Sermon Tone Analysis
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We are in a Series called Ephesians: Fitting into God’s Plan
God’s plan is to bring everything under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Last week we talked about how we are all called by God and are being equipped to help fulfill His plan.
We all have the Holy Spirit in us with grace and empowering which we are supposed to steward - to make increase.
I also mentioned briefly that this empowering grace takes the form of Christ-like love.
Let’s look again at what Paul says about the strength of Christ-like love.
The strength of Christ-like love.
That power of God which comes from your inner being manifests as Christ-like love (v.
16).
The power of God manifests as Christ-like love.
I say Christ-like love because it is beyond what we mostly know and experience as love (v.
19).
Paul describes Christ-like love as being four-dimensional - it’s not like anything we have known or experienced.
(v.18)
It surpasses knowledge.
I can tell you that God loves you, but until you experience it for yourself, you have no idea!
(v.
19)
This kind of love fills us to overflowing.
When we overflow with love, we overflow with God (v.
19).
Over the next two weeks, as we move on in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are going to look more closely at what this Christ-like love looks like and how it transforms us back into the people that God made us to be.
Christ-like love renews our minds
Ephesians 4:17-
Renewing the understanding of our mind.
What is futile thinking?
In Greek mythology, the Danaïdes were the fifty daughters of Danaus.
They were to marry the 50 sons of Danaus' twin brother Aegyptus, a mythical king of Egypt.
In the most common version of the myth, all but one of them killed their husbands on their wedding night, and are condemned to spend eternity carrying water in a sieve or perforated device.
In the classical tradition, they came to represent the futility of a repetitive task that can never be completed.
Also in Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth).
He was punished for his self-aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down when it nears the top, repeating this action for eternity.
Most people go through life trying to attain what cannot be attained in ourselves - happiness, fulfillment or respect.
Why are our people’s efforts to achieve what we are looking for doomed to fail?
They are darkened in their understanding.
(v.
18)
People lack the illumination of the Spirit.
They go after things that are unclean and not good for them (v.
19)
They are alienated from the life of God (v.
18)
People lack connection to their Source.
They always need more (v.19)
They are ignorant (agnostic).
(v.
18)
People lack knowledge of the truth.
They give themselves over to excess - cross their own boundaries (sensuality v.19).
They have hardened hearts.
(v.
18)
People lack spiritual sensitivity.
They close themselves off - refuse to feel shame (become callous v. 19).
But that’s not who you are in Christ!
You have it all -
The light of the Holy Spirit.
A living relationship with God.
The knowledge of the Word.
Jesus in your heart.
Being renewed in your understanding means you know who God made you to be and you are moving toward it.
Renewing our declarations.
I’m dearly loved .
Renewing the declaration of our mouth.
I have hidden God’s Word in my heart.
I have a purpose and a destiny.
Renewing our declarations.
“Speaking truth” in this context is not just about not lying.
“Speaking truth” in this context is not just about not lying.
Speaking truth means declaring your new understanding of who God says you are with your mouth.
I’m a child of God.
I’m dearly loved.
I have hidden God’s Word in my heart.
I have a purpose and a destiny.
Speaking the truth around other people:
Communicates how you see people with an understanding of who God made them to be.
(Not necessarily how they see themselves).
Communicates how you expect to be treated with God-given dignity and respect.
Recognizes that we are all interconnected and so giving grace is a good way to increase and steward grace.
Renewing our emotional responses.
Renewing our emotional responses.
The Bible doesn’t say that we should never get angry- it says be angry!
The Bible doesn’t say that we should never get angry- it says be angry!
But don’t use your anger to sin -to intentionally hurt, intimidate or degrade people.
The devil is the accuser - don’t play into his hand.
Our emotions, like our words, should build one another up.
But we do need to express emotion, even negative emotion it a way that helps us to recognize the cause.
Chip Ingram suggests that the primary causes of anger are unmet needs, unmet expectations or personal insecurity.
There is also a fourth cause - injustice - that is actually a good or righteous anger.
Healthy anger produces positive change.
Renewing our profession.
I chose the word “profession” because it has the double meaning of referring to both what we say and what we do.
Verse 28 talks about having an honest profession as in a marketable skill - doing something productive with your life.
Verse 29 draws a parallel, but regarding our manner of speaking, that it should also be edifying and productive.
Christ-like love is creative.
It builds, adds value and multiplies.
The sinful nature nature destroys, diminishes, plays the victim and sucks the very life out of a person.
As children of God who are being restored to His image in Christ, our lives should make a positive impact on the world around us.
Renewing our spiritual condition.
What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit?
It’s not just because we refuse to share a message in tongues, or end a church service on time:-)
The word used here refers to emotional pain and is the opposite of joy.
What causes God more grief than having designed us for goodness and holiness and seeing us chose the opposite?
The Holy Spirit is in you to bring about restoration - literally the uniting of all things in Christ.
When we chose bitterness, strife and division how must that make him feel?
Hurt is inevitable, but bitterness is a choice.
The alternative is forgiveness.
Note the description of a heart that forgives -”tenderhearted”.
That’s a heart that is changed by Christ-like love!
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