Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

This Easter morning, we are going to look at a powerful prayer of the Apostle Paul in our study of the Book of Ephesians.

Now, I want to remind you that we are approaching this study with Paul’s thesis statement in mind from the first Chapter:

And throughout the first 3 Chapters of Ephesians, Paul has uncovered some of the greatest mysteries in all of Scripture relating to the Gospel.

Coming into Chapter 3, Paul begins to share a prayer for his readers and then pauses mid sentence with something amazing:

What Paul is saying is before anything else he is about to share with us, we have to have full understanding of what the mystery of Christ really means for us.

If we don’t have God’s full revelation of the gospel, nothing else is going to make sense.

And you know that I haven’t help back any sentiment recently that I believe the Christian world of today, is woefully and abysmally ignorant about the resources that are available in Christ.

May we dare say ourselves that we too need to go deeper in our faith!

People who say they are Christians are running around madly trying to find the solution to life’s problems when they have them resident in them the Christ.

We need to understand that.

And we need to apply it.

So in chapter 1, the prayer is for knowledge; in chapter 3, is that we will apply that knowledge in our lives and chapters 4-6 are is the mystery of Christ in action within our lives.

We must be aware of Christ who is living and active in our lives right now, today.

So now Paul circles back around and continues with that prayer he paused at a few weeks ago.

Let’s stand and read together verses 14-21:

I want you to know that we are going to focus most of our time in verse 20 this morning.

But to do that, we’re going to get a bit of a running start.

Paul is going to give us five sequential, progressive principles that, if you are ever going to experience verse 20, -that is the power of the living and resurrected Christ in your own life- you are going to have to first understand these principles.

I’m going to go over them quickly this morning and Jeff may have to clean up after me next week!

Inner Strength

The Christian life is never a point of being satisfied or feeling that you have arrived.

You have reach your pinnacle in spiritual achievement.

I have always wanted to do better and be a better Christian.

Frankly most of us probably look at a verse like verse 20 and say to ourselves, “I don’t know if I’m even capable or worth of God doing exceeding abundantly beyond all I could ask or think.

I would just like to have a little victory in my life.

How in the world could I get to the point where I am exceeding my expectations?”

That is precisely the point where God wants you to come to in order to see Christ come alive in you.

And Paul, in verse 14 says, For this reason, I am praying to God that you don’t loose heart because I am in chains and in prison.

Don’t let something like this shake your faith, let it embolden you even more.”

Look this world is in distress today unlike any other time in history.

If we gauge our faith on the trials of this world, we will find ourselves constantly faltering.

So Paul says in verse 13, that he bows his knees before the Father.

There is something in theology called the aseity of God.

It is understood through the name he gave Moses.

“I AM.”

It means that, unlike us, God is completely self-sufficient and boundless in His ability to sustain Himself.

How is that so?

Because we are living daily under the name of the God Most High, who is self-sufficient in every way and sustains us with His power.

There is a residency of God that lives within the believer that sustains us, strengthens the inner man.

When you buy toys for your kids or grandkids often times on the package it says, “Batteries not included.”

Do you know what that means?

It means that you get the toy, but the power to make it work is not included.

Christ in You

Secondly, there is Christ in you.

Ephesians 3:17 (ESV)

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

Now, this isn’t talking about salvation because you already have the Holy Spirit; you already have the inner strength.

What does this mean?

Well, take the word “dwell,” katoikēsai.

It’s made up of two words: oikeō, to live in a home; and kata, down.

It means to settle down in a home.

The question for you today is if Christ could settle down, live in your heart and be comfortable within you as if he is at home?

How do you make yourself at home?

You fully and comfortable occupy where you dwelling.

It reflects a part of you.

What begins to happen in your life is that the more intimately you walk with the Lord, the more fully his lordship extends to every part of your life.

Incomprehensible Love

Ephesians 3:17 (ESV)

17 that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Now we come to the root of his indwelling.

Love.

You go from inner strength to the indwelling Christ to incomprehensible love.

You literally become rooted and grounded in love.

This is the cause and motive of all that you you.

It is why we as a church do what we do.

It’s not something on the fringe.

It’s not a byproduct.

What controls you when Christ is at home in your heart and you are manifesting His virtue: you’ll be a person who is known for love.

His love will flow through you at every point.

One thing about love: You can’t understand it by a definition.

You can only understand it by experience and the world’s definition of love is an abomination to what true godly love really is like.

It’s not about physical or emotional satisfaction.

And Paul is saying here, “When your life is rooted and grounded in love, you will be able to comprehend the fullness of that love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.”

It’s not a love that anyone can understand, except a believer who is literally Christlike.

And if you don’t have that love, then you’re nothing but a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.

Comprehend God’s Mysteries

Ephesians 3:18–19 (ESV)

18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

The “comprehend” is strong int he Green: katalambanō.

It means “to seize, take possession of.”

So when you live in the love of Christ, you literally comprehend that love in all dimensions.

It doesn’t show up once in a while.

It doesn’t show up for certain people, or some of the time.

It doesn’t share itself with hate, bitterness, jealously, or envy.

It’s a dominant love and it’s rooted in the life of one in whom Christ is settled down and at home so that they can comprehend it in all its dimensions.

And that’s the point of “breadth and length and height and depth” It is limitlessness.

The breadth of love is Jew and Gentile.

It transcends all race, nation, and tongue.

The length of love is from eternity to eternity.

The depth of love reaches to the deepest pit of sin.

The height of love takes us to the very throne of heaven before the Almighty.

That’s how God can take anyone, no matter what your past, where you are, how vile you are or think you might be, and use them for his glory.

It’s rooted in His love, not utility.

You have a purpose.

You are not beyond hope.

God loves you and the people around you and the challenge for us is to allow Christ to dwell in us to the point that we can comprehend the mystery of God’s love in a way that we can then be an extension of that love to anyone.

Your life will be marked by love, and that love will be manifest.

Infinite Fullness

Ephesians 3:19 (ESV)