SCRIPTURE - Ephesians 3: 20 - 21 (NIV)

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Sometimes we forget the power and ability of God to do amazing things. As is expressed in the Psalms over and over, He is sovereign over all creation, He is the author of life, He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and there is nothing in all creation that He is not Lord over. There are many rulers in this world - in the physical world and in the spiritual world - but He is above them all. And so is His power.

These verses in Ephesians are the benediction, or the conclusion, of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. He has just prayed that they might, “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God,” and then he says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Think about that for a moment. There is nothing that you can ask God that He is not able to do more than you could ask or even imagine. That is how loving and how powerful a God we have. In moments of despair, or when faith is scarce, remember this truth.

What Paul says next is even more amazing. God is able to do this, “according to his power that is at work within us.” This power of God is available to us as His children. Earlier in Ephesians 1 Paul says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” That power that is available to us, Paul continues, “is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” All you can say is WOW.

Paul wants us to realize that all that power, which he trips over himself to describe, is available to us as believers. It is what he says. How often we settle for small things and small dreams for God when He has made this power available to us. The same power that yanked Jesus from the grave is available to us. And so Paul concludes this benediction with the only words that can be said: “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever!” My friends, we are one of those generations.

Given God’s power that is available to us through Christ, let’s be bold in our prayers and ask God to accomplish great things through our lives and through our church. Ask Him to use us in big ways for His kingdom. Ask Him to see many lives come to Christ through our church. God loves to use the weak to accomplish His grand purposes, because the weak know they need the power of God.

PRAYER

Father, in my work for you, don’t let me settle for small prayers or asks. Help me and my fellow brothers and sisters to ask God for things that would please Him and remind me constantly that You can do far more than I could ask or imagine. I pray that Your power would flow through me and through us together. Amen.