Well, may it please God once
again to help us as we come to the end of this third chapter
in the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians. In this evening we
just take the last two verses, which is verses 20 and 21. And they read, 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, and to him be glory in
the church, by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. These words are really a very
powerful conclusion to this beautiful chapter that we've been able
to meditate on and to recognise that we do have such a great
God. How often we underestimate the
greatness of our God and yet here we're told so very clearly,
now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think. We should never consider that
we have a little God. We should always desire to be
blessed with living faith to come to God in our prayers, with
whatever needs we have, to be blessed with that confidence
in our God that He is able. Indeed, that is able. That is
the God who we come before tonight. As we come before Him in prayer,
may we indeed come before Him believing that He is able. Let us not come with an evil
heart of unbelief. Let us not come with a doubting
spirit. It's very easy to succumb to
such thoughts. But let us consider tonight the
greatness of our God. Because as Paul proved in his
life on so many occasions, wonderful deliverances, indeed a wonderful
personal deliverance in his own spiritual life, that God was
able to do wonderful things and called him on that Damascus road. And as we think of such an occasion,
therefore, let us never be discouraged as we may think of one another
and perhaps pray for one and another, and perhaps think, well,
they are perhaps beyond hope. Well, no one is beyond hope. No one is beyond the reach of
God because he is able. And let's therefore bless God
tonight as we gather together for prayer to come in the same
way that the Apostle Paul does when he says, now unto him, now
unto Him, and it is unto Him that we come tonight, and it
is unto Him that we desire He should have the glory, He should
have the honour, when He does graciously condescend to hear
and answer prayer. And of course it's not only big
things, it's small things, what we might term small things, but
He is able and He is willing to hear and answer our prayers. And so now unto him is able to
do exceeding abundantly. That's a very great expression,
isn't it? Exceeding means when it says
it exceeds really, everything is exceeding and it's abundant. And this is exceeding abundantly. And then he goes on to, by explaining
further, above. So we have this great statement,
that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think. And that's a thought which is
really outside of our ability to really comprehend the majesty,
the greatness of our King. The King of Kings and Lord of
Lords. who is able to do these great
things, exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. And of course, if we run through
the 11th chapter of Hebrews, we'll find there are a number
of instances where God did great things. God brought about what
appeared to be impossible things. And perhaps in our lives, there
may be things that we think are impossible. things which are
impossible with men are possible with God. And here we have a
very great confirmation of that truth, above all that we ask
or think. He goes on to say, according
to the power that worketh in us. Now we know, at least I hope
we know, that power belongeth unto God. God through His Spirit
graciously comes and dispenses that power to us so that we are
blessed with that true faith to believe that we come to that
all-powerful God who is able to do these wonderful things
according to the power that worketh in us. And what a mercy if we
have a little evidence of the power of God in our own lives,
in our spiritual lives, in our providential lives. So often
they are bound together and the providential life directs us
to our spiritual life and we should not therefore be found
trying to separate them. They are separate but sometimes
God graciously joins them together. So according to the power that
worketh in us. And again, we have so many evidences
of God's power. Right through the Old Testament,
right through the New Testament. In the Old Testament, those amazing
occasions when great victories were brought about, were the
power of God. Nothing less than that. In the
New Testament, many miracles brought about by the power of
God. And so we come to that God tonight,
who is all-powerful, according to the power that worketh in
us, through us, by the Holy Spirit. Very humbling, isn't it? And
yet how true it is. God does show forth his power
through his people. for his honour and for his glory. And so as the apostle says, now
to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly of all that we ask
or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto him
be glory in the church by Christ Jesus. It's very clear that these
wonderful blessings the wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit
of God, are for the glory of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. And so we read, unto him be glory. Well, I hope in our lives our
concern is. And as the Lord may encourage
us, and the Lord may bless us, and the Lord may appear for us,
and the Lord may answer prayer, may be to this end unto him be
glory in the Church by Christ Jesus. You see, it is in the
Church where we are able to join together in praise and adoration
for the wonderful love, the wonderful mercy, the wonderful favour of
our blessed Saviour to such unworthy sinners of the earth. And do
we not stand, sometimes I hope we do, and are amazed as we consider
the greatness of God, the compassion of God, the love of God, the
mercy of God toward us, less than the least of all saints,
as the Apostle says. And to him be glory in the church
by Christ Jesus, not just on occasion, throughout all ages,
throughout all ages, world without end. Right through this world
and then of course into that eternity, there will be that
glory to Christ throughout all ages, world without end. And what a mercy if you and I
are partakers of that wonderful time, or should I say that wonderful
eternity, because there is no time to think of that, that we
shall then be able to praise Him far, far better than we are
here upon this earth. Let us come tonight thankful
to God that we have such a God who has done great things, who
is able to do great things. May we come and pray in faith,
nothing wavering. 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. Unto him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.