I have a question for you that I believe will challenge you. Further, I believe that as it is a reminder for you and you are so bold as to share your response below, it will be a great encouragement to others who read it. I want to take you to what is often times a very familiar passage of scripture in the book of Ephesians. Chapter 3 is an awesome chapter to reflect upon as Paul begins by sharing the ‘mystery’ to which he has given his entire life to serve. He writes about the great mystery of the love and reconciling work of Jesus Christ available to all peoples.
As he has said in other letters, it matters not the color of your skin, your tribe, your gender, or economic status (Gal 3:28). He goes on to say that he has given his life to the mission of stewarding this life-changing news to all peoples through the word of the church. After his reflection on the beauty of the church, God’s people gathered together for God’s purposes, he pleads with us to pursue a holistic understanding of all that has been done for us and continues to be done for us through the love of our Savior.
Then we find the familiar word that I was alluding to a moment ago, ‘Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever amen.’ What an awesome proclamation.
Let’s make just a couple observations before I offer my question. Who is Paul talking about that is able to do these things? When we begin reading from Ephesians 3:14 we can see that it is God. How is Paul saying that God will accomplish these things? In verse 20 it is ‘according to the power at work within us..’ And he helps us understand this ‘power’ in verse 16 by saying, ‘according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Sprit.’ So, God will work in us far more abundantly than we ask or think through His Spirit working through us. Last, to what end? Is Paul saying that if we are praying for a car God will provide a Ferrari? Only if you have enough faith…… No, not really. That is not what Paul is saying. The purpose of these awesome and unimaginable things that will be done through us is to bring glory to Christ through His church for all generations.
Abundantly more than we can ask or think <> a new Ferrari.
Picture creator: Sovxx; Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Does your life’s pursuits reflect this reality? God is able to do and desires to do mind-blowing things through the work of his Sprit in your life for His glory through His church. Do you really BELIEVE that truth? If you do, how has it changed the way you pray and live your life? If those truths haven’t reached a place of belief in your life then what is holding you back? I promise that you are not alone… we are all on a journey of discovering greater and greater realities that can all be nestled into these powerful words that Paul writes to those churches in and around Ephesus.
Share your place on the journey for your own encouragement, but maybe just as important, for the encouragement of the others who will read these words.
Matt Powell serves as teaching pastor at Crossings Community Church, a body of believers whose mission is to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation in Katy, TX.