Great Power, Great Consolation

Paul's prayer for illumination for the Ephesians contains a very surprising and thrilling request as he prayed that the Ephesians would come to know God's great power at work in them. Five different words are used to unpack the dimensions of God's power operative in believers, while in verse 20 a case from history, Christ's resurrection and heavenly exaltation, are cited as tangible examples of just what kind of enormous things this power can accomplish. Believers, armed with a sense of awareness about this power, will have consolation to know that not only will they arrive at the promised and hoped for heavenly inheritance but also that their earthly struggles against spiritual forces of darkness will not end in failure.