Ephesians 3:20 – “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all”
What we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” hat an awesome thought. God is able to do more than we can even think. If you put your imagination to work right now and think of the biggest house, the nicest car, the best clothes…God is able to give you more. This understanding should send the church dancing and shouting. However, for most Christians, this gives them no more than simply the idea that God has it within His power to do it, but it is up to Him where He puts the stuff.
Let me dispel two thoughts:
1. God is a sovereign God who can do whatever He wants to.
This idea is not Biblical. He does have ultimate, absolute power. However, He gave that power over to His Word. Psalm 138:2 tells us, “…thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” His Word is what’s sovereign. If His Word says it…that settles it!
2. God blesses one person above another person.
God says time and time again in the Bible that He is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9). If He has done it for one, He’ll do it for you. If He’s done it once, He’ll do it again. The only key is for you to submit to the sovereign authority of His Word! With those two thoughts out of the way, let’s go back to focusing on God’s abundance and His desire to get that abundance into your hands.
- 3 John 2 – “Beloved. I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:9 – “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
- Psalm 35:27 – “..Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
After what we have just read, many Christians are left with the question, why isn’t it working for me? Why don’t I have exceedingly abundantly more than enough in my life. Psalm 78:41 tells us this about the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness, “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” What? God’s children limited Him! They kept Him from leading them to the abundance He had for them. Do you understand that since that time it hasn’t changed! God’s people are still the one’s who make or break their abundance. Deuteronomy 30:19 – “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” It is your choice whether God can bless you or whether He is limited!
YOU Set Your Limits
In 2 Kings, chapter 4 we see the story of Elisha and the Shunemite woman. She was in such debt that she was ready to lose her two sons to her creditor. She needed an abundant breakthrough in her finances. Notice what Elisha tells her in verse 3, “Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.” The only direction he gave her was to not borrow only a few! Get as many as you can, because your harvest will depend on it! Understand, God was going to give her whatever she would expect! In Luke, chapter 5, we find the story of Simon’s great catch of fish. In verse 4, Jesus tells Simon to “launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” Notice that Jesus tells him to let down his “nets” (plural)! What does Simon do? “At thy word I will let down the net.” He limited God by letting down the “net”! One! No wonder the net broke! There were enough fish down in the water to fill his “nets” (plural)! But he only let down one! Think about how many fish he lost because he limited God!
Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
The word “issue” literally means the boundaries. In other words, you set the boundaries of your life by what you let in your life. If you let in words of doubt and lack, that is where your boundaries will be set. However, if you let the right stuff inside, you will increase your boundaries.
How to Take the Limits Off!
1. Believe the Word of God!
John 8:32 tells us that the Truth that we know will make us free! Free for what? Free for whatever God wants to do in us!
2. Give Abundantly!
Galatians 6:7 directs us that, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth. that shall he also reap.” In other words, it won’t work any other way. You won’t get anything if you don’t give anything. The last part of Luke 6:38 says, “For the measure you give will be the measure you get back (RSV)”. One of the greatest ways that people limit God is by limiting their giving. “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Take the limits off of your giving, and you will take the limits off of God.
3. Limitless Obedience!
Isaiah 1:19 declares, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” It isn’t enough to be willing. Everyone is willing but you must also be obedient. Obey what the Lord tells you to do. That was why Simon lost many fish. Take advise from Jesus’ mother, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5).
4. Alwavs be Faithful!
Luke 16:10 says, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Your level of faithfulness with what you have right now will determine how much you will have tomorrow!
5. Expect Great Things!
Acts 3 tells us a story of a man who was a lame beggar. When he saw Peter and John coming into the city it says his expectancy arose! “And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” He didn’t really know, exactly, what to expect, but he was expecting something and got it! If God gave a lot of people a million dollars tomorrow, they would be the most surprised person around. They are not expecting anything from God! Romans talks about Abraham’s promise for a son and says, “Who against hope (earnest expectation) believed in hope (earnest expectation)…” Abraham and Sarah having a son in their old age seemed too good to be true. But it didn’t matter! They had God’s Word on it, so he expected it! Beloved, let God be God in your life. If it is His greatest pleasure to prosper you, then let Him do it. Don’t stop or limit His blessings from taking place in your life. Do what you need to do and don’t limit God!
