Page 107 - Ephesians

“Now, unto Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly
beyond all we ask or think, according to the power that works
within us; to Him be the glory in the Church; and to Christ
Jesus in all generations, forever and forever. Amen.”

Let me give you a couple of principles concerning this song.
Verse 21, when you pray for others, and when you pray for
yourself, may I suggest that you pray with a passion for the glory
of God. The true goal of prayer is not the good of man. It’s the
glory of God. This is a wonderful chapter on real praying. Are
you praying for people’s good, or for God’s glory? God’s glory
includes their spiritual good, but it doesn’t always include, their
physical good. In other words, when a Christian is having a
rough time, my natural heart wants me to get him out of his
trouble. See, that’s off-centered. That’s praying for the good of
man, and not for the glory of God

As I look back on my own prayer life, hundreds of my prayers
have been for the good of man, and not for the glory of God. This
is especially true when it’s for a close friend, a wife, a husband,
children or a loved one. It’s abrasive to our nature to see them in
trouble. Filled with pain, and confusion. So, we ask the Lord to
take away the pain. That’s not real praying! Real praying is,
“Lord, you didn’t spare the angels, or your own Son. Don’t spare
my children, either. Just get the glory. Don’t spare my wife or my
friend. Whatever it takes to give you the glory, that’s what I
claim”. Passion for the glory of God.

There’s one other principle I’d like to share and hopefully, it will
clinch Ephesians 1-3, and prepare us for 4-6. How can I enter
into all my wealth? I’m about to leave chapter 3. I don’t want to
miss anything. How do I make it my own? The very last word in
the chapter – “Amen”.

That’s a marvelous word! The word “Amen” does not mean “the
end”. It doesn’t mean “goodbye”, or “cheerio”, or “ciao”. You
probably have heard that the word literally means, “so is it” or “so
be it”. I don’t like that because it comes across as wishful