“He Is Able To Do More Than We Can Ever Think”
Ephesians 3:20-21
Sermon Series: “He Is Able”
Introduction: The late, great preacher Vance Havner used to say something to the effect of, “If God’s power is so dynamite, why do so many Christians live such firecracker lives?” Do we really believe in the power of God? Do we believe that God has all power? Do we believe that God can do more than we can ever ask or think? I hope that we will take this Scripture at face value and believe in, act on, and experience the power of God.
1. The Purpose of God’s Power: The purpose is to glorify Himself through the church by Jesus. Are we glorifying God by showing His greatness and power? The purpose of everything is the glory of God. Is this our motivation for wanting to experience the power of God? John Stott wrote, “The power comes from him; the glory must go to him.”
2. The Greatness of God’s Power: Words cannot really describe His power. He has all power. The Lord can do whatever He chooses to do. He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” The first three chapters of Ephesians give us example after example of the power of God at work.
3. The Experience of God’s Power: Are you and I truly experiencing God’s power in our lives? If so, to what degree are we experiencing it? Our text tells us that this power is within us [Christians]. It also tells us that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to [it means in proportion or measure] the power that works in us.” God’s power is in His children, but how much are we experiencing it? Are we vessels that His power can flow through or are we hindering it? How can we hinder God’s power in our lives?
A. Not truly a Christian (Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 3:5). B. Prayerlessness (James 4:2).
C. Not praying or acting in faith. Steven Furtick has written, “One of the most glaring discrepancies in the Christian faith today is between the size of our God and the size of our prayers…After all, we’re praying to a God whose capability always exceeds our audacity.
You don’t have to worry about ever putting God in an awkward or embarrassing position. You’re not going to back him into a corner. You won’t ever challenge him to do something beyond his aptitude. Prayer is the arena where our faith meets God’s abilities. And there is never going to be a moment when the audacity of our faith surpasses God’s capacity to respond. That’s why timid prayer are a waste of time.”
D. Disobedience (Numbers 13-14).
E. Not being surrendered fully to the Lord.
F. A lack of discipline (1 Timothy 4:7).
G. Unconfessed sin (Psalm 66:18).
H. Not abiding in Jesus (John 15:5).
I. Quenching the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).
J. Not living for the glory of God (Ephesians 3:21).
This is simply not a blank check to use God for our selfish desires. This is ultimately about His purposes, name, and glory. It is by Him and for Him.
