Sermon Tone Analysis

Ephesians: For His Glory

Two Forces are addressed in the fight:

Believers - Those who are followers of Christ-Those who have been made alive by God’s mercy and grace, and now live in this new life.Believers have equipment for warfare, and Devil, Spiritual Forces of Evil- work against the believer through schemes of doubting the work of God; in an attempt to remove worship from God.

What: Believers are called To be strong in the Lord6:10.

Paul exhorted believers to be strong in the Lord and in the might (kratei, “power that overcomes resistance” as used in Christ’s miracles) of God’s inherent strength (ischyos; cf.

“the power [kratous] of His inherent strength” [ischyos] in 1:19).

Hence believers can be strengthened not only by the person of the Lord but also by His resources (cf.

Phil.

4:13).We are called to stand in the right strength: Not in our own might nor power- But is the Strength of God who has Defeated our enemyGod told Joshua- To be strong and courageous Josh 1:9, Deut 31:6 Christians cannot stand on their own against the superhuman powers, they must rely upon the strength of the Lord’s mightStrength is Because of Grace- 2 Tim 2:1 Because of God’s Strength we can overcome the Evil one- 1John 2:14Phil 4:11-13: Paul reminds he believer that no matter what situation we may face, We can continue to stand through the strength of God.

The Christian’s Strength

Through out this letter Paul the Author who is in chains has been taking us through the steps of Christian faith:

We began with us being far from Christ not knowing things of God or how t o walk in a Godly manner.

But God predestined for us Adoption as His own

What did our adoption look like?

Eph 2:1-10 shows us what are life was like before and what it looks like now

Before Christ we where dead spiritually dead, and we were not inclined or responsive toward God, and we had no ability to please God

Sins and Trespasses were the definitive qualities that defended us

Eph 2:4 “But God”- Just when things look the most desolate, Paul utters the greatest short phrase in the history of human speech: “But God!” rich in mercy.

God’s mercy on his helpless enemies flows from his own loving heart, not from anything they have done to deserve it.

This is God’s answer to people in a dreadful situation- Mercy: God compassion for the helpless that relieves their situation- We were dead but God

With this Great Redemption that has taken Place; the Church is established- The place were sinners are now saints, those who were dead now alive

This New Redeemed Life changes Everything:

Our problem isn't getting people in the world to live like Christians, but getting Christians to stop living like the world.

Our lives should be “walked in a way that is worthy of the calling “From death to Life”

Paul goes on to show how we live our faith as Children of Light rather than walking in Darkness in our interactions with each other, in relationships between husbands wives, children and parents and even work relationships- Boss and employee

Then Comes this last part- Eph 6:10-20

Paul Closes this letter with Be strong (Eph 6:10)

Be strong because there is a battle- in our relationship, in our marriages, in our minds, in our everyday life

We are called to be strong in the Lord- it is a strength that is outside of us

Charles Simeon wrote, “ It is no easy matter to stem the tide of corrupt nature, to controul the impetuous passions, to root out inveterate habits, to turn the current of our affections from the things of time and sense to things invisible and eternal.

To renew and sanctify our hearts, and to transform them into the Divine image, is a work far beyond the power of feeble man; yet is it indispensably necessary to his salvation.

If We are to stand we need to be prepared

Because Christians cannot stand on their own against superhuman powers, they must rely upon the strength of the Lord’s own might (see 1:19), which he supplies chiefly through prayer (6:18)

What is our battle against?

The Schemes of the Devil- Who is the Devil?

Devil simply means “Slanderer” or “Adversary”, “One Who tempts”

There are many names and meaning s for the Devil, and there are many religions and languages, tribes of people that believe in this evil being- Demons are also very much believed in.

The important thing is that there is an adversary who has schemes

So what are the Schemes which the devil uses to make us fall?

Temptation is a scheme of the Devil

It is important to understand where temptations begins

Often times we act as if we have no control over ourselves or our actions

Maybe you have heard “The Devil made me Do it.”

Paul gives us a hint about temptations in Eph 4:26-27

When we are tempted what we do matters

We can give a foothold or we can Stand Firm in the Strength of the Lord.

Temptation is the doorway for the Devil, but we are the ones who open it for him

Temptations come in many forms: Anger- we can chose to stand firm and forgive those who trespass against and walk in the way of Christ, or give in and allow it to lead to death

Sexual temptations- You can chose to stand firm and turn to God with the struggle or you can allow your self to be dragged away

Greed, Covetousness, filthy talk- all of these Paul as addressed in this letter

When we turn to God we are able to resits and overcome temptations

Paul in Eph 6:12 list all of the Devil’s allies

The Spiritual Forces of Evil who are exceedingly powerful in their exercises of Comic powers over this present darkness- Yet scripture makes clear that this enemy host is no Match for God, who has:

We turn to the one who has overcome; the one who has the strength to help us stand

Our Enemies are superhuman, spiritual forces, so we cannot rely on ourselves we must turn to the one who has overcome

And through His Grace we can stand

Bad things happen in this world, but we as Believers can take heart because our battle is not against flesh and blood but and against the rules and authorities over this present darkness; and Our God and has overcome, and He has given us the weapons to overcome.