Asking For More

Immeasurably More!

Ephesians 3:20-21

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

When we kneel before the Father with unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5) and nothing more than filthy rags to offer (Isaiah 64:6), one can’t help but wonder why a holy God would ever listen to our prayers much less take care of us! Even though He made us a little lower than the angels and crowned us with honor and glory (Psalms 8:4-5), whom amongst us in our shame and humility have not struggled with finding the right requests and words that are fitting to ask of a sovereign, all knowing God? Sometimes we don’t ask God for the “small” things of our daily lives because we feel our requests are too insignificant to bother, He who holds this entire universe together (Colossians 1:16)! And due to our lack of faith we often don’t ask God for really “big” things in life out of fear that He won’t grant our request and we end up being heart-broken, feeling rejected or looking foolish to ourselves or to others. After all, whom amongst us has not had their faith weakened when they prayed and God took a long time to answer or simply said NO to their request! Even if we get the courage to state our requests to God, what words does one use to make one’s petitions known? If only we knew how to speak in the voices of angels, then our requests could be made with confidence, rejoicing and thanksgiving in our hearts for what God is about to do in our lives (Philippians 4:4-7)! Today’s sermon is going to review Apostle Paul’s great Doxology and in doing so will reveal with what kind of attitude we are to have when praying to a holy God.

Paul’s Great Doxology

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Perhaps one of the greatest doxologies ever given in the Bible can be found in Ephesians 3:20-21. Paul whom “was accustomed to asking God for extravagant blessings on behalf of his Christian readers (Philippians 1:9, 4:19; Colossians 1:9-14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:3),” had just finished a prayer in which he knelt and asked the Father to strengthen the Ephesians through the power of the Holy Spirit so that they might come to grasp how wide, long, high and deep the love of Christ is and that they might be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God! Whether one “prays on one’s knees (Ezra 9:5; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60, Eph 3:14), lying prostrate (Ezra 10:1; Matt 26:39), with one’s head between one’s knees (1 Kings 18:42), or standing (1 Sam 1:26; Luke 18:11, 13; 1 Tim 2:8),” makes no difference for it was not the kneeling that mattered to Paul but his attitude of prayer, worship and praise of his sovereign God! In his doxology Paul goes beyond his initial requests and boldly states that God can do immeasurably more than even these magnificent requests; He can do anything! The rest of this sermon is going to examine each phrase of Paul’s doxology that is not only the climax of the first half of Ephesians but of His entire letter!

Now to Him who is Able

Paul starts his doxology by saying that God is sovereign. No matter how chaotic this fallen world might seem God’s majesty, strength and rule over all things seen and unseen has always been and will always be a reality (Psalms 93)! Since most Christians do not question this to be true then why are so few going to God in prayer for every concern they have in life? One possible reason is that in our carnal and lukewarmness we are so embarrassed of our filthy rags that we shy away from the light lest He exposes our darkness and demands us to change! Another reason many Christians shy away from bold requests is our “experience with God’s power” is so limited that we tend to look to ourselves or other people rather than to God for help. And for some Christians they simply can’t imagine God who holds everything together (Colossians 1:16) would be mindful of our petty concerns. Paul counters these misconceptions by boldly stating that God’s is not merely concerned with taking care of this vast universe but also in loving and providing for those He calls His own! He who counts every hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30) and sent His Son to atone for our sins (1 John 2:2) is not only capable but ready to do good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28)!