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lesson 3 THE BODY – STRENGTHENED BY GOD’S POWER I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS 1. Eph 1:1-3 - As faithful saints, God has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ. 2. Eph 1:19 - These blessings include His impossibly great power toward believers. 3. Eph 1:20-21 - That power is like the very power that raised Christ from the dead. 4. Eph 3:16-17 - God strengthens us inwardly through His Holy Spirit. 5. Eph 3:20 - His power is so great that it is beyond what we can imagine or think. 6. Eph 6:10-12 - In the power and armor of the Lord, we can even take our stand against the devil and the spiritual forces of darkness. II. MAIN THEME: The more we understand the awesome power of God, the more we will believe in His ability and desire to do good for all; therefore the more the power of God will work in our lives – as individuals and as a church. Most importantly in this – God will then be glorified! 1. The awesome power of God is seen in Jesus: a. who brought healing and peace to those who couldn’t be helped by people (Lk 8:43-48); b. who brought new, but temporary, life to the dead (Lk 8:49-55); c. who brought victory over spiritual forces of darkness (Lk 8:26-35); d. who brought freedom to those under bondage and oppression of all kinds (Lk 4:18); e. who brought light and truth into darkness and deceit (Jn 8:31-34, Mt 5-7); f. who ultimately conquered the power of sin and death, proving He can do it for you! (Mt 2818-20). 2. The awesome power of God is accessible to any and all who believe in God. a. In an environment of unbelief, even Jesus’ power was hindered (Mk 6:4-6). b. This faith does not have to be perfect, but sincere, asking God to work as He wants (Mk 9:20-24). c. This faith recognizes God can do anything without being physically “there” (Lk 7:1-10). d. Faith recognizes it is not what we can or cannot do, but what God wants to do and has promised to do (Rom 4:18-21). e. Faith allows the power of God to work for good (Eph 6:10-12, Js 2:18). f. Living faith is not hindered by physical, emotional or even spiritual weakness; it pursues God, as God has already pursued us (Mk 2:3-12, all of chapter 5). 3. In the end, the unleashed power of God will bring Him glory, honor and praise (Mk 2:12, 3:5-6, 4:41, 5:18-20, 32-34, 36). III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS · Fix your eyes on the men and women of faith, past and present (Heb 12:1). · Don’t put your confidence in yourself, others, or your faith, but trust the object of our faith, Jesus Christ. · Faith is confidence in who God is and what He wants and can do (Rom 4:18-21). · Write to and pray for your brethren to know and access the awesome power of God (Eph 1:16-19, 3:16). · Believe God can empower you in the inner man and you can live the life of Eph 4-6; a life that stands firm against evil, shines brightly, and ultimately brings glory to God (Eph 1-6). IV. MEMORY VERSES - Eph 1:18-19. |