Sermon Tone Analysis

*Scripture: 2 Cor 13:5*

/ *Examine yourselves* to see whether you are *in the faith*; *test yourselves*.

Do you not realize that *Christ Jesus is in you* — unless, of course, you fail the test?

--- 2 Cor 13:5/

How can you be certain that you are "*in the faith*"?

Paul said: Test Youself.

Ask yourself these *three important questions*?

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I. Do I love GOD?

/ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

--- Mk 12:30/

Do I love God wholeheartedly - with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Love is an *action* word.

Our actions, deeds, thoughts, words and priorities in life will show how much we really love God.

/ 19 The *acts of the flesh* are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

I warn you, as I did before, that *those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God*.

--- Gal 5:19-21/

/ 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have *crucified the flesh* with its passions and desires.

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

--- Gal 5:24-25/

/ *Do not love the world or anything in the world*.

If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

16 For everything in the world - the *lust of the flesg*, the *lust of the eyes*, and the *pride of life* - comes not from the Father but from the world.

17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the *will of God* lives forever.

--- 1 Jn 2:15-17/

/ We love Him, because *He first loved us*.--- 1 Jn 4:19/

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II.

Do I Love GOD'S WORD?

!! A. Do I DELIGHT in reading, studying and memorizing His Word?

/ For I *delight* in your commands because I *love* them.

--- Ps 119:47/

/ Oh, how I *love* your law!

I *meditate* on it all day long.

--- Ps 119:97/

!! B. Do I BELIEVE and REJOICE in His promises?

/ God is not a man, *that he should lie*, nor the son of man, that he should repent.

Has he said, and will he not do it?

Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?---

Num 23:19/

/ For no matter how many promises God has made, they are *"Yes" in Christ*.

And so through him we say our "Amen" to the glory of God.--- 2 Cor 1:20/

!! C. Do I OBEY His Word and Commandments?

/ *Love* the Lord your God and *keep* his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands *always*.---

Dt 11:1/

/ *If* you *love* me, *keep* my commands.

--- Jn 14:15/

/ Blessed rather are those who *hear* the word of God and *obey* it.---

Lk 11:28/

/ You are my friends *if you do* what I command.---

Jn 15:14/

/ Do not merely *listen* to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

*Do what it says*.---

Jas 1:22/

*Obedience* to God and His Word *marks* the true believer and the real child of God.

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III.

Do I Love GOD'S HOUSE?

/ I was glad when they said to me, "*Let us go to the house of the Lord.*"---

Ps 122:1/

/ My house will be called *a house of prayer* for all nations, but you are making it 'a den of robbers'.---

Mt 21:13/

/ *Not giving up meeting together*, as some are in the habit of doing, but *encouraging one another* - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

--- Heb 10:25/

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Let us *examine ourselves* before the Lord.

Do we love the *Lord*, His *Word* and His *Church*, His *people*?

Is there any *sin, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, hatred, bad attitude and complacency* in our hearts?

/ Let us *examine* our ways and *test* them and let us *return* to the Lord.---

Lam 3:40/

/ 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

9 *The Lord is not slow* in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

Instead, *He is patient* wih you, *not wanting* anyone to perish, but *everyone to come to repentance*.

10 But the day of the Lord *will come* like a thief.

The heavens *will disappear* with a roar; the elements *will be destroyed* by fire, and the earth and everything done in it *will be laid bare*.

11 Since everything *will be destroyed* in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? *You ought to live holy and godly lives* 12 as *you look forward* to the day of God and speed its coming.

That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

13 But in keeping with his promise we are *looking forward* to *a new heaven and a new earth*, where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, *since you are looking forward* to this, *make every effort* to be found *spotless, blameless and at peace with him*.

15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation ... 17 Therefore, dear friends, *since you have been forewarned, be on your guard* so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.

18 But *grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ*.

To him be glory both now and forever!

Amen.

--- 2 Pet 3:8-18/