Sermon Tone Analysis

Date: October 2, 2022

Introduction: Last week, we learned that Paul does not want anyone to discouraged in their responsibilities before the Lord, especially when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel.

Let’s see what Paul does in order to help the Ephesians and all believers not be discouraged.

Eph 3:14-15 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,”

“For this reason”

What reason is Paul referring to?

Ephesians 3:13 “Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.”

Paul does not want the Ephesians or any believers to be discouraged in being faithful to Jesus because He is suffering for the Gospel, being faithful to Jesus.

You know, you don’t have to be facing the possibility of being in jail to be discouraged to be faithful to Jesus.

Example: Maybe you shared a toy with a sibling or a friend to be kind to them and they weren’t kind back (what’s the point).

Should a Christian be kind just to get something from someone?

No.

Why should a Christian be kind to others?

To show others what Jesus is like.

When it’s hard to be kind to others, the Holy Spirit can help us to still be kind.

It’s worth it to continue being faithful, relying on the Lord to help you not to be discouraged.

“I bow my knees before the Father,”

What is Paul prompted to do so that the Ephesians and every believer would not become discouraged from being faithful to Jesus?

“bow” his “knees before the Father”

What does Paul mean by bowing his “knees before the Father”?

Paul is physically describing the attitude of his heart in prayer.

So, this is about Paul praying to the Lord.

Prayer is not strictly about our physical positioning, but, more importantly, about our heart.

You can help yourself to get into an attitude of prayer by your physical position.

But, you can also pray silently in your heart throughout the day if you cannot get alone and physically bow before the Lord.

When you pray for others, you can pray similarly that they would not be discouraged from being faithful to the Lord in their circumstances.

What kinds of circumstances might discourage others from being faithful to Jesus? (take answers)

Can you think of others who are facing some difficult circumstances that would discourage them from being faithful to Jesus? (don’t take answer, let them think about it)

The best tool to address discouragement in your life or in others is to pray to the Lord.

Why is prayer the best tool to use when others or even ourselves are discouraged from being faithful to the Lord?

Because of Who we’re praying to!

We’re praying to the Lord.

Remember, the Lord has all power and gives us His grace to faithfully proclaim the Gospel that He is using to bring people from every background to trust in the Lord Jesus as their Savior from their sins - God’s plan is unstoppable!

“from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,”

What does it mean to derive ones name from something?

Something has been given a name.

Another way to say this is that someone has named something.

Illustration: where did you get your name?

Your parents!

What does that mean about your parents/family?

You belong to them!

You are your parents’ responsibility.

They are to care for you and tell you what to do!

You see, what Paul is identifying here is that the Lord has authority over everything (because He created all things) and demonstrates it by naming everything.

What Paul does is he gives us the reason for why He prays to God the Father so that other believers would not be discouraged.

If God the Father has authority over everything that He has named, then He has all authority.

Paul is confident that God the Father has all authority to be able to powerfully address any possible discouragement from being faithful to the Lord.

Eph 3:16-17a “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;”

“that He would grant you”

What does it mean to “grant” something?

To give someone something.

Like a gift.

Paul confidently prays to our all authoritative God to give us something when we’re discouraged in being faithful to the Lord.

“according to the riches of His glory”

What does the word “riches” mean?

You have a lot of something.

We normally think of money but it can mean a lot of anything

“I am rich in Jelly Belly jelly beans”

Meaning, I have a lot of jelly beans!

What is it that the Lord is rich in?

Glory

What is glory?

Something amazing that sets it apart from all the rest.

What sets God apart is everything (Power, knowledge, presence, character)!

God is rich in everything that makes Him amazing.

God is willing to share with us what He has so that we can be faithful to Him, no matter what the challenge.

What Paul is saying is that, he knows that whatever he prays to God to give, God is more than able to give it since God abounds in glory and He has more than enough!

“to be strengthened with power”

What is it that Paul first asks that the Lord would give to the Ephesians because God is able to do so?

“to be strengthened with power”

What does it mean to be strengthened with power?

Your strength comes from the Lord Who has all power.

Illustration: When I charge my phone, do I use peanut butter?

NO!

Why?

Because it does not take peanut butter to power it.

Instead, it takes electricity.

You see, Paul knows that the power that the Ephesians and all believers need to be strengthened can’t come from just anywhere.

“through His Spirit”

Who does this “strengthened with power” come from?

The Holy Spirit

If you’re a Christian, where does the Holy Spirit now live?

Inside of you!

Illustration: this is like having a battery pack always connected to your phone!

You always have ready access to God’s power to strengthen you through the Holy Spirit!

“in the inner man,”

In what way does Paul pray that God would strengthen us with His power through the Holy Spirit?

“in the inner man”

What does the phrase “inner man” refer to?

Our spirit!

That part of us no one but God can see, like our thoughts.

What is the importance of God strengthening your spirit through the Holy Spirit?

Paul is praying this prayer because he does not want the Ephesians or any believer to become discouraged over circumstances.

You see, our thoughts lead us to act the way that we do.

Illustration: If you’re thinking about eating, chances are it’s because you are hungry and you are going to try to get something to eat.

If you’re discouraged, particularly in being faithful to what the Lord wants you to do, you may not feel like doing what the Lord wants you to do.

To combat this, we need God’s power through the Spirit as we cannot do this alone!

“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;”

Hearts is another way of referring to “the inner man” that Paul referenced earlier.

What Paul is getting at here is that, if Christ is living inside of you, He will be evident in your life.