Sermon Tone Analysis

Why is Paul Filled with Joy

Paul has just used 203 words Uninterrupted speaking of his joy for all that Christians has in Christ.

Salvation, Election, God’s grace, Inheritance, Hope, and a few more we have Christ.

Remember Paul is in Prison and he is speaking about these Joys as he is experiencing a Deficit.

He is in prison encouraging believers who are free to live life in a normal way

Now if I’m on lock down; it probably changes the way I speak about inheritance.

It doesn’t mean much to me in prison.

The riches of HIS grace has a different meaning for me if I am in chains.

Paul models for us how to have true lasting Joy, true and lasting fulfillment no matter what our circumstances.

The question on the table is, where is your Joy?

What brings you fulfillment?

Paul is still excited; Overwhelmed with Joy because of Grace, Salvation, Election and as he is writing Burst out in prayer.. . .

“For this reason . . .

.” signals a prayer.

He does this again in the Beginning of Chapter 3. .

“for this reason”

1. Thanksgiving for the Readers’ Faith and Love, 1:15–16a

15–16a Immediately following the introductory berakah or eulogy, Paul reports his thanksgiving (vv.

15–16a) and intercession for his readers (vv.

16b–19).

He mentions his unceasing gratitude to God for the good news he has received about them, and assures them that he constantly intercedes for them.

In the eulogy Paul had praised God for blessings which he and his fellow-Christians received; now in his thanksgiving he expresses his gratitude for the divine work in the lives of his readers.

what is Paul giving thanks for: FAITH, LOVE, HOPE.

Lets look at these

Verse 15

Paired with their exemplary faith was their “love for all the saints.”

Significant here is the word all; they loved all their fellow Christians!

The reason this is so striking, of course, is that this is often not true in Christian circles.

they loved all The Saints- quote . .

“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”

Our surface Christianity arms us with what we think are proper prejudices and a rationale for criticizing those who fall short, keeping them at arm’s length.

Not so with the Ephesians!

That is why the word for “love” here is agape — a thoughtful, volitional, purposeful love that wills to love even the unlovely — the very love of God himself.

The church at Ephesus.. . . .

There was none of this in Ephesus.

They looked out for each other, bearing each other’s inadequacies and eccentricities and sins in love.

They lived out Jesus’ new commandment: “‘A new commandment I give you: Love one another.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another’

Do we thrill at hearing of the faith and love of others?

Do we rejoice in others’ spiritual attainments?

Especially revealing, do we praise God when this is happening in places we are not present?

Other churches?

Other organizations?

Verse 17

To begin with, Paul prays that the Ephesians will develop a deeper knowledge of Christ: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (v.

17).

Knowing Christ is one of the New Testament’s ways of describing saving faith.

Jesus himself said in his High Priestly prayer, “Now this is eternal life: that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”

John 17

what does it mean to know about Christ ?

What does knowing Christ involve?

It involves knowing more than facts about Christ.

I know a lot about President Obama.

I know where he went to school.

I know what sports he played.

I know his chronological history.

I know some of his weaknesses and strengths.

But I do not know OBAMA.

The facts are helpful, but they are not enough.

Knowing Christ involves more than a passing acquaintance.

What does it mean to Know Christ?

Ask the Audience.

How is this done?

Tragically, there are many religious people who believe they are Christians and yet do not know Christ.

Jesus warns, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.

Away from me, you evildoers!’”

matth 7:22-33

So the question which must be asked is: Do we really know Christ?

Are we in him?

Is he in us?

Does he know us? (See Galatians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 8:3.)

Is there an intimate exchange between him and us?

Paul’s concern in life was to Know Christ

phil 3:

extra verses

1 cor8:3

The great need of any church, whether it is healthy or not, is knowing Christ — an epignosis — a better, deeper, fuller knowledge of Christ.

I have memorized only a few verses in the Greek, but Philippians 3:10 is one, and it begins tou gnonai auton — “that I may know Him” (NASB).

How can this knowledge be attained?

By the Holy Spirit

1 cor

Verses 18-19

Paul prays for Spiritual Vision-

From asking for a better knowledge of Christ, Paul moves on to request better spiritual vision: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (v.

18a).

In Scripture, the heart is the fulcrum of man’s being, the seat of his intelligence and will

Specifically, Paul asks that we would have our vision bettered regarding three things: hope, riches, and power.

Hope-

First, hope.

Paul wants us to have a better vision of “the hope to which he has called you.”

Our hope has its source in our election, which took place before the creation of the world (1:4).

It is sealed in us by the Holy Spirit, given as a sweet down payment, an arrabon, of what is to come.

This hope is the grand hope of being manifested with Christ in glory — “the hope of the glory of God” ().

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” ().

“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” ().

Paul prays that we will take hold of this gigantic hope.

Riches-

Second, riches.

Paul prays that our eyes will be opened as to “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”