TODAY’S READING: Ephesians 3:20-21
KEY VERSE:
“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” EPH 3:20 (NIV)
When it comes to God, we can’t help but use every superlative adjective we can think of! In this chapter alone, we have considered His boundless riches, manifold wisdom, eternal purpose, mighty strength, limitless love, and now we see that He is able to do immeasurably more. ‘Awesome’ is a word that has become overused over the past few decades but it really only can be used accurately to describe the wonder and glory of God.
Today, as we conclude this chapter, we see that the infinite God with the limitless love can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. The King James Version puts it like this, “He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think”. I love that – even better than Mr Kipling’s cakes!! Think of a number, double it, triple it, multiply it by infinity squared and that is what our God is capable of!
How big are your prayers? What can you imagine? Can you imagine a tenth of our island coming to know Jesus? God can do immeasurably more!! Can you imagine a life group in every village? God can do immeasurably more!! Can you imagine nations falling to their knees in repentance and worship? God can do immeasurably more!! Are you expectant for more? There is no ceiling when it comes to God; He really can do above and beyond all we ask.
How will he accomplish this? Do we pray our big, hairy audacious prayers and then passively wait? He will do immeasurably more through, “His power that is at work within us” (v20). He has chosen to put His power to work in us so that we can be used to do immeasurably more. We saw earlier in the week that God’s mysterious plan involved using the church - a collective of believers, from every nation, every background, every ethnicity, every walk of life - to display His manifold wisdom to the powers and authorities. God chooses to use the Church - together with God’s power at work in us - to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think, with each of us playing our part. God took Gideon’s 300 men and defeated an army of 24,000. Jesus took one boy’s packed lunch and fed thousands of people. What immeasurable things will He do through a praying church who make themselves available to be used by Him?
Finally, Paul reminds us that it’s all for the glory of God, “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (v21)
ACTION STEPS
• Read Ephesians 3:20-21
• Pray BIG prayers. What do you want to see God do on this island? Across the UK? Around the world? Pray with expectancy that He will do immeasurably more.
• Be available to be used!! One ‘share’ of an online church service could reach hundreds of your friends with the good news about Jesus. One letter or card could be the answer to someone’s desperate prayer. A bold step of obedience to offer prayer for someone could end up in a powerful healing testimony.