This is the Introduction to the Sermon. You will receive the full manuscript sermon in Word format when you purchase.
Title: “God is Able”
Series: Abundantly More
Introduction:
[1]Skye Jethani wrote a book called “The Divine Commodity” and in that book shares a story of a trip he took to India with his father. While in New Delhi they happened across a poor little boy who was begging in the streets. The following is the exchange they had with him when the little boy approached them:
"What do you want?" my father asked.
"One rupee, sir," the boy said while motioning his hand to his mouth and bowing his head in deference. My father laughed.
"How about I give you five rupees?" he said. The boy's submissive countenance suddenly became defiant. He retracted his hand and sneered at us. He thought my father was joking, having a laugh at his expense. After all, no one would willingly give up five rupees. The boy started shuffling away, mumbling curses under his breath.
My father reached into his pocket. Hearing the coins jingle, the boy stopped and looked back over his shoulder. My father was holding out a five-rupee coin. He approached the stunned boy and placed the coin into his hand. The boy didn't move or say a word. He just stared at the coin in his hand. We passed him and proceeded to cross the street.
A moment later the shouting resumed, except this time the boy was yelling, "Thank you! Thank you, sir! Bless you!" He raced after us once again—but not for more money but to touch my father's feet. …
This, I imagine, is how our God sees us—as miserable creatures in desperate need of his help. But rather than asking for what we truly need, rather than desiring what he is able and willing to give, we settle for lesser things. [end of illustration]
There is a lot of truth in that statement. We worship a God who created the universe, yet we are afraid to approach Him with big requests. We are starting a new series today, based on Ephesians 3:20-21, where we are going to learn that our big God can do big things in our lives – in fact, He can do “abundantly more” than we could imagine.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. -- Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV)
Today we are going to focus on this first statement in our text. We know that God is able, but what does that mean for my everyday life?
[1] Skye Jethani, The Divine Commodity (Zondervan, 2009), pp. 113-114