Sermon Tone Analysis

Why, as Christians, do we spend so much time looking for things to make us complete?

We stay confused on the fact of whether Jesus Christ is sufficient.

Paul has expressed his thankfulness for their salvation, their belief in Jesus Christ is the son of God and died for our sins and was buried in our death, but was resurrected unto life eternal.

They received the Gospel by Faith and they had been created as new creations which was proven by their demonstration of faith in love for their neighbors proving the Holy Spirit had sealed them bringing glory to God by exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit.

You will never find satisfaction in Human philosophy, legalism, extreme denial of the flesh, or mystical experiences like the church at Colossi were attempting.

LISTEN - If you are truly in Jesus Christ, then you are complete, but not only complete but perfectly complete forever.

Unfortunately, we are always wanting more.

Whether it is more grace, more mercy, more love, more strength, more light, or more peace etc.

All of this has already been given to you in Christ.

What we really need is to know how to appropriate this abundance of possessions into our lives.

This is what Paul is praying for.

Paul wants the believer to understand what we have in Christ and how to grasp and apply this understanding into our lives.

So, let’s take some time to dissect the prayer Paul prayed for the saints.

This is a prayer that we might want to pray for ourselves.

This is a prayer we might want to pray for others.

It is a prayer that I pray for you.

Notice the requests Paul makes in these verses.

Ephesians 1:15–23 (KJV 1900)

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Understanding the Mystery of God

Ephesians 1:17–18 (KJV 1900)

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Begins with

The Request:

Ephesians 1:17 (KJV 1900)

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Notice, we are talking about a knowledge that can only be given by God.

It is referring to one particular God.

He is not the god of our own minds and thoughts

the god we conceive when we picture what God is like

the god made by men’s minds and hands

the god of religion.

This is the God that Jesus Christ worshipped.

This is the God, the Father of glory, the only true and living God, the Supreme Majesty, Creator and Master of the Universe.

The One who is

omniscient (all knowing),

omnipotent (all powerful),

omnipresent (present everywhere), and so expansive that His very being and presence reaches out beyond the stars and embraces all that is or ever will be

The One who declares that He has “set His glory above the heavens” (Ps.

8:1).

As believers, we must continue to grow more and more in knowledge of Him, and we must continue to gain more and more increasing knowledge of Him.

Paul in his unceasing prayer, begins with a request from God’s to give unto every believer 2 things.

the spirit of wisdom and revelation.

The Spirit of Wisdom:

Ephesians 1:17 (KJV 1900)

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The word “spirit” has the idea of an “attitude or a humble, teachable spirit.”

When Paul speaks of the spirit, he is referring to a spirit:

that reaches out and grasps

that hunger and thirsts

that seeks and seeks

In other words, Paul is praying that they will be open to hearing the things God is trying to teach them.

He prays that they will have a teachable spirit and be willing to learn.

What are we reaching out and grasping for, What are we hungering and thirsting for, What are we seeking?

The answer is wisdom.

“wisdom” is talking about using that revealed knowledge to live for the Lord.

Knowledge is the grasping of facts, but grasping facts is not enough.

Much more is needed: a person must know how to use the facts.

That is where wisdom comes in.

Wisdom knows how to use the facts.

The point is this: it is not enough to know the facts about God; a person must know God personally.

He must know how to experience the facts about God.

He must use the facts to develop a personal relationship with God—a growing relationship—a relationship that is intimate, that grows deeper and deeper.

This is the meaning of the word knowledge (epignosei): a personal and intimate relationship with God; a personal experience with God.

It is not an intellectual knowledge of God, but an experiential knowledge of God.

Remember,

Matthew 5:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

The Spirit of Revelation:

Ephesians 1:17 (KJV 1900)

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The word revelation (apokalupseos) means to manifest; to reveal; to unveil; to uncover; to open.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal the knowledge of God to Christians.

In fact it is the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning of all truth to the Christian (Jn.

14:26; 16:12–15).

John 14:26 (KJV 1900)

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:12–15 (KJV 1900)

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This is clearly seen in 1 Co. 1:9–16 where the wisdom of the world is contrasted with the wisdom of God.

A spiritual Christian sees (through the Spirit revealing to him) the meaning behind world events as well as day to day experiences.

He understands who and what is behind the events of history and human experience.

Therefore, he gains a growing knowledge of God day by day.

Thought 1.

If the believer is to grow in his knowledge of God, the richness and deep things of God must be opened up to the believer.

But the things of God are like everything else that is worthwhile: they are not handed over to men on a silver platter.

A man must seek to learn more and more about God.

He must seek to have the truth of God revealed to him.

The spirit reveals God to us.

1 Corinthians 2:9–12 (KJV 1900)