This year we have been studying Ephesians verse by verse because it is the epistle that reveals more than any other the heart of Paul’s revelation of the glorious calling of the church. This week we continue with Ephesians 3:20-21:

I have never met a Christian who was not sure that the Lord could in fact do much more for them than they could ever ask or think—they just were not sure if He would. This is a valid question. It is apparent that the Lord has never done all that He could. The Lord could have healed every sick person in the world, provided more than enough food for all the hungry, and so on. There is no limit to what He can do, but He has limited what He will do until certain conditions are met.

The conditions that God has placed on the release of His works are mostly related to faith and obedience. However, the second part of the verse above is often overlooked, and crucial to understanding the release of God’s power. His abundance is related to "the power that works within us." He does not just want to reveal His power to us, but through us. This is not to make us egocentric, but because it has been His ultimate purpose to make man His dwelling place. He wants to reveal Himself through His people.

To date this has been the best reason for people not to believe in the Lord. It will be the best reason to believe in Him in the end. Most Christians understand the purpose of the Lord, which is revealing Himself through His people, but many have one major misunderstanding that hinders the practical outworking of this great truth. This misunderstanding is the wrong teaching that "God does not exalt men." The Scriptures tell us repeatedly that He does. In fact, He promises that "... whoever humbles himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).

Have you ever noticed that those who emphasize the most that "God does not exalt men" can be some of the most arrogant people of all? They reveal their pride by becoming judges of everyone else—especially those who they perceive are exalting themselves. Self-promotion is one of the most destructive factors to true ministry, and the Lord also promises to humble everyone who exalts himself. But we need to let Him do this or we will fall into a deadly trap. I have never read a Scripture that says "Humble your neighbor," or one that encourages us to humble those who are exalting themselves. For us to set ourselves up as judges, or to consider it our job to humble others, is one of the most arrogant things we can do, and therefore doing the very thing we are judging in others.

Idealism is a form of humanism, and the ideals of humility are usually very far from the character that God is seeking in us. David was perceived by his brothers as being arrogant when he refused to be intimidated by Goliath. True faith is usually perceived as arrogance by those who are trapped in the delusions of false humility.

We will never be worthy of anything that we receive from the Lord because of our own goodness or righteousness. However, to feel unworthy is self-centeredness, which is the root of self-righteousness. We are still only looking to ourselves instead of to the One who is our righteousness. The Lord said to "agree with your enemy," so whenever the enemy tells me that I am not good enough for the Lord to use me, I agree with him. However, I am not my righteousness, and my righteousness will never be the reason why the Lord uses me. It is by having the humility to trust in Him and the power of His cross that enables Him to do His works through us.

It is foolish for us to consider ourselves great because the Lord does great works through us. As someone once said, it is like the donkey that Jesus was riding into Jerusalem, thinking all of the Hosannas were for him, instead of the One who was riding on his back. Even so, the Lord is going to reveal His glory and His power through His people. We will never be worthy of this. We will never be able to earn it. All that we can do is believe God. If we believe Him we will also obey Him. That is all we can do, but it is also all we have to do.