#1381. Pray to know and trust His resurrection power (6/11/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

In our last devotional, we reflected on how God wants us to be filled with assurance and hope regarding our eternal inheritance. Today, we see that:  

God wants us to know, rejoice and trust in His resurrection power - a power that is already at work in those who believe.

You can listen to this devotional below

1. Paul prays that they would know God’s power

Paul prays that they may know God’s ‘hope’ and ‘power’:

Paul doesn’t simply pray for head knowledge—he prays for heart illumination:

The Greek word for know (εἰδῶ – eidó) means more than mental awareness; it implies perceiving, beholding, and grasping something deeply. Paul is praying that believers would experience the reality of God’s power—that the “eyes of their hearts” would be opened by the Spirit to see God’s strength at work in them.

Much of our fear, anxiety, and striving comes from forgetting this truth. We often live as though our circumstances, enemies, or even the devil are more powerful than God. When that happens, we slip into self-reliance and exhaustion.

But Paul reminds us: our salvation, daily transformation, and eternal inheritance rest not on our strength, but on God’s mighty power already working in us.

2. God’s Power guarantees our hope

We see that Paul’s prayer links hope and power together. Paul wants them to come to know that the great hope and inheritance that they have - the hope of salvation, renewal and glory - is guaranteed because it dependends on God’s power at work in them and not on themselves.  

3. God’s power seen in the resurrection of Jesus

Paul highlights the resurrection of Christ as the greatest display of divine power. Yes, we see God’s might in creation, but it is in the resurrection that we witness His power most clearly. Paul wants them to know that the same resurrection power that raised Christ is at work in them. The same power that raise Christ from the lowest place (a condemned sinner in our stead) to the highest place (name above every name) is at work in them to raise them to glory in the future. 

4. God’s power will bring us into our hope and inheritance

Specifically, the point that he wants them to grasp is that we, in ‘age to come’ will be raised with resurrection bodies and will reign with Christ; this hope is sure because it’s dependent upon God’s resurrection power that is already at work in us. The power that brought us to faith and new birth is the same power that will raise us like Christ. 

We will talk more about asking for the empowering of the Spirit, but here, the point being made, is to understand - to know - that resurrection power is at work in us and will raise us as Jesus was raised.  

Response

• Do we trust in God’s incomparably great power - He is the name above all names.

• Do we trust His power - the power that brought us to faith and new birth - will also keep us and bring us to glory and in a resurrection body?

Let’s pray today that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened to see and rest in God’s resurrection power at work in us, so we can also say with confidence:

Community Group Notes

This week is ’SIV’ Week, where we will give much more time to sharing and praying about how we are seeking to bring the gospel to our friends and community. 

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

THIS WEEK IS SIV (SERVE INVEST AND INVITE) WEEK.

What is SIV? 

SIV stands for Serve, Invest, and Invite. This is our very simple strategy to help bring our community to Jesus. We believe that God has placed us in relationships and in specific locations to be 'salt and light.' and to ‘fish for people’.  We can effectively bring people to Jesus by 'Serving' them - demonstrating the love of Christ in practical ways; by 'Investing' in the people to whom we feel the Spirit is leading us; and by 'Inviting' them into our homes by showing hospitality and inviting them to church events, to Alpha, and ultimately, inviting them to come to Jesus through the gospel. 

Along with a brief reflection on Sunday’s text, let's spend this time sharing, thinking and praying about how God wants to work through us to help our communities to come to Jesus. 

1. Our message from Ephesians 1:15-21, was:  Understand the Spirit’s work,  give thanks and pray for His work. Please read Ephesians 1:15-21. What, from this text, is helpful and inspirational in regard to growing in effectively bringing the gospel to our friends and community? 

2. Who are you regularly praying for to come to Christ?

3. Do you have any encouraging stories to share - how have you served, invested and invited? 

4. Do you have any plans for how you plan to serve, invest and invite in the places and to the people that God has given to you? Why not make a note so that you can pray and hold yourself accountable? 

5. Are you planning to, or could you, do anything together as a group?

6. Let's pray for ourselves and our community together. Let's pray for the particular people that God is putting on your heart. Let's pray for the Holy Spirit to empower and direct us in how to Serve, Invest and Invite. 

Note - a very practical thing to do, is to think about who you might want to invite to our upcoming carol service (7th December) and to sign up for carol singing (30th November). 

To sign up, go to: https://forms.monday.com/forms/67541e198902721e4b04ee65cc95ae8a?r=use1