Ephesians 3:20-21
- a statement about God's greatness
- a statement about God's grace
- a statement about God's glory
1. Focus on the extraordinary God
v20
"Now to him who is able"
Instead of focusing on the bigness of God, we focus on the bigness of our problems! When we do that, we begin to make limiting statements.
2. Fathom the incredible resources of God for us
v20
"to do immeasurably"
John Scott :
He is able to do because he is not idle or inactive or dead
He can do what we ask for he hears us when we pray
He can do what we think for he knows what we think before we think
He can do all we ask or think because he knows it all and can do it all
He can do more than we ask or think because his plans are bigger than our plans
He can do much more than we ask or think because there is no holding back with God
He can do exceedingly abundantly beyond what we can imagine because he is the God of the superlative
3. Faith in our prayer-answering God
"More than all we ask or imagine"
Most important is the posture of our hearts when we pray, not outward physical posture.
A. Spiritual warfare
The devil doesn't want us to pray. He knows there is power when we start to pray
B. Spiritual apathy (lack of interest)
Due to busyness
C. Spiritual luke warmness
We allow other things to take priority over prayer
Learn to pray "kingdom prayer"
"I pray for boldness and that your word will spread...." instead of I, me, myself or when we need
4. Fire up as God is working in us
v20
"according to his power that is at work within us"
3 areas God is stretching us to do :
* Conforming us to the image of his son
* Enabling us to do that which, in our own efforts, is impossible
* Sustaining us by his grace
5. Forge ahead for the glory of God
v21
"to him be glory in the church"
We assist for the glory of God in everything we do. That includes managing our household, our children, our work, our husbands.....
