Dare to Ask Big: Nine Things God Is Able to Do for You
Dr RJ Sing, 25 min, Part 1 of The Divine Ability of God
Originally preached as “The Divine Ability of God, Part 1”
Sermon outline
The God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think has made His divine ability available to believers, so we can dare to ask boldly.
Main text
- Ephesians 3:20
Opening
He welcomes viewers to Life in the Spirit and introduces a word from the Word called the Divine Ability of God. He reads Ephesians 3:20 and tells viewers that this divine ability is in us and available to believers in the New Testament church.
Unpacking Ephesians 3:20: exceedingly, abundantly, above
He breaks down the key words: 'exceeding' means surpassing greatness and going beyond limits, 'abundant' means plentiful, and 'super' means over and above, as in supernatural. He then reads the NIV ('immeasurably more') and the Amplified ('superabundantly', 'far over and above all that we dare ask or think', 'infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes and dreams'). Because the Amplified says 'dare', he calls believers to a bold, even reckless faith, and reminds viewers who feel short of talent or resources that God uses weak things to confound the wise.
Illustration: A daredevil: someone bold, reckless and willing to take a risk, which is how he says we should ask of God.
“God can do more for you than your highest prayers.”
- Ephesians 3:20
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
1. God is able to deliver you from the fire
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image, were thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter, and came out without even the smell of smoke. Whatever you give up for God, He gives back more abundantly, so keep your eyes on the Lord and make up your mind not to compromise His Word.
Illustration: The king saw four men walking unbound in the fire, and the fourth looked like the Son of God. The three were then promoted in the province of Babylon.
“Do not compromise when it comes to the things of God.”
- Daniel 3:16-28
2. God is able to raise up children from stones
John the Baptist told the crowds not to rely on having Abraham as their father, because God could raise up children for Abraham out of the very stones. He calls this the next divine ability of God.
“God is able to raise children from stones.”
- Luke 3:7-8
3. God is able to fulfil His promises
Abraham was fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised, and it was credited to him as righteousness. What God has said, He has the power to do.
“God is able to fulfill promises.”
- Romans 4:21-22
4. God is able to make all grace abound
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things and at all times you have all you need for every good work. He urges viewers to open their hearts and minds to receive the Word.
“So God is able to make all grace abound to you.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
5. God is able to do more than we ask or think
He returns to his opening text as one of the nine references. God is able to do more than we ask and more than we can even think.
“So God is able to do for us more than we ask and more than we can even think.”
- Ephesians 3:20
6. God is able to subdue all things
By the power that brings everything under His control, the Lord will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body. He marvels that God is able to subdue all things.
“God is able to subdue all things.”
- Philippians 3:21
7. God is able to guard and keep you
Paul was not ashamed of his suffering because he knew whom he had believed and was convinced God could guard what he had entrusted to Him. God does not only guard you; He protects you.
“So God is able not only to guard you, God is able to protect you.”
- 2 Timothy 1:12
8. God is able to save you completely
Unlike the high priests of the law, Jesus does not need to offer sacrifices day after day; He offered Himself once for all. Because of Hebrews 7:25, we have a High Priest who is always interceding and praying for us.
“We have a high priest all the time interceding and praying for us.”
- Hebrews 7:25
- Hebrews 7:27-28
9. God is able to keep you from falling
Jude closes with praise to the One who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before His glorious presence with great joy. This is the ninth reference, and he returns from it to his opening text.
“God is able to keep you from falling.”
- Jude 24-25
Putting it into practice
- Dare to come boldly before God and make your requests known.
- Stop disqualifying yourself because of a lack of talent or resources.
- Refuse to compromise the Word and the things of God.
- Tap into the divine ability of God that is available to you this week.
Closing
He shares testimonies from his church of cancers healed, deaf ears opened and the crippled walking, and of a woman whose 24,000 rand debt was wiped off an institution's computer two hours after she prayed for debt cancellation. He asks viewers to stretch a hand towards him or touch the television screen as a point of contact, prays for healing, deliverance and open doors, and speaks a word of knowledge over a woman named Mary with cancer, declaring the pain gone and urging her to be examined by her doctor.
In his words
- “Dare to come boldly before God and make your requests known to Him.”
- “God can do more for you than your highest prayers.”
- “God is not only able, but God is more than able. And as well, God is willing.”
- “For what you will give up for God, God will give it back to you, return it more and more abundantly back to you.”
- “There is divine ability of God present for you and I to tap into it.”
Every scripture in this message
- Ephesians 3:20
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
- Daniel 3:16-28
- Luke 3:7-8
- Romans 4:21-22
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
- Philippians 3:21
- 2 Timothy 1:12
- Hebrews 7:25
- Hebrews 7:27-28
- Jude 24-25
