Here’s a link to the whole series.
Last week I wrote about the first of several relationship principles for life and that was It’s Not About Me. Today I’m moving into Ephesians 4 for the next several principles for relationships.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” -Ephesians 3:20-21
I’m so thankful that God is able (and willing) to do more than we ask, for we ask so little of Him. Have you noticed how often we beg the Lord of the feast for crumbs from His table? We ask such small things from such a great God. But notice that He gives abundantly according to the power that works in us. So it must be that this verse is not merely speaking of things that we receive from God, but things that God will do through us.
God wants to use your life in ways you never imagined. We so often settle for a slightly higher level of existence as Christians. We tend to assume that as long as we’re a little better off now, then it was worth it to make a commitment to Christ. But Jesus Christ is about radical change and radical ministry. He is able to do more than simply make us a little happier, He can change a neighborhood, save a family, rescue a soul through us. He can take the gospel to the uttermost part of the earth through the power that worketh in us.
We must stop assuming that God can only do what is humanly possible. We must begin to believe that what we’ve asked for so far is quite short of God’s intended plan. God is able, God is willing, so ask and get busy. His power is ready!
In my last blog, I explained that living in the name of Jesus means living with His approval. Today, we need to learn that living in the name of Jesus also means living under His authority, and also living in the power of His authority.
Jesus said to His church, “All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me… Go ye therefore…” We are commanded to go in the authority of Jesus. We can be victorious over life’s struggles only in the power of Jesus. This authority over evil and suffering only comes, however, when we are rightly related to the authority of God and others in our lives.
A quick study of Colossians 3:18-4:1 or Ephesians 5:18-31 for example, shows that wives are under the authority (servant-style leadership) of their husbands. Kids are under the authority of their parents. Employees (endentured servants) are under the authority of their bosses (masters). And Romans 13:1 teaches us that we are all to be under the authority of the governments God has ordained in the world.
There are times when obedience to God, our highest authority, requires that we act in disobedience to these other authorities in our lives, but on the whole God has placed these authorities in our lives for our own good. When we respond to them in obedience, we also respond to God in obedience. If we are not rightly under proper authorities, we cannot be over anything else with the authority of Jesus.
Walking in the name of Jesus means to live with His permission and approval. It also means to carry His authority as a police officer carries the authority of the government which has sworn him to enforce the law. Are you wearing the name of Jesus in such a way that you respond to and use authority properly in your life? Doing so brings glory to His name!
”Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” –Ephesians 6:18-20
Paul completes his discussion of the armor of God with a final thought about the greatest resource of all, the resource universally applied to the Christian life with all the other pieces of armor… prayer. Look at the words he uses to emphasize this tool, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication… with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…” My how little we pray and how weak our prayers.
Then Paul makes a personal prayer request that reflects the request of my own heart. He requests that the believers pray that he would have the words and the boldness with which to preach the gospel in the power of the Spirit. There are many things that may aid a Pastor in his work such as education, training, and fellowship with others, but no aid is so powerful as the prayers of his people.
This is my request to anyone who will receive it, that you might pray for your Pastor on a daily basis, that God would give him utterance (the ability to speak) and boldness (the power to speak it with passion) as he steps into the pulpit each week. Pray for God’s provision and protection for his family and his ministry. Pray that God would use him as a change agent in the lives of countless souls.
Brandon is first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ. He's a husband to Angie and a Dad to Ella Grace and Samuel David. He's a Pastor to Bethel Baptist Church, Editor of Fuel Your Blogging and also a logo and web designer.
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