Nov. 19, 2023

CHURCH: LET’S GIVE GLORY TO GOD!

Ephesians 3:20-21

Rev. DeWayne F. Davis Sr. 11-19-23

This is known as a doxology (Psalms 106:48). It is a statement of glorious praise that most Jewish people used at the end of their prayers. Paul is in awe because for the past three chapters he’d been explaining to them the awesomeness of being brought to saving faith in Christ and the magnitude of all God has done for them as believers even though they were Gentiles.

1. FOR HIS PERFORMANCE – v. 20a

It was through God’s ability that his and their prayers would be answered. 

After we pray and God gives the word, He is able to perform, accomplish it. Jeremiah 1:12. He hears our prayers, understands our thoughts and imaginations about what we’re praying for, then goes to work and accomplishes better than what we prayed. 

huperekperissou (hooper-ek-perisow)   huper = “above all things  

 ek = “exhaustlessness”  perissos “exceeding some number or measure, over and above, more than necessary,”  2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Kings 3:5,7-13

2. FOR HIS POWER – v. 20b

How and why was God able to pull this off? Power = dunamis (dynamite)

Work = energeia (energy)  “work effectually in.”  God answers our prayers because His power is already working in us, which positions us for the same power to be used to accomplish more than what we have asked.

3. FOR HIS PEOPLE – v. 21a 

God in His own mysterious way has set the church up as His primary vehicle of showing Himself off to the world of lost people. God now expects each person to live in such a way as to bring glory to Him! He has risked His own divine reputation by limiting the glorification of His name on earth by what the church does with it. Luke 10:21

4. FOR HIS POTENTATE – v.21b

Jesus gave God the ultimate glory! John 17:4 His earthly life of 33 years was spent giving glory to His heavenly Father. And because of this God has highly exalted Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 6:15 He will be known in every generation and throughout eternity as the only true and everlasting Potentate, ruler. AMEN! It means firm truth, reliable, truly indeed, or.. it is Gr = “true that.”

Revelation 3:14; Matthew 6:13; 2 Peter 3:18; Revelation 1:7; 22:20-21.