Sermon Tone Analysis

The Apostle *Paul*, at the time of writing this, had been *saved for years* & years.

He was *born again* in approximately *35 AD*., *2 years after Jesus death*.

He *wrote* this book of *Philippians* in about the year *64AD*.

He was *born again* on the *road to Damascus* *& started seeking* *God* immediately.

They say that *Paul set* the 1st *14 years* *of* his *saved life* to just *seek God* & to *find* out *God's direction* for his life.

After he did that he went out to minister the Word of God.

     *I.*

Paul had *one of the most powerful ministries* ever on the face of the Earth.

(2nd to Jesus)

              *A.*

There were *miracles* in *Paul's ministry*.

*1.*

The *sick* were *healed*, the *crippled* were *raised*, the *dead* were *raised*.

*B.*

*Revelation knowledge flowed through him*.

*1.*

About *2~/3* of the *NT* was *written* by Paul.

*C.*

Paul was *used in the area of VISIONS*.

*1.*

He *had* a *vision of Jesus*.

In (*/2COR 12/*) he talks about the *vision* that he had *of paradise*.

*2.*

There was an *accuracy of the HS operating in his life*.

(Even in the things that he knew or perceived.)

*D.*

There were *sings & wonders in his ministry*; *like* the time that he was *bit by a deadly* *snake* & nothing happened to him.

*E.*

He *cast out demons*.

                        *1.*

If you remember in (*/ACTS 16:17/*) when a *woman followed Paul* around saying “*/These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation/*.”

“But *when Paul*, being *grieved*, turned and *said to the spirit*, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to *come out of her*.

And he came out the same hour”.

*a.*

*With all* thing things *that took place in Paul's ministry*, *after spending* all that *time along with God*, *After spending* all that *time in ministry* & *establishing churches*, after *revealing things* that *we* still *read about today*.

*b.*

*What does Paul say* in */PHIL 3:10/*?

*c.*

“*/That I mat know Him/*.”

*i.*

The *desire* that *Paul had* *after all this time* was that he would *know God*.

*ii.* *That he would know God in a deeper way*.

That he might *know Him* *more intimately*, to have a *close personal relationship* with Him.

                                  *iii.*

That He *would know & understand God's ways*.

*II.*

*This desire that Paul had tells me something*.

*A.*

*You can see the same thing in all the men that did exploits for the kingdom of God*.

*1.*

That's *exactly* what the *Word* of God *says*, (*/Daniel 11:32/*) */“The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].”

/*

                        *2.*

*I firmly believe that this desire*, *to know God*, *has to be in a mans heart to be a success in the kingdom of God*.

*B.*

*There's all kinds of success & all kinds of ways to get success*.

*1.*

You can get *worldly success* & many do it.

*a.* *They get financial success* or *success in business*, but *there's always a cost with going at it the wrong way*.

*2.*

*When we try to obtain success the wrong way*, *we get the wrong kind of success*.

*a.*

With the *world's success comes **Headaches*, *Nerves*, *Ulcers*, *Divorce*, *Rebellious children* & the list goes on.

*b.*

That *all comes with success*, *unless* your *success* *comes from God*.

              *C.*

*When* you *receive* *success from the Kingdom of God*, you *don't have to bow to **divorce*, you don't have to *bow to the **ulcers*, *nerves* & *heartaches*.

*1.*

You *wont have to* *bow to **rebellious children*.

*2.*

*/PRO 10:22/*

                                  *a.*

*Success that comes* from *any other avenue* other than the kingdom *brings* a lot of *heartaches*.

*Sorrow comes with it*.

*b.*

But *when God blesses there is no sorrow with it*.

*III.*

Back in (*/PHIL 3:10/*) The apostle *Paul said*, “*/That I may know Him/*.”

*A.*

*He wanted to know everything he could know about Jesus*.

*1.*

He *wanted to fellowship* with Him on *every level possible*.

*a.*

We *all should want to have* *this type of fellowship* with God.

                                  *b.* *It is our inner most desire to know God* in this way.

*i.*

I want to *know Him clearly, accurately, deeply, to have a close relationship with Him*.

*2.* *It's our desire to know Him* this way, *but* we have the *mind & the flesh to over come*.

*a.*

*Our spirits want to fellowship with the Lord*, but our *minds *have to be* renewed* & our *bodies* have to be *crucified*, so that we'll enter into that fellowship.

*b.*

Now *when I said* that *we need* to have a *close relationship* with Him, I *don't mean just related* to Him.

                                           *i.* *He is our Father*, & we are *related* to Him *in that respect*, but that *doesn't mean* that we have a *relationship* with Him.

                                           *ii.*

A *relationship means fellowship*.

*B.*

*When* we get to *know God* *that well*, we'll begin to *know what God in going to do*, *how He will operate*.

*1.*

In many instances *He'll become* *predictable*.

*a.*

You'll *know what He's going to do* in certain situations.

*b.*

*Sure* there is the *secret things* that belong to the Lord.

*2.*

But the *closer you get to God*, the *more* you'll *know* *His ways*.

(example wife)

                                  *a.*

The *better you know Him*, the *more you'll know what He's going to do*.

(predictable)

                                  *b.*

*What do you think* *God* *will do* *if* a *sinner* *comes to receive Jesus* as Lord?

                                           *i.* *He'll save them* every time.

*3.*

*The more you know God it's easier to have faith in Him*.

*a.*

The *better I know you*, the better *I'll know what you will do in different situations*.