"... he may strengthen you with power ..."

Reading Ephesians 3:14-21

The question of the nature and use of power is an intriguing one. This is an important issue in the church and in the world. In the world much of political practice and theory is about distribution of power. Marxism, Communism, Democracy, and other political experiments explore the locus of power and wealth amongst people and how these resources are shared. We are constantly exposed to issues involving the powerless, abuse of power, distribution of power, military power, economic power, as well as philosophies of personal empowerment.

What is the role of power in the Christian life? What can we expect from the working of God's power in the individual, in the church, and in society? In this prayer, in particular, what is the anticipated result of being strengthened with power?

There are three specific passages in this letter that refer to the power of God as it is made available to people. The first reference also occurs in the context of a prayer:

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know ... his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church..." (Ephesians 1:18-22).

A couple of observations on this passage:

1. God is drawing an analogy between the power that he exercised in us and the power that he exercised in the resurrection, ascension, and reign of Jesus. The power exerted is comparable. This is an astounding statement especially in light of the detail with which he elaborates on the working of his power in Christ.

2. The comparison is so unexpected that it requires an act of grace to open our eyes to see it ("that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know").

Now, what is it that God has accomplished in us that required so much power and that is analogous to the resurrection of Jesus?

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient ... But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions ... and God raised us with Christ and seated us with him..." (Eph. 2: 1-2,5-6)

In short:
"You were dead ... but ... God ... made us alive."

As a Christian you are a person in whose being a truly mighty power has been at work. You were captive to another power ("the ruler of the kingdom of the air") to such an extent that you were dead and gone. How is it that you are now alive in Christ? "It is by grace you have been saved" (2:8). You were liberated from a powerful oppressor (merry Christmas!) and now live in freedom in Jesus. This is Christian power.

In the prayer in Ephesians 3 we have the same story in other words. The aim of the exercise of God's power is "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." This requires another kind of death and resurrection:

"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

It takes the working of a mighty power to put an end to the whole of the old context in which I lived apart from Christ and to bring about the living out of the life of Christ in the context of my life in him.

Only after understanding all these things about the working of God's power in us are we ready for the admonition of Ephesians 6:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms ... " (Eph. 6:10ff).

God's resurrection power has not only brought us out of conflict but has brought us into conflict. We now live in a context where we are compelled to dress in battle gear every day, one power standing against another. The battle is intensely personal in that it is not good against evil but the living personal God against a rebellious personality of his own creation (Satan, the fallen angel). It is a personal battle that has Christian soldiers standing against rulers, authorities, and evil beings who comprise companies of spiritual forces. The outcome has never been in question but the process is one designed to test loyalties and to prove historically the all powerful authority and limitless glory of our God.