Above All That We Ask for or Think
God desires to pour out more of His glory on His people, and to give us a deeper understanding of His Word and a more abundant life.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that God desires to pour out His glory on His people, offering blessings that exceed our expectations as stated in Ephesians 3:20. He encourages believers to cultivate a deep hunger for God's presence, which leads to an abundant life as promised in John 10:10. Wilkerson stresses the importance of living a life that pleases God, urging believers to abound in good works and faithfulness. He explains that God's glory will surpass our past experiences, but it requires more than just routine prayers; it demands a commitment to serve Him wholeheartedly. Ultimately, God seeks to reveal deeper truths and wisdom to those who earnestly seek Him.
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God always desires to pour out more of his glory on his people. He longs to do for us "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). This is why he wants a people who have a ravenous appetite for more of him. He wants to fill them with his awesome presence, beyond anything they've experienced in their lifetime.
Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Yet, to obtain this abundant life, we must abound more and more in pleasing the Lord. Paul writes, "We...exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more" (1 Thessalonians 4:1). "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
The Greek word for abound means "to exceed, excel, super-abound--to have enough and to spare, over and above, excessive, exceeding abundantly above, beyond measure." Paul is saying, "God's glory in your life is going to exceed the little moments you've gotten up till now. But your prayers have to be more than just asking a blessing over your meals."
"So walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7). Paul is instructing us, "To have this abundant life of God's glory and presence, you must serve him above measure--with a love and commitment exceeding that of lazy, slumbering servants."
"Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence" (Ephesians 1:8). God wants to mete out to you glory and revelation beyond any previous measure. "Having made known unto us the measure of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself (1:9). The Lord is saying, "I'm going to open to you a deeper understanding of my Word. I want to give you revelations of its mysteries."
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Desire to Pour Out His Glory
- A. Ephesians 3:20 - exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think
- B. Jesus' purpose - abundant life (John 10:10)
- II. Abounding in Pleasing the Lord
- A. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 - abound more and more in pleasing God
- B. 1 Corinthians 15:58 - abounding in the work of the Lord
- III. The Greek Meaning of Abound
- A. Exceed, excel, super-abound - exceeding abundantly above
- IV. Walking in Him
- A. Rooted and built up in him (Colossians 2:6-7)
- B. Abounding in thanksgiving
Key Quotes
“God always desires to pour out more of his glory on his people.” — David Wilkerson
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” — David Wilkerson
“Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- To experience God's glory and presence in your life, you must serve Him above measure, with a love and commitment exceeding that of lazy, slumbering servants.
- You must be rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
- You must have a ravenous appetite for more of God, and be willing to abound in pleasing Him.