Biblical Generosity: Far More
In Ephesians 3, we read what Charles Spurgeon calls “the grandest gift for which (Paul) prayed.”¹ Martyn Lloyd-Jones labels it “the highest conceivable petition that a human soul can offer… This is the end of all theology.”² If that doesn’t grab your attention, check your pulse. So, what is the prayer that these spiritual giants are referring to? “…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:19)
This is a considerable request, and one that is worthy of our contemplation. But it’s the verse that follows that should make us pause and worship: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Eph. 3:20). If this really is the highest petition we can offer, what does v. 20 tell us about God? He can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. What a God we serve!
In this third week of our Biblical Generosity series, we looked back at the numerous ways in which we have seen the power of God at work within us – the people of Providence Road Church. If you weren’t able to make it, go back and listen to the things that only God could do among us. Providence Road is alive and well today for this simple reason: God’s power is at work within us.
Our elders and finance team have been forthright and honest over the past couple of years about the remainder of our debt, that which we committed to take on when we moved into our current building. We also acknowledge the tension we regularly feel: Do we use the church’s resources to pay down more of our debt? Or do we instead use that to fund the church’s ministries? We know that as we do one, the other can suffer. We’re now praying that God will erase our church’s debt in order to free us up to focus solely on the work which He has called us to: leading others to find freedom and joy in Jesus. What is $185,000 to a God who owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10) and “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3)?
We’re asking that you be the means in which God chooses to erase our debt. Our bank recently granted us a third (and final) year to extend our line-of-credit, which will run through the end of 2020. This is great news, giving us an (unexpected) extra year to pay down principle – and pay significantly less interest. We hope to do this through one-time gifts and pledges through the end of 2020. Anything remaining at that time, will be converted into a loan and absorbed by the church’s general budget.
Our first priority in this Biblical Generosity series is that we would be a people that is known for its remarkable generosity, founded in the generosity that we’ve all experienced and received in Jesus. We mean that! Whether or not you contribute toward our Missional Move efforts is secondary. If you choose to do so, please return your pledge cards or let us know via email (finance@provroad.org) by this Sunday, November 17.
May God continue to do far more abundantly than all that we – the people of Providence Road – ask or think, according to the power at work within us. “To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)
¹ https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols28-30/chs1755.pdf
² https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons-online/ephesians-3-19/the-fullness-experienced/
