The Power That Works In Us

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“Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20).

Out of you will flow living water John 7:38
Out of you will flow living water John 7:38

How solemn is the application of this text! How heart searching the message of God to us! How important it is that we should learn to pray through it all! Shall we claim all the fullness of the promise and all the possibilities of believing prayer?

“Exceeding abundantly above all.” Each word is packed with infinite love and power to “do” for His praying saints. There is one limitation, “according to the power that worketh in us.” He will do just as much for us as we let Him do in us. The power that saved us, washed us with His own blood, filled us with might by His Spirit, kept us in manifold temptations, will work for us, meeting every emergency, every crisis, every circumstance, and every adversary.

True Christian practice is, to follow Christ:

“I have prayed for thee, that thy strength fall not” (Luke 22:32)

“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23;34)

And in following the Lord, to follow St. Paul’s advice and example

“For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 3:14)

What an intercession this is! It is a pattern of intercessory prayer for us today; it is rightly grounded; it seeks the most precious gifts on behalf of his brethren; it has the highest designs in view in asking their bestowment.

There are many who long to help others, but they feel that they have no spiritual strength or light to impart. Let them present their petitions at the throne of grace. Plead for the Holy Spirit. God stands back of every promise He has made. With your Bible in your hands say, I have done as Thou hast said. I present Thy promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” {COL 147.2}

We must not only pray in Christ’s name, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This explains what is meant when it is said that the Spirit “maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26. Such prayer God delights to answer. When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20. {COL 147.3}

Christ has said, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13. And the beloved John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, speaks with great plainness and assurance: “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1 John 5:14, 15. Then press your petition to the Father in the name of Jesus. God will honor that name. {COL 147.4}

Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, forever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21, MKJV)