:35,165 --> 00:32:38,035
with this glorious reality of Christ

690
00:32:38,035 --> 00:32:39,857
being resurrected from the dead.

691
00:32:39,857 --> 00:32:42,388
And what does he say?

692
00:32:42,388 --> 00:32:47,391
He's declared to be the 
Son of God with power.

693
00:32:47,391 --> 00:32:49,140
This is a declaration.

694
00:32:49,140 --> 00:32:51,214
You see Christ.

695
00:32:51,214 --> 00:32:54,530
He's declared to be the 
Son of God with power.

696
00:32:54,530 --> 00:32:56,359
He's declared to be the Messiah.

697
00:32:56,359 --> 00:32:58,321
He's declared to be the sent one.

698
00:32:58,321 --> 00:33:02,366
What declares that about Him?

699
00:33:02,366 --> 00:33:04,755
His resurrection from the dead.

700
00:33:04,755 --> 00:33:05,966
That's what we're told.

701
00:33:05,966 --> 00:33:09,865
He said, "He's declared to be

702
00:33:09,865 --> 00:33:11,708
the Son of God in power

703
00:33:11,708 --> 00:33:14,067
according to the Spirit of holiness

704
00:33:14,067 --> 00:33:17,509
by His resurrection from the dead,

705
00:33:17,509 --> 00:33:19,701
Jesus Christ our Lord."

706
00:33:19,701 --> 00:33:21,408
Or you think about what Paul said

707
00:33:21,408 --> 00:33:22,944
in Philippians 3.

708
00:33:22,944 --> 00:33:24,108
Many of you know this.

709
00:33:24,108 --> 00:33:26,880
Paul - what was he crying out for?

710
00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:28,206
What was he longing for?

711
00:33:28,206 --> 00:33:33,643
"That I may know Him..." and what?

712
00:33:33,643 --> 00:33:36,240
"The power of His resurrection."

713
00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,324
I can tell you this.

714
00:33:38,324 --> 00:33:42,623
I don't know if you feel this.

715
00:33:42,623 --> 00:33:45,755
When I think of the resurrection,

716
00:33:45,755 --> 00:33:47,800
yes, because I know those verses,

717
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:50,851
I would say there's an 
attachment to power.

718
00:33:50,851 --> 00:33:52,518
But do you think that way?

719
00:33:52,518 --> 00:33:55,570
When you think of Christ 
rising from the dead,

720
00:33:55,570 --> 00:33:59,642
is that the natural 
connection in your mind?

721
00:33:59,642 --> 00:34:02,641
Do you think, "wow, that was powerful"?

722
00:34:02,641 --> 00:34:13,485
Powerful.

723
00:34:13,485 --> 00:34:16,100
Probably we could do a whole sermon

724
00:34:16,100 --> 00:34:18,704
on the power of death.

725
00:34:18,704 --> 00:34:22,474
Death is a powerful thing.

726
00:34:22,474 --> 00:34:25,247
I was at the gym this week.

727
00:34:25,247 --> 00:34:26,348
Some guy walked by -

728
00:34:26,348 --> 00:34:27,842
you know those big hulking guys

729
00:34:27,842 --> 00:34:31,016
that hang out at gyms.

730
00:34:31,016 --> 00:34:36,853
But he walked by and he was huge.

731
00:34:36,853 --> 00:34:39,771
But you know, thinking on this message,

732
00:34:39,771 --> 00:34:43,743
I thought, "but, he's going to die."

733
00:34:43,743 --> 00:34:45,933
He's strong - he's a lot stronger than me,

734
00:34:45,933 --> 00:34:46,792
but you know what?

735
00:34:46,792 --> 00:34:50,464
He cannot resist death.

736
00:34:50,464 --> 00:34:54,231
You just can't fight it.

737
00:34:54,231 --> 00:34:58,016
And it's on us.

738
00:34:58,016 --> 00:34:59,081
You know it!

739
00:34:59,081 --> 00:35:02,212
Your outer body is wasting away.

740
00:35:02,212 --> 00:35:03,708
You cannot stop the wrinkles.

741
00:35:03,708 --> 00:35:05,243
You cannot stop the baldness.

742
00:35:05,243 --> 00:35:07,657
You can't stop the flab.

743
00:35:07,657 --> 00:35:11,161
You can't stop the 
degradation of the body.

744
00:35:11,161 --> 00:35:12,755
You cannot stop the grey hair.

745
00:35:12,755 --> 00:35:15,324
You can dye them, but 
you roots will give you away.

746
00:35:15,324 --> 00:35:18,736
You can't stop what's happening to you.

747
00:35:18,736 --> 00:35:21,295
It is pulling you down.

748
00:35:21,295 --> 00:35:23,528
Brethren, it's coming.

749
00:35:23,528 --> 00:35:25,246
Every one of us, we recognize

750
00:35:25,246 --> 00:35:27,324
death is coming.

751
00:35:27,324 --> 00:35:29,039
You can't run fast enough,

752
00:35:29,039 --> 00:35:30,893
far enough, jump high enough,

753
00:35:30,893 --> 00:35:32,584
you cannot get away from it.

754
00:35:32,584 --> 00:35:34,335
It is massively powerful.

755
00:35:34,335 --> 00:35:36,817
And here is this thing that holds man

756
00:35:36,817 --> 00:35:39,787
in its grips, in its fear.

757
00:35:39,787 --> 00:35:41,583
He who has the power of death -

758
00:35:41,583 --> 00:35:43,945
the devil himself is 
involved in all of this,

759
00:35:43,945 --> 00:35:46,036
and he has power and he has control.

760
00:35:46,036 --> 00:35:47,910
And brethren, he comes along

761
00:35:47,910 --> 00:35:57,730
and he constantly is defeating man,

762
00:35:57,730 --> 00:36:00,226
damning men.

763
00:36:00,226 --> 00:36:01,554
What does he have to use?

764
00:36:01,554 --> 00:36:02,900
He's got the wrath of God.

765
00:36:02,900 --> 00:36:04,946
He basically baits us into sin

766
00:36:04,946 --> 00:36:11,575
which unleashes the wrath of God upon us.

767
00:36:11,575 --> 00:36:14,498
The power of death.

768
00:36:14,498 --> 00:36:17,460
The power of sin.

769
00:36:17,460 --> 00:36:19,290
The power of the devil.

770
00:36:19,290 --> 00:36:23,108
We think ridiculous thoughts 
about the devil.

771
00:36:23,108 --> 00:36:24,504
He is powerful

772
00:36:24,504 --> 00:36:26,427
and he is like a roaring lion

773
00:36:26,427 --> 00:36:29,135
and he has fangs and he kills.

774
00:36:29,135 --> 00:36:34,005
He killed our first father.

775
00:36:34,005 --> 00:36:36,113
The power of these things

776
00:36:36,113 --> 00:36:38,691
is beyond our control.

777
00:36:38,691 --> 00:36:40,696
Men may make light of them.

778
00:36:40,696 --> 00:36:42,263
Men want to ignore death.

779
00:36:42,263 --> 00:36:44,173
They make fun of the devil.

780
00:36:44,173 --> 00:36:46,051
They make light of sin.

781
00:36:46,051 --> 00:36:51,450
These things are so powerful.

782
00:36:51,450 --> 00:36:53,600
And what happens is you find

783
00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:56,181
that in the resurrection of Christ,

784
00:36:56,181 --> 00:36:59,112
there is a defeating; there is a removal

785
00:36:59,112 --> 00:37:02,041
of these obstacles that are in our way,

786
00:37:02,041 --> 00:37:03,581
and Christ took them out.

787
00:37:03,581 --> 00:37:05,980
You want to know something 
about the resurrection?

788
00:37:05,980 --> 00:37:07,663
Whatever it may speak to you,

789
00:37:07,663 --> 00:37:08,981
it speaks power,

790
00:37:08,981 --> 00:37:11,091
and it speaks the power to remove

791
00:37:11,091 --> 00:37:13,133
the obstacles out of your life

792
00:37:13,133 --> 00:37:16,085
and out of my life that keep us from God,

793
00:37:16,085 --> 00:37:17,608
that keep us from glory,

794
00:37:17,608 --> 00:37:21,327
that keep us from everlasting life.

795
00:37:21,327 --> 00:37:23,054
Power.

796
00:37:23,054 --> 00:37:28,349
Here's another thing.

797
00:37:28,349 --> 00:37:29,726
When you study Ephesians,

798
00:37:29,726 --> 00:37:31,211
you need to keep your eyes open

799
00:37:31,211 --> 00:37:34,426
to what's happening in Colossians,

800
00:37:34,426 --> 00:37:36,418
because even though in some ways

801
00:37:36,418 --> 00:37:41,448
they're very different,

802
00:37:41,448 --> 00:37:43,375
you can tell they were obviously written

803
00:37:43,375 --> 00:37:46,797
around the same time,

804
00:37:46,797 --> 00:37:50,270
and that Paul deals with many

805
00:37:50,270 --> 00:37:53,841
of the same themes.

806
00:37:53,841 --> 00:37:56,649
So, over here in Ephesians 1,

807
00:37:56,649 --> 00:37:58,509
you get this language.

808
00:37:58,509 --> 00:37:59,658
But you know what?

809
00:37:59,658 --> 00:38:01,370
Over in Colossians 2,

810
00:38:01,370 --> 00:38:03,574
you get some similar language.

811
00:38:03,574 --> 00:38:09,210
Let's turn over there.

812
00:38:09,210 --> 00:38:21,738
Colossians 2:11.

813
00:38:21,738 --> 00:38:23,680
Notice this.

814
00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:30,101
In Christ - "In Him also,

815
00:38:30,101 --> 00:38:31,409
you were circumcised

816
00:38:31,409 --> 00:38:34,472
with the circumcision made without hands

817
00:38:34,472 --> 00:38:36,909
by putting off the body of the flesh,

818
00:38:36,909 --> 00:38:41,318
by the circumcision of Christ,

819
00:38:41,318 --> 00:38:44,366
having been buried with Him

820
00:38:44,366 --> 00:38:47,624
in baptism..."

821
00:38:47,624 --> 00:38:52,156
See, the thing is, here 
where Paul talks this way,

822
00:38:52,156 --> 00:38:54,921
there's much about union.

823
00:38:54,921 --> 00:38:57,217
And look, you don't want to miss it -

824
00:38:57,217 --> 00:38:59,522
if you think as we went through

825
00:38:59,522 --> 00:39:02,314
those first 14 verses about how many times

826
00:39:02,314 --> 00:39:07,498
we were taught about "in Christ."

827
00:39:07,498 --> 00:39:09,312
Union - bringing all things together.

828
00:39:09,312 --> 00:39:11,299
Uniting all things together in Christ.

829
00:39:11,299 --> 00:39:12,388
This idea of union.

830
00:39:12,388 --> 00:39:14,941
And in fact, before you get 
to the end of the chapter,

831
00:39:14,941 --> 00:39:16,452
he's going to talk about Christ

832
00:39:16,452 --> 00:39:19,076
being the Head over all 
things to the church

833
00:39:19,076 --> 00:39:20,190
which is His body,

834
00:39:20,190 --> 00:39:22,215
the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

835
00:39:22,215 --> 00:39:23,979
Christ is the Head. We are the body.

836
00:39:23,979 --> 00:39:26,213
There is unity.

837
00:39:26,213 --> 00:39:30,139
Notice the unity here.

838
00:39:30,139 --> 00:39:32,886
"Buried with Him in baptism

839
00:39:32,886 --> 00:39:38,627
in which you were also raised with Him."

840
00:39:38,627 --> 00:39:40,181
Now notice this:

841
00:39:40,181 --> 00:39:42,658
"...Through faith."

842
00:39:42,658 --> 00:39:43,993
And then we're going to get

843
00:39:43,993 --> 00:39:45,798
some of the exact same wording

844
00:39:45,798 --> 00:39:50,649
that we get from Ephesians 1:19.

845
00:39:50,649 --> 00:39:53,273
Again, similar veins of thoughts run

846
00:39:53,273 --> 00:39:54,762
through both of these Ephesian

847
00:39:54,762 --> 00:39:56,176
and Colossian epistles.

848
00:39:56,176 --> 00:39:58,311
And tying them together oftentimes

849
00:39:58,311 --> 00:40:02,098
helps give a fuller picture.

850
00:40:02,098 --> 00:40:05,088
We're raised with Christ.

851
00:40:05,088 --> 00:40:06,676
You see what Paul has in mind?

852
00:40:06,676 --> 00:40:08,719
The two happen at once:

853
00:40:08,719 --> 00:40:10,407
raised with Him - one action;

854
00:40:10,407 --> 00:40:12,400
one demonstration of power.

855
00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:16,047
We both come up together.

856
00:40:16,047 --> 00:40:18,512
But keep reading there.

857
00:40:18,512 --> 00:40:22,394
"...Raised with Him through faith;

858
00:40:22,394 --> 00:40:26,221
faith in the powerful working of God."

859
00:40:26,221 --> 00:40:28,719
This is the "energia" that we saw

860
00:40:28,719 --> 00:40:30,620
back in 1:19 of Ephesians.

861
00:40:30,620 --> 00:40:32,812
This is the energy;

862
00:40:32,812 --> 00:40:35,742
the operative power of God.

863
00:40:35,742 --> 00:40:36,985
It's in motion.

864
00:40:36,985 --> 00:40:39,196
It's moving.

865
00:40:39,196 --> 00:40:42,373
"...Who raised Him from the dead."

866
00:40:42,373 --> 00:40:44,233
But see what he says first?

867
00:40:44,233 --> 00:40:46,868
We're "raised with Him,"

868
00:40:46,868 --> 00:40:48,248
and there is this power

869
00:40:48,248 --> 00:40:51,283
that raised Him from the dead.

870
00:40:51,283 --> 00:40:54,352
"And you (v. 13) who were dead

871
00:40:54,352 --> 00:40:55,814
in your trespasses

872
00:40:55,814 --> 00:40:57,793
and the uncircumcision of your flesh..."

873
00:40:57,793 --> 00:41:00,150
Now listen, if you go 
back over to Ephesians

874
00:41:00,150 --> 00:41:01,778
you recognize,

875
00:41:01,778 --> 00:41:05,233
Paul has the same thought in mind.

876
00:41:05,233 --> 00:41:07,112
When you get to Ephesians 2:1,

877
00:41:07,112 --> 00:41:09,613
he is going to say the 
exact same thing here

878
00:41:09,613 --> 00:41:12,016
about us being dead in 
trespasses and sins,

879
00:41:12,016 --> 00:41:13,807
being raised together with Christ.

880
00:41:13,807 --> 00:41:15,290
It's the same thing.

881
00:41:15,290 --> 00:41:17,645
He just takes a little bit more time

882
00:41:17,645 --> 00:41:19,844
in saying it all in Ephesians.

883
00:41:19,844 --> 00:41:21,677
He develops it a bit more.

884
00:41:21,677 --> 00:41:25,988
It's more compact here in Colossians 2.

885
00:41:25,988 --> 00:41:27,758
"You who were dead in your trespasses

886
00:41:27,758 --> 00:41:29,490
and uncircumcision of your flesh,

887
00:41:29,490 --> 00:41:33,533
God made alive together with Him,

888
00:41:33,533 --> 00:41:35,682
having forgiven us all our trespasses

889
00:41:35,682 --> 00:41:37,382
by cancelling the record of debt

890
00:41:37,382 --> 00:41:41,098
that stood against us 
with its legal demands,

891
00:41:41,098 --> 00:41:48,194
this he set aside 
nailing it to the cross."

892
00:41:48,194 --> 00:41:52,421
Brethren, look.

893
00:41:52,421 --> 00:41:53,704
I would just say this.

894
00:41:53,704 --> 00:41:57,044
Based on what Paul says right here,

895
00:41:57,044 --> 00:42:01,656
however you want to interpret
the "according to,"

896
00:42:01,656 --> 00:42:06,014
"what is the immeasurable greatness

897
00:42:06,014 --> 00:42:09,140
of his power toward us who believe."

898
00:42:09,140 --> 00:42:11,383
It is "according to the working

899
00:42:11,383 --> 00:42:14,805
of His great might 
that He worked in Christ

900
00:42:14,805 --> 00:42:16,901
when He raised Him from the dead

901
00:42:16,901 --> 00:42:18,916
and He seated Him at His right hand..."

902
00:42:18,916 --> 00:42:19,906
According to.

903
00:42:19,906 --> 00:42:21,609
Whatever you want to do with that,

904
00:42:21,609 --> 00:42:24,120
one thing you cannot get away from -

905
00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:26,063
especially when you compare it

906
00:42:26,063 --> 00:42:27,778
to the Colossian passage

907
00:42:27,778 --> 00:42:35,582
is that Paul sees the two united.

908
00:42:35,582 --> 00:42:39,284
It's like a picture.

909
00:42:39,284 --> 00:42:41,872
I imagine Christ.

910
00:42:41,872 --> 00:42:43,604
Imagine this.

911
00:42:43,604 --> 00:42:51,705
A man in a deep dark well.

912
00:42:51,705 --> 00:42:56,184
And there's a strong man 
at the top of that well.

913
00:42:56,184 --> 00:42:59,236
And he's pulling the rope up.

914
00:42:59,236 --> 00:43:02,875
This man who's down in this well

915
00:43:02,875 --> 00:43:07,534
is being pulled up out of the darkness.

916
00:43:07,534 --> 00:43:13,490
And you pull him up and you set him down.

917
00:43:13,490 --> 00:43:15,534
And this man you come to find out

918
00:43:15,534 --> 00:43:20,117
had two children in his arms.

919
00:43:20,117 --> 00:43:23,139
You see, if you start talking about

920
00:43:23,139 --> 00:43:26,385
the work, the force, the power

921
00:43:26,385 --> 00:43:30,273
that pulled that man out of the well,

922
00:43:30,273 --> 00:43:33,695
you don't separate it from the force

923
00:43:33,695 --> 00:43:39,376
that pulled those two children out.

924
00:43:39,376 --> 00:43:46,030
Brethren, I envision it like this.

925
00:43:46,030 --> 00:43:50,204
Christ and all of His people,

926
00:43:50,204 --> 00:43:53,935
and there is a chain from Him

927
00:43:53,935 --> 00:43:57,174
to every one of us.

928
00:43:57,174 --> 00:44:01,659
And when He's pulled up out of there,

929
00:44:01,659 --> 00:44:06,196
that chain - it's the chain of His love;

930
00:44:06,196 --> 00:44:07,905
it's the chain of His grace -

931
00:44:07,905 --> 00:44:11,557
it's the lifeline of salvation.

932
00:44:11,557 --> 00:44:14,418
And when He's pulled up out of there,

933
00:44:14,418 --> 00:44:17,096
pulling a man up out 
of that deep darkness,

934
00:44:17,096 --> 00:44:19,689
that deep dark pit of death.

935
00:44:19,689 --> 00:44:22,198
We're chained to Him.
We're one with Him.

936
00:44:22,198 --> 00:44:23,804
And up we come.

937
00:44:23,804 --> 00:44:27,300
Now the chain may lay there coiled up.

938
00:44:27,300 --> 00:44:29,540
He comes out.

939
00:44:29,540 --> 00:44:31,204
For some of us, the chain's longer.

940
00:44:31,204 --> 00:44:32,263
For some, shorter.

941
00:44:32,263 --> 00:44:35,038
What I mean by that is He's coming up,

942
00:44:35,038 --> 00:44:38,115
that thing is unraveling,

943
00:44:38,115 --> 00:44:40,332
and before it actually becomes taut,

944
00:44:40,332 --> 00:44:41,853
it pulls us up too.

945
00:44:41,853 --> 00:44:43,150
For some, it's longer.

946
00:44:43,150 --> 00:44:46,240
For some, sooner than others.

947
00:44:46,240 --> 00:44:47,789
Different times in history.

948
00:44:47,789 --> 00:44:50,012
Different times in your life.

949
00:44:50,012 --> 00:44:53,996
When that chain goes taut, up you go too.

950
00:44:53,996 --> 00:44:56,719
But we're connected.

951
00:44:56,719 --> 00:45:00,161
As God draws Him up,

952
00:45:00,161 --> 00:45:03,008
that power that is unleashed

953
00:45:03,008 --> 00:45:04,565
is the same power -

954
00:45:04,565 --> 00:45:08,870
the power of resurrection.

955
00:45:08,870 --> 00:45:11,252
However you want to join those together;

956
00:45:11,252 --> 00:45:15,529
however you want to put 
these together, brethren,

957
00:45:15,529 --> 00:45:17,097
we're connected with Him.

958
00:45:17,097 --> 00:45:18,390
We're one with Him.

959
00:45:18,390 --> 00:45:20,400
Paul won't let us get away from that.

960
00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:25,997
This power so absolutely guarantees

961
00:45:25,997 --> 00:45:28,300
these realities in our lives.

962
00:45:28,300 --> 00:45:29,828
Brethren, these obstacles

963
00:45:29,828 --> 00:45:31,251
are moved out of the way.

964
00:45:31,251 --> 00:45:32,476
Every bit of gravity,

965
00:45:32,476 --> 00:45:33,801
every bit of resistance,

966
00:45:33,801 --> 00:45:36,554
every bit of difficulty 
that stood in our way,

967
00:45:36,554 --> 00:45:38,859
and the obstacles and the enemies

968
00:45:38,859 --> 00:45:40,954
were great - they were insurmountable.

969
00:45:40,954 --> 00:45:47,073
They were absolutely 
impossible enemies to us.

970
00:45:47,073 --> 00:45:49,461
Totally daunting.

971
00:45:49,461 --> 00:45:50,924
Totally overwhelming.

972
00:45:50,924 --> 00:45:53,549
Totally.

973
00:45:53,549 --> 00:45:57,378
And this power...

974
00:45:57,378 --> 00:45:59,564
And there's a certainty in all of this.

975
00:45:59,564 --> 00:46:03,950
Brethren, there's a certainty.

976
00:46:03,950 --> 00:46:07,468
When he gets to chapter 3

977
00:46:07,468 --> 00:46:10,960
and he talks about even our ability

978
00:46:10,960 --> 00:46:15,151
to think - you can turn there.

979
00:46:15,151 --> 00:46:17,026
Let's just end with this.

980
00:46:17,026 --> 00:46:28,899
I want you to see this in Ephesians 3:20.

981
00:46:28,899 --> 00:46:31,169
It's like here you have the same:

982
00:46:31,169 --> 00:46:33,792
"according to."

983
00:46:33,792 --> 00:46:36,296
"Now to Him who is able

984
00:46:36,296 --> 00:46:38,860
to do far more abundantly than all

985
00:46:38,860 --> 00:46:42,482
we ask or think, according to..."

986
00:46:42,482 --> 00:46:44,974
Very same preposition.

987
00:46:44,974 --> 00:46:48,275
Really the same thing is going on here.

988
00:46:48,275 --> 00:46:53,884
God's ability "is according to the power

989
00:46:53,884 --> 00:46:55,804
at work within us."

990
00:46:55,804 --> 00:46:58,469
Do you know what's interesting here?

991
00:46:58,469 --> 00:47:03,046
In 1:19-20, Christ's resurrection

992
00:47:03,046 --> 00:47:06,927
seems to be the standard.

993
00:47:06,927 --> 00:47:10,065
Here, the power at work within us

994
00:47:10,065 --> 00:47:12,760
seems to be the standard.

995
00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:15,880
It's like Paul has established

996
00:47:15,880 --> 00:47:18,721
the greatness of this power toward us

997
00:47:18,721 --> 00:47:21,560
and compared it to the resurrection;

998
00:47:21,560 --> 00:47:25,264
united us with this resurrection power -

999
00:47:25,264 --> 00:47:28,276
not just resurrection,

1000
00:47:28,276 --> 00:47:31,880
but to place Him on the throne.

1001
00:47:31,880 --> 00:47:33,841
You may remember last week.

1002
00:47:33,841 --> 00:47:35,503
Craig said something about us

1003
00:47:35,503 --> 00:47:39,644
being seated with Christ 
in the heavenly places.

1004
00:47:39,644 --> 00:47:40,758
But I'll tell you,

1005
00:47:40,758 --> 00:47:43,195
those chains are so real

1006
00:47:43,195 --> 00:47:46,235
that Him being pulled up there -

1007
00:47:46,235 --> 00:47:49,463
not just out of the well -

1008
00:47:49,463 --> 00:47:52,572
but all the way up

1009
00:47:52,572 --> 00:47:55,843
and set on the mountain top.

1010
00:47:55,843 --> 00:48:00,265
Those chains hold tight.

1011
00:48:00,265 --> 00:48:01,914
And many of us,

1012
00:48:01,914 --> 00:48:04,062
the chains have pulled 
us up out of the well,

1013
00:48:04,062 --> 00:48:05,443
but not to the mointaintop,

1014
00:48:05,443 --> 00:48:06,944
at least, not in reality.

1015
00:48:06,944 --> 00:48:12,517
Not in our position as 
far as where we're at.

1016
00:48:12,517 --> 00:48:16,438
There may be a sense that 
there's a veil right here.

1017
00:48:16,438 --> 00:48:18,907
We may be on the throne already

1018
00:48:18,907 --> 00:48:21,413
even in a real sense.

1019
00:48:21,413 --> 00:48:25,272
Because if we could pull back the veil -

1020
00:48:25,272 --> 00:48:27,054
think of times in Scripture

1021
00:48:27,054 --> 00:48:31,985
when the veil was pulled back -

1022
00:48:31,985 --> 00:48:34,414
Christ is right there.

1023
00:48:34,414 --> 00:48:36,083
Stephen - you just pull it back,

1024
00:48:36,083 --> 00:48:39,071
there He is. He's right there.

1025
00:48:39,071 --> 00:48:40,935
Probably right here all around us.

1026
00:48:40,935 --> 00:48:44,790
We are in the midst.

1027
00:48:44,790 --> 00:48:47,363
But there is such a connection

1028
00:48:47,363 --> 00:48:50,012
that we are presently seated

1029
00:48:50,012 --> 00:48:54,739
with Christ in the heavenly places.

1030
00:48:54,739 --> 00:48:58,238
The power at work in us,

1031
00:48:58,238 --> 00:49:01,072
when you get to 3:20,

1032
00:49:01,072 --> 00:49:03,247
becomes the standard by which

1033
00:49:03,247 --> 00:49:10,380
God's ability is measured.

1034
00:49:10,380 --> 00:49:14,844
Brethren, there are such things,

1035
00:49:14,844 --> 00:49:16,626
there are such demonstrations

1036
00:49:16,626 --> 00:49:19,059
of the power of God, as we said last time,

1037
00:49:19,059 --> 00:49:20,941
we don't feel this.

1038
00:49:20,941 --> 00:49:23,349
And we have to be reminded of its reality.

1039
00:49:23,349 --> 00:49:24,816
And I'll remind you again,

1040
00:49:24,816 --> 00:49:26,732
Paul is not praying for them

1041
00:49:26,732 --> 00:49:29,117
that they would come 
to recognize their need

1042
00:49:29,117 --> 00:49:30,831
of more power and ask for it.

1043
00:49:30,831 --> 00:49:34,499
Now, look, it's not wrong 
to recognize your need.

1044
00:49:34,499 --> 00:49:36,797
Paul's going to get there in chapter 3.

1045
00:49:36,797 --> 00:49:38,326
He's going to talk that way

1046
00:49:38,326 --> 00:49:41,082
about them receiving more power.

1047
00:49:41,082 --> 00:49:42,928
He is. That's not a wrong thing.

1048
00:49:42,928 --> 00:49:44,728
But right here, he is talking about

1049
00:49:44,728 --> 00:49:49,558
recognizing what is going on inside them.

1050
00:49:49,558 --> 00:49:52,701
Oh, brethren,

1051
00:49:52,701 --> 00:49:55,820
you take individuals like us,

1052
00:49:55,820 --> 00:49:58,862
and you throw them out into this darkness,

1053
00:49:58,862 --> 00:50:00,794
and you know what happens?

1054
00:50:00,794 --> 00:50:06,428
You shine and you're lights of the world.

1055
00:50:06,428 --> 00:50:12,291
You have a God-given ability

1056
00:50:12,291 --> 00:50:15,328
to resist the decay of the decadence.

1057
00:50:15,328 --> 00:50:17,963
You become the salt of the earth.

1058
00:50:17,963 --> 00:50:20,320
You're out there.

1059
00:50:20,320 --> 00:50:23,568
You are the lights of the world.

1060
00:50:23,568 --> 00:50:25,316
We can so often feel so defeated,

1061
00:50:25,316 --> 00:50:27,282
and Satan always is whispering in our ear

1062
00:50:27,282 --> 00:50:29,119
and telling us how worthless we are

1063
00:50:29,119 --> 00:50:31,838
and how we can't do this
and we can't accomplish that,

1064
00:50:31,838 --> 00:50:34,562
and we can't - no we 
can't in our own power.

1065
00:50:34,562 --> 00:50:37,515
But brethren, we are not 
a product of our own power.

1066
00:50:37,515 --> 00:50:39,676
We are not a product of our willpower.

1067
00:50:39,676 --> 00:50:40,860
If that's what you are,

1068
00:50:40,860 --> 00:50:42,327
yes, you're dead in the water,

1069
00:50:42,327 --> 00:50:43,875
but we as true Christians

1070
00:50:43,875 --> 00:50:46,375
are not dead in the water.

1071
00:50:46,375 --> 00:50:48,208
There is a power at work within us.

1072
00:50:48,208 --> 00:50:50,274
There is a power of victory,

1073
00:50:50,274 --> 00:50:51,748
a power of overcoming.

1074
00:50:51,748 --> 00:50:53,543
And we will overcome.

1075
00:50:53,543 --> 00:50:54,918
And we must overcome

1076
00:50:54,918 --> 00:50:58,210
because this power will 
always create overcomers.

1077
00:50:58,210 --> 00:51:03,178
Brethren, do you recognize 
this reality about yourself?

1078
00:51:03,178 --> 00:51:05,182
And you can look at the cross

1079
00:51:05,182 --> 00:51:07,237
and you can look at Christ seated there

1080
00:51:07,237 --> 00:51:09,410
and you can look at Him ruling

1081
00:51:09,410 --> 00:51:11,912
and reigning and above every power,

1082
00:51:11,912 --> 00:51:13,355
every rule, every authority,

1083
00:51:13,355 --> 00:51:15,190
every power, every dominion.

1084
00:51:15,190 --> 00:51:17,673
And not only in this age, 
but in the age to come.

1085
00:51:17,673 --> 00:51:19,097
And He says to us,

1086
00:51:19,097 --> 00:51:23,759
"You will sit with Me on My throne."

1087
00:51:23,759 --> 00:51:25,323
That's what He says!

1088
00:51:25,323 --> 00:51:27,418
This is not just coming 
from death to life.

1089
00:51:27,418 --> 00:51:29,264
This is the ultimate victory.

1090
00:51:29,264 --> 00:51:30,636
This is the ultimate.

1091
00:51:30,636 --> 00:51:35,997
There's no back little hut

1092
00:51:35,997 --> 00:51:38,404
in the alley somewhere

1093
00:51:38,404 --> 00:51:40,210
where some of the least of His people

1094
00:51:40,210 --> 00:51:41,948
are going to find themselves.

1095
00:51:41,948 --> 00:51:43,983
It's on the throne.

1096
00:51:43,983 --> 00:51:45,622
Every one of us.

1097
00:51:45,622 --> 00:51:46,712
Every one of us -

1098
00:51:46,712 --> 00:51:48,507
even the least of His children

1099
00:51:48,507 --> 00:51:52,077
have this kind of resurrection power,

1100
00:51:52,077 --> 00:51:53,828
and when in doubt,

1101
00:51:53,828 --> 00:51:55,706
obviously, Paul's saying:

1102
00:51:55,706 --> 00:51:57,828
Look at Christ!

1103
00:51:57,828 --> 00:51:59,527
There's your confidence!

1104
00:51:59,527 --> 00:52:01,186
Look at His resurrection!

1105
00:52:01,186 --> 00:52:02,753
Look at His ascension!

1106
00:52:02,753 --> 00:52:04,392
Look at the power!

1107
00:52:04,392 --> 00:52:05,721
You are one with that.

1108
00:52:05,721 --> 00:52:07,549
You are connected to that.

1109
00:52:07,549 --> 00:52:09,074
That is the standard,

1110
00:52:09,074 --> 00:52:10,694
but you're one with Him.

1111
00:52:10,694 --> 00:52:14,843
When He's torn up out 
of the jaws of death,

1112
00:52:14,843 --> 00:52:16,786
you come with Him.

1113
00:52:16,786 --> 00:52:18,470
When He's set upon that throne,

1114
00:52:18,470 --> 00:52:20,084
you go with Him.

1115
00:52:20,084 --> 00:52:21,388
He is one with us.

1116
00:52:21,388 --> 00:52:23,594
He is the Head. We are the body.

1117
00:52:23,594 --> 00:52:25,073
You would never talk about

1118
00:52:25,073 --> 00:52:26,689
bringing a man up out of the well

1119
00:52:26,689 --> 00:52:28,959
and distinguish between 
the head and the body,

1120
00:52:28,959 --> 00:52:30,972
and the power that raised the head

1121
00:52:30,972 --> 00:52:32,674
and the power that raised the body.

1122
00:52:32,674 --> 00:52:33,751
It's ridiculous.

1123
00:52:33,751 --> 00:52:34,812
They're one.

1124
00:52:34,812 --> 00:52:36,869
Paul wants us to see this as one.

1125
00:52:36,869 --> 00:52:39,598
You are the fullness of Him

1126
00:52:39,598 --> 00:52:41,426
who fills all in all.

1127
00:52:41,426 --> 00:52:44,025
Brethren, it's just a wake up call

1128
00:52:44,025 --> 00:52:45,803
for us to have eyes to recognize

1129
00:52:45,803 --> 00:52:48,936
what in the world is going on in us.

1130
00:52:48,936 --> 00:52:52,560
This is not willpower religion.

1131
00:52:52,560 --> 00:52:54,769
This is not dead religion.

1132
00:52:54,769 --> 00:53:00,124
This is biblical Christianity.

1133
00:53:00,124 --> 00:53:01,636
Father, we pray,

1134
00:53:01,636 --> 00:53:04,629
oh, the power of resurrection.

1135
00:53:04,629 --> 00:53:06,099
I pray it would be a reality

1136
00:53:06,099 --> 00:53:08,443
in the lives of my brothers and sisters,

1137
00:53:08,443 --> 00:53:10,240
that there would be a recognition

1138
00:53:10,240 --> 00:53:12,000
and a perception and a revelation,

1139
00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:13,876
and that we would have Your Spirit

1140
00:53:13,876 --> 00:53:16,531
open our eyes;

1141
00:53:16,531 --> 00:53:18,871
tear those scales away.

1142
00:53:18,871 --> 00:53:20,590
Lord, help us to see things

1143
00:53:20,590 --> 00:53:22,636
as we ought to see them.

1144
00:53:22,636 --> 00:53:24,568
I pray in Christ's name. Amen.