Economic Growth (4)
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
Power at work within
Given the straightforward, unadorned way in which Paul makes this declaration, it’s surprising that so few of the followers of Jesus Christ seem to take it to heart.
The power that flows from the eternal throne of our risen Lord is the power which is at work within us, the power of God’s indwelling Spirit. He makes us willing and able to do what comports with the pleasure of God (Phil. 2.13). He is able to do in and through us exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. He brings the divine economy to materiality through those who believe.
This being so, why are so many of us “underachievers” for the Lord? Why are so many Christians failing to thrive? Content to remain babes in Christ? Unwilling to take up the hard work of learning and growing toward maturity? Satisfied with mere happiness when they could know real joy?In any church it’s always a handful of people who make everything happen. Twenty per cent of the people do all the work while eighty per cent simply wait to be served or entertained by whatever the leaders choose to do next. Most believers are not growing very much in the Lord, and certainly the level of their service for Christ, or even what they endeavor in His Name, remains pretty much the same, year-in and year-out.
Stuck in our limitations
The problem is, I think, that as human beings, we know our limitations. And we are trapped there, ensnared in our small vision, limited experience, and doubting minds.
There are certain things we’ve never done before, and so we assume that such things, whatever they may be, are not part of what God expects for us. We might assume that these are not things we should endeavor. Someone else, better prepared and with more experience, will have to take up these callings. But if the Spirit of God lives in us, and if He is, indeed, able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask or think, should we not expect more of ourselves than merely what we’ve ever known or endeavored in the past? Shall we be limited by our experience when an exceeding abundant power is at work within us? Shall how we see ourselves be the defining terms of our existence, rather than how Christ sees us? Shall we quench the Spirit rather than yield to Him?
Or shall we push out to the exceedingly and abundantly above limits and experience of God’s Spirit?
Stretching out in the Spirit
If you’re beginning to feel stretched to the limits of what you might be able to learn or do in advancing the Kingdom economy, then there’s a simple solution: Stop relying only on your experience and present abilities, and begin stretching out into the vast resources of the Spirit of God!
What does that entail?
Clearly, we must get to know the Spirit and discover what He intends to do in and through us. The Spirit is able to bring forth in us virtues and characteristics that are more like Jesus Christ than anything we’ve ever demonstrated (Gal. 5.22, 23). He is the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of God (Is. 11.1, 2). What more could we want? And having Him, what are we waiting for? He can fill us with power to bear bold and consistent witness for Christ with our neighbors (Acts 1.8).
The Spirit can teach us the Law of God and enable us to walk, like Jesus did, within the path of righteousness the Law marks out (Ezek. 36.26, 27; 1 Jn. 2.1-6).
The Spirit is ready to deploy a wide range of gifts and abilities within us, to enable us to serve others in ways we’ve never done before (1 Cor. 12.7-11).
The Spirit can enlighten and empower us to bring the glory of God to light in all our work, all our time, every relationship, role, and responsibility of our lives, so that the hope of glory in which we live will become the hope of glory others see more consistently in every area of our lives (1 Cor. 10.31; 1 Pet. 3.15).
At work within us
In fact, the more we learn about the Holy Spirit and the more we realize that this powerful Spirit is at work within us to make us willing and able to do God’s pleasure (Phil. 2.12, 13), the more we will begin to venture beyond ourselves, beyond our past experience, into new areas of trusting the Lord and relying on His Spirit to do what He is eager and able to do, and not just what we might be willing to endeavor.
We can’t out-think or out-ask the Holy Spirit with respect to how He might use us in advancing the Kingdom economy. The problem with most of us, I suspect, is that we don’t dare to think much beyond what we’re familiar or comfortable with already, and we seldom ask the Spirit to take us further and deeper into new areas of life or ministry.
God is able to do in and through us more than we’re willing to think or ask. When we line up our thoughts and desires with God’s plan for us, we’ll begin to see the Kingdom economy advancing in leaps and strides through our lives.
For reflection or discussion
1. Do you agree that many believers are “underachievers” in their discipleship? Why or why not?
2. When it comes to following Jesus, how might we be able to tell when we were allowing ourselves to be hindered by our experience?
3. What might be some ways the Spirit of God could work “exceedingly abundantly above” in your life?
Next steps—Transformation: In what areas of your life would you like to see the Spirit of God stretching out a bit more? What steps can you take to make this happen?
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast pushes on through our readings from Joy to Your World!. Our Crosfigell teaching letter continues its brief series on the early 6th-century Irish saint, Coemgen. In our daily Scriptorium column, we are working our way through Matthew’s gospel, studying the coming of the Kingdom of God. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
