God’s Amazing Power

Today’s Reading from God’s Word:

Ephesians 3:16–21 CSB

16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Introduction

Isn’t this an amazing part of Scripture?

Paul’s aim here is not that we would know — but that we would do.

The “doing” he’s after is for the purpose of experiencing that is detailed in verse 20:

Ephesians 3:20 CSB

20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—

What an amazing promise.

Being able to come to the place where we experience the power of God within us doing things that go beyond imagination.

Today, we’ll look at five things that lead up to verse 20.

Many of us may feel like we’re a long, long way from exceeding this — we’re not even reaching some of the basics.

We’re always wanting to do better and be more committed.

And we wonder how we could ever get to the level Paul speaks of here.

So to get to that reality, we start in verse 16.

And before we get there, let’s go back to verse 14:

Ephesians 3:13 CSB

13 So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.

It is common for us to become anxious and burdened with concern.

Especially, when we can’t control stuff the way we want and get ahead of our circumstances.

This is much of life. Dealing with what you’ve been given.

And the goal as we face these things is not to be weak or vacillating or disheartened …

but to get to the place where we experience God’s power and realize what God is accomplishing through us.

And so what Paul is doing here is asking for God to go to work in us — and strengthen us with power.

What is the progression to get to v. 20-21?

Inner Strength

Ephesians 3:16 CSB

16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit,