20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Introduction: Have you ever taken the time to ask yourself, "What is the purpose of the local church?" I would venture to say, that most of us have probably not given it much thought - especially with all the activities that we have going on in our lives today. If you were to ask a Christian what the purpose of the church is, you would probably get a variety of answers. The number one answer that you would probably get is that the purpose of the church is to win the lost to Christ or to be a witness for Christ. Many Christians today believe that the church exists to minister to their needs, and to make them feel good about themselves when they leave. I want to encourage you this week to ask people what they think the purpose of the local church is, just to see what kind of response they will give you. You might be surprised by what you hear!

So, what is the purpose of the local church according to the Bible? The Apostle Paul gives us the answer to this question in Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 20-21 - these last two verses are a benediction of praise from Paul as he closes of the first half of this epistle in which he has been declaring God's limitless provision for His children. In this doxology Paul rehearses themes already touched on--the abundance of God's gift (1:18, 19; 2:7; 3:19), the power made available to the Christian (1:19; 3:7, 16, 18), and the indissoluble link between Christ and the church (1:22, 23; 3:10: EBCNT). Here in our focal Paul gives us the answer to the question of what is the purpose of the local church is - which is simply to glorify God. Everything else that we do is just the means in which we can bring glory to God, and we will address these issue in the coming weeks.

Transition: Now lets look at why we are to glorify God. . .

I. We Are To Glorify God Because He Enables Us To Do What We Cannot Do (v.20).
1. Through prayer (v.20a).

A. Paul begins this ascription of praise to God's ability with our assurance of answered prayer (LBC).

1) The phrase, "we ask or think" is a reference to our individual prayers.

A) "we ask," ("aiteo" {ahee-teh'-o: v, ind, pres, mid, 1per, pl}); ask for, request, as making a request in prayer.

- It is a request of the will, used here in the middle voice, "to ask for one's self or in one's own interest" (Wuest).

B) "think," ("noeo" {no-eh'-o: v, ind, pres, act, 1per, pl}); to perceive with the mind, think, consider, comprehend, conceive, used here of our mental conception.

(1) The strength of our confidence is the fact that He is vastly able above and beyond all that we might ask (LBC).

(2) The power of Christ, like the love of Christ, is beyond human understanding or measurement (BEC).

2) The extent of His ability is seen in the manner in which Paul pyramids words to describe superabundant blessings (BBC):

A) "able," ("dunamai" {doo'-nam-ahee: v, part, pres, mid/pass, dep, dat, m, sg}); of capacity or ability, be able, be capable of, can, have power to.

B) "able to do," ("poieo" {poy-eh'-o: v, inf, aor, act}); make, do, accomplish, bring about.

C) "able to do exceeding. . .beyond," ("huper" {hoop-er': prep, acc}); over, above, to an even greater degree, more, beyond.

D) "able to do exceeding abundantly beyond," ("perissos" {per-is-sos': adj, adv}); surpassingly, extremely, immeasurably more than, used here as the highest form of comparison imaginable.

- God is able to do super-abundantly above and beyond what we ask or think, and then some on top of that (Wuest).

C) "able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all," ("pas" {pas: adj, pron, acc, neut, pl}); any, all, the whole, all things, everything.

- This means that we can never ask or even think of anything that even comes close to the limit of what God is able to do (JISR).

B. The infinite power of God is at work in us to bring glory to Him (BSF).

1) "to Him who is able"

2) Paul's doxology ascribes to God the power to do them for us (Robertson).

2. Through the Holy Spirit (v.20b).

A. It is the Holy Spirit who releases the resurrection power of Christ in our lives (BEC).

1) "according to," ("kata" {kat-ah': prep, acc}); according to, toward, after.

2) "power," ("dunamis" {doo'-nam-is: n, acc, f, sg}); as able to produce a strong effect, power, might, strength, ability, capability.

3) "that works," ("energeo" {en-erg-eh'-o: v, part, pres, mid, acc, f, sg}); to be operative, be at work, aid one, be active.

B. It is God who gives us the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower us to do the things that we are not capable of doing ourselves, so it is God who gets the glory.

1) Ephesians 3:16, "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man."

2) Philippians 2:13, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

Without God's help, we could never accomplish His will and would fail. 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 (BEC). Jesus stated this in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing." Since it is God who enables and empowers us, He deserves all the praise, honor and glory.

Transition: This fact is addressed directly by Paul in verse 21 where we are plainly told that. . .

II. We Are To Glorify God Because It Is What Belongs To God Alone (v.21).
1. God is the object of our glory (v.21a).

A. Since it is God who strengthens us, indwells us, loves us, and fills us, it is God who should get all of the glory.

- "to Him," ("autos" { ow-tos': n, pron, dat, m, 3per, sg}); him, himself.

B. Romans 11:36, "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

C. 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

2. Jesus Christ and His church are the means of God's glory (v.21b).

A. Part of the mystery of the ages is that God would be glorified through the church (JISR).

1) "be the glory," ("doxa" {dox'-ah: n, nom, f, sg}); honor, glory, praise.

2) "the church," ("ekklesia" {ek-klay-see'-ah: n, dat, f, sg}); an assembly of Christians gathered together, church, congregation.

3) Paul sees "the church" as the means by which much glory can be given to God.

B. Christ and His church constitute one living organism (LBC).

1) The church is His body and Christ is the Head of that one body.

2) Ephesians 5:23, "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body."

Transition: Now Paul tells us. . .

3. The duration of our giving God the glory (v.21c).

A. The church's greatest ministry is yet to come (BEC).

- What we do here and now is preparing us for the eternal ages, when we shall glorify Christ forever.

B. The duration of this praise is to all generations, forever and ever (BBC).

1) "generations," ("genea" {ghen-eh-ah': n, acc, f, pl}); generations, descendants.

A) Lit., unto all the generations of the age of the ages (Vincent).

B) Eternity is made up of ages, and ages of generations (Vincent).

2) "forever," ("aion" {ahee-ohn': n, gen, m, sg}); forever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity, evermore.

3) "and ever," ("aion" {ahee-ohn': n, gen, m, pl}); forever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity, evermore.

Truths To Ponder:
1. The ultimate goal of the church and every Christian is to bring glory to God (BSF).

A. So the question that we need to ask ourselves is, are we as a church glorifying God or crucifying Him.
B. To many churches and Christians fail to be used of God because they have failed to understand their purpose for being here.

3. Next week we will begin looking at HOW we go about glorifying God.
 

Verse 20.
- "now," ("de" {deh: conj, coord}); moreover, so, now, even.
- "to Him who is able," ("dunamai" {doo'-nam-ahee: v, part, pres, mid/pass, dep, dat, m, sg}); of capacity or ability,
    be able, be capable of, can, have power to. (KJV = unto him that is able)

-- Robertson: Paul is fully aware of the greatness of the blessings asked for, but the Doxology ascribes to God the power to do them for us.

-- Robertson: Beyond and above all.
-- Vincent: Beyond, over and above.

-- Vincent: Superabundantly.
-- Wuest: God is able to do super-abundantly above and beyond what we ask or think, and then some on top of that.

-- Robertson: "we ask for ourselves."
-- Wuest: It is a request of the will, used here in the middle voice, "to ask for one's self or in one's own interest."

-- Robertson: The highest aspiration is not beyond God's "power" to bestow.

-- Wuest: 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. By the saint limits the working of God in and through him by the degree of his yieldedness to the Spirit.

Verse 21.
- "to Him," ("autos" { ow-tos': n, pron, dat, m, 3per, sg}); him, himself. (KJV = unto him)
- "be the glory," ("doxa" {dox'-ah: n, nom, f, sg}); honor, glory, praise. (KJV = be glory)

-- Vincent: Properly, the glory, which is His due.

-- Robertson: The general church, the body of Christ.

-- Robertson: The Head of the glorious church.

-- Vincent: Lit., unto all the generations of the age of the ages. Eternity is made up of ages, and ages of generations.
-- Wuest: Lit., "unto all the generations of the age of the ages." An expression by which the mind of man working with the ideas of time, labors to convey the idea of the eternal.

Barnes - Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible.
BBC - William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary.
BEC - Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol.2.
BSF - Bible Studies Foundation (http://www.bible.org/).
EBCNT - Zondervan's, Expositor's Bible Commentary, New Testament.
JISR - Tommy Higle, Journey Into Spiritual Riches.
LBC - Liberty Bible Commentary on the New Testament.
MacArthur - John MacArthur's New Testament Commentary: Ephesians.

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