Power of God at work in us

The Verse of the Day for July 9, 2018 is the benediction from the prayer found in culminating verses of Chapter 3 of Ephesians:

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

That powerful prayer reveals our Heavenly Father’s intent toward believers that they might demonstrate  the exceeding greatness of God’s power or ability recorded by Paul in those two verses which shine as crowning jewels in that exquisite revelation of God’s ability. Verse 19   precedes the powerful declarative statement, reminding believers of God’s desire that we might experience the fulfillment of all that He intends us to be:

The Fullness of God

To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;

that you may be filled with all fullness of God

Ephesians 3:19

 

In wisdom God gives power to loose and to bind,

To enlighten souls and open eyes of the blind.

All the promises of God are “yes and amen.”

God’s Word is true today, just as it was back then

When Christ first spoke the truth to those with ears to hear.

We walk in the spirit of love and have no fear.

We have been empowered by the spirit of might.

To serve the Lord, to please Him is our soul’s delight.

Secure, knowing nothing can snatch us from His hand,

We shall know fulfillment of all that God has planned.

Filled with all the fullness of God that we might see:

The riches of the glory of this mystery.

We walk by faith and not by sight, for we now know

God sealed us by a covenant, and it is so.

Every day we confront challenging circumstances that seek overwhelm our souls, but we must remember that we are powerful people. Literally we are full of power, the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. There is no greater power, and by exercising that power, God is able “to do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,

The opening phrase of verse 20 brought to mind the expression that “God is able,” which in turn caused me to think of the lyrics to this song:

He’s able, He’s able, I know He’s able,
I know my Lord is able to carry me through.
He’s able, He’s able, I know He’s able,
I know my Lord is able to carry me through.
He healed the brokenhearted and set the captive free,
He made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see;
He’s able, He’s able, I know He’s able,
I know my Lord is able to carry me through.

With this awareness of who God is in mind, we acknowledge that no matter how challenging and insurmountable any situation may appear to be, we recall that nothing is too hard for God, who reminds us: “I am the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” In fact, the old gospel song reminds us,

“Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?

Got any mountains you cannot tunnel through?

God specializes in things called impossible,

And He will do what no other power (Holy Ghost power) can do.

We close with the magnificent benediction from Jude, a further reminder that God is able:

²⁴Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

²⁵To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and ever. Amen.

We conclude as Shannon R. Linville offers Ephesians 3:14-20 as a Scripture Song:

Tags: Ephesians 3:14-21, Ephesians 3:19, Ephesians 3:20-21, fullness of God, Jude 24-25, Power of God