Sermon Tone Analysis

The Power of God

DEMONSTRATED IN CHRIST'S EXALTATION

"the resurrection and exaltation of Christ"

Aim: To claim and live victoriously in God's power.

KEY SCRIPTURE:

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" (Ephes.

1:19).

A. ------------------------------

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever experienced a power failure?

"Where were you when the lights went out?"

This becomes the topic of conversation after a powerful storm of nature strikes.

Hurricane Katrina The storm's ferocious hands, winds, and water are hurled at earth like a demon loosed from hell.

It can take some time to connect the electrical lines needed to get power back.

In one devastating night, everything can be swept up and scattered into a chaotic mess.

For days, weeks, months, and even years after, many people have to make a change in life-style.

Old habits are not easily broken: reading at night, cooking on an electric stove, getting cold drinks from the refrigerator, turning on the heat or air conditioning, just to name a few.

Not having any power causes great hardships for many.

There is a great feeling of dependency on others at times like these.

Among the people who are able to help are those who work for the power company.

They can fix the problem to restore the power.

And once the power is restored again, everyone feels grateful and has a new appreciation for the power they once took for granted.

B. ------------------------------

This is also true in the spiritual realm of life.

There are a variety of storms that come our way that can cut us off from our Source of spiritual power.

Sometimes circumstances are at fault, but usually the blame for not having power to live the Christian life lies with us.

Without God's power, we find ourselves severely disabled.

"Where were you when the lights went out?"

You were probably standing there holding the plug.

Hopefully today's message will show us how to get the plug back in again.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a great passage covering a much needed subject—the power of God.

If we ever needed anything, we need the power of God in our lives.

Have ever been gripped by evil and shame, bitterness and hate, lust and immorality, cursing and anger, robbery and assault, selfishness and greed, division and strife, disappointment and emptiness, boredom and purposelessness.

Maybe this is challenging you today.

Christians desperately need the power of God to help us in their daily lives and to right the wrongs of society.

The glorious news is that God offers His power to us—if we will only turn to His Son Jesus Christ.

He promises His power to all believers.

Note that this passage is a continuation of the prayer of Paul.

He is praying that the Ephesian believers might know God personally and intimately, for God gives His power to those who truly come to know Him.

To know God is the key to receiving the power of God.

C. -----------------------------------

Paul explodes into a discussion of God's power which was clearly shown in what He did for Christ.

GOD’S POWER

A great power (v.19).

The power that raised Jesus from the dead (v.20).

The power that took Jesus to heaven and set Him at God's right hand (v.20).

The power that exalted Christ above all creation—in this world and in the next world (v.21).

The power that exalted Jesus as the supreme head of the church (v.22-23).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. GOD'S POWER: A GREAT POWER (v.

19).

The Power of God: when a believer really knows God, he experiences power—the power of God Himself.

Note how God's power is described:

⇒ It is "exceeding" (huperballon): surpassing, unlimited, immeasurable, beyond imagination.

⇒ It is "great" (megethos ): mighty, explosive, beyond measure.

This is the word from which we get the English word megathon which measures atomic explosives.

Imagine the great explosive power of God!

The thing to note is that God's power is to us-ward; that is, God takes His power and extends it, presents it, makes it available to the believer.

How do we know this?

Because of what God did for Christ.

He will do for us.

God's power is demonstrated by what He did for Christ.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

APPLICATION:

Have you ever experienced God's power?

It is a very present reality for the Christian believer.

God's power is available to the believer who has faith in God.

His power extends through His willing vessels as Paul reminds us:

QUESTIONS: