God Is Able, Are You Willing?

God is Able, Are you Willing?

Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20 (The Living Bible) 20 Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.

Revelation 3:20 (KJV) 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20 (The Living Bible) 20 "Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.

Your faith has made you whole but are you willing.

Abraham – God told him to leave Ur

Noah – God told him to build the Ark

Mary said let it be, He couldn’t do it without her permission.

Jesus – not my will but thy will be done.

Without faith it’s impossible to please God

Man at the Gate called Beautiful

Take up your bed and follow me—testimony, the bed carried me now I’m carrying the bed.

Can you surrender it all to Him and Leave it with Him?

Luke 1:38 (The Living Bible) 38 Mary said, "I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true." And then the angel disappeared.

Where is your faith?

Psalm 37:4 (KJV) 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

If you’re looking for a new job—stop saying what you’re not qualified to do.

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Psalm 75:6-7 (KJV) 6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Psalm 121:2 (KJV) 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Romans 1:25 (KJV) 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Don’t chase stuff—Chase God and He’ll add the stuff

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Twenty represents redemption or expectancy.

Ephesians 3:20-21) Conclusion: there is the encouragement to pray and to trust God for the answer. Note two points.

God is able to do what we ask. Note just how strong and powerful God is. He is able to do...

• "exceedingly": to surpass; to go beyond any request; to overcome and do anything.

• "abundantly": to overflow and to do more than enough.

• "above": to go over and above, beyond any need.

• "all that we ask."

• all that we can think. Imagine going beyond anything we can think! What is the greatest answer or deliverance we can think? God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can think.

Thought 1. Thompson Chain Reference Bible points out what Scripture says about God's power: He is able...

• to raise up children from stones.

"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham" (Luke 3:8).

• to fulfill promises even if they are humanly impossible.

"And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform" (Romans 4:21).

• to make grace abound.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8).

• to do exceeding abundantly.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephes. 3:20).

• to subdue all things.

"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Phil. 3:21).

• to guard the soul's treasure.

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that [the soul] which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Tim. 1:12).

• to save to the uttermost.

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

• to keep from falling.

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24).

Note the source of answered prayers: it is the power that works in us. What is that power within us? It is the combined power of all that God has put within us, all that for which we are praying:

⇒ the power of the Spirit strengthening us.

⇒ the power of Christ indwelling us.

⇒ the power of love working in us.

⇒ the power of understanding all that God does.

⇒ the power of the fulness of God Himself.

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).

"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:13).

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25).

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" (Ephes. 1:19).

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7).

Note the purpose of God in answering prayer and in doing all this for us: that He might be glorified in the church through Christ Jesus. And note how long He is to be glorified: throughout all ages, world without end.

Rev 3:20 - Christ counsels them to open the door of their heart and to let Him in. This is one of the most beautiful and meaningful pictures of Christ in all of Scripture. At least five scenes are being pictured.

a. There is the standing Christ. He stands at the door. This symbolizes His readiness to enter the life of a person. He is the One who takes the initiative to save man.

⇒ He is the One who has walked over and come to man. Man has not come to Him.

⇒ He is the One who has approached man. Man has not approached Him.

Jesus Christ stands before the heart of man as the Savior of the world, as loving man so much that He has come into the world to save man. He is the One who has travelled such a great distance from the majesty of heaven down to man's heart.

"The lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

"The lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth" (Psalm 145:18).

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven" (John 3:13).

"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world....For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:33, 38).

"This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:50-51).

"Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me" (John 8:42).

b. There is the knocking Christ. He stands at the door and knocks. This symbolizes the seeking Christ. Christ has not only come to earth and walked over to man's heart, He knocks upon the heart of man; He actively seeks to enter man's heart. He knocks and knocks at the door of man's heart and He refuses to give up. He keeps on knocking and knocking for man to open up and let Him in. Christ knocks so much that a person has to either open up or deaden his ears to the knock.

"How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" (Matthew 18:12).

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" (Luke 15:4).

"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?" (Luke 15:8).

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

"The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me" (John 1:43).

"Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14).

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" (John 9:35).

c. There is the pleading Christ. He pleads for entrance. This symbolizes the compassion of Christ. He not only knocks, He pleads and begs for man to open His heart. He is merciful and full of compassion. He knows what life should be, for He created life. Therefore, He knows that life must be lived in wholehearted commitment to righteousness or else it is wasted and doomed. He longs for man to have real life, abundant and eternal life. Therefore, He knocks and keeps on knocking at the door of a man's heart, and while He is knocking, He pleads and begs for the man to hear Him.

Thought 1. How often people hear the voice of Christ yet they refuse to let Him in!

⇒ They hear His voice when they hear the Word of God preached and taught or witnessed to by a dynamic minister or some believer.

⇒ or from some tract or Bible literature.

But they hardened their ears and pay no attention to the pleading of the Lord's voice.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

"And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage" (Matthew 22:3-4).

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37).

"And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready" (Luke 14:17).

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

"But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people" (Romans 10:21).

"But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils" (1 Cor. 10:20).

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; through they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1).

d. There is the penetrating Christ. This is the most glorious promise imaginable! Imagine the Spirit of Jesus Christ living within the heart and life and body of a person. When a person hears His voice and opens his heart, Christ enters; He penetrates the life of the person. This symbolizes the life changing presence and power of the living Christ. When He enters and penetrates a person's life, He causes the most radical changes imaginable.

⇒ He causes the person to be born again.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:3-5).

⇒ He makes a new creature out of the person.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

⇒ He makes a new man out of the person.

"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephes. 4:24).

"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:10).

⇒ He changes the person's corruptible nature into an incorruptible nature.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Peter 1:23).

⇒ He gives the person a new divine nature, the very nature of God Himself.

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4).

e. There is the companion Christ. This symbolizes fellowship. When Jesus Christ enters and penetrates a person's heart, He lives forever within the life of the person. He is always present with the person...

⇒ looking after and caring for him.

⇒ talking and sharing with him.

⇒ leading and guiding him.

⇒ strengthening and empowering him.

⇒ providing for and meeting his needs.

⇒ maneuvering and working all things out for good for him.

⇒ furnishing and filling him with love, joy, and peace.

When Jesus Christ enters a life there is no good thing whatsoever that is kept from the person. He has the richest fellowship possible, fellowship and communion with the Son of God Himself. And the person has it forever and ever.

"And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32).

"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me" (John 17:23).

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9).

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16).

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephes. 3:17-19).

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).

Luke1:38) Surrender: Mary was submissive. Her response was immediate and brief, only one short sentence, yet it was striking and meaningful.

- The word "handmaid" (doulē PWS: 1848) means slave-girl. Mary was saying that she was a bond-slave, willing to sell herself out completely to God. She would possess herself no longer, but would give herself completely to God.

- God's Word was her will. She surrendered totally to obey God. She would serve as He willed, being completely obedient and fulfilling His purpose entirely. She would act "according to Thy Word."

Imagine what Mary was saying, the enormous depth of her trust and dedication to God.

- There was the idea of being an unwed mother (Luke 1:26f; Matthew 1:18). Who of that day would ever believe Mary's story? Required was a willingness to be available to God regardless of the price.

- There was Joseph's discovery of her pregnancy (Matthew 1:19). The shock of broken trust and of personal embarrassment were more than a person could be expected to bear (Matthew 1:20). Required was a willingness on Joseph's part to forget self completely.

- There was the threat of being condemned to death because of adultery (Deut. 22:23f). She had to face the possibility of being stoned because she would appear to be immoral (cp. John 8:5).

Thought 1. Surrender to God is an absolute essential both for salvation and service.

"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Matthew 12:50).

"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33).

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:17).

"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8).

"Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10).

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways" (Proverbs 23:26).