Sermon Tone Analysis

We’re still on the book of Ephesians, so let’s pick */up right/* where we */left off/* last week.

*I.

**/EPH 3:7-8/**/ /*

       *A.

*It’s */interesting here/* that */Paul refers to himself as/* “*/Less than the least of all saints/*.”

*1.

/In 1 sense/*, */we need to see ourselves in this same light/*.

*a.

/Knowing that we are a servant of all/*.

*b.

*Paul said in (*/PHIL 2:3/*) “*/Let each esteem other better than themselves/*.”

*2.

/Something/* that */comes along with this/* */is/* */to know that in our own selves/*, */we are nothing/*.

*a.

*This is the */only way to have/* the */Power of God working in us/* */and/* */through us/*.

*B.

/The other side/* to that coin is that */we need to know who we are in Christ/*.

*1.

/We are the head and not the tail/*, */Above only and not beneath/*, */that we are joint heirs with/* the Lord */Jesus/* Christ.

*a.

*The */Bible even calls us kings/*, but that’s who we are */in Christ/*.

*C.

**/EPH 3:9/*

          *1.

*Again Paul */refers back/* to the “*/Mystery/*” which has been hid in God from the beginning of the world until now (the Church age).

*2.

**/EPH 3:10/*

              *a.

*I like the */NIV/* translation a little */better/* for this V.

              *b.

*The */NIV/* says, (*/Ephesians 3:10/*) “*/His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms/*.”

NIV

                 *i. /To understand/* */what Paul is saying/* here, */you need to understand/* what Paul means by “*/Heavenly Realms/*.”

[*/KJV/* says, */heavenly places/*] The */Greek/* is actually “*/Heavenlies/*.”

*c.

*Look at */EPH 6:12/*

                 *i. *The words here “*/High places/*” comes */from/* the */same Greek word/* meaning “*/Heavenlies/*.”

*ii. /In this V/* it */clearly/* */tells us/* that this */Heavenly Realm/* */is the place of Satan’s authority/*.

*3.

*In (*/2COR 12:2/*) Paul talks */about 3 heavens/*.

*a.

/In the Word of God/* we */see/* the */3 different heavens or HEAVENLIES/*, */1/* being the */place of God throne/*, the */2nd/* being the place */where the stars are/*, and */3rd/* the */place where Satan is/*.

*b.

*Now go back to */EPH 3:10/*

                 *i. /God has chosen you and I to reveal/* */the/* */Wisdom of God/* */to every demonic principality and power/*.

*ii. /God has chosen/* */man/* */to be above every/* */demonic/* */principalities and power/* of this world.

*c.

/Without Christ/* */we are defeated by Satan/*, */but with Christ/*, */Satan is under our feet/*.

*i. *(*/2 Corinthians 2:14/*) Says, “*/Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ/*.”

KJV

   *II.

**/EPH 3:11-12/*

          *A.

*In (*/V 11/*) it */tells us/* that */God had a plan/*, really it’s the */whole/* */plan of redemption/*, which would */include/* */salvation/* */and/* */all the promises of God/*.

*1. /This plan /*was */accomplished/* */in/* the Lord */Jesus/* Christ about 2000 years ago.

*a.

*(*/EPH 3:10-11/*) From the */NIV/* translation words it this way, “*/His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord/*.”

*b.

/Jesus has finished the work/*.

*2. *In (*/V 12/*) */Paul tells us/* that */we have ACCESS to the Father/* */by faith/*.

*a.

*Again the */NIV/* translation says, “*/In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence/*.”

*b.

*The */KJV/* */says/* that */we have this/* */ACCESS/* */to the Father/* */by the faith of Him/*.

(Of */Jesus/*)

                               *i.

/Even our faith/* is */not our own/*.

*ii.

*The Bible tells us that */God has given to every man the measure of faith/*.

*c.

*Now */we/* have to */use our faith/* */to gain access to the Father/*.

*i.

/You approach the Father by faith/*, */faith in/* the */finished work/* of */Jesus/*.

*B.

**/EPH 3:13/*

                 *1. /Paul is saying/* that */he/* is */going through/* some */tribulation/* because of his */imprisonment/*, */But/* he’s */telling them/*, “*/Don’t let that cause you to become discouraged/*, */despondent/*, or */even grow weary/*.”

*a.

/Because/* of this time that he is in prison, */they’re receiving the Word/* of God, */which is there GLORY/*.

*b.

/God/* has a way of */turning/* a */curse/* */into blessings/* */if we’ll trust Him/*.

*2. **/EPH 3:14/*

                        *a.

*Paul is */leading up to/* a */prayer/* here.

His */1st/* */statement/* “*/For this cause/*,” */refers/* back */to you and I/*, as Gentiles, */receiving the Gospel/* and salvation.

*i.

/So he’s saying/* “*/Because you and I are receiving the Word of God/*, */I bow my knee to the Father/*.”

*b.

*The */next few word/*, “*/of our Lord Jesus Christ/*,” */do not appear/* in the */original text/*.

*i.

/It’s true/* that */God is the Father of/* the Lord */Jesus/* Christ, */but/* */Jesus is not the subject here/*.

*/You and I are/*.

*ii.

/We are named after the Father/*, along with all of His family.

*iii.

*We’re of the Family of God.

          *C.

**/EPH 3:15/*

                 *1. /The family in heaven/* is */named after/* the */Father/*, and the */family on earth/* is also */named after/* the */Father/*.

*a.

/If you/* were to */die/*, */you don’t leave 1 family/* */and join another/*.

*/We’re all 1 family/*.

*2. **/EPH 3:16/*

                        *a.

*The word “*/Strengthened/*” in this V means “*/Overcoming Strength/*.”

                               *i.

*Then Paul uses the word “*/Might/*” which is the Greek word “*/Dunamis/*” which is “*/the Power of God/*.”