One of my favorite passages in all the Bible is Ephesians 3:20-21:
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask of think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
I like to call this the “Ginsu” passage of the Bible. Those of you who are my age or older will remember that old television commercial for the Ginsu knife. It was really the father of today’s infomercial. Remember that? I loved that commercial, didn’t you? It started with the words, “In Japan, the hand can be used like a knife.” You then saw a hand break through a piece of wood. “But that doesn’t work on a tomato.” Now we are introduced to the ginsu knife. It slices, it dices, and it chops. Remember? And the thing about that Ginsu knife commercial was that just when the deal that was being offered you seemed like it couldn’t get any better, it did. Right? They would tell you about this incredible deal and then they would say, “But wait, there’s more!” Then the commercial would add another amazing aspect to the deal. Then you would hear those words again, “But wait, there’s more!”
That’s what I think of when I read these two verses. Paul makes a statement about God that is amazing but then he adds something additional. And just when you think it can’t get any better, “Wait! There’s more!” Look at the first part of verse 20.
Paul begins with the simple but astounding statement, “He, speaking of God, is able.” It is a word that means “capable.” God is capable. And this is written in the present tense so it is saying that God is continually capable. There is never a time that God is not able. He is always able. Isn’t that great? Isn’t that amazing? But wait, there’s more!
Paul goes on and says that God is able “to do.” It is a word that means “to perform.” God is continually capable of performing. He never has an off day. He’s never off of His game. God is able to do. That’s wonderful! But wait, there’s more!
God is able to do “beyond.” His isn’t just continually capable of performing. He is continually capable of performing beyond. But again, there’s still more.
He is able to do “exceeding abundantly beyond.” This is the idea of having superabundance in quantity. This same word was used to describe the food left over after Jesus fed the 5,000 men plus women and children with the little boy’s lunch. He wasn’t able simply to feed some 25,000 people with a few fish and chips, He did far more abundantly beyond this. When it was all said and done, everyone had eaten until they were fill and there were 12 baskets full of food left over. This description of God just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it? What a God! But wait! There’s still more! Be sure to read my posting tomorrow for the rest.
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask of think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
I like to call this the “Ginsu” passage of the Bible. Those of you who are my age or older will remember that old television commercial for the Ginsu knife. It was really the father of today’s infomercial. Remember that? I loved that commercial, didn’t you? It started with the words, “In Japan, the hand can be used like a knife.” You then saw a hand break through a piece of wood. “But that doesn’t work on a tomato.” Now we are introduced to the ginsu knife. It slices, it dices, and it chops. Remember? And the thing about that Ginsu knife commercial was that just when the deal that was being offered you seemed like it couldn’t get any better, it did. Right? They would tell you about this incredible deal and then they would say, “But wait, there’s more!” Then the commercial would add another amazing aspect to the deal. Then you would hear those words again, “But wait, there’s more!”
That’s what I think of when I read these two verses. Paul makes a statement about God that is amazing but then he adds something additional. And just when you think it can’t get any better, “Wait! There’s more!” Look at the first part of verse 20.
Paul begins with the simple but astounding statement, “He, speaking of God, is able.” It is a word that means “capable.” God is capable. And this is written in the present tense so it is saying that God is continually capable. There is never a time that God is not able. He is always able. Isn’t that great? Isn’t that amazing? But wait, there’s more!
Paul goes on and says that God is able “to do.” It is a word that means “to perform.” God is continually capable of performing. He never has an off day. He’s never off of His game. God is able to do. That’s wonderful! But wait, there’s more!
God is able to do “beyond.” His isn’t just continually capable of performing. He is continually capable of performing beyond. But again, there’s still more.
He is able to do “exceeding abundantly beyond.” This is the idea of having superabundance in quantity. This same word was used to describe the food left over after Jesus fed the 5,000 men plus women and children with the little boy’s lunch. He wasn’t able simply to feed some 25,000 people with a few fish and chips, He did far more abundantly beyond this. When it was all said and done, everyone had eaten until they were fill and there were 12 baskets full of food left over. This description of God just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it? What a God! But wait! There’s still more! Be sure to read my posting tomorrow for the rest.
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