GOD’S POWER AT WORK IN US

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that WORKS in us, – Ephesians 3:20

Working God’s Work is actually GOD’S POWER AT WORK IN US: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that WORKS in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph.3:20-21). God alone deserves the Glory, because He is the DOER of the Work: “For it is GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phi.2:13). We simply “work out” what He is working in us. God works in and through us powerfully, to accomplish infinitely more than our greatest request, most incredible dream, or wildest imagination.

This is the sixth of Paul’s repeated usage of the word “power” in this epistle (Eph.1:19, 21; 3:7,16,20). Paul associated ‘power’ with other words such as strength, might, dominion, and authority. It is easy to assume that God’s Power belongs to people in another time, age or level of spirituality, for ‘Big Men of God,’ or that it is impossible for simple Believers to access and tap into. Paul prayed for God’s Strength and Power to become our reality from inside-out: “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with MIGHT through His Spirit in the inner man” (v.16).

Ephesians 3:20-21 form the extension and conclusion to the prayer that the Apostle Paul began in verse 14. In this Intercessory prayer, Paul was praying for the Ephesian saints and others who would read the epistle, for strength, might, and power “through His Spirit in the Inner Man” (v.16), and for establishment in and the Fullness of God’s Love (vv.17-19). He however switched gear in verse 20. Instead of praying for others, he began making a majestic description of God – a Doxology. Each of verses 20 and 21 starts with a “TO HIM.” In other words, God was being praised for two things: God’s Unlimited Power and God’s Amazing Glory.

The word for power is used twice in Ephesians 3:20, first as a noun and then as a verb. It comes from the Greek word for ‘dynamite.’ The verb here is actually translated “is able” to DO! Whereas dynamite represents a destructive power (and it’s easy to destroy things), God’s Power is much more awesome in that it is constructive. God’s Power is Power to accomplish, build, and construct. God’s Power is so Great and Unlimited, but He specializes in Constructive Energy. Man has something like this but it is on a whole different scale. It is called WORK. Man takes what is not his and modifies it for his own use. Man takes God’s things, most often without permission, takes and reshapes objects – atoms, gases, materials, and genes – into other things, often for his selfish use.

For the Man in Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that WORKS in US” (v.20). He does all of these exceedingly, abundantly, and above all! God works through healings, miracles, wonders, and diverse circumstances, to bring about Praise to His Great name. Because He is the DOER and His is the Power, God alone must be the Object of Praise! He alone should receive our admiration, not mere men with clay feet and deceitful hearts; not idols, religions, earnest humanistic organizations that care for the poor, or government.  

Only God is to be praised: “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory…” (Psa.115:1a). Everything else that is exalted is attempting to steal from God’s Glory. But we are Stewards of His Grace and Power. We are accountable for our thoughts and words, and must be careful to not praise the foolish and vain or fail to give sufficient adoration to the King of Kings. Those things that we would not even think about asking or imagine possible are the very things God specializes in working out in us!