Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today.

Warren Wiersbe illustrated this problem in his commentary on Colossians.

He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad.

In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers.

In the process, his health was permanently damaged.

Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him.

That is sad and glorious at the same time.

He rescued all those people but not a one thanked him.

We have many people in this world living that way too.

Christ has came and gave it all for all and more than not have no regard for Him.

What’s even sadder is that many of those are people in the church who say they are His.

They are not thankful to Him until times of need arise.

Then they call out to Him with passion and if He does not answer as they want Him to answer, they turn away and hate Him.

This is sad and disturbing.

But that is not how it needs to be.

No we can be thankful in all things through Christ.

Did you know that you can be thankful in all things?

Did you know that there is no reason to get down and out in this world?

Did you know that as a Christian you can be joyous and thankful regardless what happens?

But it is that caveat that makes this possible: being a Christian.

If you are not a Christian then you have no real reason to be thankful.

You have no real reason to be joyous.

In tough times and struggles you have nothing to cling to but fading worldly tings and people.

We as believers have so much more.

We have an amazing blessing that fills us and strengthens us.

We have eternal blessings and are conquerors through this amazing blessing.

We see this so so clearly in Romans 8:31-39 when Paul wrote by the guidance of the Holy Spirit

What an amazing passage of Scripture.

If this does not encourage you and fire you up for the Lord.

Then you need to read this section every day for a year.

In that time you will begin to see that the Lord is for you.

You will see in that time that we can be thankful in all things because we are eternally blessed, we are eternally clear of all charges, we are conquerors of all things physical , and we are eternally secure because of Christ.

We Are Eternally Blessed

If God is for us who can be against us?

He who did not spare His son will give graciously all things.

This is eternal blessing if I do say so.

We have an amazing savior who gave it all for us and because of that nothing can be against us.

Nothing of eternal concern that is.

People will attack and cause grief.

Let them.

They are nothing more than a gnat or fly buzzing around.

We have the God of creation who gave His Son for us and since He did that, we can rest assured that He is for us in all things.

No one, I repeat no one can take that from you.

You have an amazing savior who loves you and is with you always.

Wiersbe stated, “We do not need to fear the past, present, or future because we are secure in the love of Christ.”

(The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 541.)

You are eternally blessed by the Lord if you are in Christ.

If you are in Christ there is no condemnation for you.

Christ bore that and you are free.

Your past is just that , the past.

You are living in the present looking towards the future.

Jesus is your present and eternal glory with the Lord is your future.

Remember that when you get slandered and attacked.

Do not let Satan and his minions take your thanksgiving away.

Christ gave you eternal life when you believed.

He washed you clean from your sins.

He gave you glory and life, the world gives nothing but death.

Let it die while you live in joy and thankfulness with the Lord.

Trust me, God is for you if you are His.

If you are not He is still for you in a way.

He sent His Son as verse 32 tells us.

If He did that, do you not think He will take you and bless you too?

Yes, He will bless you and take you.

He is an amazing God who loves us and is for us.

He desires us to be saved and be His always.

As such because of Him...

We Are Eternally Clear

Who can bring a charge against us?

Who can condemn?

The obvious answer is no one can because we are Justified by the Lord.

We have our amazing advocate before the Father because not only did Jesus die for us but He was raised and is at the right hand of the Father now.

We are declared righteous, in right relationship with God, through Jesus.

We are justified, we are eternally cleared of charges.

We are free in the Lord.

No one can condemn us now because Jesus has cleared us.

Let people squawk and talk and mouth off.

It is okay, you, if you are in Christ, are justified and clear.

They hold no sway over you.

You are Christ’s and as such you are blessed and clear of any charge against you from the sinful and fallen world.

Christ has declared us righteous but Satan and his groupies want to accuse us, but we are clear and righteous in Christ.

Accusations against us fall on deaf ears before the Father because Jesus is interceding for us now as we speak.

He is there and He does not allow any false accusation through nor does he allow sin through because He bore that at the cross.

He is our savior and will always be our savior.

As our intercessor Jesus is before the throne now representing us so we do not have to.

He is for you and since He is you are eternally clear.

That is something to be thankful for.

Jesus paid it all so we can have it all with Him in glory one day.

Here is another thought, Do you ever think that because you aren’t good enough for God, he will not save you?

Do you ever feel as if salvation is for everyone else but you?

At those times, make verses 31–34 your constant companions.

If God gave his Son for you, he isn’t going to hold back the gift of salvation!

If Christ gave his life for you, he isn’t going to turn around and condemn you!

Christ will not withhold anything you need in order to live for him.

The book of Romans is more than a theological explanation of God’s redeeming grace—it is a letter of comfort and confidence addressed to you.

(Barton, Veerman, and Wilson, Romans, Life Application Bible Commentary, 170.)

This could be said that if you ever feel alone, abandoned, left out, left behind, know that since God gave His Son for you, He will not leave you behind.

He is with you and for you and as such you will never be alone or abandoned.

He is with you and you can take that to the bank.

That is why you can be thankful in all things.