Exceeding Abundantly Above All

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Have you ever stopped to really take in the meaning of this passage in Ephesians?

If you’ve never read it or never REALLY read it, do so now. Then read it again. And again. Go ahead. I’ll wait. 

Now. What jumped out at you as you read these words from the Apostle Paul? These verses are part of a prayer by Paul to the church at Ephesus. 

Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul prays for the saints at Ephesus that they may be strengthened by the Spirit, that Christ would dwell in their hearts, that they would be able to comprehend God’s amazing love to them and that they would be filled with the fulness of God. 

And then, he writes these powerful words that we find in verse 20. 

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

The thing that jumps out at me in this verse is God’s ability to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL! 

The Greek word used for exceeding, is the word ‘hyper’.  If any of you ladies reading this have a very active child, you will know all about that word hyper. It has the idea of over, above and beyond. Hyperactive children don’t just do things. They DO things! Over, above and beyond what you expect. Nothing done half-heartedly. It’s over the top. 

And strangely enough, Paul uses the Greek word again, in the same verse. He uses it for the word ‘above’. So, we have 2 hypers in the same verse! That’s seriously hyper!  I think Paul wants us to really grasp this idea of God giving us so much more than we ask. 

Paul describes God as a God who can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.

So, God doesn’t just do and give what we ask or think, but He goes beyond. Over and above. He gives exceeding abundantly above.  We can’t even begin to understand what God can do. 

Matthew Henry puts it like this:

“There is an inexhaustible fulness of grace and mercy in God, which the prayers of all the saints can never draw dry. Whatever we may ask, or think to ask, still God is still able to do more, abundantly more, exceedingly abundantly more. Open thy mouth ever so wide, still he hath wherewithal to fill it.”

Just knowing that my God can do more than I ever ask is amazing, but did you notice that it’s not just what we ask but also what we think? Poof! Mind blowing moment! 

 We don’t even have to ask it, and He sees into our hearts and our minds, and goes over, above and beyond to do exceeding abundantly, to do even what we think and haven’t even verbalised yet! 

How many times have you prayed for something small, just a little thing, and God answered, and you thought to yourself, “Oh! I wish I had asked for more”. We pray our small prayers, hoping for a little drop of blessing and God pours out a colossal river of blessing from His vast treasure house and our puny, little bucket overflows, spilling out and filling others lives as we share what God has done.  And we’re left wishing we had lifted a swimming pool to heaven and asked for that to be filled! 

God answers over and above all that we ask or think. He doesn’t just answer, He ANSWERS! And He doesn’t just bless, He BLESSES! His grace and mercy are inexhaustible. Unfathomable. Immeasurable. Incalculable. Incomprehensible.  

But wait there’s more! God’s abundance is not limited to only a few. It never runs out! His wellspring of blessing is everlasting. It is unending. Unlimited. Boundless. So this means, that no matter how many blessings He showers upon other’s lives, there is still enough for me. For you. For everyone. We don’t have to fear that His supply will run out. There’s no need to worry that by the time He comes to us, there is only a drop left. No! EXCEEDING ABUNDANT! 

In the story of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes, God not only performed a miracle, but He ‘hyper’ performed it! He made sure that everyone was fed and that everyone was fed well.

Matthew 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

There was an abundance of food. Enough for everyone there that day to be filled and then some! It’s interesting that God caused there to be 12 baskets full of leftovers. There were 12 disciples weren’t there? Hmmm. Food for thought. 

These last 2 verses of Ephesians 3 are the end of the prayer for the church at Ephesus and here Paul sets a good example for us. Notice he is ending the prayer with praise. Praise to an awesome God. In verse 20, he describes God and what he is able to do and then in verse 21 he gives God all the praise. 

Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

It’s a good habit to get into. That of concluding our prayers with praise. Yes, praise should play a large part in every aspect of our praying, but to end our prayers with praise and thankfulness to God will bring glory to His name and have you rising from your knees with a grateful heart and a spring in your step. 

So, I want to encourage you to keep this verse in your minds and in your hearts and remember that God is able. 

It doesn’t matter what struggles you may be facing, what burdens you may be carrying, what trials you may be suffering through, God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all!  It doesn’t matter how big or how small your prayers are, He is able. 

Psalm 81:10  I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Take heart. Trust in His promises. Wait on the Lord. Watch God work. 

And when He does, give Him all the glory. 

Revelation 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.