Shadrach
Member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 86
Ephesians 3:20, “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”
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The Bible portrays God as omnipotent, all powerful, able even to create all things from nothing (Hebrews 11:3). Whereas, the individual is portrayed as totally insufficient to do anything but fail. Yet, the Bible also teaches that God often accomplishes great and powerful things through a few weak people. In that way He is glorified and we are humbled and the victories won can only be credited through God’s power and wisdom. It should be noted that during the time Noah was building the ark, he was only one, but he won. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, he was only one, but he won. When Gideon and his 300 followers with their broken pitchers and lamps put the Midianites to flight, they were only a few, but they won. You too are only an individual, but you can be a mighty power for good. You may think you don’t have much to offer, but God can use you if you will yield yourself to His will and to His Spirit. Please consider the following sampling of tasks He is able to perform in and for us:
(1) God is able to do the work of salvation in a believer’s heart. “Wherefore [God] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Thus, we can entrust that salvation for eternity “unto him that is able to keep [us] from falling, and to present [us] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).
(2) In this life we will have physical needs, and included in a passage on the obligation we have to give so that others’ needs will be met. The apostle Paul claimed that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
(3) Furthermore, He alone is able to equip us for services for Him. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12).
(4) His able ministry toward us does not stop in this life, for He “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21).
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Further thoughts:
A wise Bible teacher once said, “Sooner or later God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource but Him: no strength, no answers, nothing but Him. Without God’s help, they’re sunk.” He then told of a despairing man who confessed to his pastor, “My life is really in bad shape.” “How bad?” the pastor inquired. Burying his head in his hands, he moaned, “I’ll tell you how bad, all I’ve got left is God.” The pastor’s face lit up. “I’m happy to assure you that a person with nothing left but God has more than enough for great victory!” In 2 Chronicles 20:1-17, the people of Judah were also in trouble. They admitted their lack of power and wisdom to conquer their foes. All they had left was God! But King Jehoshaphat and the people saw this as reason for hope, not despair. “Our eyes are upon You,” they declared to God (2 Chronicles 20:12). And their hope was not disappointed as He fulfilled His promise, “The battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15). Are you in a position where all self-sufficiency is gone? As you turn your eyes on the Lord and put your hope and trust in Him, you have God’s reassuring promise that you need nothing more, because He is able.
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Our limited ability accents God’s unlimited Power.
__________
The Bible portrays God as omnipotent, all powerful, able even to create all things from nothing (Hebrews 11:3). Whereas, the individual is portrayed as totally insufficient to do anything but fail. Yet, the Bible also teaches that God often accomplishes great and powerful things through a few weak people. In that way He is glorified and we are humbled and the victories won can only be credited through God’s power and wisdom. It should be noted that during the time Noah was building the ark, he was only one, but he won. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, he was only one, but he won. When Gideon and his 300 followers with their broken pitchers and lamps put the Midianites to flight, they were only a few, but they won. You too are only an individual, but you can be a mighty power for good. You may think you don’t have much to offer, but God can use you if you will yield yourself to His will and to His Spirit. Please consider the following sampling of tasks He is able to perform in and for us:
(1) God is able to do the work of salvation in a believer’s heart. “Wherefore [God] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Thus, we can entrust that salvation for eternity “unto him that is able to keep [us] from falling, and to present [us] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).
(2) In this life we will have physical needs, and included in a passage on the obligation we have to give so that others’ needs will be met. The apostle Paul claimed that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
(3) Furthermore, He alone is able to equip us for services for Him. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12).
(4) His able ministry toward us does not stop in this life, for He “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21).
__________
Further thoughts:
A wise Bible teacher once said, “Sooner or later God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource but Him: no strength, no answers, nothing but Him. Without God’s help, they’re sunk.” He then told of a despairing man who confessed to his pastor, “My life is really in bad shape.” “How bad?” the pastor inquired. Burying his head in his hands, he moaned, “I’ll tell you how bad, all I’ve got left is God.” The pastor’s face lit up. “I’m happy to assure you that a person with nothing left but God has more than enough for great victory!” In 2 Chronicles 20:1-17, the people of Judah were also in trouble. They admitted their lack of power and wisdom to conquer their foes. All they had left was God! But King Jehoshaphat and the people saw this as reason for hope, not despair. “Our eyes are upon You,” they declared to God (2 Chronicles 20:12). And their hope was not disappointed as He fulfilled His promise, “The battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15). Are you in a position where all self-sufficiency is gone? As you turn your eyes on the Lord and put your hope and trust in Him, you have God’s reassuring promise that you need nothing more, because He is able.
__________
Our limited ability accents God’s unlimited Power.
