The emphasis of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church is that they might know the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward them. The young Christians surrounded by occult powers in Ephesus, in particular the socio-political power of the cult of Diana, had a particular interest in whether the power of God was greater than the powers which they were familiar with. Amidst the powers of heavy persecution and an oppressive world system, the Ephesian Christian might wonder how it would be possible for him to enjoy that which he looked forward to in knowing Christ – the hope of His call and the riches of His inheritance. Paul assures them that God’s power is exceedingly great and sufficient to secure their hope.
Likewise men today face two powers with which they have no hope of contending – one of which, all men are keenly aware, and the other which they ignore or deny. First, the power of death and decay – all men are mortal and they cannot escape death and the ensuing decomposition of the grave. Even as our medical system seeks to extend life, and man tries to fight it, he knows that death is inevitable. We are dust and to dust we shall return. Secondly, though he may attempt to deny it, man is fallen, and as such he cannot escape the power of evil and Satan. But that which is impossible for man, God has done in Christ. He alone lived the perfect sinless life, never breaking the holy law of God. And although He died, God arrested the natural process of decay of the grave, and raised Jesus from the dead to a new, immortal and glorious life which no man has yet to experience.
