Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

This morning we move into the culminating passage of our entire study of Ephesians.

I usually spend a great deal of time introducing a message and I try to include a contemporary context to the biblical context of the message.

The reason for this is when we study Scripture, we must first understand the context of which the Scripture was originally inspired to apply it appropriately to our contemporary context.

The purpose of the sermon is to build a bridge between the two contexts through the truth of Scripture.

This message and the next several messages should be applied in your personal life and will benefit your walk as a believer.

But may I also emphasize the importance for us to understand this as a church?

It is important for us as a church to be prepared for spiritual warfare.

The enemy will stop at nothing to thwart God’s blessings in our lives.

So the Christian life can be defined simply as warfare.

I believe that too many believers and too many churches are unaware of the battle happening and the spiritual battle are inseparable to what is happening here physically, culturally, politically.

Ephesus was a major trade hub in Asia Minor.

It was the third largest city in the Roman Empire with a population of about 250,000 at the time this letter was written.

What I want you to know as we prepare to read the opening verses of this passage is that Demonic, Pagan worship was stronghold over the entire city.

Ephesus was the home of the goddess Artimes.

It was the center of sensuality, immorality, idolatry, and prosperity.

Because of this, when Christianity came onto the scene, there was an immediate tremendous clash of cultures (cf.

Acts 19:21-41).

The mere presence of the Gospel was a threat to the pagan worship in Ephesus and the citizens of Ephesus wanted it gone.

This was the city of the Church Paul was writing to through this Epistle we’ve studied.

The first three chapters are this marvelous section on the positional truth of the believer; who we are in Christ.

We are blessed with every spiritual blessing from God (Ephesians 1:3).

Adopted as God’s Children and the predestined, forgiven, and enlightened in truth from God. We’ve been taken out of the dominion of Satan and placed in the Kingdom of God, sealed with the Holy Spirit, for an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).

In Chapters four through six, Paul tells the church living the shadows of the massive temple, how we are to live in light of these blessings.

We are not to give the devil a foothold in the church (Ephesians 4:27) or let any form of immorality be named among them (Ephesians 5:3).

Instead, believers are be filled with the spirit living in complete contrast to the world around them (Ephesians 5:18).

Because of that, the Christian marriage is different, the way we parent is different, and even the master/slave relationship is transformed.

I find it interesting that the very relationships Paul gave specific instruction about in Ephesians are the very relationships our modern culture is destroying.

The sanctity of marriage is under the constant barrage of assaults from the alphabet mafia (LGBTQ), along with the role of the man in the home and also the role of woman in the family.

Our children as young as Kindergarteners are now exposed to the likes of drag queens and their perversions.

Grades above that level are routinely taught the anti-God lessons of transgender and CRT (Critical Race Theory).

The demonic philosophies of Marxism and Socialism are celebrated as the gold standard of society.

And human life is counted as a parasitic inconvenience.

Population control is an actual mission of globalists like Klaus Schwab, Bill Gates, and political leaders of the World Economic Forum to save Mother Earth.

Like the church in Ephesus, we must be aware that behind the physical and ideological movements there is are demonic forces driving these.

Finally...

That first word, “Finally,” is important.

It is more than just saying ‘in conclusion...” It is the Apostle Paul telling us, in light of everything else, you’ve read...” All of these other things is a culmination of this one prevailing truth: our struggle is a spiritual battle, not a physical battle.

As a general principle we must live in constant dependance on God’s strength.

When God begins to bless, Satan begins to attack.

If we are walking in the faith, if we are standing in humility instead of pride, if we are seeking unity instead of division, if we are loving one another, if we are in the fullness of the Spirit rather than drunkeness, then we can be absolutely sure that there will be spiritual opposition.

The goal is lukewarmness.

Paul did not tell us about gospel and the church’s purpose (Ephesians 1-3) so that we could sit back and relax.

He didn’t teach us about the Spirit, morality, and relationships so we could live our best life now.

Instead he brings all of these things together with the reality of the powerful spiritual battle we are engage in as children of God.

And Paul’s point is that all of these things in our lives are impossible without God.

Scientists came to a conclusion that through science they could accomplish anything.

Because of this they decided they didn’t need God.

One scientist was elected to be their spokesperson to tell God he wasn’t necessary anymore.

The scientist told God “Mankind doesn’t need you any more, with science we can accomplish anything.”

To prove his point he challenged God to a contest “I can create life just like you did” God quietly listened to this man not saying a word.

The scientist then proceeded to pick up some dirt to create a man.

God finally spoke and said “No, no, get your own dirt” (Credit: Sermon Central).

Be Strong in the Lord

The message here from Paul is that the Christian life is not going to be easy.

It’s going to take strength - strength that you don’t have within yourself.

To stand against the world is to stand against the forces of Satan.

The moment you accept in faith your new life in Christ, is the moment you become an enemy of the world and the god of this world.

There is no neutral ground.

You will notice that two times he uses the word in: “In the Lord” and “In the strength of his might.”

That is a principle emphasis in Ephesians.

We are one with him.

his life is our life.

His power is our power.

His truth is our truth.

He’s strength is our strength and his might is our might.

The strength of the believer is the strength we receive through our dependence on God.

Why we need God’s strength is explained by Paul in one of the most magnificent explanations of the Christian life of warfare.

Our own strength is no match for Satan’s forces, Satan is far more powerful than the greatest of any saint.

But the God has not left you to battle demonic forces depending upon your strength and exhorts us to be strong.

The question is, strength for what?

What is the battles we are going face?

I believe the cross of Christ gave a death blow to Satan.

He is a vanquished foe.

Satan, however is a liar and deceiver and so wants to convince the Church otherwise.

We have the marvelous resource of Christ’s strength and to deny that is is to deny a basic and fundamental reality of the Christian life.

1. Strength to do the will of God instead of our own will.

2. Strength to be obedient to God’s direction and against sin.

3. Strength to pray

We are in a war but there is no reason to lose or to be afraid with the Divine strength before us.

You should find great strength and encouragement in the knowledge that your calling and salvation is Divine.

God himself underwrites you battle and has appointed His son the perfecter of your salvation.

It is the knowledge of God’s truth and who He is, it is the heart after God that stand firmly on the Rock of our salvation that gives us strength.

Strength is not something that we receive deep down in from us, it is received from above if we are willing to receive it.

Paul would tell the corinthian church that he boast about his own weakness to glory in Christ’s strength

Look at the 3 at the strength of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when faced with the Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace:

Daniel 3:16–18 (ESV)

16 “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Paul tells the Ephesians to be strong in the strength of His might.

“Be Strong” is present imperative in its form.

That word “strength” is kratei it means power and dominion and the word “might” is ischyos and it means strength and capability.

In other words Paul is literally saying continually draw your strength from Christ’s kingdom of endless power and strength.

Why?

Because Satan is committed to your destruction.

John 10:10

Put on His Armor

The term “full armor” in the Greek the word that mean the complete battle gear of the warrior.

There is both defensive gear and offensive weaponry.