It’s not all God and it’s not all man. We must cooperate with God to see the His power released in our lives through prayer.

By Tom Shanklin

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20, MEV).

When it comes to receiving answers to prayer, we need to understand that God has a part and we have a part. It’s not all God and it’s not all us, but together with God we can see powerful results. 

These words from Paul’s prayer in the book of Ephesians, like all of the Scriptures, reveal something about the ways of God. There are things that we can learn about God just by looking at nature, but God has revealed Himself much more fully through the inspired Word of God. 

First of all, we see the wonderful truth that God is able. God’s ability really is unlimited. He is able to do exceding abundandly above all we can ask or think. Now, I don’t know about you, but I can ask or imagine a lot, but God’s ability goes far beyond what I can imagine. 

I can imagine God healing the sick and raising the dead. I can imagine myself walking on water, being translated to another place by the Spirit. I can imagine millions of people coming to Jesus through my ministry, and yet … God is able to do far more than these things. 

What can you imagine? Perhaps your children coming to the Lord. A healing for a sickness or disease. Perhaps that your local church would begin to function in power and authority. Whatever it is, He is able to do far more.

But then you might ask? If He is able, why is He not doing these things? 

I’m glad you asked, because the second part of the verse gives the answer. He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to the power that works in us.” You see, He’s able, but it’s “according the power that works in us.” God’s part, our part. 

Our part is having the power working in us. We must have the power in order for God to work. This is where many people stumble because they think, “God is sovereign. He can do anything.” That is true as far as it goes, but we need to understand that God operates in the lives of people to the degree that they allow Him to work. 

Notice what the Word of God says about unbelieving Israel, “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” (Psalms 78:41, KJV). You see, God is Almighty. But we can limit Him. We have to do our part! We are not puppets on a string. God has given us a free will, and the ability to choose. God’s part is much bigger than our part, but we must be willing to do our part for Him to move.

For example, the Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, KJV). And yet, not everyone is saved. Why? Because God has a part and man has a part. 

God’s part is “God’s so loved the world that He gave his only Son.”

Man’s part is “whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

God sent His Son to die on a cross for our sins. He raised Him from the dead. He made a promise of eternal life. He did all the heavy lifting, but in order for the promise to be fulfilled, men or women must do their part. 

You can see this same pattern all through the Scripture (God’s part, man’s part). For example:

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (Isaiah 1:19, KJV).

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalms 37:4, KJV).

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31, KJV).

We could go on and on. And yet, the sad truth is, many people are sitting around, fretting and wondering why God is not doing something about their problem. “If God loved me, He would heal me … help me … do something about my job situation, etc.” 

The same goes for all the problems that are in the world. God is being blamed for all the wars, fighting, social problems, and various evils that are in the world. In fact, this is a tremendous stumbling block for many people, because they say, “If God is good, why is there all this suffering and pain in the world?”

We must understand the sovereignty of God in light of the dominion of man. God gave man dominion in the earth, but man gave himself over the rule of Satan. Man’s submission to Satan is the source of all the problems in the earth. The problems are not God’s fault. It’s man’s fault, because man listened (and continues to listen) to Satan, the author of death and deception. 

Through Jesus Christ, Satan’s grip is broken over our lives and we are free to follow God’s plan and receive His victory. But we must allow God’s power to work in us. We must stop listening to the lies of enemy and start listening to the Word of God. We must start yielding to the King of Kings instead of the devil. 

Paul says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16, KJV). This power is for everyone who believes. It’s the power of the Gospel. God is able to do far beyond all you can imagine, according to power that works in you. It you want the power to work in you, you must have the Gospel working in you. 

You must turn aside from all the worldly distractions and the voice of the enemy which comes from so many sources, and listen to what God says in His Word. The Gospel is the power! I have seen this over and over again. When we preach the Gospel, we see results. It’s the message of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection that brings a release of Gods’ power into the earth. This IS God’s method. This IS His means of mercy and grace and help in time of need.

So, let’s stop blaming God for our problems and the problems of the world. Let’s believe His Word and thank Him for what He has done. Let’s receive it, live in it, and allow the Lord to have His way in our lives. Then we will see a release of His ability to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” God has done His part: now, let’s do ours! 

Pray this prayer from your heart:

Dear Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins. I believe you raised Him from the dead. Father, Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I reject Satan’s plan for my life, and I choose to go your way. I choose to believe and follow your Word. I choose to let your power work in me. I believe you are able to do exceding abundantly above all I can ask or think, in Jesus’ name. Amen.