Sermon Tone Analysis

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (God’s Banner)

God’s BannerEvery known civilization and religion has its version of the episode known as “the Flood.”

This story has persisted because of its profound moral and spiritual implications.

It has apparently convinced mankind that destruction, darkness, and thunder do not speak God’s last words.

As the late Joseph Sizoo once said, “Floods are affairs of earth, but the rainbow is God’s banner of hope.”

-Christians have certainty as we find our hope in Christ.

I. God’s Design vv.

28-30

In this section, Paul kicks off with a staggeringly hope-filled statement: All things work together for good

This does not mean that all things are good, nor does it deny the pain involved in faithful living

It does make clear, though, that for those called according to God’s purpose, He is working things together for a glorious end

This is clearly demonstrated in God’s design for salvation

Foreknowledge-

Some believe that this is based on God’s intent to save

Some believe that this is based in God’s knowledge of what will take place

Predestination-The certainty that God progresses those He foreknows towards salvation

Calling-The Holy Spirit’s effective work in calling us to repent and believe the Gospel

Justification- the declaration that through the work of Christ the debt of our sin has been paid

Glorification- the end result that we join Christ in His eternal kingdom, completely free from the power of sin and death

God has a certain plan and every circumstance of life that we encounter is part of His plan to bring us into His glory

II.

God’s Grace vv.

31-32

Next, Paul makes it clear that our position is favored by God:

He is for us!

If He is for us, then who, with any efficacy, can be against us?

No one can stand against His purpose and plan for us!

How though, do we know that these things are true?

We look to the cross of Christ and His offering of the Son for us

Likewise, we must know that if He was willing to give His Son, there is no good thing that He would withhold from His children!

A young American engineer was sent to Ireland by his company to work in a new electronics plant.

It was a two-year assignment that he had accepted because it would enable him to earn enough to marry his long-time girlfriend.

She had a job near her home in Tennessee, and their plan was to pool their resources and put a down payment on a house when he returned.

They corresponded often, but as the lonely weeks went by, she began expressing doubts that he was being true to her, exposed as he was to comely Irish lasses.

The young engineer wrote back, declaring with some passion that he was paying absolutely no attention to the local girls.

"I admit," he wrote, "that sometimes I'm tempted.

But I fight it.

I'm keeping myself for you."

In the next mail, the engineer received a package.

It contained a note from his girl and a harmonica.

"I'm sending this to you," she wrote, "so you can learn to play it and have something to take your mind off those girls."

The engineer replied, "Thanks for the harmonica.

I'm practicing on it every night and thinking of you."

At the end of his two-year stint, the engineer was transferred back to company headquarters.

He took the first plane to Tennessee to be reunited with his girl.

Her whole family was with her, but as he rushed forward to embrace her, she held up a restraining hand and said sternly, "Just hold on there a minute, Billy Bob.

Before any serious kissin' and huggin' gets started here, let me hear you play that harmonica!"

III.

God’s Justice vv.

33-34

Next, we see that no one can bring a charge against God’s children

Nothing would be more foolish than to bring accusation against us

Nothing that can be said about us can stick in the court of heaven

Why is this?

It is not because God has gone soft on sin; rather, it is because His justice has been satisfied

He died for our sins

He is raised as the proof of our justification

He is seated, currently at the right hand of the Father

He intercedes on our behalf!

We can be confident that we belong to Him!

Ephesians 2:4–6

[4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

IV.

God’s Love vv.

35-39

Finally, we face the great question: What can separate us from the love of Christ?

Suffering is a reality in our lives and it may make us feel as though we are not loved by God

However, it cannot separate us from the love of God

Our suffering is never unseen or unknown!

Instead, in the face of suffering, we are more than conquerors

This is not just simple survival from suffering

Instead, it is the experience of God’s love and even His blessing through or as a result of suffering

We have hope because He does not just tolerate us; He loves us!

“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply."

God actually rises up storms of conflict in relationships at times in order to accomplish that deeper work in our character.

We cannot love our enemies in our own strength.

This is graduate-level grace.

Are you willing to enter this school?

Are you willing to take the test?

If you pass, you can expect to be elevated to a new level in the Kingdom.

For He brings us through these tests as preparation for greater use in the Kingdom.

You must pass the test first.”

-AW Tozer