Our Concerns Concern God S13e18 Eph3:20

A doxology is a liturgical formula of praise.  Who knew? The close of Ephesians chapter 3 is supposedly "the greatest doxology in the Bible."

In it we find that our concerns are the concerns of God. Praying so as not be be embarrassed is probably not the effort He is looking for. Ask as if He is able.

Also of note: the power in you is "of the kind" of the power of Him. May our praise and prayers reflect that reality. 

Join me for 7 minutes as we expose ourselves to the best of the best of the Bible. Write at bewithme.us@gmail.com to expose yourself tomorrow too. 

Transcript

Unknown: 0:00

Good morning, my brothers and sisters, welcome to episode 18. In the book of Ephesians, we're going to do what is called the greatest doxology. In the Bible. Some people say that this passage, these two verses are the greatest doxology in the Bible. Now, you may ask, as I did, well, what is a doxology, because I didn't know this morning, either. A doxology is, quote, a liturgical formula of praise to God. So liturgical formula of a praise to God. So it's a praise formula. And here it is. Now, you may have heard this, at the conclusion is where this is typically done, at least in my experience, at the conclusion of a service. And this is, this is the pastor. And I'm gonna say this disrespectfully, but like tipping his hat to God, or bowing the knee to God. And as we'll see, it's really a mind blow of, of content when he says these words, this is from Ephesians, chapter three, verses 20, and 21. Now to Him, who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask, or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. All right. So I have to just break this down, because there's just this is this is eating, you know, a banquet, a smorgasbord, and we have to taste various things. Now to Him, who is able to do so God is able to do we have a God that is not idle, he is not, you know, he's not at rest. He's an action God. And he's real, and he's present and he cares. And he allows us access. And he's able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think. So he's given us this access this prayer, this interaction, He's given us an attachment with him in salvation. But the second attachment He gives us, is in our pleading, the pleading of our words, in our asking, and in the desires of our heart in the desires of our thinking, that is a little soundbite for today, our concerns, concern God, that we have a God who cares. And this this, this extent of what we ask or what we think. I was looking at James Boyce's commentary this morning, and he asked the Greek question, which I'm going to repeat, it says, do we pray not to embarrass God? Or do we pray not to embarrass ourselves? This is not the kind of prayer that's in the Bible, the kind of prayer that's in the in the Bible is in Ephesians, three, two, he says, you know, in Christ, we have boldness, we have access, we have this, like a highway of access, and we're just using maybe a small part of it, when we should be using the whole highway of requests of both are asking, as well as our thinking. So the breadth of our requests is, is beyond beyond what we should what we have been doing. So let's talk about the character of God, that He is able to do not to him was able to do far more abundantly than all we ask. So the sufficiency of God the power of God is not in question here. He, he has this resurrection power, a power to conquer death, a power to conquer sin, a power to speak, creation into existence, a power to blow a bad guys with the breath of his mouth, just you know, unlimited on power, and we give praise to Him in recognizing and reciting, and recalling this ability, so he is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask. And then Paul goes, you know, hyper on us and he makes up a word here in the ESV translation says, that he is able to do far more abundantly. So it's this word, it's hyper measurement is kind of how it's directly translated or immeasurably more. If I ask that you do far more abundantly, Lord. This kind of gets you into the lump in the throat category of this verse. Maybe even a little bit of fear and terror and making me anxious in the sense of, I feel like Isaiah, Isaiah and chapters Next where you see these glories of God, this the the true character of God and he puts a burning coal to to his lips. And maybe Lord, if I asked for more, more abundantly than I asked her even imagine and experience this, and I have a guy who does all this stuff, maybe he's going to give him here's my fear, maybe he's going to give me more than I can add on more than than I want to handle. Well, no wonder I was thinking about the verses right before this. He says, member we asked yesterday about having the strength to comprehend, I'm just looking for a guy that can take it. So maybe the baby he prayed for strength, to take it so that we could take this part of this verse, that we get this full measure everything, everything I can handle, and maybe even beyond that this is the prosperity gospel. This is the humility gospel. And this is this sourced in the nuclear power plant of gods of the Gods love and care, in His grace from chapter two, to four, but God being rich in mercy, because of the great love in which he is loved us. He says that this is powered by the kindness of God towards us the greatness of God towards us. All right. So according to the power that is work in us, I just note that this is a plural loop. And we're not soloists in the spiritual thing. And its power according to the substance, it's according to the power that we have is the power that is according to God, the power in us is of the kind in his of the power of him. And then he ends with this glorification glory be God in the church and made glory of God be glorified in my church. So this is a doxology, a liturgical prayer, a liturgical formula of praise that calls for exuberant, embarrassing, asking, and acknowledging the concern connection that we have the access that we have with God, it's broader depth than I can think of it's broader depth than I can can imagine. He's prayed for the strength that we can take it. I think of Psalm eight, let's who am i Lord? What is man, that You are mindful him? What is the son of man that you care for him? So Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. I'll see you tomorrow. Praise be him