Hope, Glorious Inheritance, and Surpassing Power
Pastor Tan Thai · Sep 30, 2018
This sermon expounds Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-19, focusing on three things the eyes of the heart need to perceive: the hope of God's calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance, and His surpassingly great power. It critiques prosperity theology that focuses only on this life, and redirects listeners toward eternal spiritual realities found in Christ.
The sermon opens with a contrast between bestselling positive-thinking and prosperity theology books and Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-19. The pastor notes that books such as 'Think Better, Live Better' and 'I Declare' by a well-known American pastor focus entirely on material blessing in this life, whereas Paul's prayer directs believers toward knowing God and eternal spiritual realities. The true purpose of teaching God's Word is not to discover secrets for success but to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The first section expounds 'the hope of His calling' as a hope grounded not in believers' own abilities or achievements, but in what God has promised and will give to those He calls. This hope extends beyond the present life toward the coming glory, the new heaven and new earth where suffering, sickness, and death are no more (Revelation 21:4-5). Paul states plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:19 that if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are the most pitiable of all people.
The second section interprets 'the riches of His glorious inheritance' in two complementary ways: either as the inheritance God gives to His people, or as God's people themselves being His treasured inheritance. Scholar F.F. Bruce is quoted to underscore the astonishing truth that God regards sinners rescued from perdition as His precious possession, because He views them in Christ. This brings profound meaning and worth to those whom society despises, for at the foot of the cross all people stand equal and equally valued before God.
The third section expounds 'His surpassingly great power,' noting that Paul uses four distinct Greek words (dunamis, energia, kratos, ichus) to emphasize the immensity of this power. This is the same power God exercised to raise Jesus Christ from the dead. The pastor lists numerous moral standards from the Sermon on the Mount and Paul's letters to demonstrate that no one can fulfill them by their own effort.
The sermon concludes that only through God's power working through the Holy Spirit can believers truly change from within. That transformation does not come from personal willpower or determination but from the Spirit's active work. Recognizing this produces genuine humility, heartfelt gratitude toward God, and a gentle, patient spirit in relationship with others.