A Great Doxology

Winnie the Pooh and Piglet were walking along he road in companionable silence. Then Piglet asks Pooh: "When you wake up in the morning, what do you say?"

Pooh answered, "I say, ’What’s for breakfast?’ What do you say, Piglet?"

Piglet answers, "I say, ’I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen today?’"

Paul started praying for the believers in Ephesus in verse 1 of Ephesians 3. However, he then broke off into a digression in which he talked about the mystery of the gospel which had been revealed to him (namely, that God was making a new family of believers out of saved Jews and Gentiles), and about the ministry of the gospel to which God had called him. Then, in verse 14, the Paul got back to praying for the Ephesians.

Paul's prayer for the family of believers in Ephesians 3:14-19 is really a marvelous prayer consisting of four petitions. He prayed that believers would be strengthened with power so that they might do all that Christ calls them to do, particularly in dealing with their sin. He also prayed that believers would have Christ dwelling in them so that Christ might make them more and more like him. Furthermore, he prayed that believers would know Christ's love so that they might comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of this love. And finally, Paul petitioned God that believers would be filled with all the fullness of God so that they may know him better and better now and in eternity. Finally, Paul concluded his prayer with a great doxology.

Let's read Paul's great doxology in Ephesians 3:20-21.

Ephesians 3:20–21 NKJV

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.

After contemplating such a marvelous spiritual experience, it is no wonder Paul bursts forth in a doxology, a fitting benediction to such a prayer.

Notice again the trinitarian emphasis in this benediction: Paul prays to God the Father, concerning the indwelling power of God the Spirit, made available through God the Son.

Paul seems to want to use every word possible to convey to us the vastness of God’s power as found in Jesus Christ. He has ended each of the two previous chapters with praise to God for His great victory in Christ.

He tells us that Christ’s power is so great He arose from the dead and ascended far above all (Eph. 1:19–23).

He teaches us that His power is so great He has reconciled Jews and Gentiles to each other, and to God; and that He is now building a temple to the eternal glory of God (Eph. 2:19–22).

But in the paragraph before us, Paul shares the exciting truth that this far above all power is available to us!

It is even “above all that we ask or think.” In other words, the power of Christ, like the love of Christ, is beyond human understanding or measurement. And this is just the kind of power you and I need if we are to walk and war in victory.

We’ll look at three things this morning:

1. What Is God Able to Do? (3:20a-b)

2. How Is God Able to Do It? (3:20c-d)

3. Why Is God Able to Do It? (3:21)

What Is God Able to Do? (20a-b)

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

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,

Paul notes that God is able to do two things.

A. God is able to do more than we ask. (20a)

Paul said in verse 20a, "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask…." There is only one word in the Greek text (hyperekperissou) for what is translated in English as "excedingly abundantly."

It means "an extraordinary degree, involving a considerable excess over what would be expected." So, the Paul was saying, "God is able to do considerably more than all that we ask."

Our prayers are so small, aren't they?

We ask for success when we really need humility, security when we really need boldness, comfort when we really need character, and health when we really need holiness.

We ask for what we think is best for us, but God in his marvelous grace is able to give us far more than all that we ask. He knows what will make us more like Christ in our walk with him.

ILL. There’s the story about a childless woman named Mary Nelson. In 1983 Mary was working in her garden in St. Louis, praying while she worked. She asked God to help not only in her grief for the absence of children in her life, but also in her bitter awareness of women who could have children but choose to abort them.

The absence of a child in her home created such a longing for life in her heart that Mary asked God, there in the garden, to help her give life to children in whatever way he would lead.

Nine months later, Mary "gave birth" to the first Pregnancy Resource Center in St. Louis, and since that time literally thousands of children have been spared due to the prayers and labors of Mary Nelson and others who have followed her. She, who once asked to be a life-giving mother to one, has become life-saving mother to thousands.

God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask.

B. God Is Able to Do More Than We Think (3:20b)

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

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,

“Above all that we ask or think...”

This is so staggering! Not only is God able to far more abundantly than all that we ask, he is in fact able to do far more abundantly than all that we can even think!

How often has God done something in your life, and you have not even thought about it?

I mean, who even thinks about getting cancer? But, God in his infinite wisdom allows cancer because he is working all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (cf. Romans 8:28).

As I’ve heard one person put it, "God's greatness allows me to believe in his good will even when something I ask for is not answered when I desire or how I think." God's greatness is always designed for his glory and our good.

God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or even think.

II. How Is God Able to Do It? (3:20c-d)

The second question is: How is God able to do it?

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

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,

Paul showed us that God is able to do it in two ways.

A. God Is Able to Do It Sovereignly (3:20c)

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

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,

God's power is immense. In fact, God is all-powerful. He is supremely powerful.

The word “power” is again dunamis, which we met back in Ephesians 3:7; and “working” is energeia (energy) found in Ephesians 1:11, 19; 2:2; 3:7; and 4:16.

Some power is dormant; it is available, but not being used, such as the power stored in a battery.

But God’s energy is effectual power—power at work in our lives. This power works in us, in the inner man (Eph. 3:16). Philippians 2:12–13 are parallel verses, so be sure to read them. It is the Holy Spirit who releases the resurrection power of Christ in our lives.

How powerful is God? God spoke the entire universe into existence. He merely said, "Let there be light," and there was light (Genesis 1:3). He said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters" and there was heaven (Genesis 1:6-7). And so on.

God's power worked in the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Gideon, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Nehemiah, and the people of Israel.

God's covenant was moving forward inexorably toward the arrival of his promised Messiah. And God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to be born of a virgin named Mary.

Eventually, Jesus was crucified, but God's power raised him back to life three days later.

God's power is still working today as more than 2 billion people have been regenerated by him. The Church of Jesus Christ is expanding, and the gates of hell shall not overcome it.

So, dear friend, God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think because he is able to use his sovereign power to accomplish what he wants to do.

B. God Is Able to Do It Personally (3:20d)

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

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,

It is working in us...

This is something that should cause us to rejoice. God does not work in impersonal ways. Instead, his sovereign power is at work within us!

Do you believe that? It seems to me that we love heroes. We look at the heroes of the faith, people like Jonathan Edwards, or Amy Carmichael, or Elizabeth Elliot, and we have no trouble believing that God was at work within them. But God at work within us? Now, that is when we have trouble believing God and his word, isn't it?

But, think of a woman at the Crisis Pregnancy Center counseling a young teenager not to abort her baby;

A dad who teaches young children in a Sunday school class what it means to know Jesus as Lord and Savior;

A wife who has determined to love her husband even though he has betrayed her love through adultery;

A man who refuses to be dishonest in his work despite his boss's pressure to do so;

From their perspective they may not believe that God is at work within them. But, dear friend, God is powerfully at work within them. God is powerfully at work in every Christian who lives in obedience to God and his word.

So, how is God able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think? He is able to do so according to his power at work within us. He is able to do so sovereignly and personally.

III. Why Is God Able to Do It? (3:21)

Finally, the third question is: Why is God able to do it?

Ephesians 3:21 NKJV

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Paul stated that God was able to do it for two reasons.

A. God Is Able to Do It to Be Glorified in the Church (3:21a)

Ephesians 3:21 NKJV

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The church is of course the fellowship in which God is gathering believers from every corner on earth together. The church is God's chosen instrument through which his purposes for this earth and for eternity are accomplished.

It is in the church where people come to know Christ, grow in Christ, serve Christ, share Christ, and worship Christ.

Jesus Christ himself said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). God will glorify himself in the church because God's sovereign power is at work within each believer.

B. God Is Able to Do It to Be Glorified in Christ Jesus (3:21b)

Ephesians 3:21 NKJV

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God will be glorified not only in the church, but he will also be glorified in his Son, Jesus Christ.

"The power comes from him; the glory must go to him. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus together, in the body and in the Head, in the bride and in the Bridegroom, in the community of peace and in the Peacemaker."

Moreover, God will be glorified "throughout all generations [that is, in history], forever and ever [that is, in eternity]. Amen" (3:21c).

Conclusion

Therefore, having analyzed Ephesians 3:20-21, let us praise God for his greatness.

The church’s greatest ministry is yet to come. What we do here and now is preparing us for the eternal ages, when we shall glorify Christ forever.

He is able to do all—above all—abundantly above all—exceeding abundantly above all!

Get your hands on your spiritual wealth by opening your heart to the Holy Spirit, and praying with Paul for strength for the inner man … for a new depth of love … for spiritual apprehension … and for spiritual fullness.

“Ye have not because ye ask not” (James 4:2).