To Him be the Glory / A Él Sea

la Gloria
Efesios 3.20–21

Introduction
1. Thankfulness is an attitude that we strive to teach our children.
a. We strive to have well mannered children who know how to say
“please” and “thank you”.
b. We see the importance of writing a “thank you” note after we
receive a gift.
c. We think that it is a bit rude not to say “thank you” after someone
holds a door for you or passes you the salt/bread.
2. The Bible reveals to us that it is God that sustains human life and all
of creation by the power of his word.
Hebrews 1:3 NIV
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation
of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had
provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 1:3 RVR60
el cual, siendo el resplandor de su gloria, y la imagen misma de su
sustancia, y quien sustenta todas las cosas con la palabra de su
poder, habiendo efectuado la purificación de nuestros pecados por
medio de sí mismo, se sentó a la diestra de la Majestad en las
alturas,

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 a. The entire creation owes its existence to God Almighty. b. To God be all glory forever and ever.
b. Now, think of how many people living their lives without i. We could each start expressing reasons why we are thankful to
acknowledging that it is God who has granted life, health, and all God and we will run out of time.
the other blessings that we receive on a daily basis.
ii. However, God has blessed us so much, that one life time would
c. It is God who showers his many blessings upon believers and not be enough to give God praise.
unbelievers:
iii. For this reason, even in eternity, our privilege will be to give
Matthew 5:45 NIV God praise forever and ever!
that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his
sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:45 RVR60
para que seáis hijos de vuestro Padre que está en los cielos, que
hace salir su sol sobre malos y buenos, y que hace llover sobre
justos e injustos.
3. Nevertheless, the people of God gather to give God praise for we
understand, by God’s grace, that it is he who blesses men - even
though we do not deserve his blessings.
a. We know that all good things come from God.
b. We know that God grants us life.
c. We recognize that which most of humanity either denies or fails
to recognize - that God has blessed us beyond what we deserve.
4. Today, we will consider yet another reason to praise and give God
glory. We will consider a few more reasons why we should be
thankful to God.
a. We give God thanks because of his great power
b. We give God thanks because he answers his people’s prayers
c. We give God thanks because he dwells within us
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IV. God will be praised throughout the
ages
1. Paul recognizes that as we consider God’s great power, and his
answer to prayer, beyond anything we could think or ask, we must
worship him forever and ever!
Ephesians 3:21 NIV
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:21 RVR60
a él sea gloria en la iglesia en Cristo Jesús por todas las edades, por
los siglos de los siglos. Amén.
a. To God be all the glory.
i. We must recognize God for who he is.
ii. We must recognize where all our blessings have come from.
iii. …why does Paul say that all glory be to God “in the church”?
1. …because it is his people whose eyes have been opened to
recognize that all the blessings we receive have come from
his hand,.
2. The world does not recognize this. Those sitting in high
places think that their wealth, their intellect, all they posses
is a product of their hard work, their good business
decisions, etc…and yet the church of God recognizes that it if
weren’t for God we would have nothing!
3. The church therefore exists to give God glory for all he has
done. We exist as a powerful testimony recognizing who is
truly worthy of thanksgiving and praise.
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d. God will be praised throughout the ages
I. We give God thanks because of his
great power
1. Paul focuses his reader’s attention upon God’s great and mighty
power:
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 3:20 RVR60
Y a Aquel que es poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más
abundantemente de lo que pedimos o entendemos, según el poder
que actúa en nosotros,
a. Paul focuses on God’s ability to answer prayer.
b. God answers prayer because of his great power.
c. This is a great truth that is revealed since the earliest revelation of
God (the book of Genesis). God is called:
i. The Almighty
ii. The Lord of Hosts
d. These names speak of God’s great power.
2. Throughout the Bible we can see the magnitude of God’s power:
a. He spoke the world into existence.
b. He created everything that there is out of nothing.
c. He brought his people out of Egypt. He opened the red sea so that
his people could walk upon dry land.
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 d. He sustains the entire creation by the power of his word. d. We must recognize that although God may have not answered
specific prayers - we should consider all that God has done!
e. He does not need air, water, or food - he simply exists.
i. Who has sustained our life to this day?
f. He does not tire:
Psalm 121:4 NIV
ii. Who has delivered us from death/accidents so many times?
indeed, he who watches over Israel iii. Who has given us joy in the midst of trials and tribulations?
iv. Who protected us in our youth, when we were living in active
will neither slumber nor sleep.
rebellion against God. Many of those we knew died without
Psalm 121:4 RVR60 ever knowing the Gospel of Jesus Christ - and yet it is God’s
He aquí, no se adormecerá ni dormirá power that delivered us so that we would come to faith in
Jesus Christ and be heirs to eternal life.
El que guarda a Israel.
3. Psalm 9:1-2 invites us to:
g. This is one of the reasons why worshipping idols is a foolish
Psalm 9:1–2 NIV
exercise. They have ears and do not hear, they have eyes and
I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;
cannot see, they have hands and cannot touch - yet God who is a
spirit is active and alive.
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
i. His presence moves amongst his people.
ii. He is near to those that cry out to him. I will be glad and rejoice in you;
3. God’s power has no limit. I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
a. He is all powerful. Psalm 9:1–2 RVR60
b. There is nothing that God cannot do except that which goes Te alabaré, oh Jehová, con todo mi corazón;
against his will.
Contaré todas tus maravillas.
i. For example, God cannot lie.
ii. God cannot sin. Me alegraré y me regocijaré en ti;
iii. …God will not do anything that goes against his will and Cantaré a tu nombre, oh Altísimo.
character.
a. We must consider of all God’s wonderful deeds and turn our faces
towards him in humble adoration.
II. We give God thanks because he
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 b. The greatest of God’s blessings was demonstrated when God
raised his son from the dead demonstrating that he accepted his
sacrifice as sufficient for the forgiveness of the sins of his people.
III. We give God thanks because he
dwells within us
1. Many times we may think that the God who answers prayer is far
away.
a. We may think he answers the prayers of others, but has not
answered our own prayers.
b. We may think that God blesses others believers, and for some
reason we were destined to not see answers to our own prayers.
c. …nevertheless the Bible tells us that God answers prayer through
the power that is already working “within us” (3:20).
2. God’s power is already at work within his people.
a. God’s power is not absent from the lives of his people.
b. God has been working in all those who have believed upon the
name of Jesus Christ.
c. Some may say that they have not seen spectacular miracles,
wonders, and signs.
i. Some may want to understand that if God is truly working in
their lives, why are they still suffering with a certain illness or
hardship in their lives.
ii. Some may want to understand that if God is truly answering his
people’s prayers…why is it that their prayers have gone
unanswered.
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answers his people’s prayers
1. Paul considers God’s great power within the context of answered
prayer.
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 3:20 RVR60
Y a Aquel que es poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más
abundantemente de lo que pedimos o entendemos, según el poder
que actúa en nosotros,
a. Paul sees God’s power and magnifies God for he knows that it is
because of God’s great power that he answers prayer.
b. God’s power is not like the rich millionaire who simply uses his
money to show others how much he has, how much luxury he
enjoyes, how much influence he has, over all those who do not
possess his riches.
i. God uses his power for the good of his people.
ii. God uses his power to work for the good of his people.
2. Note how many times we see God’s power manifested in the Bible
and how many of those times his power was manifested for the God
of his people:
a. God opened the red sea for his people so they could flee from the
Egyptians.
b. God protected the basket where the infant Moses was hidden. He
protected him from the dangerous waters of the river nile.
c. God fed his people in the desert so they would not die of hunger.
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 d. God led his people through a pillar of fire at night and as a cloud
by day so they would know in which direction they were to go.
e. …in all these situations we see God exercising his power for the
good of his people.
3. God exercises his power for the good of sinful human beings.
a. We have all broken God’s law.
b. We have failed to keep his commandments.
c. …and yet God chooses to hear his people’s prayers.
i. Most people give their children gifts when they behave…and
yet God chooses to bless us though we have failed so many
times.
4. No consider how God chooses to answer his people’s prayers.
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 3:20 RVR60
Y a Aquel que es poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más
abundantemente de lo que pedimos o entendemos, según el poder
que actúa en nosotros,
a. The Bible says that God answers us beyond what we ask or can
even imagine.
b. The Bible does not say that God answers exactly what we ask for.
c. It is as if the Bible were saying: your prayers are too small, your
prayers ask for so little, your prayers are small prayers.
d. We have all prayed for something.
i. …for a sick child.
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ii. …for a job.
iii. …for comfort in the midst of loosing a loved one.
iv. …for God to change the heart of a parent, a spouse, or a child.
v. …and yet…the Bible says - your prayers are too small!
1. Why are our prayers too small?
2. …because God is so big!
3. …because God’s power is so grand!
4. …because we have come before almighty God!
5. …because we have come before the one that sustains the
entire universe!
6. …because nothing is impossible for God!
7. …because God is our father and we should come with
confidence before his presence.
5. Therefore, although we pray such small prayers, although we may
lack the faith necessary to pray big prayers - God will still answer us
in ways that we cannot even utter or imagine - because of his great
mercy and grace.
a. God is pleased to lavish his people with abundant blessings.
b. God will bless his people generously as a kind father blesses his
children.
6. People of God, consider your recent past - if you are honest with
yourself you will recognize that God has blessed you beyond what
you could have imagined.
a. The greatest of God’s blessings has been sending the Lord Jesus
Christ - his son to die on a cross for the sins of all who would
believe.
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