In this Easter message from Ephesians 1:18–23, Pastor Devon unpacks the powerful truth of God’s mighty power directed “to usward who believe.” He begins by highlighting the structure of the book of Ephesians, where chapters 1–3 reveal the truths of what God has done for us (the indicative), and chapters 4–6 give the commands for how we should live (the imperative). In this passage, Paul prays that believers would have their spiritual eyes opened to understand the hope, riches, and power that are now theirs through Christ.

Pastor Devon emphasizes that Christian living is not based on how we feel—feelings change constantly—but on the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Living by feelings will lead us astray, while anchoring ourselves to Scripture gives us stability and purpose. We are called Christians, not because we follow our own will, but because we follow Christ.

The highlight of the passage is found in verses 19–20, which speak of the “exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe.” Pastor Devon explains that this is the same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead, and now it is pointed toward us—not at our obstacles or enemies—but directly toward us who believe. It’s an empowering truth: the same power that conquered the grave is now available to every believer.

He illustrates this with personal stories, showing how that power helped him through academic struggles, bullying, and moments of discouragement as a child. He shares how God’s power didn’t just help him succeed, but also increased his faith through answered prayer and support from his church family. These examples affirm that God’s power isn’t reserved for pastors or adults—it’s for everyone, including young people, to get through daily challenges, temptations, and spiritual battles.

The message also challenges older believers to live out the power of God if they want to pass down a genuine faith to the next generation. If we’re going to tell our kids to trust God with their problems, we must also bring our own problems to Him.

The ultimate reason for this resurrection power is that Christ may have full authority in our lives. He has been raised and seated far above all power and dominion, and God “put all things under his feet.” When we lean on Him, we don’t just benefit from His power—we reflect His glory to others.

In closing, Pastor Devon uses a practical analogy: just as he leaned on expert contractors to complete the church’s new restrooms—resulting in something beautiful—so too must we lean on God’s expertise. When we do, His power works through us, deepening our relationship with Him and allowing others to see His glory at work in our lives.

This Easter, may we not only celebrate the resurrection, but recognize that His power is still active today—working to usward who believe.

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