Week 14

Ephesians 1:18-23; 2:1-7 

Paul prayed a special prayer for believers and these are some of my favorite verses. But this time I focused on the words “power” and “raised”; I realized the word power is not dunamis as I assumed. Dunamis is like dynamite power, but this word means force. So this mighty force that raised Christ from the dead, also raises us and then is strong enough to overcome death, sin and gravity (the grave) to seat us with Jesus in heavenly places. What is powerful enough to awaken me from the death that sin brings? Chapter 2 tells me God’s Love is the power that makes me alive. And in that resurrection comes an ascension into the heavenly realm. Just as Jesus is risen, I am risen; just as Jesus is seated, I am seated. Knowing that should give me a different perspective of the earthly and the power to live a spiritual life.
   I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably GREAT POWER for us who believe. That POWER is the SAME as the MIGHTY STRENGTH he exerted when HE RAISED CHRIST 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 name that is invoked, 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, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

NIV VERSION

  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably GREAT POWER for us who believe. That POWER is the SAME as the MIGHTY STRENGTH he exerted when HE RAISED CHRIST 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 name that is invoked, 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, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

  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. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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—it is by grace you have been saved. And GOD RAISED US UP WITH CHRIST and SEATED US with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.