Knowing the Whole Scripture

If I recited to you “according to the power that works in us” would you be able to tie it to the scripture sentence it belongs to? I bet if I gave you the beginning of “to Him who is able to do…….” you could finish the sentence because it is a famously quoted scripture that we hear and see on framed prints. It is critical that we know the whole scripture. I believe it’s critical to read the entire chapter not just the verse to understand the entirety of what God is teaching. Oftentimes we only reach for the promise, leaving out the instruction to receive the promise.

Ephesians 3:20 says, “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”. Most of us know and can quote the first part of the verse. However, I struggle to see this promise being fulfilled over the majority of what we would consider the Christian community. Most of us believe God can do way more than we can imagine but we don’t understand or even recognize the power that works in us. It is in the knowing the power to receive this promise which is Holy Spirit that lives in us. Also learning to apply other biblical truths to help cultivate this understanding, such as, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.(Phil 4:13)  Oh the powerful things of God that we would see come to pass if we could make the separation from self. It is not us, it will never be us, and it will always be Him! We perish without understanding our part, which is to know, understand, believe, cultivate the power that is within us.