After hearing Priscilla Shirer speak on Ephesians 3:20 and 21, I knew I wanted to tuck these treasures in my heart:
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
When we lived in the Carolina’s, I listened to Tony Evans on the radio each evening as I settled in. His daughter, Priscilla Shirer, is an anointed speaker. With a BIG thank you (and hug) to Victoria Leigh for typing my chicken scratched notes into a readable form, here are the notes that inspired me to tuck these verses in my heart from hearing Priscilla Shirer speak on August 1, 2009 at the Deeper Still conference in Greensboro, NC.
Ephesians 3:20-21 is a gem within a gem.
1. Time – “Now”
Paul has gone to God with a request for the impossible situation – Jews and Gentiles coming together- Now is the time to believe in God. Are you in the impossible situation? Paul wanted there to be a connection between the impossibility of the situation and the now of God.
2. Turning “to Him”
Don’t focus on self, the situation or another person; but lift high the flag of our belief. In Numbers 13- Joshua and Caleb saw the difficulties through God and their difficulties didn’t disappear. Your difficulties don’t disappear.
3. Truth “Who is able to do”
Greek word for power is dunamis = power=dynamite – power of God is like dynamite. Paul knew who he was dealing with – the power that God is. If you have ever felt disconnected, know that HE is able!
4. Transcendence of God “God is exceedingly abundantly above”
These words are super superlatives, hyper is the Greek word here attached to a Greek word- it is that word on steroids. Gone beyond where it is supposed to go, no limits — beyond, Beyond.
*Priscilla does not allow her boys to go beyond the fence in their back yard. But if she gets a call from her neighbor that lives behind them, that their boys are in their yard, her boys have gone beyond the limit – Beyond, beyond.
We carry around a box of what we believe about God. God will NOT fit in my box. Use my current box as a foundation upon which HE is going to build.
Priscilla shared a way she prays “LORD, would you please do this, (and then adds) OR SOMETHING BETTER? I believe YOU are able.”
5. Totality of God – “All that we ask or think”
ALL means ALL. Every hair is numbered. He knows me intimately. Priscilla gave an example of a daughter pouring out her problems to a mother and the mother saying, “Stop, I can’t take any more.” God can take it ALL.
6. Turbo power (I’m not sure if I wrote down the right title.) “According to the power that works within us”
It is possible to have the all the power under the hood (like a Mustang car) and poke along. Ephesians 3:20 and 21 says the power is available to me to work. What a tragedy – ALL the fullness of GOD on the inside and no power on the outside.
7. Tribute to the fully capable God. I’ve changed the soil now – “To HIM be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Thank you for sharing~GOD BLESS!!
andrea
Whew!! Power under the hood but poking along. Isn't that just a perfect description of some of us Christians. We have incredible power under our hood in the person of the Holy Spirit, yet we do not draw on it so very often.
Thanks for a wonderful recap of Deeper Still. Wish I could have gone but family situations prevented it.
You gave me much, much to chew on.
Leah
Thanks for the lessons. B
your blog is very sweet…and i adore your header!
have a wonderful day~
chasity
This stuff is powerful!!!
Thanks for sharing your notes!
I will be back after we finish our reading time to soak in this again. 🙂
Hugs
steph.
Amen!
I loved the "lid on the box" in #4. I've often shared about that with women in the ministry back in Va. We have a way of putting "God" in this box of what we think BUT…
He is SO much bigger than what our human minds can even comprehend.
Love and blessings dear sister.
What wonderful commentary! I love those verses. We sang them in song last night with my church and it was a powerful moment because we have a powerful God. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing this. Your notes are more detailed than mine. I needed this reminder today.
Love Priscilla! We're going to be doing her study "one in a million" beginning in a couple of weeks at our church. I wish I could have been at this event.
#3 strikes home for me … being a disciple with a lack of belief! Been there recently; after some time of intense disclosure before the throne of God, he brought my "unbelief" to the forefront and asked me to deal with it. It was a difficult confrontation, but one I desperately needed. I'm working on it.
Thanks for all of these valuable insights! Blessings to you this weekend.
peace~elaine