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"And what the surpassing greatness of His power UNTO US WHO BELIEVE,
according to the energy of the strength of His might, which He energised in Christ, when
He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the
super-heavenlies."
Here are things that differ. The surpassing greatness of this power is unto us, its
measure is according to the strength of the might which was put forth in the resurrection
of Christ. This then is still the object of the apostle's desire in Phil. 3:, "that I may
know Him, and the power of His resurrection." Eph. 6: 10 brings these words together
again in their practical application to the believer as viewed on active service:--
"Finally, empower yourselves in the Lord, and in the strength of His might."
Eph. 1: tells us of principalities and powers placed beneath the feet of Christ, Eph. 6:
tells us that we too are called upon to overcome even as He overcame, and use the
"power of His resurrection" to stand in the conflict with "principalities and powers."
There is one more item in Eph. 6: which, when seen, links this passage to the theme
of Philippians the more, and that is the word translated in verse 13 "having done all"; it is
the same word that is translated "work out" in Phil. 2: The word occurs but once more,
and that in a similar context, in II Cor. 4: 17, where we read:--
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more
exceeding aionian weight of glory."
This passage not only very fully demonstrates the fact that "working out" links
suffering with glory, but is found in immediate and logical connection with a most lucid
exposition of what the apostle means by the "power of His resurrection."
Chapters 3: and 4: contrast the ministry of the old covenant with that of the new,
and after having shown the excellent glory of the new the apostle says:--
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, in order that the excellency of the power
may be of God and not of us."
The earthen vessel was the frail body of the apostle, and he continues by shewing, on
the one hand, the almost unbearable afflictions that he passed through, and on the other,
the marvellous power that sustained him.
"In everything
being afflicted,
but not distressed;
being perplexed,
but not in despair;
being persecuted,
but not forsaken;
being cast down,
but not destroyed."
Here is a series of afflictions, perplexities, persecutions, and casting down that would
have shivered the earthen vessel if left to its own "power"; but in spite of all, we find the
apostle not distressed, not in despair, not forsaken and not destroyed. What is the secret
of his preservation? First, the afflictions he endured were of a special character.
"Always bearing about the putting to death of Jesus in the body." The deliverance was