and please be seated. It is good to see all of you here this day. Now, as we come for this morning to take up our topic of Paul's great doxology, from prayer to praise, I invite you, please, to turn with me in your copy of the scriptures once again to Ephesians chapter 3. Ephesians chapter 3, as we come to the last two verses in this chapter in our consecutive expositions through this epistle. Ephesians 3, picking up At verse 20, Ephesians 3, at verse 20, here Paul, by the direction and aid of the Holy Spirit, writes the following and says, Ephesians 3 at verse 20, he says, now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Let's pray together. Our Father, we thank you for your word. For indeed it is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword. We're thankful, Lord, that as Luther once said, your word has feet. It runs after us. It has hands. It lays hold of us. And we pray, O God, that this day your word would run after us, that it would run and have free course in our midst, and that it would lay hold of us, O God, saving the lost and sanctifying the saved. O great God, we look to you in this hour for your help. O God, leave us not to ourselves, we pray, and plead all these mercies in and through that wonderful and glorious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Now it was William Carey, that great Reformed Baptist missionary to India, who lived during the late 18th century into the early 19th century, who was called the father of the modern missionary movement. Now, Cary, as some of you will know, no doubt was very zealous for the Lord our God, and he had a great burden to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord to the unconverted. Now, while this was his plan, it should be noted that he had many obstacles in life before him, and this is because, along with having very little money to travel, He also lacked a good education, and his wife initially refused to accompany him to India, again, his intended destination for missions. Additionally, the government offered him no support for his travels, and he was not even guaranteed permission to enter the country of India when he arrived. Well, to make matters Even worse, when he first proposed his missionary plan to a bunch of ministers, they sneered at him. They laughed. And then one famously said to him, young man, sit down. For when God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your aid or mine. Well, even though these things were So Carey, nonetheless, believed that God was calling him to India, and that he, therefore, would make a way for him to go. You see, brethren, William Carey did not hold to dead orthodoxy, to use the language of Martin Lloyd Jones. He didn't hold to dead orthodoxy, which talks about a great and powerful God, but doesn't really believe him to do anything great and powerful. No. But rather, Cary held rather to a living faith in the living God, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. Well, because this was the case at the very first meeting of the missionary society that Cary himself formed, he preached a sermon. And in that sermon, he used the very memorable phrase which says, quote, expect great things from God and attempt great things for God. Perhaps some of you know the saying. Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God. This was his motto. And this became the motto of the missionary movement that God launched through Mr. Carey's faith Well, the Lord our God and greatly blessed carries labor so that having arrived in India in 1793, by the year 1834, he had overseen the translation of the Bible into 40 different languages. He had founded a college, and he had seen many missionaries join him on the mission field. Yes, dear brothers and sisters here this day, through what Mr. Carey started, God greatly blessed to the end that over the years, thousands have come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of their never-dying souls. And so church, the point is, William Carey didn't limit God by doubting him or by failing or neglecting to ask great things of him. No, but rather he believed and he asked God for great things in prayer, knowing that as Isaac Newton, the great hymn writer, correctly said concerning Jehovah thou art coming to a king large petitions with thee bring and Why will he tells us when he wrote saying for his grace and power are such? none can ever ask Too much. Well, we come then for today in our expositions through the book of Ephesians to see that the Apostle Paul himself understood this very same truth about God You see, Church, Paul, as we have seen in recent days, has just put forth his prayer to God for the Ephesians in verses 14 to 19 of this chapter. And in this prayer, he asks God for extraordinary things concerning these Ephesian believers. And this, as we've seen it in weeks gone by with reference to inner power, by the Holy Spirit, verse 16. A second, with reference to a greater sense of Christ's presence in their hearts, verse 17. And then third, with reference to a greater perception concerning Jesus' great love for them, verses 18 and 19. Ah, but having said this, dear ones, the question that we need to ask now is, has the Apostle Paul gone over the top with his request? The question is, has he asked too much from God, perhaps even getting a bit crazy and far away with his petitions to him? Well, brethren, the answer to these questions is no, not at all. The answer is not in any way, shape, or form in his doxology before us today makes all of this quite plain. It makes it clear. Thus, these final words before us now are not, underscore it, they're not just a conclusion to some prayer. And why? Well, it's because they are a living statement of faith for you and me to hold on to and to believe all of our days. as God's people. O church, I say this because put forth in these words and our passage for today are truths which should absolutely bolster our faith and encourage us to regularly call out to our great God, especially in our times of need, knowing what? Knowing that nothing is too difficult Well, as we come then to our verses in view for this morning, to consider the Apostle Paul's great doxology or his passionate expression of praise and confidence in God. Notice with me 1st and 20a of this chapter, the person for praise, the person for praise. Look again at his words with me in your Bibles. He writes saying here first, look at it, now to him. Now to him. And so who is this specifically referring to in this context? Well, negatively speaking, if you're taking note, it's not referring to an angel. It's not referring to some dead super saint or to any other created thing, no. But now positively speaking, the language here, now to him, is referring to God the Father. It's referring to the first person of the Holy Trinity, whom the Apostle Paul mentioned back in verse 14 of this chapter when he said, there, look at the words with me in your Bibles, he says, for this reason I do what? Well, he says, for this reason or this cause, Paul says, I bow my knees to whom? Note the language, quote, to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so, this then, brethren, is the specific individual, the specific person, view, to whom the Apostle Paul directs his prayer. And this makes perfect sense, especially since our Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew chapter 6 that when we pray, we are to pray in this manner, saying, quote, our Father, our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Well, having said this, what do we know about the Father who is a distinct person in the Holy Trinity? Well, we know that as with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the Father is also eternal. He is loving and He is compassionate. Further, we know that He is wise and sovereign. We know that He is righteous and kind, and that He is also relational and personal. Now, how do we know that He is relational and personal, and what does this mean for you here this day, who name the name of the Lord? Well, dear ones, we know this. Because Paul himself tells us, for example, in Galatians chapter 4 and verse 6, that you and I are to approach him through Jesus Christ saying what? You know the words. We're to approach the Father through Christ saying, Abba, Father. Abba, Father. That is to say, our very dear. Father, which highlights to us what? Well, it highlights to us that we who are Christians can approach God the Father very intimately and individually. You see, brethren, it highlights to you here this day that you have a very gracious, loving, heavenly Father who, no matter what you might be going through in life, desires to hear from you and will help you just as a loving, natural father would do. Now, this of course, no doubt, is encouraging to be sure, and it should warm all of your hearts in this place who are Christians. In fact, brethren, it should motivate all of you in this place who are true believers. to regularly draw near to the Father, knowing that His heart is always for you." Now, concerning the Father in the Trinity, why was it that the Apostle Paul prayed specifically to Him as we have it set forth in our passage in view for this morning. Well, notice this with me secondly now under the heading of his prompting for this in the words that follow. Here, Paul writes concerning God the Father once again saying in 20B of this chapter, look at the words with me there in your Bibles, he says, now to him, again God the Father, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, and this according to the power that works in us. This language here, this language before us now, shows us that just in case anyone was wondering whether Paul's prayer in the previous words were too great or beyond God's ability to accomplish them, here the Apostle Paul answers this question in no uncertain terms. The answers just matter very clearly. I mean, brethren, can God really give us, again, as Paul spoke of earlier, inner power by the Holy Spirit so that we can live as He would have us to live? And can He really give us a greater sense of Christ's presence in our hearts and a better perception concerning Jesus' love that He has for us, His people, and anything else for that matter that we might ask Him according to His will? I mean, dear ones, in even thinking about this matter more broadly here in this letter, If we ask the Father, can he really join hostile Jews and Gentiles together, saving both of them and then making them both part of the same Christian family? Can he do this? Well, Church, the answer is yes, he can. The answer is yes, indeed. And why? Well, again, it's because of what Paul says first in our verse concerning the Father. For he says, look at the language again, he says that this is so because he is able. Because he is able. He says that it's because he has the continual power, present tense verb. He has the continual strength, the continual ability to do, or we might say to accomplish and carry out exceedingly abundantly above, not just some know, but look at the words. It says exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. Now, in these words before us here. We have one of the many times in the Bible where Paul piles on terms in order to make his points. Now, various translations of the Bible do the best they can to express these words before us so that one version renders them as, now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, And yet another version of the Bible translate these words as saying, now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. Now, all of these versions are doing their very best in order to get what the Apostle Paul is saying here in the original language, but really none of them quite does justice to the original language. which really stresses how powerfully God is able to do all that we ask and all that we think, which is to say all that we are able to verbalize or even envision. None of them quite hit it, for Paul says here that God can do not just all that we ask or think, no, but he says that he can do more abundantly above all that we ask or think. You see, here, brethren, the Apostle Paul is using what theologians call a super superlative, as he uses language that expresses the highest degree of equality. And strikingly, his words, exceedingly abundantly above, as we have them in English, these words are just one word in the Greek text, just one word. Here, Paul uses a word which he actually made up. by the direction and aid of the Holy Spirit, and the word signifies that which is unlimited, beyond all measure, giving us the highest form of comparison imaginable, concerning God's ability to answer all of our request. Well, in light of this, brethren, we could translate his words, I guess, as saying, Now to God the Father who is able to do super abundantly beyond all that we ask or think or we could say. Now to the Father who is able to do infinitely more in this regard. This is encouraging, to be sure. I mean, it's incredibly thought-provoking as it stretches our minds as we think about all that our great God is able to do for us. Now, as Paul says, all of this concerning the Father's great ability to answer our request, this was not meant to be something which was abstract or theoretical, no. Consequently, this is why he says next in the passage that all of this, look at the language, is according to kata, the Greek word meaning in line with. What is it in line with? God's great ability. What is it jive with, we could say. Well, he says the power that works in us. And so what does this mean? Well, it means That if you and I, as believers, ever had any question as to God's great power to answer our request and to do great things in our lives, when we ask Him this in prayer, that all we need to do is to go back to that initial power, which He first worked in our hearts when He made us spiritually alive from the dead, and then to that power that He continues to exercise in our lives all of our days as His people. You see, Church, our great and wonderful and glorious God is able to do all that we ask Him to do in our lives as He sees fit. And this is because having done that greatest work in us when He saved us by His free grace, He continues to do everything else. Blessed be His name. Listen then to Matthew Henry in this regard, Matthew Henry, the great Bible commentator, in commenting here on these words would say, quote, according to the power that works in us, he says that it's as if Paul said, we have already had a proof of this power in our lives, in what he has wrought in us and has done for us, having quickened us by his grace. and converted us to himself, again, in line with the power that he has worked in us. Henry says, and that power still works for the saints, not just in salvation, but also in sanctification. For it is according to that power which he has wrought in them. Well, because all of these things are so, the Apostle Paul wrote our verse in view concerning what? Well, concerning God's great majestic ability to answer our prayers. In fact, no doubt, as the apostle reflected upon his own life and how it was that God had marvelously changed him from being the great persecutor of Christ to becoming the great preacher of Christ, Paul is very sure, beyond the shadow of a doubt, of God's infinite capacity to do all his holy will in his life as he called upon him to do this for him. Well, having said this, come with me now thirdly to note from our passage what Paul says next in 21a of this chapter. Here, as he identifies the specific place where God is to be praised, mostly by those whom he saved and works in, note with me these words in your Bibles. He says here, to him, again, the father, Be glory, where? He says, in the church. How? He tells us when he says, by Christ Jesus. Now it makes complete and total sense that the apostle says that glory is to be given to God the Father in the church, by or through the mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord Of course, this is because He makes all things acceptable to Him. This is the case. And this is because it's the Church that is to say God's redeemed people who have received so many spiritual benefits from Him. For surely, not only has God been good to us as people in common grace as He is to all people, no, but rather it's because He's been good to us in special grace. Yes, Church, it's because He's been good to us in electing and effectual grace. For it's through these things that we have been made His very own. This is the case for us who are true Christians. It's the case for you here this day, my dear brother, my dear sister. Thus this is why great praise is to be given to God the Father in the church from you week by week whenever we gather together. Great glory is to be given to him because of these very things. Ah, but having said this, when Paul says here, that glory is to be given to God in or among the church, what is he actually speaking of? I kind of just mentioned it, but I'll flesh it out now. Well, negatively, he's not speaking about us giving anything to God's intrinsic glory. That's important that you get. To God be glory in the church. What is he speaking about? Well, negatively, he's not speaking about us giving anything to God's intrinsic glory. That is to say the glory that he has in himself. What does that mean? It means it's speaking about his majesty, his splendor and his radiance. We can't give anything to God's intrinsic glory. We can't add to it, since it's infinite and changeless. But rather positively now, he's speaking about glory being given, or we could say, ascribed to him from us, which in this sense means that as we recognize and acknowledge how truly glorious he is, the result is that we will give the Father all the praise, all the honor, all the homage, and all the adoration that's due his name for all that he's done for us in Christ. For that's what Paul is speaking about here in our passage. In fact, brethren, Paul's language here is quite similar to the language of David Psalm 29, verse 2, where David says, quote, give unto the Lord the glory due his name. Give unto the Lord the glory due his name. And so here in this Psalm, David is not speaking about his giving anything to God with reference to the glory, the splendor, the majesty that he possesses in and of himself. No, rather he's speaking about the glory or the praise which is due him from us. which again in this psalm means that we recognize and acknowledge how truly glorious he is and then we worship him because of this. In fact, in that psalm, Psalm 29, verse two, right after saying, give glory unto the Lord, do his name, David then goes on to say that we are to quote, worship the Lord, in the beauty of holiness. Now, having said these things, there is a very important matter from these words before us now that must be mentioned at this point. And it is this, beloved ones here this day, the church exists Primarily, not for our own glory, no, but for the glory of God. To Him be glory where? The prepositional phrase answering the question, in the church. In the church. What's the point to pause and to think about? The point to think about is the church exists primarily not for our own glory, no, but for God's glory alone. The church exists solo deo gloria, so that when you and I gather together on the Lord's Day, God's glory is to be central among us. Which means what? Well, it means this, that all of our services are to be about Him and Him alone. That's what it means. It means that they are to be about His person, about His work, about His great Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and His glorious gospel, et cetera. And so, because this is so, I say, brethren, let's always be sure that in this place, this is the case. For as it is, our services will always be glorious. As they focus on the God whom we love and we serve, this place will continue to be magnificent. Consequently, I agree with Mr. Spurgeon when he said that, quote, if all the world were silent, the church must always proclaim the glory of God. He said, if the moon and the stars and the sun and the sea no more reflect the majesty of the Creator, yet let the redeemed of the Lord praise Him. Can anyone say amen? If everyone's mouth is shut, the church is to praise our God. The church is to glory in who He is. because this is what he is worthy of. And so, may this always be the case in this place. Beloved ones, I say may God's glory always be prominent among us. May his praise always be foremost in our midst. And how? Well, number one, it's by the proper worship of him. We've got to worship Him correctly if we're going to praise Him accordingly. It's by the proper worship of Him, also called the regulative principle of worship. Second, it's by the proper understanding of Him according to Scripture, also called Reformed theology. And then third, it's by the proper administration of the ordinances, baptism, and the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Supper, what we'll partake of in a little bit. These, brethren, are the church's highest and holy privileges to partake in and to do. And again, Paul says that all of these things are to be done through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Ah, but having said this, we ask finally now for today What is the period, or we could say, the time frame for all of this praise to God? In other words, how long is it supposed to last? Well, the apostle answers this question finally in 21b of this chapter when he says, look at the words with me there in your Bibles, he writes concerning God the Father, to him, be glory, properly understood, be praise, be adoration, In the church that is by the redeemed, by Christ Jesus, which means through his mediation, how long? Well, he says first to all generations, to all generations. Now that's a long time, right? To all generations, that's the period, the time frame in view. It's a long time. And again, the point here is that as the Apostle Paul foresees the church existing century after century, even as it's doing to this very day, the point is God's glory and praise are always to be central in our midst. You want to find a good church? Find a church where God's glory and praise are always central in their midst. You see, brethren, unlike many apostate churches in our day which have removed God from their midst, He nonetheless is to be the chief focus in every generation, in every true church. And then Paul says next that this is to go on, look at the language, forever and ever. For all the ages, quite literally. And so what does this tell us? Well, it tells us that this obligation to give glory, homage, adoration to God the Father by the church is to continue into eternity. Into eternity. And guess what, brethren? This is exactly what is happening. For as we read in Revelation chapter 4 and verse 11, we're told there that the redeemed in heaven are casting their crowns before Him, saying what? Well, they're saying, you are worthy, O Lord, to receive, number one, glory, and honor, and power. Why? For you created all things, and by your will, they exist and were created. And so then here, church, we have this matter of perpetual praise. to the glory of our great God being given both on earth, locally, and in heaven, eternally. For indeed, this is what he is worthy of receiving for all that he has done for us, his redeemed people. This is the case. And as the Apostle Paul thought about all of this, what is his final word? Concerning it, well, he tells us by what he says lastly in our passage in view when he writes saying, amen. When he writes saying, amen, here is the Apostle Paul ponder, our great God being praised forevermore. One word comes to his mind, amen, amen, and amen. He says quite literally, may this be the case. Can you say the same today, brethren? Can you say amen with Paul? May God's praise be in the church, both here on earth and then in heaven forevermore. Amen and amen. Well, here then is where we end, the exposition of our two final verses in this wonderful chapter of Ephesians, which really does draw a fitting conclusion to Paul's prayer and also to the first three chapters of this book. Today, we've considered his great doxology from prayer to praise, and so having considered it, What applications can we take for ourselves, firstly, who are Christians in this place? To us who are believers, well, no doubt there are several things that could be said. But there's just one thing that I want to say. And I want all of you to get it, think about it, chew on it. And it's concerning the matter of prayer. It's concerning the matter of prayer. And so what do I want to say about prayer? Well, it is church that as the Apostle Paul prayed in our passage and then said at the end of it that he believed that God was not just able to do what he prayed, no, but able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that he asked or thought concerning it. The point of the application is our prayers are to model his. Our prayers are to model His. Which is to say, model His prayer in a true trust, knowing that nothing is too difficult for our God. This is it. This is the application. And so, beloved one, here this day, I ask, do you actually believe this concerning God? Nothing is too difficult for Him. I asked, do you believe our lovely and living Lord Jesus Christ when He said, for example, in Mark chapter 11 and verse 24, I say to you, whatever things you ask, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them. I asked her, do you believe this? Do you? Do you really? Don't do in your mind all of these qualifications and various things right now about this, that, and the other when it comes to prayer and all. Put them aside. Do you believe that nothing is too difficult for our God? Well, if you do, then what? Well, you will pray. And how? Well, you will pray in faith. You will pray believingly. You will pray according to scripture, believing God for great things, knowing that according to 1 John chapter 5, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked him. And so church, here again is where I use the words that I used earlier. with reference to dead orthodoxy, and I say that here is where dead orthodoxy will show up in our lives if we don't do this, if we don't pray to God in faith, if we don't pray to God believingly. And why? Well, it's because again, dead orthodoxy has great and beautiful notions about God, only in the mind, but they're not really acted on in the life. Dead Orthodoxy has a great understanding about God, who He is, His perfections, His attributes, communicable, non-communicable, all those things, like many of us in this place have. We have a great understanding of God. But Dead Orthodoxy doesn't actually believe Him for great things and then call upon Him to do them. Just notions in the head, but they're not acted Well, because this is the case, I say, dear ones, may God deliver us from such a thing, right? Such a thing. It's like the same thing when it comes to evangelism. We believe, oh, God saves sinners. He does it in an instant. He sovereignly does it. He can do it. He can save to the uttermost. then we don't evangelize. It's something in our heads, but we don't actually operate upon it. We believe God saves his elect through the preaching of the gospel. We believe we've got to go and preach the gospel. Lively orthodoxism, go preach the gospel. Dead orthodoxism, no, I believe this, but I don't do nothing about it. I don't do nothing about it. Dead orthodoxy becomes hyper-Calvinism in evangelism and also when we pray. And so church, I say, this is my burden as your pastor today. May God deliver us from dead orthodoxy. May he deliver us from such a thing. And why? Because it's lifeless religion. It's religion, as Paul says in 2 Timothy 3, 5, has a form of godliness but denies its power. Church, again I say, therefore may you and I, positively speaking now, always be a people who believe God's Word and act accordingly. Let's do that. May we be a church that does this. Since our God says to us in Psalm 81 and verse 10, open up your mouth wide and I will fill it. May we do it since God says to us in Jeremiah 33 in verse 3, call upon me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which thou knowest not. Let's be those kind of people who believe God for great things and then act accordingly. Oh brethren, simply stated, may it be that you and I always take God at his word. That's what he says. Therefore, this is what we must do. Take God at His word, expecting great things from Him, just as William Carey did, and why? Well, it's because you and I can never ask for more than God can do. Therefore, let's keep asking, let's keep seeking, and let's keep knocking, just as Jesus called us to do in Matthew chapter 7. Brethren, may God help us to be people who believe the scripture and don't reason away the scripture. Again, when it comes, for example, to prayer as we're focusing on it today, oh God, you're able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. We believe that, but we don't ask you for it. Why? Dead orthodoxy. It's just in the head. Oh God, we believe that you tell us that it's through the foolishness of the thing preached that you bring in your people. We believe that, oh God. We believe that you're a God who's sovereign, yet sovereignly uses means to accomplish your ends, and yet we do nothing about it. Get orthodoxy. Now let's have a lively orthodoxy. Let's pray like we believe God can do infinitely more than we could ask or think. Let's pray believingly, brethren. Someone says, oh, that's Pentecostal. I say, no, that's biblical. That's charismatic. No, that's Christian. Believing God, believing his word. This is what God says. Let's do it. Let's trust him for it. Let's ask great things from God. Let's expect great things from him as well. Church, may God help us. May God help us to be a passionate people who believe Scripture and do all that it says, trusting God for the results. And so I close then with a word to any non-Christian here in this place. To you here this day who don't know Jesus Christ savingly, personally, truly in your life, what can I say to you but simply this? The God of the Bible is even able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that you ask or think. And this specifically with reference to your lost spiritual state that you are currently in. Your lost spiritual condition that has you hopeless in the world, feeling completely down and out. In the world, without hope, without God, Paul's language earlier in the passage, some of you who were Christians here for a long time, you remember what it was like to be a non-Christian. It was a terrible situation, lost, dead, blind, deaf to the things of God, confused. This is you if you're not a true Christian here this day. But even you, my dear friends, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think with reference to your spiritual state. And because it is so, I say to you this day, listen to this God who calls you to trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, alone for life and salvation. This God tells you from His Word, call upon Jesus to deliver you, to rescue you, Why does he say that? Well, it's because there was never a case that Jesus couldn't cure. There was never a case that Jesus couldn't cure. And so you're here today, you're not a true Christian, you're just unsaved, you're in the world, kind of doing your thing. You need Christ, and Christ can save you. He can do this because through His death on the cross, He died in the place of the guilty on account of their sins. He paid their sin debt in full 2,000 years ago. He paid it in full to the Father. So that now the Father can reconcile people like you to Himself. If you put your trust in Jesus' person and His cross work. Alone for deliverance. This is the case. Many of us in this room have experienced this very thing. So if you're not truly saved this day, you're not a true Christian. What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for? Don't stay any longer in the situation you're in. It's dark. It's bleak. The Bible says the way of the transgressor is hard. You're on the broad road that leads to destruction. Oh, my friend, get off that road. Run to Christ by faith. By faith alone. Say, oh, Jesus, cleanse me and save me and deliver me. You children here this day, you teens, you adults, whoever you are, call upon Christ this day to redeem you. And find out what it means to be reconciled to God the Father. and to know the joys of an eternal salvation. The Father is able to answer even your request in this regard. He's able to answer it exceedingly abundantly beyond what you could ask or think. Go to Christ. this day, so that you can know the Father in truth. For the Father directs you to his Son in this regard. As we read in the Gospels, heaven was opened up and the Father said concerning Jesus, hear him, hear him, hear him. Jesus says to us in his word, come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Come and find rest for your souls, my dear non-Christian friend here this day. That's what Jesus gives, rest for the weary soul. Rest for you here this day. Call upon him to do this for you, and you will find him to be an able, and a willing Savior who receives everyone who comes to him by faith and by faith alone. Let's pray together. Our Father, we thank you again for your word. As I prayed in the outset, it is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword. Lord, I pray it doesn't fall on deaf ears. Might it fall on good ears and open hearts. Open ears and open hearts. Lord, help us who are Christians to be a people who pray to you in faith and bring large petitions before your throne. And help us to trust you for them, oh God, for you've got all the power to answer them. And for anyone here this day who's not a Christian, oh God, might this be the day of their salvation, the day they close with Christ, the loving Savior who loves sinners and receives them to Himself. We pray and we ask all of these things in His wonderful name alone. Amen.