November 19 2025

Wednesday November 19

“Exceedingly Abundantly Above All”

Ephesians 3:20-21

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Today we're looking at the last two verses in Ephesians chapter 3. Along with Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, these are two of the most quoted verses in the Bible that we hear when people finish their prayer. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen”. What a powerful ending to this chapter!

After contemplating such a marvelous spiritual experience, it is no wonder Paul bursts forth in a doxology, a fitting benediction to such a prayer. Note the trinitarian emphasis in this benediction: Paul prays to God the Father, concerning the indwelling power of God the Spirit, made available through God the Son.

Paul seems to want to use every word possible to convey to us the vastness of God's power as found in Jesus Christ. He has ended each of the two previous chapters with praise to God for His great victory in Christ. He tells us that Christ's power is so great He arose from the dead and ascended far above all (1:19-23). He teaches us that His power is so great He has reconciled Jews and Gentiles to each other, and to God; and that He is now building a temple to the eternal glory of God (2:19-22). But in the paragraph before us, Paul shares the exciting truth that this, far “above all power”, is available to us! It is even "above all that we ask or think." In other words, the power of Christ, like the love of Christ, is beyond human understanding or measurement. And this is just the kind of power you and I need if we are to walk and war in victory.

The word "power" is again dunamis, which we met back in Ephesians 3:7; and "working" is energeia (energy) found in Ephesians 1:11, 19; 2:2; 3:7; and 4:16. Some power is dormant; it is available, but not being used, such as the power stored in a battery. But God's energy is effectual power—power at work in our lives. This power works in us, in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). Remember Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”. We can’t even begin to imagine what it means that the eternal, creator God of the universe, through His Holy Spirit, is working in us!!!!!

I'll never forget I had a car for years that when it got cold below 30° the crazy car wouldn't start. Somehow or another, a disconnection took place between the battery and the starter as I tried to start the car. I'm telling you, my friend, in Christ Jesus, all the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ, all the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us, all the power that God wants us to have to live and do what He wants us to do, to be what He wants us to be, to accomplish what He wants us to accomplish, is available in us.

If we could only understand and believe this and comprehend this! But our lack of experiencing this power being released in our lives is because a disconnection has taken place. Maybe, like my car, we get cold in our Christian experience. We're not reading our Bible. We're not praying as we should. We've lost fellowship with the Lord. We've allowed some sin or corruption to get in our lives and hearts like the corrosion on the battery cables. I'm telling you my friend, when that takes place we lose that connection. The power is still there, but we have lost the connection because of unbelief, unconfessed sin, careless living and because of lack of love or grace that we need in our lives.

My friend, oh my friend, today realize the available power, the resurrection power, the power that raised Jesus from the dead. God Himself is at work in us if we'd only allow Him to flow through us for His glory. Note in verse 20 “To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus”. This power is not given to us so we can build bigger churches, live better lives, or even to do a greater work for Christ. No, it's all to the glory of Jesus Christ. That power is available but when we want to use it selfishly, God doesn't give it to us. He doesn't release it within us. But when we live for the glory of God, oh, awesome and wonderful and powerful things take place for His kingdom's sake.

Oh, today let's make sure we're doing all that we do for the glory of God. We do it for Christ Jesus our Lord. It's not just for now, but it's “to all generations forever and ever”. The greatest days of the church are ahead of us, not only now, but in the eternal ages we shall glorify Christ forever! Oh, if we could only comprehend that.

God bless!