Sunday
Morning Bible Study
April 9, 2006
Introduction
Think about the things that Paul has prayed for the Ephesians (verses
16-19).
He prayed for them to be strengthened in the inner man (vs. 16)
He prayed for Jesus to be “at home” in their hearts (vs. 17)
He prayed that they might begin to grasp the dimensions of the love of
Christ (vs. 18)
He prayed that they might experience the love of Christ (vs. 19)
He prayed that they might be filled with all the fullness of God (vs. 19)
Now He winds up his prayer …
:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we
ask or think,
who is able – dunamai – to
be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful; this is the root
of the word dunamis.
exceedingly abundantly – huper
experissou – from perissos: exceeding
some measure
The way Paul writes this, he takes the word for “exceeding some measure”,
then adds a prefix that makes it stronger, “really exceeding some measure”, and
then puts an additional word for “over”, meaning, “over-really exceeding some
measure”. It’s on top of that that Paul throws the words “above all”, as if you
could take anything that we could ask or think of, and it’s not only “above
all”, but it’s “over really exceeding some measure above all”.
It would be like in the old days pulling into the gas station and the
attendant asks you how much gas you want. You tell him you want 15 gallons of
gas. He tells you “No problem”, he has way more than enough gas to fill you up.
In fact this isn’t just an ordinary gas station, it’s attached directly to the
refinery behind the fence, so it has WAY more than enough gas to fill you up. But
more than that, the refinery is sitting on top of a huge oil field and the oil
is being pumped directly into the refinery. And not only that … but this oil
company has found a way to take water from the ocean, turn it into oil, then
pump it down into the oil wells, so it can be pumped out, refined, sent to the
gas station, and fill your car. And it’s all free. Now THAT’S a gas station!!!!
ask – aiteo – to ask, beg,
call for, crave, desire, require. It’s a request from the “will”. It’s in what
is called the “middle voice” which means, “to ask for one’s self”.
think – noeo – to perceive
with the mind, to think upon, ponder, consider
No matter what you think God can do, He can do more.
Lesson
God’s amazing power
We serve a great God.
(Isa 40:12-18 NKJV) Who
has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span
And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in
scales And the hills in a balance? {13} Who has directed the Spirit of the
LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him? {14} With whom did He take counsel,
and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him
knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding? {15} Behold, the nations
are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales;
Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. {16} And Lebanon
is not sufficient to burn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. {17}
All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than
nothing and worthless. {18} To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness
will you compare to Him?
Just how big could God be if He can measure the oceans with the palms of
His hand? Just how big could He be if He can measure the universe with the span
of His hands? He is pretty big.
(Mat 14:14-21 NKJV) And
when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion
for them, and healed their sick. {15} When it was evening, His disciples came
to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late.
Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves
food." {16} But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You
give them something to eat." {17} And they said to Him, "We have here
only five loaves and two fish." {18} He said, "Bring them here to
Me." {19} Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed
and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the
multitudes. {20} So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve
baskets full of the fragments that remained. {21} Now those who had eaten were
about five thousand men, besides women and children.
He can feed the hungry. He can take care of your needs even when you don’t
think there’s enough left.
(Mat 14:22-33
NKJV) Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him
to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. {23} And when He had sent
the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when
evening came, He was alone there. {24} But the boat was now in the middle of
the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. {25} Now in the fourth
watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. {26} And when the
disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a
ghost!" And they cried out for fear. {27} But immediately Jesus spoke to
them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." {28} And
Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to
You on the water." {29} So He said, "Come." And when Peter had
come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. {30} But when
he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he
cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" {31} And immediately Jesus
stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little
faith, why did you doubt?" {32} And when they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. {33} Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly
You are the Son of God."
There was an article that hit the news this week about some “scholar”
claiming that Jesus was really walking on ice on the Sea of Galilee.
The claim is that there could be a possible condition where the lake could
possibly freeze. I don’t know if windy conditions are the right way to freeze
the lake. John records that the waves were up as well (John 6:18). And how were the disciples able to “row” if the
lake was frozen over?
Illustration
A mother was watching her four-year-old child playing
outside in a small plastic pool half filled with water. He was happily walking
back and forth across the pool, making big splashes. Suddenly, he stopped,
stepped out of the pool, and began to scoop water out of the pool with a pail.
“Why are you pouring the water out, Jimmy?” the mother asked. “’Cause my
teacher said Jesus walked on water, and this water won’t work.” The boy
replied.
Jesus CAN walk on water. Any kind of
water. We may be terrified of the storms
we’re going through, but Jesus can grab your hand and help you walk through
them.
What is it that you’re facing today?
God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.
:20 according to the power that works in us,
the power – dunamis –
strength, power, ability
Does this mean that there is a limit to how God will work in my life? Is
God’s work in my life limited to what I will allow Him to do?
No, this isn’t talking about what limits God. It’s talking about what’s available to us.
The same amazing incredible power of God is the same power that He is
working inside of us.
Lesson
God’s power in me
This is why before ascending into heaven Jesus told the disciples to wait
in Jerusalem until they were filled
with the Holy Spirit. He said,
(Acts 1:8 NKJV) "But you shall receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea
and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth."
They waited, and ten days later they were filled with the
power of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus was arrested, Peter had run away and abandoned Jesus. Three times he denied even knowing
Jesus. Yet a little more than a month
later, something happened to Peter.
(Acts 2:14-17 NKJV) But Peter, standing up with the eleven,
raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be
known to you, and heed my words. {15} "For these are not drunk, as you
suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. {16} "But this is
what was spoken by the prophet Joel: {17} 'And it shall come to pass in the
last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old
men shall dream dreams.
(Acts 2:32-41 NKJV) "This Jesus God has raised up, of which
we are all witnesses. {33} "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of
God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He
poured out this which you now see and hear. {34} "For David did not ascend
into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at
My right hand, {35} Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' {36}
"Therefore let all the house of Israel
know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ." {37} Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and
said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall
we do?" {38} Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of
you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. {39} "For the promise is to you
and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God
will call." {40} And with many other words he testified and exhorted them,
saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." {41} Then those who
gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls
were added to them.
Something happened to Peter.
Paul wrote,
(Rom 8:11
NKJV) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He
who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through His Spirit who dwells in you.
But that wasn’t the end of it for Peter.
There was so much more ahead.
He can do much more in us than we can ever imagine.
He wants to work through us with His power.
(2 Chr 16:9 NKJV) "For
the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself
strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…”
The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who got a taste of God’s
power in their life.
(1 Sam 14:1-14 NKJV) Now
it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who
bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistines' garrison that is
on the other side." But he did not tell his father. {2} And Saul was
sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron.
The people who were with him were about six hundred men. {3} Ahijah the son of
Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord's
priest in Shiloh,
was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. {4}
Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines'
garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other
side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. {5} The
front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward
opposite Gibeah. {6} Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor,
"Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be
that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by
many or by few." {7} So his armorbearer said to him, "Do all that is
in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart." {8}
Then Jonathan said, "Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we
will show ourselves to them.
It seems that Jonathan woke up that morning musing to
himself. He knew that God was all
powerful. He knew that it was nothing
for God to use just one man to bring a great deliverance. And he thought to himself, “What if God wants
to use me?”
And so Jonathan and his armor bearer made a “venture in
faith”. And their step of faith brought
a great victory to the nation that day.
What if God wants to use you? What if …?
:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.
Lesson
God’s glory in the church
God has this power to give us so we will bring Him glory. Not so we can get
attention.
Sometimes we do things so we can be appreciated. Sometimes we do things to
get the attention we crave.
I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but God doesn’t want people attracted
to you. He wants people attracted to
Him. He has the help that people need. You don’t.
(Acts 14:8-18 NKJV) And in Lystra a certain man without strength
in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never
walked. {9} This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and
seeing that he had faith to be healed, {10} said with a loud voice, "Stand
up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked. {11} Now when the
people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the
Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"
{12} And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief
speaker. {13} Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the
multitudes. {14} But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore
their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out {15} and saying,
"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature
as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the
living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in
them, {16} "who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their
own ways. {17} "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in
that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our
hearts with food and gladness." {18} And with these sayings they could
scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
I would imagine it might have been tempting to let the people keep bowing
down to them. But Paul and Barnabas were
terrified that they were getting the kind of attention that God deserved. Does that terrify us as well?
We need to be careful that the attention goes to God, both now and as it
will be forever.