Greater Things

 

“Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 VOICE

Paul is once again bringing Christ to the forefront with this amazing doxology, demonstrating that the Father is able…able to do far more than our limited imaginations can allow us to comprehend. Which is also why Jesus made the statement “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14 ESV

Paul draws on the words of Jesus in his writing, specifically from John's gospel. In the phrase "greater things shall we do," it's unclear whether Jesus is referring to greater things in terms of number or magnitude. However, Paul suggests in our study verse that it may be up to the Father to inspire our imagination to create ways in which His power is displayed. The purpose of the Father's work in us and in the world is to restore Eden and bring His family home. With that mindset and the power of the Father working in us, everything we attempt could be given the green light from the Father. The focus is not on us, but primarily on the Father's love and His desire for His children.

The power of God flows through us, making us willing participants in His grand design. He desires to reveal His strength through us, not because He needs us, but because we are His beloved sons and daughters. He chooses to limit Himself to our weaknesses so that He can demonstrate His might. As children of our heavenly Father, we carry within us His strength and passion, which we can utilize to speak life and freedom into the lives of those around us. The purpose of sharing the gospel of Christ was never about grandiose events or massive crowds. Instead, it was meant to be shared through personal, one-on-one interactions, allowing the Spirit to demonstrate Christ's love and grace in a tangible way.

Paul emphasizes that the incredible power of God is actively working within us, transforming us into the likeness of Christ and filling us with His presence. It is not about our own ideas or efforts, nor is it about partnering with God to achieve our goals. It is entirely about fulfilling the Father's will and allowing Him to work through us to accomplish His purposes. By focusing on Jesus, we give Him all the credit for what He does, acknowledging that it was not our own ideas or efforts, but rather His work through us.

Our heavenly Father is the focus of all the glory in the Church, that sounds too religious, to put it in simpler terms…our heavenly Father is the focus of all the glory in you, me, and every person, as He demonstrates His strength and power through us. I strongly believe that all human beings are God's children and, therefore, we should treat everyone with the same dignity and respect that God has bestowed upon us. Judging others is not our role, but we can be a beacon of hope for those who need a savior. It is up to us to shine the light of love and kindness to anyone who is in darkness, regardless of who they are. “And all of us, without any veil on our faces, gaze at the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, and so are being changed into the same image, from glory to glory, just as you’d expect from the Lord, the spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NTFE

The scriptures speak that no one can see God and live, but we can reflect the very image of God in our lives as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us daily. It is as if God is walking among us when we commit to the transformation of the Spirit. 

For over two thousand years, people have anticipated the return of Jesus. We now have the advantage of the wisdom and experiences of the generations that have gone before us, who have shown us that the day of His return is closer now than we could have ever imagined. As His children, it is our responsibility to step up and fulfill our roles as gatherers of His family. We were chosen for this purpose, and we must not forget that we have the power to make a difference in our world and see Christ return in our lifetime.“The one who comes from above is over everything. The one who is from the earth has an earthly character, and what he says has “earth” written all over it. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He gives evidence about what he has heard and seen, and nobody accepts his evidence. The one who does accept his evidence has put his signature to the fact that God is true. The one God sent, you see, speaks God’s words, because he gives the spirit lavishly. The father loves the son and has given everything into his hand. Anyone who believes in the son shares in the life of God’s new age. Anyone who doesn’t believe in the son won’t see life, but God’s wrath rests on him.” John 3:31-36 NET

Stephen Barnett