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Tonight, we will continue our study of [Praying with Paul].
The title of my message is, [Exceeding our Expectations].
For a few weeks, we have looked at one of the prayers Paul prayed for the Ephesians.
I have had some special times of prayer in my office.
I will kneel at my chair.
I do not generally stay there very long before I get up and begin walking around praying.
Sometimes, I will move from my office to the sanctuary, spending time in prayer for our church.
More often than not, in those times of prayer, God will speak something to me or I will pray something He led me to pray.
When I conclude my time with Him, I will go to my office, open by prayer journal and begin to write what I prayed about.
Periodically, I will thumb through the journal and look back to the specific requests I have made.
Sometimes I wrote something I forgot about and will feel pleasantly surprised at how God answered.
Perhaps that is what Paul did.
He wanted God to help the Ephesian church grow in Him.
Maybe he knelt down and called on God for a while.
After getting up from his time in prayer, maybe he wrote down his requests:
God grant them the ability to grasp your glory
Generously pour out your Spirit
Dwell in their hearts through faith
Let them experience the depths of your love
As I have mentioned in this passage, we should envision each verse as a step on a staircase.
Each step takes us closer to the open door at the top, enabling us to mature and grow in Christ.
I love the way Paul concludes his prayer for the Ephesians.
He moved beyond what he asked God to do and begins to express his gratitude for God’s ability to do more than He could ever imagine.
God knows what He wants for us better than we know what we want for ourselves.
After Paul listed what He prayed, listen to what He explained:
There are three words I want us to focus on in 3:20, [Able], [Abundantly], and [According].
Let’s begin
1.
Able
Able is defined, having sufficient power, skill, or resources to do something.
capable
experienced
fit
fitted
skilled
expert
qualified
Paul emphasized God’s ability, which is vastly different than our ability.
I am able to read fairly quickly, but I was not born with this skill.
I am able to play the piano, read music or type fast, but these abilities took time and practice.
Likewise, there are many things I am unable to do.
I cannot build anything, especially without instructions.
I cannot lift heavy weights or play sports.
I know my skill set.
I have a grasp on what I can and cannot do.
But that is not the case with God.
There is NOTHING beyond His grasp or reach.
He is able to do ANYTHING.
To think, He has the ability to save from sin.
If He can take someone who is walking in darkness and bring them into the light, nothing is too hard for Him.
But He will also keep us.
God is able to save us and keep us.
Why is He able?
Because of who HE is, He is God, and nothing is too hard for Him.
When we pray, we must always remember He is able.
Nothing is too hard for Him.
2. Abundantly
Paul points out that God is able to do abundantly.
Abundantly means, existing or occurring in large amounts
plentiful
full
rich
filled
generous
lavish
ample
infinite
overflowing
Jesus explained what happens to us when we come to Him.
Paul understood what it meant to walk in God’s abundance, and it does not only have to do what what we HAVE.
Paul explained what HE wanted from God, but he also wanted the Ephesians to know, He is able to let you live an abundant life.
It hit me as I wrote this message, we often equate abundance with what we have or don’t have.
I believe that God blesses us and helps us.
However, God abundantly pours out:
His Grace
His Healing
His Love
His Mercy
His Kindness
And the amazing part is God never runs out, His storehouse is abundantly filled to overflowing.
Paul’s point, God is able to do abundantly, immeasurably more than we could ever ask or think.
Try to imagine the best gift we could receive from God.
He can top that.
Try to think of the one prayer we would like answered.
He can top that too.
There is no limit to what God can do to us and for us.
Paul told the Ephesians what he wanted God to do, but he lets us know that God is able and abundant...
3.
According
How does God exceed our expectations?
He does so according to the power that works in us.
I know I am emphasize the Holy Spirit often.
Rightfully so.
I want us to get it in our minds and settle it in our hearts— we need the Holy Spirit.
When we think of God, remember:
Father is seated on the throne
Son is at the right hand of God
Holy Spirit is working in and through us
Paul knew the importance of God’s power.
There is a difference between knowing about God’s power and personally experiencing God’s power.
Prior to his conversion, he knew about the God of the Old Testament, who performed great exploits and displayed His power.
But it was not until he was born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit that he had a personal experience with the power of God.
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