(Audio/Video/Text)
Title: Act One Climax
Intro:
Ephesians has 6 chapters, and today we are concluding chapter 3. This is the mid way point of Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus and J.I. Packer writes, “The first half of the letter climaxes as Paul considers the overwhelming power of God, who carries out his gracious and all wise plan for the reconciliation of the human race.
If I were to greatly over-simplify the two main halves of Ephesians it might go something like this: In part one (Chapters 1-3) Paul goes to great lengths to show how God has brought Jew and Gentile together for the purpose of growing his church.
In part two of the letter, which we will get to in a few weeks, Paul then shifts the focus to, and, because of what God has done, here is what need to be, need to do, and need to think.
So read with me the final two verses of chapter three and see how Paul puts a brilliant fine point on the first half of his letter:
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)
When considering the original Greek language here, there is very little difference between the English translations, the Greek is pretty straight forward here, but I would draw your attention for a moment to the phrase “exceedingly abundantly”
Greek: hyper perrisos
(in behalf of, for the sake of over, beyond, more than) (beyond measure, extraordinary)
Charles Spurgeon (The great pastor of the London Baptist Church during the 1860s) on the phrase exceedingly abundantly:
“He has constructed here in the Greek an expression which is altogether his own. No language was powerful enough for the apostle, – I mean for the Holy Ghost speaking through the apostle, – for very often Paul has to coin words and phrases to shadow forth his meaning, and here is one, ‘He is able to do exceeding abundantly,’ so abundantly that it exceeds measure and description.”
So the Greek suggests that it is not just that God is able to do more than we could ever imagine, in ways we never thought possible, it’s also the suggestion that these actions of abundance are directional, they are done for us, they are done with our joy in mind.
Any of you here just love giving great gifts? Things that you purchase, or buy, or plan that you can’t wait with giddy excitement to see someone open on their birthday or Christmas?
I remember this story about a friend of mine who really went all out for her three year old son one Christmas, tons of toys, books, blocks…and yet, her son was more fascinated by a small compact toaster that her husband bought her that year.
The day after Christmas her and her entire family went out for a nice big meal at a swanky restaurant, and she told her son he could bring ONE toy.
An hour later, they were walking through a five star restaurant, trying to ignore the strange looks as her son dragged a toaster behind him by its cord.
I asked my friend, “We you hurt by that? That your son’s favorite “toy” was just some object that was never intended by you to bring him joy?
She gave me a very honest answer. She said, “I know I’m supposed to say no, that it was no big deal, that is was just a funny thing that a three year old did, but, if I’m being honest…yeah, it hurt a little bit.”
When God has a plan for us, and not just any plan, but an exceedingly abundant plan, a plan that is designed to bring us huge amounts of Joy in Him, causing glory to be reflected back to him, and yet, we often choose like a three year old, we choose to parade around with a toaster, how do you think that makes God feel?
Dave Guzik:
As Paul came to this great height (what can there be higher than the fullness of God?), it is logical to ask how this can ever be. How can something so far above us ever become reality? It can only happen because God is able to do far beyond what we ask or think.
This doxology does not only belong to the prayer that precedes it, but also to every glorious privilege and blessing spoken of in the first three chapters. Who is able to bring such things to pass? Only God can do this because He can do far beyond our ability to think or ask.
i Paul says that God is able to do above all that we ask or think. The we included Paul and the other apostles and they certainly knew that Jesus could do great things.
· You can ask for every good thing you have ever experienced – God can do above that.
· You can think of or imagine things beyond your experience – God can do above that.
· You can imagine good things that are beyond your ability to name – God can do above that.
For what it’s worth, here is my two cents: He is ABLE to do these works far beyond our own ability, BECAUSE of the power that works in us. (What is the power? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit)
So we become a vessel of righteousness. Isn’t that the most amazing thing. ON one hand, we know what sinful wretches we are, on the other, this same wretched vessel is the one God uses to be a conduit for his glory. This is not a new concept in scripture:
- God chose Moses and not the more eloquent Aaron
- Jesus Chose Matthew (a traitor to his own people) to be one of the 12
- God chose Jacob, the younger to be the child of promise over the older Esau
Paul says it is to THIS God, who is able to do in us, with us, and though us, more that we can even comprehend, to THIS God be all Glory…and not just Glory now, but glory for “generations to come” as we pass these truths on to our children.
You want to know how I will know if I taught my children right?
Seriously, how will I, or any of us know if I teach have successfully taught the truth of God to my children? (Take answers)
If my Grandchildren are rightly taught by my children.
Final thought:
So I want to close with a challenge: what is your life truly limited by? (take answers)
The amount of faith you are willing to live by.