I have always been blessed by Ephesians 3. It shows that bounty of God’s grace upon the Gentile people. The chapter seems to culminate in 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,” This statement “exceedingly, abundantly,” gives the meaning of “to an extent which we cannot express.” Paul wanted those that were in the Ephesus church to be able to comprehend the amazing things that they could experience through the power of Christ. Paul seemed to often chide the churches to remove themselves from living in the state of spiritual poverty to growing in the abundance of God’s goodness. I’ve given the statement, that”many live a paupers life as a potentates son.” Although we are in the world, god never intended us to live a constant struggle with the world. God has already provided the victory that we can live in abundant blessings.
D.L Moody said, “There are in the churches, stores of unconsecrated wealth, unused or misused talents, multitudes at ease in Zion. witnesses who bear no testimony for the Lord, workers without the Spirits conquering power, teachers who speak without authority, disciples who follow afar off, forms without life, church machinery substituted for inward for inward life and power. Certainly this could characterize what we experience in the church today.
We need to recognize that it is not our abilities that bring on this abundance, but, it His authority. The story was told about a vagrant that walked the downtown streets of a large city begging for every morsel and goodness that was handed to him. There was a wealthy business man who worked in the area where this vagrant frequented. He watched him come in his ragged clothes everyday and sit on the street corner hoping to just pocket a few coins. One day he was in a benevolent mood and he wrote the man a check for $500. He gave him some advice to take it down to the local bank and cash the check and go get yourself some food and clothes. The businessman had to travel for the next several days. When he came back, the vagrant man was found sitting on the sidewalk once again still clothed in his rags. The businessman immediately went to the man and inquired if he had cashed the check. The man hung his head and said, I went to the bank, but, when I saw how everyone was dressed and how I looked, I knew that they would not cash it for me. The businessman sighed and said, “sir, it does not depend on who is cashing the check, but, who has signed the check. Many times we look at our weaknesses and failures and say, I cannot live that abundant life, but, we fail to remember that it’s not dependent on our goodness, but on his riches and grace.
Let me remind us quickly on some of the “abundance” that God wants us to partake in.
1. Abundant Grace 2 Corinthians 9:8 “God is able to make all grace abound.” What a blessing to be able to live in the riches of God’s grace and not rely on the benefits of our own goodness.
2. Abundant Life John 10:10 ” I am come that might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” For some christian’s, they feel like that life was just something that we received the day of our salvation. This abundance should be growing everyday.
3. Abundant Hope Romans 15:13 “That ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Hope in God is the hope of glory. We can hope in His goodness, His strength, His faith. Not any better hope than that in the world.
4. Abundant Love Philippians 1:19 ” I pray that your love may abound more and more.” Love can flourish when Christ is it’s source and substance.
5. Abounding Work 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” Is it not wonderful to know, that because of the resurrection of the Savior, that we can flourish and prosper in the work of God. That is inward work as well as outward work.
Two poor women came to the soup kitchen to get soup for their families. The sign outside said, ” bring your own pot and have it filled with soup” Both women were feeding the same size family. One women brought a medium size container and the other lady brought the largest pot that she could find. One family had enough to survive, the other had plenty to nourish their hunger and had more left over. Sometimes we just don’t come with a pot big enough to receive God’s bounty.
