Immeasurably more than we can ask – Sunday 29th November 2015 – Month of prayer and giving guide

‘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 3:20-21)

Paul is devoted to prayer. This is because He sees that God is at work and can do great things as we ask Him.

As we have looked at these two prayers in Ephesians 1 & 3 it’s been striking that he has not asked for things that they probably needed: finances, protection, good health, a change in their corrupt Roman rulers etc. and no doubt he did pray these things at times. Paul prays for three things:

i)               To have accurate and experiential knowledge of God and His love by the Spirit.

ii)              To know the certainty of our great future hope and inheritance by the Spirit.

iii)            That we may become as like Jesus as possible by the Spirit.

As he closes his prayer, he expresses his confidence in God’s ability to answer and surpass as he says that, ‘He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…’ God can do more than we pray or imagine to pray for! This is because of the surpassing greatness of the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work in us.

Finally, Paul expresses the purpose for his prayers – that God be glorified. This is the great purpose of our lives and prayers – the glory of God!

As we seek God’s provision for our building project, our main need is not provision (although we do need this and should pray for it!); our first need is for the knowledge, the love, the hope, and transformative power of the Holy Spirit make us the sort of people, who, like Christ, will be generous.

You may want to pray something like this,

“Father, I thank you that you are able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to your power that is at work within me and your church. I pray that the Holy Spirit would increase my spiritual vision of you and your love; increase my love toward you that I may give generously out of trust and worship. To you be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen”