God is Able: Understanding His Unlimited Power in Our Lives

When life feels overwhelming and circumstances seem impossible, we need to

remember a fundamental truth about God's character: He is able. This message from Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God's power extends far beyond our limitations and expectations.

What Does It Mean That God is Able?

The apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison, declares: "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh us" (Ephesians 3:20). This isn't just theological theory—it's a declaration of God's unlimited capability in our lives.

Paul wrote these words while incarcerated, not because of wrongdoing, but because he was following God's will. This teaches us that even when we're in the center of God's will, life can still present challenges. But our circumstances don't diminish God's ability.

How Does God's Predestination Affect His Ability?

Before we understand what God is able to do, we must grasp what He has already done. In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul explains that God predestined us—He chose us before we were born. This means:

• God knew us before we knew ourselves

• He chose us despite our flaws

• Some blessings in our lives have nothing to do with our performance

• They exist because of God's grace, love, and mercy

God gives us what we need to accomplish His purposes, even when we don't naturally possess those qualities. He sets us up for praise breaks and breakthrough moments because He predetermined our destiny.

What Does It Mean to Be Adopted by God?

Paul also explains that God adopted us. Adoption means choosing someone despite knowing all their flaws and challenges. God looked at us—like choosing a mutt from the pound that everyone else passed by—and said, "That's the one I want."

This adoption gives us the same standing as biological children in God's family. We have inheritance rights not because we earned them, but because God chose us.

How Does God's Grace Enable His Ability?

Chapter 2 of Ephesians focuses on God's grace—how He sees us despite our failures. Grace covers us completely. When we understand how God feels about us on our worst days, we can better appreciate how He blesses us on our best days.

God has us covered even when:

• We're not walking right

• We're not praying consistently

• We don't feel like worshiping

• We're angry or upset

• We question His timing

Why Does Paul Say "We" Instead of "I"?

Paul writes about what "we" can ask, not just what "I" can ask. When individual faith becomes collective faith, something powerful happens. Jesus said, "Where two or more are gathered, I will be in the midst."

When we join our faith with others:

• Two are better than one

• God moves in response to unified prayer

• Blind eyes open when we ask together

• Miracles follow collective belief

What Does "Exceedingly Abundantly" Really Mean?

God doesn't just meet our expectations—He exceeds them. The word "exceedingly" means going past limits. God can:

• Go beyond what we expect

• Surpass our imagination

• Reshape our circumstances like dynamite reshapes landscapes

• Give us things we never even asked for

Our expectations are often too small. We pray for what we can imagine, but God wants to do what only He can do.

How Does God's Power Work in Us?

The power that enables God's ability already works within us. We don't have to wait for it—we just need to believe it and receive it. This power:

• Is already active in our lives

• Doesn't depend on our circumstances

• Can be "reset" when the enemy tries to disconnect us

• Works regardless of our location or situation

What Should We Expect from God's Ability?

Instead of asking for specific things, we should ask God to do "abundantly" and "exceedingly." When we exceed our own limits in asking, God exceeds our expectations in answering.

God wants to give us things we:

• Didn't even ask for

• Couldn't expect

• Wouldn't believe possible

• Can only respond to with praise

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to expand your expectations of what God can do. Stop limiting your prayers to what seems possible and start asking God to exceed your imagination. Find someone to pray with—let your "I" become "we"—and watch how God responds to unified faith.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I thinking too small about what God can do in my life?

• Who can I partner with in prayer to make my individual faith collective?

• What impossible situation do I need to trust God's ability to handle?

• How can I prepare to give God praise for exceeding my expectations?

Remember, God is able to do everything—and everything means everything. When you walk into situations that exceed your expectations, you'll have no choice but to say, "Look what the Lord has done!"