Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

                                                                                                       Ephesians 3:20-21 

Previously, we looked at an amazing prayer from Paul toward the early Christian believers. I believe that today’s passage is the foundation for Paul’s asking such things of God. This is a verse that has meant a great deal to me for over two decades and continues to be a regular staple of my biblical diet. The main reason for this is the tremendous truth that it conveys and how I have seen God’s faithfulness played out in my life through the years.

Paul tells us that, “God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.” Stop and consider the depth of this truth and the impact that this can make on our lives. Whatever you ask of God, whatever you think in your mind, and whatever you can possibly imagine, God is able to do far more than all of it as He consistently goes beyond our expectations.

We need to be aware that there are doctrinal, denominational, or theological philosophies that greatly restrict the “One who is able.” Go back to the day when you were saved. I am willing to bet that your excitement was not in a doctrinal leaning or a denominational stance (although you might have made that decision in a specific church) or a theological philosophy rather your excitement was in knowing Jesus in a personal and saving way. I believe that we need to continue to live with a simple, child-like faith. In addition, I believe that we need to understand that God is able and willing to fulfill this truth in our lives. Think about what it would mean for God to be able yet not willing to do far more beyond what we ask or think. If that is the case then there really isn’t much to celebrate in this passage. But if God is able and willing, then we can live in the power of this truth.

Can Paul say that he had seen this power of God working in his life? A former Pharisee, legalist, and persecutor of the church becoming a gospel preacher, teacher, and writer demonstrates the power of God to do far more abundantly for Paul than he could have ever imagined. Are you experiencing this same work in your life? I have seen, firsthand, the power of God to take someone like myself and do extraordinary things in and through my life. Have I always been faithful and diligent to follow God’s leading in my life? Hardly. Have I seen His faithful regardless of my rebellion and sin? Absolutely! This is the power found in this verse. God will do beyond everything you could ask or imagine. This is in keeping with other scriptural truths such as, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4), or Jesus’ declaration that, “Everyone who asks receives” (Matthew 7:8) or Jesus’ announcement to the centurion that his servant would be healed, “as he had believed” (Matthew 8:13).

But there is more to the passage. God is able to go beyond what we can imagine by the power that is at work in us. A quick review of Paul’s other prayer in this letter reveals the importance for believers to understand the power of God in their lives. In this prayer, Paul prays that, “the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened.” There were several things for which Paul wanted the believers to be enlightened, but among those is the reality of the power of God toward them (Ephesians 1:19). As a believer, do you know the power of God that is toward you? Do you understand that God is accomplishing things beyond what we can imagine by His power in us? This would explain why Paul was asking God to strengthen him with power by the Holy Spirit in his inner man (Ephesians 3:16). This working of God in our lives is essential if we are to live lives of victory in a lost and fallen world.

Considering all of this, it is no wonder that Paul ends this portion of his letter with a declaration of praise to God for such wondrous works. “To Him (God) be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” What an amazing statement! We can praise God for being a God who is truly able to do far more abundantly beyond what we can ever ask or think! Is this the reality of God in your life? I certainly hope that it is!