OH WHAT POWER!

READING: Eph 3:13-21 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened
with might by his Spirit in the inner man …

John 1:11-13 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

I. TO THEM WHO RECEIVED HIM, HE GAVE POWER TO BECOME SONS OF GOD.

A. Christ has the power to do that and more.
1. Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

B. Christ is the only one who has that power.

1. Acts 4:1-13
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon
them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the
high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you
whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant
men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

C. God declared Jesus Christ to be the Son of God with power, by raising Him from the dead.
1. Rom 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ
our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of
God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom
we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to
be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

D. This power of Jesus Christ remains in His word.

1. Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
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 2. Rom 16:25-27 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the
preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the
world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the
commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God
only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

3. 1 Cor 1:18-24 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which
are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring
to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the
disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the
wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which
are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

E. Being obedient – and gaining the right perspective – we share in the power of His resurrection.
1. Phil 3:7-11 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in
him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any
means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

F. In our obedience (in Him), we have access to His power in order to accomplish His will.
1. Eph 3:13-21 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For
this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him
be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

a. Filled with the word = filled with Christ = filled with power.

2. Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put
on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking
the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints;
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 G. As the children of God and joint-heirs with Christ, we are now led by the Spirit of God.
1. Rom 8:12-19 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye
live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall
live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby
we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of
God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of
the creature [creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature [creation]
was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Because the creature [creation] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of God.

H. As God’s children [Christians], we uphold the family name.

1. Phil 2:14-16 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God , without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among
whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of
Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

2. 1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are
we the sons of God , and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

II. TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME.

A. Whosoever will.
1. John 3:14-18 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son
of God.

B. Whosoever will hear.

1. Rom 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have
not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

C. Whosoever will believe.

1. Acts 10:42-43 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was
ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through
his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

D. Whosoever will hear, believe, repent, confess Christ as the Son of God, and be baptized.
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1. Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
 2. Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and
many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

3. Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and
to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

4. Acts 8:35-38 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him
Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is
water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he
commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him.

5. Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling
on the name of the Lord.

III. WHICH WERE BORN OF GOD.

A. Those born of God leave behind the habits of sin, and are righteous and loving.
1. 1 John 3:7-11 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even
as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever
is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he
is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever
doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the
message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

2. 1 John 5:18-20 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of
God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and
the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus
Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

3. 1 John 4:7-15 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is
born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that
we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No
man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in
us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we
have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall
confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

4. 1 John 5:1-5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that
loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the
children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that
we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of
God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who
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is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?