Immeasurably More
“I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.…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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:16-21
Amazing strength can be found in the most amazing places.
My favorite example of this is a story about a strong man at a circus. At the end of his act, he used to squeeze all the water out of a sponge and then offer $100 to anybody who could squeeze one more drop out of that sponge.
Nobody ever collected, such was his strength, until one day he made the offer, and a skinny, geeky little guy wearing glasses walked up, took the sponge, and squeezed an entire glass of water out of it. The strong man was stunned. "Who are you?" he asked, "and what do you do?"
The little guy said, "I work for the IRS."
Amazing strength in the most unexpected place.
Jesus’ residence brings strength.
The Apostle Paul says something like that is going to happen in those who have come to embrace new life in Christ. You will be strengthened in your inner being as Christ comes to dwell in your heart through faith.
By His Spirit, Jesus will actually take up residence inside you, and He'll convict you of sin, provide you with wisdom, bring thoughts to your mind. He will bring courage to your heart. He'll bring peace to your soul. He'll bring love to your relationships.
In the Greek language in which Paul wrote, there are two main words for “residence.” One of them describes temporary residence, like when you go on vacation and stay overnight someplace. Paul uses it in Ephesians 2 to talk about followers of Jesus as aliens on earth, dwelling here temporarily.
The other word means to settle down somewhere, to make some place your permanent residence, to make it your home. That's the word Paul uses here to describe what Jesus is doing inside you and me. It’s then that this surprising strength comes to your inner being.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…”
How able is our God?
How great is the power that God wants to pour into you? How able is our God? He is able to do what you ask.
But that's not big enough. “He is able to do what you ask and what you imagine.”
But that's not big enough. “He is able to do all you ask and all you imagine.”
But that's not big enough. “He is able to do more than all you ask and more than all you imagine.”
But that's not big enough. “He is able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine."
What if you would seek to have that line take root in your soul?
“He is able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine."
So where do you need God to do immeasurably more in your life? With your character…in your marriage…at your job…in your church? He is able, friend, He is able.
God is able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. Where do you need God to do immeasurably more in your life?
Will you claim that promise and pray that it is displayed? As you do, you will find that amazing strength can be found in the most amazing places.
Prayer:
Lord, I celebrate the fact that, through You, my past is forgiven, and my future is assured. However, I must admit that I have all too often forgotten that part of the gift of salvation is that my present can be transformed. Help me to celebrate this as well. Even more, help me to actualize it.
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