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.