‘Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen’ (Ephesians 3:20-21).

About 11 years ago my wife Tracy and I were on holiday in Turkey. One excursion we took really stood out.  That day we were looking at various Roman ruins, but the highlight was when the coach took a turning down a dusty trail and literally stopped in the middle of nowhere!  The reason we had come to this inconspicuous place on the map was because it had one of the finest examples of a Roman aqueduct to be seen practically anywhere in Turkey!  I remember looking at the 60-foot plus high structure and thinking wow!  Later that day we visited a Roman Theatre.  From outside it looked interesting, but once again, when we were inside the vastness of the structure literally took my breath away.  It was the second ‘wow’ moment of the day!  When we come to chapter 3 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul is experiencing something similar, but infinitely more glorious!  Charles Hodge explains it in this way: ‘Paul’s prayer had apparently reached a height beyond which neither faith, nor hope, nor even imagination could go, and yet he is not satisfied. An immensity still lay beyond. God was able to do not only what he had asked, but infinitely more than he knew how either to ask or think.’[1]  This is definitely to Paul a succession of ‘wow’ moments!

The word: ‘mystery’ that is used at various points in chapter 3 is not used in the sense we use it today.  Rather, it means something that’s been revealed.  Here Paul uses it in relation to the Gospel that’s been revealed to him.  He’s amazed at Gods love and generosity in that this wonderful message has been revealed first to him, and then through him to the Gentiles (non-Jews).  They are: ‘partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel’ (3:8).  The gist of what Paul is writing is as follows.  What was once hidden has now been revealed!  And this he refers to as the: ‘unsearchable riches of Christ’ (3:8)! This is double ‘wow’ moment as far, as Paul’s concerned, which brings him to his knees in praise and gratitude (3:14)!   Paul’s prayer is a simple but glorious one that is summed up in verses 17-19: ‘so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.’

The emphasis has been on God’s immense riches.  So, when it comes to this blessing Paul encourages the Ephesian Church to think big!  After all, God is the most generous of givers (v20).  The Greek word for: ‘power’ in verse 20 is where we get the word dynamite from.[2]  This gives us a picture of  God’s unlimited power!

The fact that God can do so much more than we can ask or imagine, the fact that we have the Holy Spirit within us is amazing and something, we as Christians, should marvel at and give praise for.  But what then should be the Christians reaction to this wonderful resource?

Sadly, for Christians this is an area where confusion often reigns.  I see many Christians of different persuasions living impoverished spiritual lives.  Those of the ‘Reformed’ persuasion can often limit the work of the Spirit by their lack of expectations.  Charismatics, who often claim spiritual superiority in this area, often mistake self-gratification for the work of the Spirit!   Neither of these attitudes will do as neither are faithful to what Paul teaches here!  This is about glorifying God and not the Church!  If God’s mercy and grace, due to his infinite riches, blesses Churches by them being full of converted, vibrant and Spirit filled Christians, then the glory is to go to him as it is through Christ’s work that this has been made possible (v21).  Stuart Olyott puts it this way: ‘what is the first and highest task of the church? It is not primarily to be a fellowship or to evangelise, though these responsibilities are truly important. It is to prostrate oneself before its God and to glorify him.’[3]  We have been given infinite riches through the work of Christ, so whatever our circumstances as Churches, let’s praise the Lord for them!

Would you like to listen to a sermon on this passage? Do you Understand the Unsearchable Riches of Christ?

[1] Charles Hodge, The Epistle to the Ephesians (London, Banner of Truth Trust,1964) 192.
[2] Warren Wiesbe, Be Rich, An Expository Study of the Epistle to the Ephesians (Weeton, Victor books 1983) 72.
[3] Stuart Olyott, Alive in Christ, Ephesians Simply Explained (Darlington, Evangelical Press, 1994) 94.