Ephesians 1:15-23 (NIV)
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 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,19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 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. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
People don't really write letters as much as they used to. Letter-writing has been primarily replaced by email, texts and direct messages, DMs for short. But letters are powerful and important. The September 2017 issue of The Atlantic magazine had a list of what they thought were the most important letters in history. They had a wide range of types of letters on this list.
Queen Atossa of Persia is credited for writing the very first handwritten letter in 500 B.C. She "established the genre," according to history professor Brid McGrath, "and made letters the most normal, effective form of long-distance communication for millennia."
Abraham Lincoln wrote five public letters during the Civil War. In one of those letters Lincoln says "I am naturally anti-slavery," "If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong."
In 1939, Albert Einstein sent a letter to President Roosevelt, suggesting that an atomic bomb was possible. Six years later, the United States dropped nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail," It became the 20th century's most influential essay on civil disobedience, and inspired major civil-rights legislation. I like it personally because he called out the moderates who tried to stay on the fence during the civil rights movement and not get involved because they agreed with what MLK was protesting but not how he was protesting.
As for the "Golden Record" sent into space on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977, it will probably never be read or answered. But it contains a record of who we are as human beings.
But of the letters written that are important to humanity, I would say that some of the letters the Apostle Paul wrote are just as important. It is with those letters we have our guidelines for the church. In today's scripture reading Paul has written a letter to a church in Ephesus, this was an ancient Greek city, today it would be Turkey.
Acts 18 tells us that Paul went to Ephesus after leaving Corinth and eventually planted a church there.
This is a Deutero-Pauline letter written to the congregation of the Church at Ephesus, Ephesians is about Jews and Gentiles coming together to form the church. Written around 60 CE. Something interesting about Ephesians is that it talks a lot about how the church is supposed to act never talks about a building. During those times the believers gathered in houses to worship and fellowship, but they don't mention that in Ephesians, why? The church is the people, not where they meet. Paul said that this church has a reputation. The born and bred church people coming together with those who did not grow up in a church and they did it in a hostile environment.
This church was in a city that was popular for three things, commercial trade, governmental oppression, and pagan religions. While in Ephesus Paul spoke truth to power about what was going on there and when he did, enough people stopped worshiping other gods. Reading Acts 19, lets us know that people were buying pagan books and once Paul started teaching, they burned them and didn't buy any more, and didn't go to the shrines anymore. A man of God preaching the word of God upset the economy, other religions, and the government all at once and now a church dedicated to what that man of God was preaching is still in the city. The people of God caring more about what God says instead of political leaders, the people of God caring more about the people than the economy, the people of God focused on their religion instead of conforming to those around them. I recall Paul saying something in Romans 12 about not conforming to the world but being transformed by the renewing of your mind. This Ephesian church had its act together.
THE CONSECRATION OF THIS BODY (1:15-23): Paul prays that God will allow his church to understand four things about himself.
A. Concerning his person (1:15-17): "So that you might grow in your knowledge of God."
Paul has heard about this church, their reputation has spread. People know of this church they are not just a social club, they are out an about making change in their area. Paul says he has heard of their faith in the Lord, he knows that they are believers, that they love God, and Paul says in that same verse, their love toward the saints. They Love God and Love people and the people know about it. Paul goes on to say that even though they have a good reputation, they love God, they love people, the Ephesian church is supposed to still grow in wisdom and revelation. The church doesn't have it all figured out, there is still work to do.
B. Concerning his promise (1:18): "So that you can understand the wonderful future he has
promised to those he called." Some translations say hope, something to hope for. Paul wants the church to open their eyes, open their hearts, and take in what is really important. Some translations say the glorious inheritance among the saints.
C. Concerning his power (1:19-20a): "That you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of
his power.... This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead." The same power that rose Christ from the dead is the same power working in you. The same power that got Christ out the grave is the power that will help you and keep you during this pandemic.
D. Concerning his position (1:20b-23)
1. Christ's position in heaven (1:20b-21): He occupies the exalted place at the right hand of the Father himself.
2. Christ's position on earth (1:22-23): He has been appointed head of the church.
Christ is above all things, all dominion, all authorities, all powers, all presidents, all governors, all mayors, all elections and elected officials, all political parties, all companies. You name it, Christ is above it. Christ is above all. There is nothing that should come between you and God, nothing that should come between you and Jesus Christ, even if you think that person is God's chosen one, the created thing cannot be above the creator.
Paul is using present tense in this language the victory is already won. Christ is already sitting at the right hand of the father and if he is sitting at the right hand already the battle is already over.
