Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro; Up to this point in our study of “My Life In The Church”, Paul has shared with us the great doctrines of the faith.

Chap. 1 “Connected In Christ” by being chosen by the Father, redeemed through the Son and sealed in the Holy Spirit of God

Chap. 2 “Connected By Grace”, we understand that God’s grace is a gift of His love to unworthy people, yet He still gives it.

That grace is like a brilliant shining diamond lay over the darkness of our sin and makes one alive who once was dead.

Chap. 2 “Connected for Good Works”, Good works are not the activity we get involved in, it is the attitude of living productive lives that reflect the “good” love of God.

Chap. 2 “Connected Through Fellowship”, [koi-no-nia] becoming one with God and one another in peace as the family of God, the church.

Chap. 3 “Connected In Prayer”, Prayer is our lifeline to God.

For the Christian, praying is supposed to be like breathing, easier to do than to not do.

Paul prayer is the upward progression in the power of God in ones life.

Now here we are at the end of chapter 3 and there is something unusual, but so appropriate, in the middle of a letter, a “Doxology”.

The word “doxology” comes from the Greek words “doxa” and “logos.”

The word “doxa” refers to “the kingly majesty which belongs to God as supreme ruler and absolute perfection of deity.”

It is usually translated “glory” in the New Testament.

The word “logos” means, “collection.”

It is often translated “word” in the New Testament, because it speaks of the process of “collecting thoughts in the mind, then expressing those thoughts through words.”

A “doxology” is “a word of glory” a “statement of praise” that honors the Lord’s majesty, that ascribes glory to Him, that exalts His Person.

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

A-men

Paul could not contain himself, therefore he had an outburst of praise to God and tonight, I want us to look at the reason why!

Text; Eph.

3:20-21

1.

Now to Him; 20a

The direction of Paul’s “doxology” is “Now to Him”.

All praise, adoration and glory belong to God the Father and not another!

Praise is a river flowing on joyously in its own channel, banked up on either side that it may run towards its one object, but adoration is the same river overflowing all banks, flooding the soul and covering the entire nature with its great waters;

Spurgeon, C. H. (1875).

Paul’s Doxology.

In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol.

21, p. 662).

Passmore & Alabaster.

Doxology is given to God alone because of His divine ability [who is able];

To forgive, deliver, heal, supply our needs, love, guide, protect, preserve, strengthen, comfort, restore, refresh, etc...

2. Exceedingly, Abundantly, Above; 20b

Not only should we praise and adore God for His “Divine Ability”, but also for how He magnifies His grace towards us!

[Charles Haddon Spurgeon] “God’s power to bless us is not bounded by our power to understand the blessing.

Grace is not measured to us according to our capacity to receive, but according to his ability to bestow”

God is able to do what we ask and even more;

Exceedingly: to surpass; to go beyond any request;

Abundantly: to overflow and to do more than enough

Above: to go over and beyond, surpassing any need

All that we ask; according to His will

All that we can think; imagine going beyond anything we can think!

The parable of the prodigal son is a picture of God going exceedingly, abundantly, above all anyone can ask in salvation by faith.

Solomon asked God for an understanding heart to lead His people but God went way beyond.

Aren’t you glad that God gives on His grace not by our wants!

3. The Power Working in Us; 20c

What does Paul mean when he says “according to the power that works in us”?

The power that works in the believer to connect us to God is the Holy Spirit!

But that power must also work with the way we pray!

The power of the Spirit strengthening us [v.16]

The power of Christ indwelling us [v.17]

The power of love working in us [v.

17b]

The power of understanding all that God does [v.18-19a]

The power of the fullness of God Himself [v.19b]

God can do more in response to one prayer than we can do in a hundred years of planning and plotting.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

We need a vision of God that increases our faith in God’s greatness, not in ours!

4. Unto Him; 21a

All glory is to be given to God the Father, in the church, by Christ Jesus

In the Church- the summoned ones, the assembly, sinners saved by His grace!

In our worship, prayers, preaching, bible study, evangelism, work, finances and family, God is to be given glory!

By Christ Jesus- God is glorified the most in the person of His Son, Christ Jesus!

At His Baptism/Righteousness

At the Transfiguration/Death

Our walk, talk, preaching, praising, singing and service need to magnify Christ Jesus to give glory to the Father!

5. Forever; 21b

We are to praise God now and forever.

David describes how we are to do this!

Close;

Doxology

‌Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

‌Praise Him, all creatures here below.

‌Praise Him above ye heavenly host;

‌Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

A-men