EPH 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

>>As we look at our text in its context the Apostle Paul speaks to the church of the Ephesians about the work of grace.

EPH 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

>>We must marvel to see the spirit of charity in the Apostle Paul as we see in the next verses.

EPH 1:15-16 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

>>The Apostle's prayer which was prompted by the evidence of their faith in exercise, i.e., their "...love unto all the saints," was for wisdom to discern the hope of their calling.

EPH 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

FOR OUR FIRST POINT let's consider the exceeding greatness of the power spoken of in our text.

>>This prayer was for wisdom to understand what he prayed for in the words of our text.

EPH 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

>>By nature we will never see "...the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward...according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,"

>>Until we learn to see that the quickening of our souls from our dead state in trespasses and sins requires that same resurrecting power.

>>As the Apostle concludes explaining the magnitude of Christ's glory as God "...set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places," in verses 21-23, EPH 1:21-23 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

>>Then in chapter 2:1 the Apostle explains "...the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward,"

EPH 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

>>No man with all the modern technology has ever yet been able to create even a fly, or any living thing. It takes the same "...exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward," to bring us out of this spiritual death as it took to bring Christ out of the grave.

>>This quickening is a new creation as we see in EPH 4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

>>This new creation required much more than the first creation! The first creation was affected by the simple power of His Word.

PSA 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

>>This new creation must be affected by a resurrection because it must be preceded by the propitiation of our sins.

COL 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

>>In the regeneration, i.e., the new creation of a soul there must be a crucifixion as well as a resurrection.

ROM 6:5-6 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

>>The work of grace in the soul is a transformation from death unto life.

ROM 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

FOR OUR SECOND POINT let's consider the resemblance, which our text points out.

>>The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, [in the work of regeneration is compared to]...the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,"

>>The power by which a dead sinner who's mind is carnal by nature ,i.e., "...enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be," ROM 8:7,

>>To become, "...transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God," ROM 12:2.

>>Must be the same power spoken of in our text EPH 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

>>What an eternal wonder that the Creator of Heaven and Earth would condescend to exercise that same power which He used to bring the dead body of Jesus Christ His Eternal Son out of the grave and bring Him to such pre-eminence of honour at His own right hand to raise up such hell worthy sinners to such honour.

EPH 2:5-7 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

>>By nature we are dead spiritually. We serve the prince of this world even like all those who are still in their sins.

EPH 2:2-3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

>>When the Divine Word is spoken from heaven, there is as much a Divine mandate for our resurrection as there was for that of Jesus Christ.

EPH 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

>>When the Word is spoken with Divine power into the soul that resurrection power is irresistible!

>>All the soldiers, high priests, and Pharisees could not keep the body of Jesus in the tomb:

>>Neither can all the power of Satan, hell, sin, corruption, or all the sinners on earth hold the soul in their service when God's Grace enters the soul.

LUK 11:21-22 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

>>"...the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe," is an everlasting power.

ROM 6:8-11 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

>>For those who have received the knowledge of the truth and return again to their old sin we have the awful illustration given in 2PE 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

>>Those who have taken part in the resurrection of Christ are described in ROM 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

FOR OUR THIRD POINT lets consider the blessed evidence we have of having part in that resurrection.

EPH 1:15-16 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

>>This love "...unto all the saints," which is the fruit of faith has its fountain in the love of God the Father for the whole redeemed family.

1JO 4:10-11 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

>>The bonds, which bind the redeemed family together, are very many, and very strong.

>>These bonds spring from being members of one single body.

ROM 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

>>These bonds spring from the common ground we have in our redemption by the same precious blood.

1CO 11:25-26 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

>>These saints have the same friends, the same enemies, the same living hopes, the same trials of faith, and they look for the same redemption by the same Shepherd and Bishop of their soul.

>>These saints have learned to realize that non of them are perfect in this life, but they understand what God's Word says in 1PE 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

>>The love of the saints for each other grows from a sense of unworthiness, which they have learned from a little self-knowledge.

MAT 6:12-15 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

>>The chiefest joy the saints have in each other in is when they can enjoy times of fellowship in their Lord.

PSA 66:16-19 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.