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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (26-11-1995 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Additional bible reading: 1 Peter 1
This prayer was occasioned by the fact that Paul had
heard two things about the Christians at Ephesus – their personal faith in the
Lord Jesus, and their love for all the saints. They were already Christians, and
the real evidence of their faith was in their love for all God’s people.
Conversion is not the end for a Christian, but only the beginning of the road.
Whole lifetime ahead of walking with God, battles to be fought, growth in grace,
difficulties to be faced, joys to be known. Hence, remembering their needs, Paul
prays for them.
He does not pray for second
blessings, but that they might realize to the full all the blessings already
received, that what is already there might be strengthened, and that they might
understand what they already know. So he prays that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the glorious Father, might keep on doing something in their lives, may
give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better (Ephesians
1:17). That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened to know three
things. Not praying that they should know so many facts about God, just theology
for the sake of it, to fill their intellects with so many ideas. But that in the
depth of their personality, in the core of their very being, they will have a
knowledge of God that will affect mind, will and affections. That they will be
clearer about His will for their lives, and all His resources. Tremendous
possibilities ahead for these people. Paul had himself scaled spiritual heights
and he wanted them to glimpse glorious views he had from mountain tops and new
heights which kept appearing.
Not saying that these are
special or unusual people. Actually very ordinary – slaves, illiterates, dregs
of society in most cases. But Paul had the highest ambitions for them. Enormous
spiritual possibilities before them.
We naturally tend to be
man-centred, to agree with philosophy which says “Know thyself”. But the
Bible teaches “Know God”. Great need of man is to know God, always and at
all times. Not just theoretical and intellectual knowledge, but intimate
knowledge. Fellowship with God, communion, personal knowledge. God should be
real to us. Sense of nearness and presence. Meeting with Him. Thirsting and
longing for God as the Psalmist did (C.f. Psalm 42 and 63). Such a knowledge is
open to all, no matter what the intellect or upbringing. It is a matter of
desire (Matthew 5:6).
Such knowledge is possible
through the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Truth and teacher of God’s people. When we become as little children, and acknowledge
how weak and helpless we are, the Holy Spirit discloses through the Word of God
to us. Truth grips and holds us, and works in us.
In particular Paul prays that their eyes of understanding, or heart, might be enlightened about three things – God’s calling us, the inheritance for us, and God’s power in us. As we look at these three, remember that Paul is talking about Christians. We always need this enlightening work while we are in this life. The Holy Spirit working through the Word. This work needs to grow with the years as we get more mature. Something to be sought daily as we open our Bibles.
Fact of God calling us is very
important. Two kinds to calls, according to our forefathers. (1) General calls,
made to all mankind, and (2) personal calls, made to each one personally. God
called us, and keeps on calling us. We call on Him in response to His call to
us. We are called to belong to Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6); called to be
saints, separated unto Him (Romans 1:7); called to holiness of life
(1 Peter 1:15); called to enjoy Christ’s peace in the heart (Colossians 3:15);
called to freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1); called to patient endurance of
suffering and persecution (1 Peter 2:20-21). And behind the suffering lies the
glory, for he calls you into his kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians
2:12).
All these things were in God’s
mind when He called us to Christ at the beginning. More simply, it is a call to
an altogether new life. Life of fellowship with the Lord – knowing, loving and
obedient life in fellowship with His people. And life of glory in His nearer
presence to be enjoyed one day.
This call, and also all God’s
dealings with us, are the basis of our hope, i.e. assurance about future. Hope
as a certainty, not “hope” as in a child hoping to get something for
Christmas. Remember that at that time you were… without hope (Ephesians
2:12). Now can be full of hope and certainty. When the devil tries to shake us
and unnerve us, God’s hand on our lives and His call to our hearts is
something we can hold on to. If God is for us, who can be against is (Romans
8:32). No one can pluck us out of His hand. Cannot be in and out of Christ at
the same time. Cannot be in Christ one day, and out the next. In Christ, to all
eternity – just as others are out of Christ to all eternity. Here is an anchor
for our souls.
“His
oath, his covenant and blood,
Support
me in the whelming flood.
When
all around my soul gives way,
He
then is all my hope and stay”.
If God’s call is the beginning of the Christian life,
the inheritance is the end of the Christian life. An glorious inheritance is
waiting, of which the Holy Spirit is a present guarantee. All that we are one
day going to enjoy has not been revealed, because it is beyond our capacity to
grasp. But it is incorruptible, can never decay or perish, undefiled, unspoilt,
cannot fade away, permanent and dependable, and reserved in heaven for us (1
Peter 1:4). What a contrast from this world.
Ever wonder what has happened to
Ephesus? It once had one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Diana.
Now in total ruins, an archaeologist’s paradise, all wealth and splendour is
gone. How typical of the fading world. But the Christian who once lived there
are in God’s presence, and one day to have the enjoyment of glorious eternal
inheritance.
Ought constantly to think of
future and its glory. Not fashionable to do so. “Pie in the sky when you
die”. The emphasis, even from some pulpits, is in this life. Heaven and glory
are not popular subjects. Must be “down to earth”. But great benefactors of
the world are those who were concerned with eternal issues and the unseen world.
Hebrews 11 is a gallery of some of the greatest men, but their eyes were fixed
on the next world, and not on this. True also in Church history.
And what is it we have to look
forward to? We are going to see God and His Christ. Transformed as a result.
Being like Christ in body and character. Perfect fellowship among people of God.
Sorrow, pain, tears, decay all over for good. No more separation. These are
things we ought to keep our eyes on. Our affection should be on these things. Set
your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things above, and not on earthly things (Colossians
3:1-2). There is nothing greater than the glory yet to be revealed. Think about
it, read about it, talk about these things. An inheritance prepared for us. This
is where we will spend eternity. Wonderful things are prepared for those who
love Him. Crowning day is coming. Let us live lives in light of these things.
And let us thank God for the way our attitude to the last enemy of death is
transformed. Death means going to be with Christ – which is far better
(Philippians 1:23), because it is entry into the eternal world.
Brownlow North said, “I used to have great terror of death, but that has quite gone. I have no fear of it now. I am resting on Christ. I have perfect peace.” And D.L.Moody, facing death, said, “If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me and I must go. This is my triumph. This is my coronation day. I have been looking forward to it for years.”
So far considered God’s call, the beginning of the
Christian life, and the inheritance, the end of the Christian life. Now God’s
power – the link between beginning and end. Are we going to make it? It can
seem like we are sailing a little barge on the great ocean of life. Will we make
it safely to the other side? How easy to be filled with doubt and despair. We
are so prone to sin, so wayward and unreliable, we cannot trust ourselves. The
world, with its fascinations and attractions can be so alluring. There are our
various responsibilities in life we have to fulfil. The power of the devil can
be stronger and more cunning than we are. Problems and difficulties are bound to
arise. And above all, death itself.
Paul’s answer? He longed that their eyes would be opened to the exceeding and incomparably great power, according to the working of His mighty strength. Paul has ransacked the dictionary to emphasise the power of God. Power dunamis – dynamite.
Working energeia - energy. Might kratos
– often used about God in doxologies. Strength isxuos
– inherent power.
These words are very similar, but Paul has piled them up
to underline the fullness and certainty of divine power, which is available for
His people, and only for His people. To make his case even stronger, he talks
about the power which raised Jesus from the dead, and in doing so defeated our
greatest enemy, death. Death has a dreadful power. Overcomes all men No man can
escape it. Men tremble before death. But by raising His Son from the dead, God
has given a public demonstration that even the greatest enemy has been overcome
– such is the power of God.
And the same power is there for us. Can I be sure? I can
because I have already experienced it. If I am a real Christian, not just a
member of a church or someone trying to be good or someone who has made a
decision – but someone remade by God, then I have already tasted His power. The
Gospel is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). He has quickened us,
made us alive (Ephesians 2:5). We are God’s workmanship (Ephesians
2:10), a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) in Christ Jesus. If those
things are true of us, then God’s power is already at work in our lives. Only
God can make a Christian. We can do nothing unless God has first done something
in us.
God is still at work in our lives, and will continue to work and will bring us safely to glory. No might or influence can withstand Him. Responsibility is ours to lay hold of this power, to seek it with our whole being and to accept it. Pray He will manifest Himself to us, that we may live courageously and triumphantly.
Eyes to be opened that we may know the hope and assurance His calling brings. To glimpse and think on the glorious inheritance one day to enjoy. And the greatness of His power already at work, and will continue, to bring us to glory. These are the things we are to dwell on, to set our minds to. This is what is mine. This is what is prepared for me. This is where I will spend eternity. I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
