Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21
I. God is more than able.
A. Paul concludes his prayer in chapter 3 with what is called a doxology, a short, spontaneous prayer of praise to God. And Paul’s doxology begins in vs. 20 by saying, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” Paul is saying that there is no limit to what God can do. God is not limited by what we could ask. God can even give you super-abundantly beyond what you could even imagine to ask Him. . So let’s think about where you need God’s answer to your prayers today. And let’s ask ourselves – based on Ephesians 3 – is God more than able?
B. “How can God do more?” Paul says at the end of vs. 20 that God is more than able according to the power at work within us. Well, what kind of power is at work within us? Paul answered that question in Ephesians 1:19-20: “And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.” How much power is at work within us? Resurrection power! Many times God wants to use you personally to be the answer to someone’s prayers. You and I are the instruments by which God is going to accomplish more than we can ask or even imagine.
II. God is more than able because He is passionate for His glory.
A. Notice how Paul concludes his prayer in vs. 21: “to (God) be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” God has a purpose in everything that He does in this world. God always acts for His glory, and God always acts for the good of His people in His church. Always. All that God does is for His glory and our good. Paul is affirming that God is always glorious. Glory belongs to God. So when God acts in this world, He is always acting for His glory to be seen and praised.
B. There are two places where Paul prays for God’s glory to be seen in vs. 21: in the church and in Christ Jesus. It’s easy for us to recognize that Christ Jesus possesses glory. Jesus, after all, is the Son of God. Jesus is the second person in the Triune God so Jesus shares the glory of God the Father. We see why the glory of God is seen in the church in Ephesians 1:22-23: “And (God) put all things under (Christ’s) feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
C. We in the church are Christ’s body. What that means is that we share the identity of Christ. We in the church have Christ’s righteousness, Christ’s holiness, and Christ’s life all because we are united to Jesus. We share then in Christ’s glory, and whatever we do is for His glory. And because we are Christ’s body, God is willing to do more in our behalf than we could ask or even imagine. We have Christ’s position, and because we are in Christ, we have our God’s love. When God looks at us, who does He see? He sees Jesus since we are Jesus’ body. So, God shows His love to us in answering mighty prayers on our behalf.
Application:
Rejoice that you pray to a God who is more than able to do abundantly more than we ask or think.
Sources:
The letter to the Ephesians
Commentaries on Ephesians by Peter O’Brien, Bryan Chapell, and Richard Coekin.