NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY BEYOND ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK: To de dunameno (PPPMSD) huper panta poiesai (AAN) huperekperissou on aitoumetha (1PPMI) e nooumen (1PPAI): (Genesis 17:1; 18:4; 2Chronicles 25:9; Jeremiah 32:17,27; Daniel 3:17; 6:20; Matthew 3:9; John 10:29,30; Romans 4:21; 16:25; Hebrews 7:25; 11:19; 13:20,21; Jas 4:12; Jude 1:24) (Exodus 34:6; 2Samuel 7:19; 1Kings 3:13; Psalms 36:8,9; Song 5:1; Isaiah 35:2; 55:7; John 10:10; 1Corinthians 2:9; 1Timothy 1:14; 2Peter 1:11)

Now to Him - marks another of Pauline doxology (a liturgical formula of praise to God)

Now (1161) (de) is used here as a  marker linking narrative segments.

Able (1410) (dunamai) means to have power by virtue of inherent ability and resources. This refers to God's ability to do literally "above all things". The present tense emphasizes God is continually able! The doxology begins with an ascription of power to God. He is the powerful One (see note Romans 16:25; Jude 24, 25), Who can accomplish incredibly great deeds on behalf of His children, those whom compose His dwelling.

John Eadie writes that...

The apostle supposes his prayer to be answered, and all its requests conferred. The Divine Giver of such munificent donations is surely worthy of all homage, and especially worthy of all homage in the character of the answerer of prayer. By "now" he passes to a different subject—from recipients to the Giver. Praise succeeds prayer—the anthem is its fitting conclusion. (Ephesians 3:14 Commentary - Online)

To do (4160) (poieo) means to accomplish (as it is related to the undertaking of actions or bringing about states or conditions) expressing an action as continued or not yet completed.

Abundantly beyond (huperekperissou from huper = above + ek = intensifies meaning, adding idea of exhaustlessness + perissos = exceeding some number or measure, over and above, more than necessary) means means surpassing, superabundantly, surpassingly, beyond measure, exceedingly, quite beyond all measure, overwhelming, over and above, more than enough. It describes an extraordinary degree, involving a considerable excess over what would be expected. As F F Bruce has said here we encounter another "one of Paul’s coined ‘super-superlatives'".

Huperekperissou is the the highest form of comparison imaginable and so means immeasurably more than, quite beyond all measure, infinitely more than.

Vincent writes that this is...

One of the numerous compounds of huper - beyond, over and above, of which Paul is fond. Of 28 words compounded with this preposition in the New Testament, Paul alone uses 20.

Huperekperissou is found only 3 times in all the Bible (Eph. 3:20; 1 Thess. 3:10; 5:13)

For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, 10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly (huperekperissou - praying with extreme earnestness, pray as earnestly as possible) that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? (1Thes 3:9-10)

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly (huperekperissou) in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. (1Thes 5:12-13)

Exceeding abundantly beyond all that you could ask or think is the potential of God in every believer's life! This ascription of praise to God’s ability expresses our assurance of answered prayer. Why should we hesitate to offer our deepest petitions?

David said

“my cup overflows” (Ps 23:5)

Believers can say

“He brought me to the banquet hall and His banner over me is love” (Song 2:4)

Constable writes that...

The basis for Paul’s confidence that God is able to do far beyond what he had prayed for or could even imagine was God’s bringing Jews and Gentiles together in one body. With God’s provision of love, both groups could function harmoniously together in the church. Glory would come to God in the church for uniting these two previously irreconcilable groups and for enabling them to love and to work together as fellow members of the same body. This praise will continue forever. (Expository Notes)

Wuest comments that the compound word huperekperissou

is a superlative of superlatives in force. It speaks of the ability of God to do something, that ability having more than enough potential power, this power exhaustless, and then some on top of that.  Thus, Paul says that God is able to do super-abundantly above and beyond what we ask or think, and then some on top of that. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)

Ask (154) (aiteo) means to ask for something to be given with a sense of urgency and even to the point of demanding. Aiteo reflects a request of one's will means to ask for, with a claim on receipt of an answer. Note the use middle voice which conveys the idea of asking for one’s self or in one’s own interest.

Our highest aspirations are not beyond God’s power to grant.

Jowett said something like this...

What I have asked for is as nothing compared to the ability of my God to give. I’ve asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains. I’ve asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides. My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father’s giving. It’s beyond all that we can ask.

Arthur T. Pierson  once said that there is a sevenfold measure of the power of God is Paul's benediction. First, God’s able to do first what we ask. Second, He is able to do all that we ask. Third, He is able to do what we think. Fourth, He is able to do all that we think. Fifth, He is able to do above all that we ask or think. Sixth, He is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think. And seventh, He is able to do exceeding, abundant above all that we could ask or think. Now what do we need? Hallelujah and Amen is all that's left to say!

O'Brien has an insightful note writing that...

The apostle Paul was accustomed to asking God for extravagant blessings on behalf of his Christian readers (see notes Philippians 1:9; Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:9; 1:10; 1:11; 1:12; 1:13; 1:14; 1Thess. 3:12; 2 Thes 1:3; cf. 1Cor 1:5). Here he has just petitioned the Father for spiritual blessings of extraordinary value, including the request that they might be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God. Armitage Robinson writes of this petition: No prayer that has ever been framed has uttered a bolder request. Has the apostle, then, gone over the top? No, for it is impossible to ask for too much since the Fathers giving exceeds their capacity for asking or even imagining. (O'Brien, P. T. The Letter to the Ephesians. W. B. Eerdmans. 1999 or computer version)

Boice comments that...

When Paul says “we” he includes himself. He is saying that even he, the great apostle, cannot fully understand or even imagine all that God is going to do for us. But Paul does know that God can do it. And not only is God able to do it, he is able to do it “immeasurably,” which means indefinitely. (Boice, J. M.: Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary)

John Eadie writes that...

God is able to do far “above what we ask,” for our asking is limited and feeble. John 16:24 ("Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full."). But there may be thoughts too sweeping for expression, there may be unutterable groanings prompted by the Spirit (See note Romans 8:26  -- "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words"). And yet above and beyond our widest conceptions and most daring expectations is God “able to do.” God's ability to answer prayer transcends not only our spoken petitions, but far surpasses even such thoughts as are too big for words, and too deep for utterance. And still those desires which are dumb from their very vastness, and amazing from their very boldness, are insignificant requests compared with the power of God. For we know so little of His promises, and so weak is our faith in them, that we ask not, as we should, for their universal fulfilment; and though we did understand their depth and power, our loftiest imaginations of possible blessing would come infinitely short of the power and resources of the Hearer of prayer. (Ephesians 3:14 Commentary - Online)

Think (3539) (noieo from noús = the mind) denotes clear perception, full understanding, and careful consideration. It means to perceive with thought coming into consciousness as distinct from the perception of senses.

Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask - An Illustration:

A preacher once lamented to the renowned preacher C H Spurgeon...

“Mr. Spurgeon, I am seeing very few people saved.”

To which Spurgeon replied with a question

“Do you expect to see folk saved every time you preach?”

The preacher answered

“Why, no”.

To which Spurgeon wisely quipped

“That’s why you don’t!”

ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS WITHIN US: kata ten dunamin ten energoumenen (PMPFSA) en hemin:  (Ep 3:7; 1:19; Col 1:29)

According to (2596) (kata) means in proportion to ones largess! Not stingily. Not just a portion but a proportion! If I am a billionaire and I give you ten dollars, I have given you a portion (very small portion at that) out of my riches. But if I give you ten million dollars, I have given to you according to or more proportionate to my true wealth. The first giver would take it out of His riches and would be like Mr. Rockefeller who used to give his caddy a dime. God is not like Mr. Rockefeller, in either his wealth or generosity!

Expositor's writes that...

God's capacity to meet his people's spiritual needs far exceeds anything they can either request in prayer or conceive by way of anticipation (Philippians 4:7). It is actualized through his power (dynamis), which continually operates (energoumenen) within the lives of believers. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing)

Power (1411) (dunamis [word study] - words derived from the stem duna— all have the basic meaning of “being able,” of “capacity” in virtue of an ability and is root for our English "dynamic") defines inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature.

Some power is dormant; it is available, but not being used, such as the power stored in a battery. But God’s energy is effectual power—power at work in our lives. This power works in us, in the inner man (Ep 3:16-note).

This is that omnipotence that raised Christ from the dead and quickened us when we were dead in sins.

My dear Christian friends, do you know that right at this moment, when you feel so lethargic, when you say when is Dr. Johnson going to finish, two minutes from now, when you say the word of God can sometimes be so boring, and when you berate yourself for not being as responsive as you ought to be, the Holy Spirit is working constantly in your heart. He works in every believer, and he works toward the sanctification of every one of us, and let me tell you this, he will accomplish his work. You’re going to be like Christ, some day. It may be a great earth-shaking transformation when it occurs for some of us [laughter], but it’s going to happen. We are going to be like him.

O'Brien writes that...

In the earlier petition of chapter 1, God's effective power towards believers (Ep 1:19-note) was said to be nothing less than the operation of His mighty strength exerted in the resurrection of Christ (Ep 1:20-note). Now that same power which raised Christ from the dead, enthroned Him in the heavenlies, and then raised and enthroned us with Him, is at work within us to achieve infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. In the doxology, Paul thus praises God for the bestowal of strength by His Spirit on His people, and affirms that the full realization of God's gracious purposes for them and in them becomes possible. (O'Brien, P. T. The Letter to the Ephesians. W. B. Eerdmans. 1999 or computer version)

Eadie adds that Paul is saying...

“According to His power that proves or shows itself at work in us.”  That power has been again and again referred to in itself and in its results by the apostle. (Ep 1:19-note, Ep 3:16-note) From our own blissful experience of what it has already achieved in us, we may gather that its Divine possessor and wielder can do for us “far beyond what we ask or think.” That might (or power) being God's, can achieve in us results which the boldest have not ventured to anticipate. (Ephesians 3:14 Commentary - Online)

Works (1754) (energeo [word study] from en = in + érgon = work) (See also related noun energeia) means to be effective in causing something to happen. It means to to bring something about through use of capability. It means to act, to be operative or to be at work.

Energeo is in the present tense which pictures the continual activity of the Spirit in this present evil age. Praise God!

What is the power that works within us? It is supernatural dunamis power. Works refers to the mighty power of continuous sanctification at work in the believer’s heart, and He will accomplish His work!

Wiersbe sums up this section writing that...

The word “power” is again dunamis, which we met back in Ephesians 3:7; and “working” is energeia (energy) found in Ephesians 1:11, 1:19; 2:2; 3:7; and Ep 4:16 (see notes Eph 1:11, 1:19; 2:2; 3:7; and 4:16). Some power is dormant; it is available, but not being used, such as the power stored in a battery. But God’s energy is effectual power—power at work in our lives. This power works in us, in the inner man (Ep 3:16-note). Philippians 2:12-13 are parallel verses, so be sure to read them.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (See notes Philippians 2:12; 2:13)

It is the Holy Spirit who releases the resurrection power of Christ in our lives... (many Christians) have been cut off from their source of power. Unbelief, unconfessed sin, careless living, worldliness in action or attitude—all of these can rob us of power. And a Christian robbed of power cannot be used of God. “Without Me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5)...Get your hands on your spiritual wealth by opening your heart to the Holy Spirit, and praying with Paul for strength for the inner man... for a new depth of love... for spiritual apprehension... and for spiritual fullness. “Ye have not because ye ask not” (James 4:2).

Within (1722) (en) Paul is saying this is an "inside" job and the power that is putting forth energy in us, is the operation of the Holy Spirit in His work of sanctification.

Wuest explains that...

God is able to do for us and answer our prayers according to the efficiency, richness, and power of the working of the Spirit in our lives. This latter is determined by the yieldedness of the believer to the Holy Spirit. Thus, the saint determines what God is able to do for him. In His inherent ability, there is no limit to what God can do in and through the saint. But the saint limits the working of God in and through him by the degree of his yieldedness to the Spirit. (Ibid)

Ruth Paxson writes...

God has revealed our immeasurable wealth in Christ, and has led us to offer petition after petition for its realization. While the words have fallen from our lips have we been saying secretly in our hearts, "It cannot be done; anyhow, it cannot be done in me"? Whoever looks within at himself for this power, or around at others, however spiritual they may be, may rightly say that it is impossible. But there is another way to look-up to Him who has promised that His own mighty power will work in us for the realization of our riches in Christ.

3:20
Able
Able to do
Able to do what we ask
Able to do what we think
Able to do what we ask or think
Able to do all that we ask or think
Able to do above all that we ask or think
Able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think
Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think

"Unto him" -- The Purposer is the Promiser, who is also the Performer. Look unto Him, our Rich, Resourceful, Reliable Father.

"That is able to do." Our petition, however great, can never exceed God's ability to grant. Through God's power every saint has been lifted from the deepest depths in sin to the highest heights in Christ; he has been incorporated into Christ as a member of His Body and made the habitation of God. Surely the God who has had power to thus save and sanctify him can now strengthen him with power, that His purpose for the saint may be fully realized. What God has commenced He will surely consummate.

"All that we ask or think." What petitions have we asked? What desires have flooded our hearts that we dared not voice? Is it possible He has power to do "all" for us? Yes, "above all"; still God's power has scarcely been tapped: "abundantly above all"; surely the limit of even God's power has been reached. No, not yet; "exceeding abundantly above all." And yet God's power is not exhausted, for He continues to give even after we stop asking and only harbour the unuttered thought; yet still there remains a vast residue of power unused after unbelief has stopped our asking and stifled our thinking, -- "above all that we ask or think."

"According to the power that worketh in us." The Promiser provides the power. The power is a Person-none other than God's own Spirit, who abides in us to make Christ real and regnant, and thereby ensure to us the realization of our wealth in Christ. The indwelling Spirit is God's pledge of His limitless power to do.

"That worketh in us." If God is able to work with such superabundant, limitless power, why does He not do it? Why do we see so few Christians who seem to have drunk of the fountain of the fulness of God? There is but one possible answer. The limitless power of God is limited by the unwillingness to have it work, or by the unbelief that it can. But in the light of this prayer could there be a greater sin in the life of a saint than to live on the lower level of the carnal when God's provision and power make possible life on the highest plane of the spiritual? Someone has tersely said: "You have your Bible and your knees; use them." Let us use them so that these treasures in Christ may become in fullest measure current coin in our lives.

The presence of God -- abiding

The plenitude of God -- abounding

The power of God -- achieving

This realized through prayer in the Christian's life is the sum total of his vast wealth in Christ.  (The Wealth, Walk and Warfare of the Christian)

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According to the Power

If our scanty measure were used,
How poor were the gifts of the Lord;
If our cups of thought and our pitchers of prayer
Were all that His love could afford.

But - above all our stammering tongues
Can voice of our deepest desire,
Abundant above all the pitiful good
To which our small minds can aspire;

Exceeding abundant above
The reach of our groveling thought;
So great is the fulness of knowledge and grace
His power to usward hath wrought.
-- Annie Johnson Flint

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Our Daily Bread - At the time of his death in 1956, Jim Elliot was trying to reach the Auca Indians of South America for Christ. Just three years earlier, after watching an Indian die in a jungle hut, he had affirmed his willingness to serve God and die if necessary among these people. Then he added this petition: "Lord, let me live until I have declared Thy works to this generation." Jim Elliot didn't expect God to answer his prayer by letting him be speared to death before he was thirty years old. But neither did he have any idea that within three years his name would be known all over the world and that his journals would chal­lenge many to give themselves to the Lord's service. He's been in heaven for more than thirty years, but he is still "speaking" to thou-sands of people.

God loves us deeply and listens to our prayers, but He doesn't always give us exactly what we ask. Since He "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think," we can be sure that if He doesn't fulfill all our requests it's because He wants to give us some-thing better.

When we don't receive everything we ask for, we need not be dis­couraged. God loves us and delights in giving us what we desire. But He also knows the end from the beginning, and sometimes He says no in order to give us something better. When we reach heaven, we will find that He did indeed answer our petitions "exceedingly abundantly above" all our fondest hopes and dreams. —H. V. Lugt (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

God always gives us what we ask for—or something better.

God's answers are often wiser than our prayers.

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Spurgeon wrote...

God will give us much more than we ask. Abraham thought, "I cannot expect that Sarah will bear a child in her old age. God has promised me a seed, and surely it must be this child of Hagar. 'O that Ishmael might live before thee' " (Gen. 17:18). God granted him that, but he gave him Isaac as well, and all the blessings of the covenant.

There is Jacob. He kneels down to pray, and asks the Lord to give him bread to eat and raiment to put on. But what did his God give him? When he came back to Bethel he had two bands, thou-sands of sheep and camels, and much wealth.

It is said of David, "The king asked life of thee, and thou gayest him length of days for ever and ever" (Ps 21:4). He gave him not only length of days himself, but a throne for his sons throughout all generations.

"Well," say you, "but is that true of New Testament prayers?"

Yes, it is so with New Testament pleaders, whether saints or sinners. They brought a man to Christ sick of the palsy and asked him to heal him, and he said, "Son ... thy sins be forgiven thee" (Matt. 9:2). He had not asked that, had he? No, but God gives greater things than we ask for.

Hear that poor dying thief's humble prayer, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42). Jesus replies, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). He had not dreamed of such an honor.

Even the story of the prodigal teaches us this. He resolved to say, "I am not worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants" (Luke 15:19). What was the answer? "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his hands, and shoes on his feet" (Luke 15:22). Once you get into the position of an asker, you shall have what you never asked for, and never thought to receive.

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Worrier Or Warrior? - A missionary wrote a newsletter to thank his supporters for being "prayer warriors." Because of a typing error, though, he called them "prayer worriers. " For some of us, that might be a good description.

In his book Growing Your Soul, Neil Wiseman writes, "Prayer must be more than a kind of restatement of fretting worries or a mulling over of problems. Our petitions must move beyond gloomy desperation, which deals mostly with calamity and despair."

During an anxious time in my life, I became a "prayer worrier." I would beg, "Lord, please keep my neighbor from causing me problems tomorrow." Or, "Father, don't let that ornery person spread gossip about me."

But then the Lord taught me to pray for people, rather than against them. I began to say, "Lord, bless and encourage my neighbor, and help him to sense Your love." Then I watched to see what God would do. The Lord's amazing answers not only helped others but also helped to cure my own anxiety!

Paul was no "prayer worrier." He prayed for God's people that they might know the strength, love, and fullness of God, who is able to do far more than we can ask or even think (Ephesians 3:14-21). Such confidence made Paul a true "prayer warrior." Are your prayers like that? —Joanie Yoder  (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

As we resolve to live for Christ
In actions, words, and deeds,
We'll yield our anxious hearts to Him
And pray for others' needs. —Branon

Fervent prayer dispels anxious care.

When we cooperate with Him and allow His Spirit to fill us and Christ to indwell us and His love to master us, that’s when it takes place.

"My Spirit is going to be in you. He is going to give you a divine ability. You will not be left as orphans. I am coming to you if you will just simply cooperate, not in quality, but in quantity. Greater works than what you have seen here you shall do." (cp Acts 1:8)

"Is" is in the present tense middle voice. Present tense means that He is able, is always able, has always been able and will always be able. There is never a question about His divine ability.

The Greek verb dunamai is from the root word dunamis. God has the divine capacity and ability that we don’t have. And the middle voice means on His own He chooses to be able in you and in me.

Well, what is the problem? We are not choosing for Him to be able in us. We would rather do it ourselves than we would confess to Him that we can’t and tap into that which He can do. God has offered Himself and His ability to each of His children. This ability is completely available in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives within us.

Do you know what they used to do in the Psalms? They used to celebrate the victory before they ever went to the battle. That looks kind of dumb to me. I mean, they would get together before they even went out to battle and have a victory celebration. Then they went out. These pictures were given as a shadow of the truth which comes to full light in the New Testament.

We walk in victory.
Victory is not us overcoming anything.
Victory is Jesus overcoming us and indwelling us
and His spirit empowering us with His divine ability.

That is real victory!

TO HIM BE THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST JESUS: auto e doxa en te ekklesia kai en Christo Iesou: (Ep 1:6; 1Chronicles 29:11; Psalms 29:1,2; 72:19; 115:1; Is 6:3; 42:12; Matthew 6:13; Luke 2:14; Romans 11:36; 16:27; Galatians 1:5; Philippians 2:11; 4:20; 2Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 13:21; 1Peter 5:11; Revelation 4:9, 10, 11; 5:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; 7:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) (Php 1:11; Heb 13:15,16; 1Pe 2:5)

To Him - reference to God the Father

Ruth Paxson writes...

How fitting that the petitions of this prayer should glide into praise, and that not only this prayer but these chapters should close with a doxology!

"Unto him" -- the Master Workman who has wrought in the Church through the presence of His beloved Son in the power of His mighty Spirit to make it the manifestation of His glory, both now and throughout all the ages -- be praise!   (The Wealth, Walk and Warfare of the Christian)

Glory (1391) (doxa [word study] from dokeo = to think or recognize) means to give a proper opinion. This is the glory due God and is to be given Him in the church. The apostle has repeatedly insisted that the end of redemption is the glory of God (Eph 1:6, 12, 14, 18; 2:7; 3:10, 16).

The basic idea in the word doxa is that of manifestation. In the Old Testament doxa was primarily the brightness or radiance of Gods presence. Glory speaks of a manifestation of God's true nature, presence, or likeness.  To give God glory is not to add something to him; rather, it is an active acknowledgement or extolling of Who He is or what He has already done (Ps. 29:2; 96:8).  He is glorified when He is allowed to be seen as He really is. To be where God is will be glory. To be what God intended will be glory. To do what God purposed will be glory. The basic idea in the word doxa is that of manifestation. The glory of God is the manifestation of His Being, His character and His acts. The glory of God is what He is essentially. Glory, therefore, is the true apprehension of God or things. The glory of God must mean His unchanging essence.

Church (1577) (ekklesia from ekkaléo = call out in turn from ek = out + kaleo = call) literally "called-out ones". The Greeks used ekklesia for assembly of citizens called out to transact city business. The church is a living organism, composed of living members joined together; through which Christ works, carries out His purposes and He lives.

Ekklesia - 114x in 111v - Matt 16:18; 18:17; Acts 5:11; 7:38; 8:1, 3; 9:31; 11:22, 26; 12:1, 5; 13:1; 14:23, 27; 15:3f, 22, 41; 16:5; 18:22; 19:32, 39f; 20:17, 28; Rom 16:1, 4f, 16, 23; 1 Cor 1:2; 4:17; 6:4; 7:17; 10:32; 11:16, 18, 22; 12:28; 14:4f, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33ff; 15:9; 16:1, 19; 2 Cor 1:1; 8:1, 18f, 23f; 11:8, 28; 12:13; Gal 1:2, 13, 22; Eph 1:22; 3:10, 21; 5:23ff, 27, 29, 32; Phil 3:6; 4:15; Col 1:18, 24; 4:15f; 1 Thess 1:1; 2:14; 2 Thess 1:1, 4; 1 Tim 3:5, 15; 5:16; Philemon 1:2; Heb 2:12; 12:23; Jas 5:14; 3 John 1:6, 9f; Rev 1:4, 11, 20; 2:1, 7f, 11f, 17f, 23, 29; 3:1, 6f, 13f, 22; 22:16. NAS = assembly(3), church(74), churches(35), congregation(2).

Vincent comments on "in the church" writing that...

Through which His many-tinted wisdom is to be displayed, and which is His fulness.

Everyone who has been saved belongs to the body of Christ, the universal church. The universal church is manifested in the world by individual local churches, each of which is to be a microcosm of the body of Christ. The church is to function under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, operating under His sovereign rule. Jesus Christ is the Founder and Lord of His church and has guaranteed its perpetuity until He returns.

In Christ Jesus - is locative of sphere.

Eadie writes that...

The place of doxology is the church, and the glory is hymned by its members, but the spirit of the song is inspired by oneness with Jesus. Glory (doxa) is the splendour of moral excellence, and in what place should such glory be ascribed but in the church, which has witnessed so much of it, and whose origination, life, blessings, and hopes are so many samples and outbursts of it? And how should it be presented? Not apart from Christ, or simply for His sake, but in Him—in thrilling fellowship with Him; for no other consciousness can inspire us with the sacred impulse, and praise of no other origin and character can be accepted by that God who is Himself in Christ. (Ephesians 3:14 Commentary - Online)

Expositor's adds that...

The close juxtaposition of the church and Christ is arresting. For Paul, body and members form a single entity. Textual variants reflect the daring nature of the original order, which refers to the church first. As Thompson puts it, "The honour of Jesus is in the hands of the Church" (p. 60). In the final formula, two common liturgical expressions are combined (cf. Dan 7:18) to produce a stronger phrase than usual to describe eternity. Once again, the fact that the church is included here is remarkable. In Christ, however, the Bride will live forever (1 Thess 4:17; Rev 22:17). To which the response of all God's people must be "Yes indeed, Lord" (Amen).  (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing)

TO ALL GENERATIONS FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN: eis pasas tas geneas tou aionos ton aionon; amen:   (Eph 2:7; 1Peter 5:11; 2Peter 3:18; Jude 1:25)

More literally this reads "unto all the generations of the age of the ages".

Eadie explains Paul's descriptions of time writing that...

This remarkable accumulation of terms is an intensive formula denoting eternity...This language, borrowed from the changes and succession of time, is employed to picture out eternity. It is a period of successive generations filling up the age, which again is an age of ages—or made up of a series of ages—a period composed of many periods; and through the cycles of such a period of periods, glory is to be ascribed to God...The entire phrase is a temporal image of eternity. The obligation to glorify God lasts through eternity, and the glorified church will ever delight in rendering praise, “as is most due.” Eternal perfection will sustain an eternal anthem. The Trinity is here again brought out to view. The power within us is that of the Spirit, and glory in Christ is presented to the Father who answers prayer through the Son, and by the Spirit; and, therefore, to the Father, in the Son, and by the Spirit, is offered this glorious minstrelsy—“as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14 Commentary - Online)

“To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom heaven's triumphant host
And saints on earth adore,
Be glory as in ages past,
As now it is, and so shall last
When time shall be no more.”

Generations (1074) (genea from ginomai = to become) primarily signifies a birth or a descent. Hence genea refers to that which has been begotten, such as a family or successive members of a genealogy. Genea refers to the whole multitude of people living at the same time and belonging to the same reproductive age-class. In other words genea refers to a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously. It refers to all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.

Although, not everyone agrees, generations suggests the times of human history on this present earth which are yet to come to pass, but when this earthly drama is played out at the end of the Millennium, this anthem of praise to our Father will continue into eternity, time without end.

Forever...ever (165) (aion) is literally of the age of the ages. There is evidently more than one age to come, a succession of ages. The church consisting of all born-again believers in Christ, will be an eternal entity, offering up endless praise age after age.

Paul is saying in essence that because of all that God has done for us, we ought to spend every moment giving Him His due; disciplining our minds to this practice so that even unconsciously we are glorifying Him.

Amen (281) (from Hebrew verb aman = be firm, steady, trustworthy) means  firm, trustworthy, true and suggests solidity and firmness. Amen was used as a strengthening and confirming statement (why are there so few "Amens" in the modern church? Is the message being proclaimed not true, solid and trustworthy? Or are those in the pews so enamored and entangled with the world that they are asleep to the great truths of the Bible?). Amen acknowledges that which is valid and binding. Amen serves as a word of affirmation.

O'Brien has an excellent summary statement writing that...

The doxology at the end of Paul's prayer concludes the first half of the letter on the same note with which it began in the introductory eulogy (1:3–14), namely, in praise of God for his mighty salvation, initiated in eternity, carried into effect in Christ, and intended to redound to the praise of Gods glorious grace for all eternity. Paul wants his readers to have a theological perspective on Gods mighty saving purposes. He prays that they might be empowered by Christ through his Spirit, so that they might walk in love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us (5:2). The prayer and doxology of chapter 3 function in an important preparatory way for the subsequent admonitions to love in the second half of the letter. (O'Brien, P. T. The Letter to the Ephesians. W. B. Eerdmans. 1999 or computer version)

Steven Cole's sermon on Eph 3:20, 21 (See Pastor's Cole's other excellent expository messages )

God is Able!

A woman once approached the famous preacher, G. Campbell Morgan, after he spoke and asked, “Do you think we should pray for even the little things in our lives, or just for the big things?” In his dignified British manner he replied, “Madam, can you think of anything in your life that is big to God?” The apostle Paul would have said, “Amen!” He has just prayed that the Ephesians would be filled up to all the fullness of God. It’s a prayer that they would come to total spiritual perfection! You can’t go any higher than to be filled with all the fullness of God! Paul adds this doxology to say, “In case you think that it is too much to ask God to fill His saints to all of His fullness, remember that He is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to His power and for His glory.”

God is not just able to do beyond what we ask, but abundantly beyond. But that’s not enough, He is able to do far more abundantly beyond what we ask. But, we still aren’t to the limit: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Now, what is it that you need? I want to encourage you to pray in faith, asking God to do far beyond all that we can ask or think.

Yet at the same time, I want to be realistic in applying this text. There are certain mysteries about the interaction between our prayers and the sovereign will of God that I cannot explain. When John the Baptist was imprisoned, I am sure that his disciples were praying for his release. It would have brought glory to God if John had been released to preach for many more years. Yet, John lost his head. Although God easily could have freed John (as He later freed Peter), it was not His will to do so.

When Jesus predicted Peter’s denials, I would have thought that it would be right to pray that Peter not sin at all. But, Jesus didn’t pray that. Rather, He prayed that after Peter had sinned and was restored, that he would strengthen his brothers (Luke 22:31,32). God’s sovereign will permitted Peter’s sin in order to strengthen Peter and others in the long run.

Even the apostle Paul, who penned these great words, had many disappointments in his ministry. Demas was one of Paul’s fellow workers, and yet he deserted Paul because he loved the world (cf. Philemon 1:24, 2Ti 4:10). Surely, Paul prayed for Demas to repent, but there is no biblical record that he ever did so. Paul prayed for the conversion of the Jews (Ro 9:1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and yet they largely rejected the gospel. In church history, Adoniram Judson was a great man of faith, who gave his life to reaching the people of Burma. And yet, he labored for years before his first convert, and even when he died, there was not much visible fruit.

Over the past 31 years of my ministry, I am painfully aware of many situations where God has not answered my prayers for Him to do for His glory far more than I could ask or think. There have been lost people for whom I have prayed that they would be saved, but they were not saved. There have been broken Christian marriages that I have prayed would be restored, but they ended in divorce. There have been sinning Christians for whom I have prayed that they would repent, but there has been no repentance.

And so I want to motivate you to pray big prayers with faith in a mighty God, who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. And, yet at the same time, I don’t want to gloss over the difficult struggles that you will surely encounter in your prayer life. We simply cannot know the big picture of what God is doing, and so invariably we will experience disappointments in prayer.

Keep in mind that in the context, Paul’s prayer for God to do abundantly beyond what we ask or think is not a prayer for physical miracles, but rather for Christ to dwell in the hearts of believers so that we may comprehend His great love for us, so that we will grow to complete spiritual maturity. In that context, Paul is saying:

Because God is able to do far more abundantly
beyond all that we ask or think,
we should pray for that which would further
His glory through Christ and His church.

There are two themes in Paul’s doxology:

1. God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us (Ep 3:20).

Under this heading, note two things:

A. God is able to do far more abundantly beyond what we ask or think because He is omnipotent.

From Genesis to Revelation, we see God’s mighty power at work. We can summarize it under four headings:

(1) God’s power is seen in creation.

God spoke the entire universe into existence out of nothing by His word alone! In Romans 1:20, Paul writes, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” The psalmist exclaimed (Ps. 33:6, 9), “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host…. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Or, as Jeremiah (32:17) exclaimed, “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” Every day all around us, we have evidence to remind us of God’s omnipotence.

Whether we look at the vastness of the universe, with billions of galaxies containing billions of stars, or at the complexity of our own bodies, or at the incredible design on the microscopic level, we see evidence of a powerful Creator. Have you ever swatted a little gnat that was flying in front of your face? Have you ever stopped to think about how difficult it would be to design a creature that small that can not only fly, but also eat and reproduce? Or, as Michael Behe explains (Darwin􀂷s Black Box [Touchstone/ Simon & Schuster], pp. 51-73), microscopic proteins and bacteria have intricately designed, irreducibly complex structures that must be all there for them to work. They could not have evolved gradually. All creation shouts, “God is a powerful Creator!”

(2) God’s power is seen in His judgments.

Throughout the Bible there are examples of God unleashing a small amount of His power to bring judgment on rebellious sinners. He brought the worldwide flood in Noah’s day. He confused the languages of the proud men at the tower of Babel. He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone. He unleashed the ten plagues on Egypt and then destroyed the Egyptian army in the sea. On numerous occasions, God destroyed thousands of people in a short time, through plagues or warfare or natural disasters (Nu 16:25-35, 46, 47, 48, 49; 25:9; Judges 7:22; 2Ki 19:35; 2Chr 20:22, 23; Ps. 18:12, 13, 14, 15).

(3) God’s power is seen in His converting sinners.

The apostle Paul is exhibit A, of course. He was persecuting the church with vengeance, when God stopped him in his tracks and changed him into the man who would preach to the Gentiles, whom he formerly detested. In our text, Paul refers to “the power that works within us.” That takes us back to Ephesians 1:19, where Paul said that the same power that raised Christ from the dead (the greatest display of power in human history) is what raised us from spiritual death to life. In Ephesians 3:7, Paul refers to the working of God’s power that converted him and made him a minister of the gospel to the Gentiles. In 3:16, he referred to God’s power through His Spirit that strengthens us in the inner man.

When the rich young ruler walked away from salvation, Jesus told the disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved. When they exclaimed, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus answered (Matt. 19:26), “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We need to remember that the conversion of a soul is not a display of human willpower, but rather a display of God’s mighty power in raising the spiritually dead to new life.

(4) God’s power is seen in His working when we are unable to do anything.

The whole point of prayer is to ask God to do what we cannot do in our own strength or ability. If we think (erroneously) that we can pull it off ourselves, then we don’t need to pray. God often puts His people in impossible situations to display His power and glory. There are far more examples of this in the Bible than I can list, but here are a few.

Abraham and Sarah were physically beyond the ability to conceive children. Even when they were younger, Sarah had been unable to conceive. When Sarah laughed at the idea that she would conceive, the Lord confronted her with the rhetorical question (Ge 18:14), “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” In response to God’s promise, she did conceive Isaac. Later, when God asked Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, Abraham obeyed because (Heb 11:19), “He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead….”

Nothing is impossible for the Lord!

God directed Moses and the Israelites to leave Egypt by a route where they had the Red Sea in front of them and the pursuing Egyptian army behind them. They had no human means of escape. In that impossible situation, Moses told the panicked people (Ex 14:13), “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today….” The Lord miraculously opened the sea so that the Israelites could pass through, but He closed the sea over the Egyptian army. Nothing is impossible with God!

Elisha was surrounded by the army of the king of Aram, with horses and chariots that had come to take him captive. When his panicked servant told him that they were surrounded by this hostile army, Elisha calmly answered (2Ki 6:16), “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Then he prayed (2Ki 6:17), ‘“O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Nothing is impossible with God!

Later, when the same king had surrounded Samaria, the famine was so bad that women were eating their own children in order to survive. Elisha predicted that the very next day the famine would be completely lifted. The royal officer of the king of Israel retorted (2Ki 7:2), “Behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” Elisha responded by predicting that official’s death, but affirmed that the famine would end, according to the word of the Lord. The following day the Lord caused the invading army to hear the sound of chariots and horses, so that they panicked and fled, leaving all of their supplies behind. In their haste to plunder the camp of the Aramean army, the people of Samaria trampled to death the king’s official, exactly as Elisha had predicted. Nothing is impossible with God!

I could cite many more examples, but here is one from the New Testament. Herod had imprisoned the apostle Peter, and was planning to execute him the next day. Peter was chained to two guards, inside a locked cell, with more guards outside, inside a prison with a locked iron outer door. In response to the church’s not-very-believing prayers for Peter’s release, the Lord sent an angel who caused Peter’s chains to fall off. He led Peter through
opened iron doors, past all the guards, and out into the streets as a free man. Again, we see, nothing is impossible with God!

I should point out, however, that prior to Peter’s escape, Herod executed James, the brother of John. Was the church praying for James’ release? We are not told, but I cannot imagine that they did not pray. Although God easily could have delivered James, He allowed him to die, while rescuing Peter. We need to remember the words of Hebrews 11:33, 34, 35a, which tell of great heroes of faith, “who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched
the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.” We all say, “Amen, preach it brother!” We like stories like that!

But, keep reading (He 11:35, 36, 37, 38, 39), “and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised.” They believed God, but He did not deliver them from their trials.

And so while God often displays His mighty power by working when we are incapable of doing anything in our own strength, at times for reasons we do not usually understand, He chooses not to display His power in such ways. At those times, His power is displayed through the patient, joyous endurance of His people in the midst of their suffering (Col. 1:11, 12; 2Cor 12:7, 8, 9, 10). But even when God chooses not to deliver us, it is not because He is lacking in power. He is able to do far beyond what we ask or think because
He is omnipotent.

B. God is willing to do far beyond what we ask or think because He is good.

Satan tempted Eve by getting her to doubt that God and His commandments are good. When we are facing impossible trials, we must be on guard against the same temptation. It is easy to begin to doubt that God really cares about us. But, Paul reminds us (Ro 8:31, 32), “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” If He did the greatest thing in giving His own Son, He will now do the relatively smaller things, according to His good and perfect will.

In the same vein, Peter writes to those who were suffering terrible persecution at the hands of the wicked Nero, telling them (and us) to cast all of our cares on the Lord, because He cares for us. Then he warns about the devil’s prowling around like a lion to devour us, and adds (1Pe 5:8, 9, 10), “But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” So, even in the worst of trials, we should remember that God in His goodness is willing to do far beyond what we ask or even think. There is far more here, but I must move on! Note, also,

2. We should ask for that which would further God’s glory through Christ and His church (Ep 3:21).

Note two things:

A. God’s glory is the end for which He created the world.

Jonathan Edwards wrote a brilliant (and not easy to follow!) essay on this subject. John Piper is the best modern author to help us understand this point (see, God's Passion for His Glory [Crossway], which contains the complete text of Edward’s essay). Edwards argued that God would be unrighteous if He did not delight fully in what is most beautiful and worthy of delight, namely, in Himself and His glory. While it would be utterly sinful for us to delight in our own glory, because we are imperfect and sinful creatures, it is utterly right for God, because He alone is the absolutely perfect, eternal Creator.

Also, God’s glory is the goal of redemption, as Paul has made clear (Ep 1:6, 12, 14, 18; 2:7; 3:10, 16). As God saves people who were formerly dead in their sins, (Ep 2:1, 2, 3), seats them with Christ in the heavenly places (2:6), and builds them into His holy temple (Ep 2:21), He is glorified. As Peter O’Brien notes (The Letter to the Ephesians [Eerdmans/Apollos], p. 269), “The doxology at the end of Paul’s prayer concludes the first half of the letter on the same note with which it began in the introductory eulogy (Ep 1:3-14), namely, in praise of God for his mighty salvation, initiated in eternity, carried into effect in Christ, and intended to redound to the praise of God’s glorious grace for all eternity. Paul wants his readers to have a theological perspective on God’s mighty saving purposes.”

B. God’s glory is displayed in His church when we live in harmony and obedience and ask Him to work through us for His purpose and glory.

Paul puts the church first, because he has been showing how the church is God’s new creation, brought into existence by the cross that broke down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. As F. F. Bruce puts it (The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians [Eerdmans], p. 331), “God is to be glorified in the church because the church, comprising Jews and Gentiles, is His masterpiece of grace.” But, since the church is the body of Christ, the head, God’s glory in the church “cannot be divorced from his glory ‘in Christ Jesus’” (ibid.). And, this glory to God in the church and in Christ Jesus will continue not only in time, but throughout eternity, as He continues to “show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ep 2:7).

In the context, Paul is laying the doctrinal foundation for the appeal to love and unity and holiness, which follows (Ep 4:1-5:21). So the application of this mind-stretching truth is that God is only glorified in the church in the present age when we live in harmony (Ep 2:15, 16, 19, 20, 21) and holiness, and when we depend on Him in prayer for that which would glorify Him. When the church divides over petty issues, or when church leaders or other Christians fall into sin, it brings dishonor to our glorious God. So we must be on guard and we must pray for God’s glory to be displayed through us, as He transforms us for His glory.

Conclusion

Here are four ways to apply these wonderful verses:

First, don't be guilty of not having because you haven􀂷t asked. God says (Ps. 81:10), “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” So, open wide! Ask!

Second, don't be guilty of not having because you doubt God􀂷s ability or His willingness to give. Nothing is impossible with God! As the loving Father, He will give good gifts to His children who ask (Matt. 7:11).

We can’t always understand His purposes, but we never should doubt His ability or His goodness towards us.

Third, don't be guilty of praying small prayers. Pray “big” prayers! It is impossible to ask God for too much, assuming that it is in line with His will and for His glory. Phillips Brooks said, “Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering
it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches but for wings.”

Fourth, pray for yourself and for this church that for His glory, God would do through us that which is humanly inexplicable. Don’t try to scrounge up 200 denarii to barely meet the needs of the hungry multitude.

Pray for the Lord to multiply our few loaves and fishes, so that He would get all the glory.

Pray for the powerful conversion of many sinners.

Pray for repentance and holiness for His saints.

Pray that He will be glorified in His church and in Christ Jesus, to all generations forever and ever. Amen!

Application Questions

1. How can we pray in faith (Mark 11:22, 23, 24) when we can’t know God’s sovereign will for certain in advance?

2. How can we sort out whether our prayers are selfish or for God’s glory or some mixture of both?

3. Put yourself in the place of the apostle John. Your brother is executed, while Peter is miraculously freed. How would you feel? How would you process your confusion over this?