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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21).

We have spent several days exploring Paul\u2019s three-fold outrageous and audacious prayer here in Ephesians 3. Today, lets allow this conclusion, this doxology, to sift through our souls.

Let us begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis, \u201cOur Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased (sermon, \u201cThe Weight of Glory").

I think Paul would have liked that. As he finishes his outrageous and audacious prayer, he wants our faith in God to be deepened. The things we have asked in this prayer are the kind of things that God does and much more.

To grasp this doxology, we need to begin with this basis: our God does things. He is not like the gods of the Old Testament who could not do a thing, nor is he like the force in Star Wars, which remains largely unknown. He is a person, so we can know him and communicate with him. He can hear our requests and respond to them out of his love and goodness.

Because God is not like a vending machine, we can become hardened towards him. We begin to doubt that he is at all interested in us. Is he listening at all? Does he care?

According to Psalm 139, he knows us inside and out. So even if we are too shy to ask or think our prayers are too outrageous, he knows them. And out of his love and goodness, he will answer them. He is able to do these things. And willing!

Remember, God does not measure out his grace in little bits and pieces. He does not give it out according to how much we deserve. The Biblical image is of God pouring out his grace in buckets full, an unlimited supply poured out of heavens gates.

How will he answer? you ask.

\u201cThrough the power that is already at work in us!\u201d

What is that power? It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. That is the power of God working in us. That power can raise us from our spiritual deadness and sloth. It is the power that will transform us so that we can begin to comprehend the love of God. Power over sin...weakness...fear...shame...despair...rage...lust\u2026greed...pride...guilt.

These are the things that beat us down. These are the things that make our lives miserable. God promises his power to overcome such things so that we can be people who love. It is available to you and me. It is all available to us. this is the personal power of God at work in us to overcome the particular darknesses within us.

Unlike the impersonal Star Wars force which can be used for good or bad, the power of God is only at work for the good, at work in the Christian and the Church. He works in us with his divine power so that we may be useful participants in his new society: the church. The church, believe it or not, is God\u2019s showpiece, showing off his glory, how beautiful the new creation is! Well, that\u2019s what God is working towards.