Exceedingly Abundantly

I want to finish this week and begin a new week with some wonderful words of praise. Here are 3 translations of Ephesians 3:20-21. I am focusing on the concept of our God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we expect or ask for. If you think about it, if He does abundantly more than we ask for, that is a huge blessing...yet He does exceedingly abundantly!! This is abundance multiplied towards us - it is abounding abundance. The primary meaning of the Greek word, ek (abundant) is "out of." I see this as abundance of blessings coming out of God's abundant blessings! In fact, these blessings cannot be measured or imagined - how about that!!

Eph. 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)

Eph. 3:20-21 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. (NLT)

Eph. 3:20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

Glory down all the generations!

Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

(The Message)

The only other time that Paul puts these two words together is when he is talking about the great grace and favor that was poured out to him as a minister. Look at these three things that were given to him in exceedingly abundant measures: grace, faith and love.

1Tim. 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

I just want to say that I am returning home from The Gathering of Artisans conference in Black Mountain, NC exceedingly and abundantly blessed beyond measure.

Thank you to everyone who attended, and to Matt Tommey and His team. What a delight to see all that creativity in one place!