“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.” Ephesians 3:20
In Paul’s letter to the Philippian believers, he revealed to them that which was his aim: “That I may know Him (Christ), and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” (3:10) His objective was singular, and yet, there were specific matters within that overwhelming objective that he was aiming at, because he had come to understand that Christ is not easliy known. The first specific essential in order to know Christ is to know Him as one’s power. Paul puts it like this: “…(to know) the power of His resurrection.” This resurrection power is that which has first raised us up with Christ, out of sin and the sentance of death, to a new life in Christ. It is the power of which John speaks in his gospel, “…the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (1:12) John makes it very clear that this power is to be received, for it does NOT have its origin, or essence, in the fallen nature of unregenerate man. The power to be saved, is a power to first of all be received, and this, because of a knowledge of the truth concerning God, Christ the Savior, and the Christ’s work on Calvary. It is a power that is available to any one who will call upon the name of the Lord. Why then do not all receive this power to be saved? First and foremost is the fact that all do not see that they are lost, and separated from God. Another reason is that, even though God testifies daily through nature, Christ’s body the church, and the message of the Gospel, there is a hardness and blindness that characterizes the heart that hinders the deep penetration of the truth. One remains thus sleeping, ignorant and insensitive to the call of God to be saved. It is only when the power is given to the lost sinner, the result of his cry to God for mercy and grace to be saved, that power is given to repent and to believe. This power is invisible, quiet, more than sufficient, and certainly effective, in communicating to the soul the very Life by the Spirit to live. It is as Charles Wesley wrote in one of his great hymns: “Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.”
What is “beyond” the power to believe unto salvation? What about the daily receiving of the power of God, in order to live by a victorious faith, believing God to do the “exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.?” It is the Apostle Paul who addresses specifically this matter. He does so by revealing a specific aspect of his prayer life. He writes down this prayer for the Ephesian believers, asking that God would give to them the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ.)…”, “…THAT YE MAY KNOW,” “…what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power…” (1:17,18,19) Paul knows with certainly that if one is going to believe God for HIs power, there must be given to the seeking heart a vision, or perception, of the truth concerning that power, and the magnitude of it that God desires to give. The Lord demonstrated this power in the resurrection. This is the same power that God desires to give, that we should live for His glory. It is a power that has raised Christ up “…far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion.” (1:21) The Christian is called to believe God for this same power in order to live victoriously over the world, sin, and Satan.
Dear Father, Empower us wonderfully today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.