One of our dynamic small churches is Small Church
28. They began meeting today at 8 .15 in the
morning. Some of them with young children, nonetheless,
were able to be out at that early hour to allow
us a little more breathing space in these two
other hours that we come together. This morning
they had breakfast down there and the men cooked
it. I want to tell you, it was really good. It
was really good. They had something called Egg
Souffle, I think. Was that the name of it? Something
close to that, anyway. It was quite delicious.
They started cooking last night and had it ready
by this morning. I do think that they slept overnight
and finished it up this morning. Thank you for
that invitation, and God bless you and your ministry
in that hour. God is doing some great things
in our small churches. When I was a youngster,
I recall the congregation standing at the start
of absolutely every Sunday morning service and
singing together the doxology as the choir came
in. At that time, I thought doxology was the
name of that particular piece. But since then,
I've found out that the word doxology is used
in other ways. It's not just the name of that
one common chorus that we sometimes sing. But
actually the word doxology is from the Greek
language, and it means to speak praise. There
are many doxologies of God. One of them is the
force in our text today in Ephesians chapter
3, verses 20 and 21. Paul closes this first section
of his epistle, chapters 1 through 3, with this
doxology of praise to God. It serves also as
the climax or the high point of the book. After
building a mountain of truth, telling us who
we are in Jesus Christ, in the next three chapters
of the book, he's going to allow that truth to
trickle down into our lives, practically, touching
every area where we live. So today we're at the
mountain peak. We're at the summit of the truth,
and here he voices praise to the Lord. The statement
of praise not only blesses God, but it also stimulates
us. It stimulates us to act upon what we've studied,
that we might live it out. I think as we look
at these verses, we can ask three simple questions
to open it up to our understanding. There are
the simple questions, who, what, and how. Who
is in view in these verses? The answer, of course,
is God the Father. In fact, we have here suggested
to us another of his Trinitarian statements,
to him who is able. In verse 21, he mentions
in Christ Jesus. And again in verse 20, he talks
about the power that works within us, and comparing
that with verse 16, we know that to be the Holy
Spirit. And so when he says to him who is able,
we know that he is speaking of God the Father.
God the Father is the object of all glory and
praise. Even our Lord Jesus Christ ascribed glory
to him. In John 13, 31, after Judas had gone
out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified,
and God is glorified in him. In his high priestly
prayer, our Lord Jesus said, I have glorified
thee on the earth. And so the purpose of the
Lord Jesus being in the world was, yes, to give
himself as a ransom for us sinners. But overarching
that and every other purpose, it was that he
might glorify God the Father. And even now he
answers prayer for that same purpose. In John
14, 13, it says, Jesus speaking, Whatever you
ask in my name, that will I do that the Father
may be glorified in the Son. So God the Father
is the object of praise and worship. And why
is that? It's because he is glorious in his attributes.
The word attributes refers to his nature, what
describes God. We've seen a number of those already
here in Ephesians. For example, back in chapter
1 and verse 4, it says that he chose us in him,
in Christ, before the foundation of the world.
Here we have the eternality of God. God had no
beginning. The world, time and space, All of
that had a beginning, but before it was, there
was God, and God was acting. God is eternal.
In verse 5, he reminds us, not only did he choose
us in Christ, but he predestined us to adoption
as sons. And so here we have the sovereignty
of God. God is a great king and worthy of all
praise. He is the king of kings and lord of lords.
He is sovereign. In verse 6, we have mentioned
one of many times, his grace. Another of his
attributes. Again in verse 8, it mentions the
wisdom and insight of God. Again in chapter 3,
it mentions his wisdom as an attribute. In chapter
1, verse 19, he talks about the power which he
can demonstrate toward us and has in Christ's
resurrection and ascension. And so here we have
the power that is God's. He is omnipotent, all
-powerful. In chapter 2, verse 4, we have the
word mercy used. And again in that same verse,
the word love. Both of those attributes of God.
So why does Paul praise God? It is because he
has just expressed to us in these chapters the
attributes of God. Now he tells us in our text
that there are two specific works which show
forth the glorious attributes of God. He tells
us in verse 21, to him be the glory in the church,
first of all. The church, the body of the redeemed
during this age, you and I who are born again
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The church
serves as a vessel to display the reality of
God to a watching world. All of the attributes
that have been listed for us. in these chapters
are exhibited in the experience of the church.
They all relate to us. And so he says that to
him be the glory first in the church, because
God wants to demonstrate his glories as God in
our lives, in our fellowship as a body of believers.
We're not just here to have a social time on
Sunday morning. We are here to worship God and
to be instructed so that then we might go out
and impact our world for the glory of God. But
secondly, he says, to him be the glory in Christ
Jesus. All of God's attributes are fully made
visible in Christ. As the writer of Hebrews says,
he is the exact representation of God's nature
or God's essence. In other words, all that God
is, is found in Christ Jesus, the Son. Paul says
in Colossians 1 .15, In him, in Christ, all the
fullness of deity dwells in bodily form. That's
Colossians 2 .9. In him, in Christ, all the fullness
of deity dwells in bodily form. And then Colossians
1 .15, He is the image. of the invisible God.
We cannot see God. He is spirit. But he has made
himself visible in the Son, in Christ. So all
that God is and his glorious attributes can be
seen in Christ Jesus. And oh, how God was glorified
in his Son and still is today as his Son works
in our lives. God's glory is to be manifested
everlastingly. As he exists forever, so his praise
must exist forever. There are two phrases in
verse 21 which combine to signify the unending
nature of his glory. Notice those. To him be
the glory to all generations forever and forever.
Notice first all generations. You are a part
of some generation. At any time on the earth
there is a mingling of generations. For a generation
exists from the birth of the parents to the birth
of their children. And so there's not an exact
time frame on that. But that is a generation
from the birth of the parent until that parent
has his children. That is a generation. And what
is said here is that God's praise is to all generations.
Now, we might think that is limited to time,
but it's one of those phrases in the Bible that
means not just time, but eternity as well. We
see that, for example, in Psalm 102 and verse
12, where it says, But thou, O Lord, dost abide
forever, notice that, and by name to all generations.
Now, in the Hebrew poetry, that parallelism is
significant. What does all generations mean?
It means forever. But then the apostle goes on
to state that clearly, for he says, not only
to all generations, but forever and ever. Literally,
he says, to the age of the ages. That is a phrase
that is found a number of times in the New Testament.
It is found exactly like that. Sometimes it's
called just the age or the ages. In 2 Peter 3
.18, it says, both now and to the day of eternity.
In Jude 25, his praise is said to be before all
time and now and forever, or literally unto the
ages. God is eternal, that is, God is timeless,
and God gives to us eternal life. But we have
a beginning. We will have no end, but we are
really everlasting, not eternal. We had a beginning,
but there is no end to us. And the way that the
Bible expresses our everlastingness, is to say
that we will be to the age of the ages. Forever
and ever we will be in heaven or hell as people,
as individuals. God's praise, likewise, is everlasting.
To all ages and all generations, to God be the
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Now
the second question we want to look at is this
question of what. What is said here? about God
the Father? Well, Paul's emphasis is that he
is able. He says, to him who is able to do exceeding
abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. That's
what is said about God, to whom be the glory.
Notice the building of the thought here. Notice
how it builds. There really are ten stones of
truth. that are put together. They form a marvelous
temple of praise to God. The first one is just
simply the word he, God. The second stone says
he is, he is. You could preach a sermon on that.
The third stone, he is able. What that means
is that he, who is, possesses inherent power.
He possesses the power of his own life to perpetuate
himself without being diminished. He is able.
All power is there in that. But it goes on to
say, fourthly, he is able to do. God is not a
God who is silent and still. God is a God who
is acting. He is able to do. But then notice
it goes on to say, he is able to do what you
ask. That is a real turn on for prayer. He is
able to do what you ask. But he doesn't stop
at that point. He says he is able to do what
you ask or think. Or the idea seems to be imagined.
God is able to do what you ask or what you imagine,
what you dream. But he doesn't stop there. He
says he is able to do all you ask or think. Beyond
that, he says, he is able to do beyond all that
you ask or think. But he doesn't stop at that
point. He says he is able to do abundantly beyond
all you ask or think. One more stone to finish
off this temple of praise. He says he is able
to do exceeding abundantly beyond all you ask
or think. Do you notice how that builds? There's
excitement here in what God is able to do. What
is the greatest thing that you've ever asked
God to do? What is the prayer request that stretched
you just to say it to God? God is able to do
that. Whatever thought you have that you can
put into words, whatever the request may be that
you have of him, God is able to do exceedingly,
abundantly beyond that. As you look back in your
life, what's the greatest thing you've ever asked
God for? Has it been worthy of God? This God?
Let's ask a second question. How far can your
imagination stretch? What are the dreams? that
you've had that you've not even expressed to
others, but particularly to God at this point?
I mean, the dream or the imagination seems so
out of the realm of the possible that you have
toyed with it in your own mind. You've thought
about it, but you've not even been able to ask
it of God. Do you recognize what he is saying
here about God as he's able to fulfill that for
you? Now, it doesn't mean that God is a genie
in a bottle who's ready to do every bid and wish
of his children. But what it means is that in
the accomplishing of his purpose and his will
in the world, he chooses to work in your mind
and your imagination to bring about those purposes.
Don't think it's by accident that you ask those
things, that you dream about those things. Beyond
you personally, what are the dreams, the imaginations
that you have for the ministry of your small
church? Or that Bible study group that you have?
What would you like to see God do in that group?
And then to take it to another realm, what is
it that you would like to see God do in Grace
Church? An area of burden that you have. What
is something you've asked God for? Or something
you've dreamed about, you've imagined? That's
one of the reasons we're getting together in
Project 2000, so that we can share some of those
things and verbalize them. I tell you, when we
get together and the interaction starts with
10 or 12 or 16 people sitting down in a room,
a living room, together, and just begin dreaming,
brainstorming together, it's going to be amazing
what's going to happen. It's going to be an exciting
evening. But what this verse tells us is that
God is not only able to do those things, but
he's able to go far beyond anything that has
entered into our minds. We cannot even imagine
at this point what God is able to do. If God
could raise Jesus from the dead and change the
destiny of sinners from hell to heaven, if he
could reconcile Jew and Gentile through the cross,
if he could make of the two one new body so that
they're reconciled in peace. if God could open
the way to his holy presence through the sacrifice
of his Son, surely he is able to do all that
he has purposed. Our prayers cooperate with God
in this. We can ask much, but do you recognize
that God can do much more? Much more than you
can ask? This adverb that's translated exceeding
or exceedingly abundantly beyond is used only
two other times in the New Testament. In 1 Thessalonians
3 .10, we day and night keep praying exceedingly
abundantly, says Paul. And it's used again in
that same book in chapter 5, verse 13, where
he says, esteem your leaders exceedingly abundantly
in love because of their work. What does that
word mean? Well, it means overflowing all bounds,
beyond all measure. It is a word that is the
highest form of comparison that's possible. Skevington
Wood says, God's capacity to meet his people's
spiritual needs far exceeds anything they can
either request in prayer or conceive by way of
anticipation. That's what it says about God.
Let's ask that third question, how? How does
God achieve this? How is it that he goes about
accomplishing? He's able, but how does he do
it? Well, he tells us. He says it is according
to the power that works within us. That's how
God does it. Yes, God could have a pillar of
power. cloud and fire. Of course, God could part
the waters today as he did back then. God could
intervene with the announcement of angels, and
someday he's going to, in the events of the world,
supernaturally intervene. But right now, God
chooses to show that he is able to do through
us. according to the power working within us.
In the first place, notice that that power is
potent. It works. It's effective power. God's
power is not just latent. It's not merely potential
power. But God's power is active. It is working.
It is effectual. It's potent. And secondly, it's
personal. Because it is power that works within
us. This power is represented personally to us
by the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit lives
in us. He dwells inside us. God has called his
children out of darkness to light. He has called
us forth from the realm of death to inherit eternal
life. He has raised us from the degradation and
shame of sin so that we might sit enthroned with
Christ in the heavenlies. That's how powerful,
how potent, how real this might of God is. What
he says here is that God is able to use you to
accomplish his mighty ends and for his glory.
Jesus made one of the most amazing statements
the night before he was crucified. He said to
his disciples that he had to go back to the Father,
but the greater things than he did, they would
do. How could it possibly be that greater things
would be done by his followers than by himself?
How do you improve upon raising the dead? Feeding
thousands of people with a few loaves and fishes.
Touching the blind and making them see. How do
you get greater than that? Well, the answer is
that he's not talking about doing greater things
in quality. We can't do greater things qualitatively
than Jesus Christ did. But he's talking about
doing greater things in quantity. Because you
see, his earthly ministry was limited to a few
square miles in this world. One place for just
a few brief months. About 36 of them. That was
his ministry. Jesus was saying there, you who
are my disciples will be throughout the world.
And in quantity, you will do greater things than
what I have done in this brief time. Don't ever
say that God could never use you in that situation
that confronts you. Because God can use you there.
Not because you're something, but because of
who he is and what is true about him. You have
the resources within you to do anything, absolutely
anything and everything that he has called you
to do. There is no limitation to that. Are you
today facing a tough marriage situation? God
can give you the power to hang in there. Are
you seeking to witness to a hardened co -worker
and you feel, hey, I give up, I can't do it?
God can use you to witness to that person. Do
you sense the call of God to some ministry? To
a mission field? That's beyond me. I can't do
it. Yes, you can do it. Don't pull Moses' trick.
God can use you, despite the weaknesses that
all of us have. And may I say, have by design.
Have by design. God's power is able to use us.
Indeed, that is his plan. It is only we ourselves
who limit what God would do. We box God in by
our lack of faith. We, sadly, can become like
the people of Nazareth who fail to believe him
and who therefore miss the mighty works that
he would do in our midst. God would today show
himself mighty on your behalf, and God can do
it. And he lives in you to do it. You are a living
advertisement for the glory of God. God has built
into your life tremendous potential. He has placed
it there to be released. But we have a responsibility.
And that is that we might draw upon that resource.
That we might get a hold of what this verse says.
is able and live and act in the light of it.
And instead of saying, Lord, I can't do that,
saying, God, I will do it. I don't know how except
that you are able. I will step out. I will obey.
I will do that because you are able. Henry Varley
was a British evangelist in the last century.
greatly used of God in various parts of the world,
including this country, briefly. Henry Varley
was preaching one time and made the statement,
It remains for the world to see, he said, what
the Lord can do with a man wholly consecrated
to Christ. There was a young preacher by the
name of Dwight Moody who heard that and went
out from the meeting and in prayer privately
said, God, by your grace, I want to be that man.
And God greatly used him. Though he only had
less than half of a grade school education, he
spoke before the mightiest people of his generation,
and God used him, just as he used Butcher Varley,
as he was called, because that was his vocation.
He was a butcher turned preacher. You want to
talk about Gypsy Smith? Ragamuffin? Little kid?
Inner city type, as we would say today. One day
there was an evangelist, Moody, who went out
to the camp where he and his parents were living.
And just as a little boy, he was there at the
carriage as Moody and Sank were getting ready
to leave. Moody put his hand on his head and
prayed for him and said, God, make this boy a
preacher. That kid who had nothing going for
him became a world -renowned preacher and evangelist
used of God. It may not be in that way that God's
going to use you and me. We may never be famous
as the world counts it, but hey, listen. God
has a purpose for your being here, and God has
put in you all that you need to achieve that
potential. I beg of you, do not come short of
that. But realize God's power in your life, that
he is able. It is still true today that it remains
for the world to see what the Lord can do with
a man, with a woman, wholly consecrated to Christ.
Will you be that man? By God's grace, will you
be that woman? God is able. Are you willing?
Oh, Lord, increase our faith. Forgive us when
we box you in and make you man -sized. I pray
that you will fill every child of yours in this
auditorium with a burning zeal to know your full
potential in his or her life. Lord, let none
of us be satisfied. with second best or tenth
best, but pressed to know the very heart of God's
will. Lord, if there are some of your children
who are struggling today, wondering if you're
able, show them. Remind them even in this moment
to give themselves fully to you and to watch
you at work, because you are able to do all.
that we ask or even imagine, but then exceeding
abundantly beyond all of that, you are able.
I pray that you will accomplish your full potential
in us as a church. Cause us to realize the real
reason that you have planted us here in the Twin
Cities. Lord, never allow us to look back. Don't
allow us to rest upon what you've done, but give
us a hunger and a push and a zeal to go on, because
you are able. Our heads are bowed, our eyes are
closed. I wonder what that particular point of
the Spirit of God is in your life this morning.
My friend, he's able. He is. He really is. according
to the power that is at work right now in your
life, he is able. Will you make him Lord afresh?
Will you ask him to stir your heart with a new
vision? To believe him for the big things? God
has a way of using people who dream of things
bigger than they themselves are. Will you be
that kind of person? Seek ye first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you. Amen. Would you stand
with me, please? I want you to say those three
words with me. He is able. Let's say them together.
He is able. And he is. Lord, our God, dismiss
us, I pray, with that confidence in our hearts
and with a faith that has grasped it and is believing
and acting upon it for the glory of your great
name in the church and in Christ Jesus to all
generations forever and ever. You're dismissed.