Many love Ephesians 3:20:
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
It is a great verse.
But it can be misapplied. I have seen this used to promote prosperity Gospel.
And the way to protect it from misapplication is context. Both the immediate context and more distance context of the rest of the Bible.
- We got to practice discernment that false teachings spring from a wrong interpretation of this verse. Christians are to practice discernment. The same Paul who wrote to Ephesus elsewhere also taught the importance of discernment: “Just as I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, to remain on at Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to teach strange doctrines” (1 Timothy 1:3). Note in the context Paul was addressing to Timothy to minister at Ephesus in this way; and this is the same Ephesus where the Church Paul wrote Ephesians to.
- Notice the verse after Ephesians 3:20 says “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21). So whatever things that God can do more abundantly has to do with the end goal of glorifying God and not ourselves.
- Note that what glorifies God might not according to the standards of the world glorify a person. For instance suffering and how a Christian endure it can be a mean that God uses to glorify Himself. But to a watching world some might superficially respond by seeing the Christian suffering as pathetic.
- For example of point three think of the fact that Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:32 said “If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Paul had enemies. One can imagine someone saying Paul’s experience with fighting off wild beasts at Ephesus is a sign God is not blessing him. But the opposite is the case.
- So Ephesians 3:20 should not be interpreted as somehow there’s no suffering.
- Nor should Ephesians 3:20 be taken to mean that one would have material possessions in abundance nor a lot of money. Within Ephesians there’s talk and acknowledgement that some Christians were slaves (Ephesians 6:5-8).
- If Ephesians 3:20 is used to promote prosperity Gospel it would be ironic. That would be leaving one’s first love for Jesus and substituting that with another; and Jesus had strong words to say to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4: “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.“
The Domain for Truth 
Thanks for the great insight brother. Context is every thing. More and more I am working to provide a whole paragraph and not just a single sentence. In addition, other supporting scripture should help.
I appreciate your integrity in how you approach this.
Blessings for a stunning weekend of ministry.
Thanks for your kind words Michael, blessing to you this day
I don’t think we’re guaranteed prosperity, but I do think God wants to prosper us. If we have little materialistic prosperity, it’s because He has better plans for us.
Love this: ” If we have little materialistic prosperity, it’s because He has better plans for us.” Well said
Thanks Jim! Hope all is well with you! 🙂
Good post brother! I can see how this verse could be hijacked by prosperity wolves, and it makes me cringe. I only had a quick read of the chapter and could clearly see in a few minutes that the riches spoken of are Godly ones – Jesus within us. If only more folks would take the time to read beyond the verses being abused by some preachers.
” If only more folks would take the time to read beyond the verses being abused by some preachers.”
I wish for that too! Thanks for reading this post! I’m trying to get a balance with everything with new ministry and personal life and blogging, I’m a bit behind on my blog interaction lately just FYI
Amen! 🙌
Truth. Amen.
Thanks for reading this!!!
Thanks for this post. I’m not personally familiar with the prosperity gospelers favorite proof-texts, but it’s predictable that they pull verses out of context. The prosperity gospel blatantly feeds off of sinful greediness. So wrong.
Yes its true prosperity gospel feeds off of sinful greediness. How goes your Friday???
Friday went pretty well, thanks! My highlight was finishing another post rebutting Broussard in advance of starting up the Friday series again.
How did your Friday go?
Good reminder: ” So whatever things that God can do more abundantly has to do with the end goal of glorifying God and not ourselves.” It is not about getting more that we want for our own enjoyment that is at stake.
Amen Frank amen! Thanks for reading this late Friday night!
Great insight, Jimmy! Reading this reminded me of my Bible classes in college. My professors would often remind us that “context is king!” They pushed us to read a verse IN CONTEXT to the surrounding verses and not just cherry-pick Scripture because it sounds good. I try to uphold that practice when I’m reading the Bible.
I’m glad you also called out the prosperity “gospel”. I grew up under that kind of teaching and it does more damage than good. I’m happy you see through that, as you read in context, and hold to actual Biblical doctrine.
Bless you, brother! 🙂
Wow Rulonda thank you for sharing that both your background with your upbringing and what Bible college taught you. Thanks for the encouragement, God bless you sister!
There’s so much I identify with your story you shared
I’m glad I’m not the only one! 😁 Hopefully, it’s comforting to you to know you’re not alone in that either. Gentle hugs.
There is another application. Some people claim that the way to get something from God is to visualize it. Ephesians 3:20 shows that God has blessings for us that we can’t visualize.
Wow good point! Thanks for pointing that out!
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Amen! When we stay plugged into the Gospel, we understand the dynamic relationship between faith and grace.
Exactly amen! Amen brother!!