The words of this scripture can be made into a pretty good homiletical outline – but I won’t use it today. Paul prayed for wisdom to understand the will of God in three areas: The hope of our Heavenly calling – verse 18. The riches of the glory of His inheritance in us, as saints. And what is the EXCEEDING greatness of His power towards us – verse 19.
Thinking about point three, WHAT exactly does the power of God exceed? Well, consider the most powerful thing that you’ve ever witnessed and multiply it 10,000 times. What are the most powerful things ever created by man? Recently I’ve been reading some history books, both of which spoke about the early trains in our region. The first were a hundred times more powerful than horses, but they still couldn’t get over our mountains in the winter. They needed the help of extra locomotives. Then over time they got bigger and bigger, until now they are more than 4,000 horse power. Today’s container ships sometimes have engines with more than 60,000 horse power. From where did the knowledge and ability come to make machines like that?
When men divide certain atoms it creates enough power to vaporize everything within miles. But what about the God who put power into that atom in the first place? And when you consider their size – tiny, tiny things – the power becomes even more intense. When a smallish volcano explodes in western Washington, it kills and destroys everything in its path. But what about the God who put power into volcanos a hundred times the size of Mount Saint Helens? And how much energy is there in the little-bitty star we call our sun? From Whose hand did it come? We might have long discussion about what might be the greatest illustration of the power of God on earth. But whatever example we use, those powers are nothing compared the miracles of Jehovah. And what is the greatest of all miracles? What it took to redeem us from the wrath of God’s law.
For several reasons, it can be argued that Jesus’ resurrection and ascension stretched the power of God to its ultimate limit. First, because God had to supercede the effects of physical death. That is something scientists, philosophers, poets and physicians have been working on since day two. We have been able to extend human life by a few years, but no one has been able to rid us of death. It is an absolute and complete human impossibility – BUT with God all things are possible. Second, Jesus’ resurrection was contrary to the SPIRITUAL laws of God, as well as to physical laws. When Christ died, He did so as the bearer of the sins of many. He, in his own body, bare our sins on the tree – that sinners like us might be made more than just free. God’s law said, “Bow before me, Sin-bearer, & lay in the dust with everyone else,” but Christ refused. And third, Jesus’ resurrection was opposed by every ounce of the strength of Satan and his armies. If man thinks that he can bench press 200 lbs, Satan can press 20,000 lbs. If man thinks that he can jump 20 feet, Satan can leap 2,000 feet. If man thinks that he can extend his life by a few years, Satan has not died in the last 6,000 years. Yet despite Lucifer’s great abilities, he was incapable of even slowing the resurrection of the Saviour. God will never display greater power than what was seen in the resurrection and then ascension of Christ.
These being true – since our Lord Jesus has been raised from death and received into Heaven… He has taken his seat at the right hand of God the Father in the Command-Room of universe. This morning’s scripture is as important as anything else recorded in the Word of God. This is proof supreme of the power and authority of Christ Jesus. He didn’t forsake us when He ascended into Heaven; He now sits and rules as our benevolent King. And that is the guarantee of our safety, our spiritual prosperity and salvation, as children of God. Sin couldn’t confine our Lord to the grave, nor could death itself, nor could the Satanic world. The head – once crowned with thorns – now wears the royal diadem of Heaven and the universe. Jesus is now the saint’s everlasting mediator and a glorified high priest after the order of Melchizedek. He is at the right hand of God the Father, with angels, authorities, and powers subject unto Him.
And the point is – we should be comforted with that thought. OUR Savior Jesus, now holds the highest position possible. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is crowned with honor and glory, sitting at the right hand of the Heavenly Father.
The Right Hand of God is a place of HONOR and DIGNITY.
There was an occasion after Solomon’s ascension to David’s throne over Israel that his mother, Bathsheba, came to him with a request on behalf of his half-brother Adonijah. When the king saw his mother, he arose from his royal throne and bowed himself unto her. Then he sat back down and ordered that another chair be brought in and set at his right side. When that was done, he invited his mother to sit with him. In those days, that act was one of the highest honors that any king could bestow upon another person. It was not necessarily expected even by the king’s mother. Usually petitioners and servants were required to stand before the king. This was more than a son’s honor of his mother, it was the honor of a sovereign king to a favored subject. But it must be remembered that in this case all that it was all – an act of honor. The request that Bathsheba presented was denied. She had no real authority. And eventually Adonijah was put to death for the rebel and sinner that he was.
But listen to the words of Psalm 45:6-9 – “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.” The Psalmist wasn’t referring to Solomon or David, or any other earthly king. This is quoted in Hebrews 1:8 as being a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high…” And “unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”
In these two scriptures we have God the Father speaking to and about God the Son. This is the one true and living God existing in two persons. And who is the Queen at the right hand of the Son of God? I believe that it is the Bride of Christ. She represents people like you and me – saved by God’s grace. And where does she stand? At place of high honor – at the right hand the Saviour. I mention this only to point out that at the right hand is tremendous honour. And you will receive a share of the honour bestowed upon the Son of God – by the grace of God – If you have been born again. Are you one of the children of God?
But it is not upon you and me and our standing before the Lord that I want us to think. Let’s consider the Lord Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity. Let us worship the King this morning. The Bible clearly shows that He is the Creator of heaven and earth. “All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” “And by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible…” Christ was and is the God of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He said, “Verily, verily, before Abraham was, I am.” And the Jews picked up stones to kill him for this blasphemy – which wasn’t blasphemy at all. Because it was Christ who spoke to Joshua, lead Deborah & Barak, and who built the kingdom of David. Christ is the God of the flood, the God of the plagues in Egypt, of Jericho, Sodom and the fall of Babylon. But when the God of the universe was incarnate, living among us, He was not given the honor that was His due? “He came unto his own and his own received him not.” How characteristic were the people of Gadara, when they ran Him off for doing good in the community. That was repeated at Nazareth and Jerusalem by the Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, and even by some of His so-called “disciples.”
The God of Heaven and earth was reject by His creation. But oh, how His heart yearned for the honor that was rightfully His. John 17 – “Father the hour has come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee. I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thy own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” The infinite Son of God, by His very character, demands respect. He deserves our very best. No unworthy sacrifices are acceptable on His altar. And His ascension to Heaven and glorification were the Father’s answer to the prayer of John 17. Christ is now sitting at the right hand of the majesty on High.
At the very least, it is a place of honor…. but it is far, far more than that.
The right hand of God is also the place of supreme AUTHORITY and POWER.
Exodus 15:1-6 – “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.”
Ephesians 1:19-23 – “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Not only is our Saviour above and beyond the grave, but now He is above ALL things. Verse 21 reminds us of the obvious – there is nothing in creation higher than the Creator. The silly science-fiction stories about a computer taking over and killing its designer are fiction. Christ Jesus is undefeatable. No part of His creation will ever be greater than the Creator. In addition to being head of all things He is the authority over ALL things.
Christ Jesus says of Himself that “all power is given unto Him in Heaven and in earth” – Matthew 28. And His sitting at the right hand of the majesty on High is a modest illustration of that fact. The Son of Man (Christ) has power enough to control all the forces of nature. He can tell the winds and waves to sit still, and they did and still do. He can make a small meal grow until it can fill the bellies of thousands of people. Christ Jesus has power over life, death and resurrection. He can tell stinking, decaying body of Lazarus to awake unto life and to emerge from its tomb. He is the resurrection & the life, & he who puts his trust in Him, though he were dead, yet shall he live. He has power over disease, hunger, thirst, murderous mobs, lions, tigers and bears.
And perhaps even more importantly, the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins – any sin. “Who can forgive sins, but God only?” – excellent question. “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” “Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to riches of HIS grace.” And this power is declared and proven by His resurrection and ascension into Heaven. He has been “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the grave.”
How well-suited He is to fight our battles, for all things are placed under His feet. You and I can be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. The center of the universe is upheld by the word of His power. And no weapon can be found to hurt the friend of Christ, beyond the Lord’s permission. No wonder we should honor the Son even as we honor the Father.
The right hand of the Lord is the place of authority, and also of BLESSEDNESS and SUPPLY.
Perhaps you’ll remember that I’ve shared this little Latin lesson before, but I think it is fun. The Latin word for the left hand is “sinister,” as in “there was a sinister plan in his evil heart.” You might know the word for left hand, but what about the Latin word for the right hand? It is “dexter,” as in “the big man with the huge hands was surprisingly dexterous with the small tool.” With those two words we have nearly opposite and contrary ideas. On the left is evil and on the right is physical skill. I’m not picking on people who are left handed, but the Bible speaks of the bounties and gifts of God being given by and to those on His right hand. “At thy right hand, O God, there are pleasures for evermore” – Psalm 16:11.
So it is with Christ Jesus at the right hand of the Father. In that fact there is a message of constant supply and a lesson of our needs being met. Do you recall that Joseph, the son of Jacob, was a type of Christ? He was the beloved son of his father; he hated evil; he was hated by his brothers. He was sold for a few pieces of silver and became a servant. He was a prophet; He was falsely accused, and so on. But then Joseph became the right hand man of Pharaoh, the king. And what was his primary function in that position? To govern the distribution of supplies.
Another illustration is found in the judgment of the nations described in Matthew 25? Where were the “goat” nations to stand – on the Lord’s left side to be judged. And where were the Lord’s “sheep” placed? – on the right to be blessed. “Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
With Christ Jesus at the right hand of the Father, we have a guarantee of spiritual provision. “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name, ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.”
And this position of Christ also illustrates the EXALTATION and ACCEPTANCE of His HUMANITY.
I am not talking about an earthly king who honors one of his favorite friends. This ascension was not the rise of a human son to some relatively important position. It was the Son of God rising and returning to the position which was rightfully His, and to a throne upon which He sat for an eternity. Something was changed after Jesus’ birth and then again after His death. Christ Jesus has always been God the Son, but now He is the God-man – the Theanthropic Person.
And this is extremely important – theologically and practically. It means that “we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” At the right hand of God is someone intimately acquainted with our grief. He has experienced our temptations, our sorrows, the pain of death as well as the joys of life. Roll back the curtain of heaven and take a peek at the throne room of God. Earlier we read Revelation 5:1-10 – Who is this all powerful one? Only God has power to open the book with the seven seals. But there we see Jesus, the Lamb of God, opening that book.
And here is perhaps the most blessed point about the occupant of the right hand of the Father. This one so highly honored is Jesus is my vicarious substitute – my Saviour. He is the Saviour of tens of thousands of sinners just like me. Our God is not a carved stump, a rock, a fiery mountain, or a ghostly impression on a shroud. He is Jesus, the God-man, sitting at the right hand of the majesty on high. And He has returned to that honored place, because He completed the purpose of the God-head in giving His life a ransom to save many. Let that thought fill your hearts and occupy your minds.
Every knee shall some day bow and give homage to Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But by far, the majority will bestow that honor under duress – not out of love and reverence. The vast majority of the people of this world despise Christ, and will die despising Him. In that day they will be forced to bow the knee in that day. But it will be just before they hear of their eternal damnation.
I’m speaking to you about Christ this morning, because I would like to introduce you to Him if you do not already know Him. I’d like to take you to Calvary and show you how He has poured out His blood as a sacrifice for sin. I urge you to bow your knee before Him, in the acknowledgment of your sinfulness and your need of His grace. Plead with Him to share His eternal life with you. “O God, be merciful with me, a sinner.” We all need this God-man, this Saviour.