Expecting Great Things
Expecting great things from God requires confidence in His power and ability to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the power of God to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, emphasizing the importance of relying on God's strength in times of need and peril. She encourages believers to trust in the promise of God's power working within them, enabling them to grow in courage, confidence, and personal efficiency. By looking to the vast resources of the Savior's Kingdom, Christians can find help, light, and strength to achieve victory and live heroically.
Text
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abun.dantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
--EPHESIANS 3:20,21
ALL the simplest, most living, and most genuine Christians of our own time are such as rest their souls, day by day, on this confidence and promise of accruing power, and make themselves responsible, not for what they have in some inherent ability, but for what they can have in their times of stress and peril, and in the continual raising of their own personal quantity and power. Instead of gathering in their souls timorously beforehand upon the little sufficiency they find in possession, they look upon the great world of the Saviour's Kingdom in it, as being friendly and tributary, ready to pour in help, minis.ter light, and strengthen them to victory, just accord.ing to their faith. And so they grow in courage, confidence, personal volume, efficiency of every kind, and instead of slinking into their graves out of im.potent lives, they lie down in the honors of heroes.
--HORACE BUSHNELL
Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.
--WILLIAM CAREY
Sermon Outline
- Resting on God's Power
- Confidence in God's ability to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think
- Making ourselves responsible for what we can have in times of stress and peril
Key Quotes
“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Instead of gathering in their souls timorously beforehand upon the little sufficiency they find in possession, they look upon the great world of the Saviour's Kingdom in it, as being friendly and tributary, ready to pour in help, minister light, and strengthen them to victory, just according to their faith.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Make yourself responsible for what you can have in times of stress and peril by trusting in God's power and ability.
- Grow in courage and confidence by having faith in God's promise of accruing power and looking to the great world of the Saviour's Kingdom for help.
- Expect great things from God and attempt great things for God by resting on His promise and trusting in His power.