Canon Street Christian Centre

Eph. 3:14-21

V20 Able to do immeasurably more….

What does this look like?

I now know what party size, 35% extra tube of Pringles looks like – but immeasurably more than we ask or imagine? To infinity and beyond!

We stand again on the brink of a new year. Two words for 2008: “No limits!”

The Lord’s word to us for this next year is that the limits do not come from him – he says, “no limits” – we need to be careful that we don’t live a life constrained by limits that do not come from him

God is able to do immeasurably more – what limits might we live under this year that would keep us from recognising this?

Six things of which to beware – six things that are waiting to be limits on you if you will let them:

1. Small expectation

“Expect little and you will not be disappointed”

Expectation is an incredibly powerful thing – those who expect to fail usually do – those who expect to succeed often confound those who say that a thing can’t be done

Two mindsets – which is yours?

“It can’t be done unless someone proves to me that it can”
“It can be done unless someone proves to me that it can’t”

The first always ensures that the maximum possible is achieved, while the second can only ever realise a small proportion of what is possible

2 Kings 4:1-7 Don’t ask for just a few!

The size of the flow of oil was dictated not by the small container of oil she had but by the number of jars she prepared

Too often many Christians are still wondering deep down whether God is able to do a thing – in other words questioning God.

Meanwhile he is asking us if we are ready – if we have prepared for the miracle we claim to be expecting

The widow’s job was to get hold of as many jars as she could – not to work out how God was going to make the oil to fill them

Too often we don’t see miracles because we don’t make room for them – we don’t see the power of God because we don’t leave any space for it

How much of what we do could we still do without any help from God?

Put out some jars for the Lord to fill!

2. Token obedience

A common limit we live under is doing something a little when God calls us to do it a lot – a token obedience to something that he reveals to us rather than a change of life

2 Kings 13:14-19 you should have struck the ground five or six times

At first glance this story seems rather tough on Jehoash – after all he did as he was asked didn’t he?

The problem here was that he did a minimum legal obedience – he didn’t give his all to it

We see just the account of the physical occurrence here – we don’t see the spiritual side

When God gives us revelation of a thing we then become responsible to act on that revelation

Has God spoke things to your heart that you know are from him – as you hear the words they are confirmed in your spirit?

When this happens we can all too easily give a token response rather than living out what we have received

3. Reasonable sin

What is reasonable sin? It is sin that you don’t really count because you have justification for it

The things that everybody does, or the things where “God will understand my situation”

Josh. 7:1-12 Stand up! Don’t look at me – sort out your camp!

V19-21 He saw beautiful things and was unwilling to destroy them

After all wasn’t the robe only going to be burned – didn’t make sense when he could make good use of it

Beware of logic that argues against righteousness!

It is all too easy to decide what God is willing to permit or disallow – without actually asking him!

God had clearly spoken to Israel about the need to destroy the plunder in Jericho, yet Achan thought he could get away with keeping a little for himself – shame to waste the robe, and he probably had a really good reason why he needed that silver right now

What we see as a little bit of sin can be the thing that limits the power of God in our lives

What has God shown you that you need to get rid of, stop doing or start doing?

How much longer are you going to continue taking the Mickey?

4. Not receiving what God has sent

Matt. 13:53-58 Did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith

Jesus did not fit the expectation of the people – he wasn’t what they expected of a great man of God/the Messiah

Are you in danger of missing out on what God is doing because he is doing it in the wrong place, at the wrong time and using the wrong people?

The Jews consistently failed to understand God’s plan to bless and save the gentiles

Are we still holding onto some crazy notion that we are more favoured than other churches in Taunton?

Do we expect God to make us a shining example to others?

Or are we able to see that God is blessing others – even those who don’t do things the way we do or those whose doctrine isn’t as sharp as ours?

Beware of an attitude that says, “Who is he thinking he has the right to talk to me?”, rather than asking whether this is the voice of God

God has always used the unlikely to do the unexpected, and many have missed or misunderstood what he has done – don’t be one of them!

5. Worrying about the cost

A seasonal concern – lots of opportunities to buy lots of lovely stuff – need to beware of the cost though

Good sense to beware of the cost at Christmas and during the January sales – is God hard up though?

2 Chron. 25:5-9 A simple choice between doing what is sensible and what is right!

Not sensible to throw away 100 talents of silver (more than 3 tons)

It was right though!

Many times Christians settle for what is sensible instead of what is right, and the reason is often cost

God tells us what is right but we aren’t willing to go through with it because the cost seems too big for us

“The Lord can give you much more than that”

Do we really believe this?

We may have been brought up to avoid extravagance – remember this was because resources were limited!

The Lord can! His resources are not limited!

The only thing that limits our access to his resources is our obedience or lack of it

You cannot out give God!

Remember giving or giving up of anything is always an act of faith – don’t expect the Lord to tell you how he is going to provide and when – just know that he is able and you need to be obedient anyway

6. Doing your own thing

1 Sam. 13:5-14 “I felt compelled” – “you have acted foolishly”

Saul had been told to wait for Samuel to come and offer the burnt offering – he didn’t arrive when expected so Saul did what seemed right

What does it take for you to let go of the word from the Lord and do what seems right?

It is easy to say “Jesus is Lord” but the real challenge is to obey when things don’t appear to be going to plan

As a general rule, the tougher the situation the more important it is to do what is right rather than what is easy and the tougher that choice will be

Remember God does not ask us to do what can’t be done – only what we think can’t be done

He asks us to do what we can’t do in our own strength – but that’s OK as obedience unlocks the power of God!

Obey God and he will be right with you making the impossible possible

Do your own thing and you do it alone!