Look What God Could Do!
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Review Sermon Theme - Look at what God has done.
Review last weeks passage - Psalm 103:1-5
Review last weeks sermon in a sentence - Bless the Lord for what He has done for you!
ENGAGE
Vision is a crucial part of leadership. No vision, death of an organization. This is why, in large part, some organizations thrive (even during adversity) while others simply cease to exist. Vision says, “This is where we are going.” Mission is the vehicle that drives us there.
Proverbs 29:18 says this clearly. “Where vision is lacking, people perish.”
The ESV does an even better job of helping us understand the author’s intent...
Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
Do you understand the point of the author? Prophetic vision is vision that is from God. We understand this a vision that is rooted in the scriptures. Without a God/Scripture saturated vision, a vision based in truth, God’s people will cast off restraint - everyone did that which was right in their own eyes. This, of course, can lead to death.
ENCOUNTER
But before we get to this kind of vision, we must have a confidence in our God and His truth. Do we believe He is capable of accomplishing anything of lasting, eternal value? Is God up to the task? Is the God of the Bible, in fact, worthy?
Is God capable of helping us with a vision for ABC?
For those of us who know God, we know the answer to these questions.
And the answer is a confident and resounding - YES!!
Main Idea - Always Remember What Our God is Capable Of!
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and especially his prayer at the end of chapter 3, answers this for us. Let’s take a look at his prayer and then look specifically at verses 20-21 to see what our God is capable of!
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Isn’t this an amazing prayer! Do you see the things he prays for, for the people of the church in Ephesus?
May he grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit...
You are, by faith, rooted and grounded in love
That you would understand the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ that is incomprehensible.
That you may be filled with ALL THE FULLNESS of God!
This is quite a prayer. Well beyond the average prayer of, “Dead God please bless my wife, bless my children, bless my friends, etc. And this absolutely beautiful prayer is concluded with an ever more astounding doxology that teaches us the capability of our God.
Before we look at our vision for ABC in 2022, let be reminded about the sovereignty, transcendence and omnipotence, of our God from this powerful doxology.
There are three things we should remember in regards to God’s capabilities...
1. God’s Ability is Beyond Our Imagination (vs. 20a)
Ephesians 3:20a “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think...”
Explain - Paul’s impromptu, passionate praise is clear - God is ABLE!
Look at the first part of verse 20 - “Now to him...”
God is the one Paul is speaking about! God is the him and Paul has been speaking about His ability since chapter 1, especially chapter 3:16-19.
Ephesians 3:16-19
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
“…who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think...”
Consider the substantial superlatives Paul uses to build his powerful verbal tower of praise! The words he uses build on one another to the place where they demonstrate the reality that our God is the most capable of actions that we cannot even conceive of in our limited thinking.
Illustrate - Sometimes kid’s songs really get it right.
“He is able, he is able, I know He is able. I know my Lord is able to carry me through.”
“He heals the broken hearted and sets the captives free. He made the lame to walk again and he caused the blind to see.”
“He is able, he is able, I know He is able. I know my Lord is able to carry me through.”
Not only is our God beyond our comprehension, what He is capable of is as well.
Apply - This concept of our God should motivate our prayer first and foremost. Because of God omnipotent capability...
Prayer should be our first action not our last resort!
What is your prayer life like these days?
Arrow prayer - good, but is this your only prayer to the Lord?
Personal worship time - Good!
Pray the scriptures! - Good!
Review - Always Remember What Our God is Capable Of!
God’s ability is beyond our imagination
Transition - You probably knew that, but did you know this?
2. God’s Power is Demonstrated Through His People (vs. 20b)
Ephesians 3:20b “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”
Explain - Okay, this is where Paul’s powerful praise gets really interesting. Do you see what Paul says here?
“according to the power at work within us...”
Think this through with me folks - God is ABLE to do whatever He wants, far more than we ask or think - How?
According to His OMNIPOTENT POWER that is at work within EACH follower of Jesus - including you!
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Illustrate - Story on how God made a difference in someone’s life through his people.
Apply - Do you realize that God can do whatever he wants to do - he is all-powerful?
And even still He has chosen to work through you and me?
God displays His power thought His people! How?
Their love for one another
Their collective faith in God
Their good deeds for one another and the world.
Their sacrifice
Okay, in light of this profound revelation, how do you see God working through you?
Remember, we live out our sanctification within the Divine/human cooperative!
You are the only Jesus some will ever see. You are the only bible some will ever read.
How is God working through you? What are you doing to grow in your usability?
Review - Always Remember What Our God is Capable Of!
God’s ability is beyond our imagination
God’s power is demonstrated through His people!
Transition -
3. God’s Glory is Never Ending In Christ and His Body (vs 21)
Ephesians 3:21 “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Explain - This is the result of God’s power working thought His people - His Glory!
Glory (fame, renown, appreciation, honor, majesty, the splendor of His presence).
His glory is in His people, the church -
But, according to this passage, His glory is in Christ, the head of His church -
And His glory (his renown, honor, will be in the church and in Jesus has affected and will continue to affect all generation past, present, and future. I mean, consider the implications of Christ and his church in the previous generations...
Illustrate -
Hospitals
Schools
Societies that are built on the principles of God and His word.
The advantage communities receive because of the Church - Food, clothing, shelter, etc.
Spiritual counsel
Salvation of souls.
These things and more are the results / benefits of Christ and His Church.
And this impact will last eternally for those who believe and for those who reject.
Notice how Paul finishes this doxology?
“AMEN” - a strong affirmation of what is declared, what is true.
Apply - You, if you are in Christ are a part of something much greater than your finite self. You are part of a rescue plan that stretches throughout the centuries from the very begining of time. And will last until time is no more.
I think this truth should cause you to take risks for the Lord.
Review - Always Remember What Our God is Capable Of!
God’s ability is beyond our imagination
God’s power is demonstrated through His people!
God’s glory is never ending in Christ and His body!
Transition -
EMPOWER
So, what could God do through us in 2022? It’s exciting to think about.
First of all, as individuals, would you please ask yourself this question? “What could God do in 2022?
And then we, as a corporate body should ask the same question of ourselves and then pursue it with great energy!
Each year we have had a theme of pursuit.
2014 - Equipping the Saints to do the Work of the Ministry
2015 - Bear One Another’s Burdens
2016 - God Cannot Use Your Silence - Share the Love of Jesus
2017 - Moving Forward On Your Knees - Being a Church of Prayer
2018 - Be On Make One -
2019 - You Are Gifted! - Know and Use Your Gift
2020 - Building the Church through the Gospel
2021 - Strengthen this Body Through Your Faithfulness
Let me share with you the goals I laid out to the elders for 2022...
Finish ABC’s First Building Project
Raise enough money through RUAB Phase 2 to be debt free
Implement Preferred Culture ideas
Pursue Church Reproduction Path
Start an Elder development program
Add three new elders in the next two years
Counseling Ministry
Marriage Retreat Ministry
Church History/Historical Theology class to our S.T. Lineup
Update Constitution and develop a church handbook
2022 - Grow to Lead Like Jesus!
I want 2022 to be a year of focusing on leadership development. This is a natural outgrowth of discipleship and will set us up for many of the goals that I listed.
Someone once invested in me. He went to bat for me at my church and pursued opportunities for me to grow in my leadership abilities. If it weren’t for MAC, I wouldn’t be standing before you today.
So, our existing leaders need to lead well by serving other. They also need to invest in others.
And those who desire to grow into godly leaders, need to humbly pursue leaders to invest in them.
Connection Group Reflection Questions
1. What do these verses teach me about our character?
2. What do these verses teach me about God and his character?
3. Because these words are from God, they are TRUTH! What truth is he asking me to believe?
4. What do I need to do to obey him?
5. With whom can I share these truths?