Limitless - sermon 4 “Exceeding Abundantly Above”
Ephesians 3:20
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,
God’s exceeding meets His abundantly and SENDS you ABOVE!
HUPEREKPERISSOU
HYPER = above!!
EK = intensifies meaning, adding idea of exhaustlessness
THAT AMOUNT AND THAT ABILITY IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BE EXHAUSTED!
PERISSOS = exceeding some number or measure, over and above, more than necessary) means surpassing, superabundantly, beyond measure, exceedingly, quite beyond all measure, overwhelming, over and above, more than enough.
GOD IS ABLE TO DO SOMETHING…
- GIVING IT MORE THAN ENOUGH POWER NEEDED!
- A POWER THAT CANNOT BE EXHAUSTED OR EVEN MEASURED!
- AN AMAZING INEXHAUSTIVE POWER THAT CANNOT BE MEASURED!
1) DREAM BIGGER -
What is a dream?
“It is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it!”
It is possible - in our relationship with parents - to become too familiar with them we stop honoring them… stop believing GREAT THINGS can happen through them…
IN THE SAME WAY - SOME PEOPLE get so familiar with Pastors - they step over the line of honor ~ and their FAITH for the HOUSE OF GOD they are called to, wanes….
It is possible, in our relationship with God, to become too familiar to triumph.
Genesis 15:1 - 5
1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
WHILE GOD SAW
WHEN GOD SAW AN OPEN
Abram sees everything through the context of his tent.
His point of view is what he has always seen!
His point of view is that TENT!
God says:
“I’m going to make you the father of many nations!”
Abram says:
“Just give me one son…” – THAT IS A TENT DREAM!
GOD SIZED DREAMS FORCE US TO GROW!
- (with no vision the people cast off restraint)
- without a vision greater than you, you will live up to a lower expectation than what is possible
THERE ARE TOO MANY CHRISTIANS WHO ARE LIVING INSIDE OF THEIR TENT!
If we are going to DREAM GOD-SIZED DREAMS WE NEED TO:
2)
If you leave your worries and cares and problems in your hands they will stay there…
If you instead PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF A LOVING SAVIOR
~ HE’S ABLE TO CHANGE THINGS! ~
Bold prayers connect with God-sized dreams.
Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
THIS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEING GOD CORRECTLY…
HE IS a KING and a FATHER…
IF JUST A FATHER
- He would desire to fulfil your requests but would have limited funds to do so.
- People “ask wrongly” because they think, “GOD LOVES ME”… but this is beyond His ability… this is just too much, this is too crazy… so I’ll ask for something smaller..
IF JUST A KING
- He would focus on His own being taken care of above you and your family.
- People “ask wrongly” because they think, “GOD’S GOT TOO MUCH GOING ON”…
- “IN THE LARGE SCHEME OF THINGS THIS ISN’T A MAKE OR BREAK THE WORLD TYPE OF REQUEST”
WE ARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE KING THAT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WALK INTO THE THRONE ROOM AND ASK FOR CRAZY THINGS KNOWING THAT MY DAD LOVES ME AND MY KING HAS THE ABILITY TO DO WHATEVER HE NEEDS TO!
James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
THE LARGEST DISCREPANCY IN CHRISTIANITY TODAY IS THE SIZE OF OUR GOD AND THE SIZE OF OUR PRAYERS!
If it is too big for you than it is just the right size for God.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS GOD’S CAPACITY, HIS CAPABILITY, HIS CHARACTER?
It’s displayed in how you prayed.
BOLDNESS IS A
BOLDNESS IS AN
3) RISK
TO WALK IN EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE MEANS that God is drawing us out to take steps of faith BEYOND what we have done before.
Matthew 14:26 - 29 NLT
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
PETER WASN’T JUST STEPPING OVER THE WALLS OF THE BOAT…
HE WAS STEPPING OVER THE WALLS THAT KEEP US FROM RISKING…
Predictability
- Peter couldn’t gauge how this was going to go… he didn’t know what would happen exactly… he can’t put a 5 step plan together… He just new God was calling him to do something exceeding abundantly above…
Control - Peter no longer had a boat to hang onto… he was out in the water with no life jacket…
Comfort - NOTHING ABOUT THIS felt “calm and soothing”… faith is an ADVENTURE!
YOU WILL NEVER SEE ABUNDANCE IF YOU ALWAYS PLAY IT SAFE.
WE HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED INTO COMPROMISE:
THIS IS THE WORLD AROUND US CONDITIONING US TO QUIT RISKING AND STAY IN THE BOAT!
I can R.I.S.K. when I =
R EALIZE
I
S UBDUE
K INGDOMS
We are pressing toward:
Revelation 11:15
15 where “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
SO DON’T FEAR WHAT THE KINGDOMS OF MAN MAY SAY AGAINST US:
- R EALIZE I S UBDUE K INGDOMS
WE DON’T CARE WHAT STORMS THE ENVIROMENTAL KINGDOM BRINGS OUR WAY:
- R EALIZE I S UBDUE K INGDOMS
When the world’s kingdom says: “don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched”
YOU NEED TO COUNT AND CLAIM YOUR CHICKENS!
When the world tells me to “just KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER” -
I’m not here to barely be above water - I’M HERE TO WALK ON IT!
I’VE REALIZED I SUBDUE KINGDOMS!
I DON’T KEEP MY FEET ON THE GROUND -
I SOAR WITH JESUS IN HEAVENLY PLACES!
The world’s kingdom says “to keep well enough alone…”
WELL ENOUGH ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH WHEN GOD PROMISES US EXCEEDING, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL!
“Don’t bite off more than you can chew”????
NO ~ I’LL BITE OFF ALL THAT GOD PROMISES I CAN CHEW!!
WE ARE GONNA DREAM BIGGER
WE ARE GONNA PRAY BOLDER
AND WE ARE GOING TO RISK BEYOND WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE!
And when WE do GOD will do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE!