Sermon Tone Analysis
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INTRODUCTION:
1.
Last week, we talked about how “It Is Well with My Soul” applied to our lives through:
A. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
1.
These three men were given an ultimatum either to bow down and worship Nebuchadnezzar or be thrown into a fiery furnace.
2. The three friends responded to Nebuchadnezzar (paraphrasing), ‘If you throw us into the furnace, “It Is Well with my Soul” because we know God is able to deliver us.’
A. They did not fear Nebuchadnezzar because he was able to kill the body.
B. They put their trust in the Almighty Who was able to save them.
B. Daniel
1.
A man of extraordinary faith in the face of great trouble.
2. The king’s advisors would plot against Daniel to have him thrown into a lion’s den for praying to the Father.
3. Daniel was a man of such great faith that knowing a law was passed against prayer, he prayed anyway.
4. It did not matter that the government was going to throw him into a lion’s den; he lived for God.
5.
There is no better way to say “It Is Well with My Soul” than by your actions to declare, ‘I am going to live for God.’
C. Peter and the Apostles
1.
These men were amazingly brave to preach God’s Word and to be thrown into prison for doing so.
2. They would then be beaten and commanded not to teach in the name of Jesus anymore.
3.
But they would immediately return to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ as soon as they were released.
4. What a truly amazing testimony these men’s lives were!
5.
These men’s lives would proclaim loudly to the world, “It Is Well with My Soul.”
2. These men’s lives answered the question:
A. If the life you had yesterday was gone with no hope of ever getting it back, what would you be left with today?
1.
Let us look at verse one of “It Is Well with My Soul” and try and answer this question for ourselves and then let our lives answer it for everyone else looking on.
BODY:
1. “WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER, ATTENDETH MY WAY”
A. When everything is peaceful in your life, it is easy to serve God.
1.
This is the statement that Satan told God when God asked Satan, “Have you considered My Servant, Job?”
2. Satan would tell God, “It is no wonder Job serves You because You build a hedge around Him, protect him, and make it easy.”
A. This is the point where Spafford was in his life at the beginning of this song.
1.
He was a lawyer in the thriving city of Chicago.
2. Before the Great Chicago fire, he had a wife, son, and four daughters.
3.
He had a growing real estate business on the side.
A. The hedge was built and peace attended his way.
B. How many of us are at this place in our lives?
1.
What happens when God asks Satan, “Have you considered my servant?” and the hedge falls?
3. God would tell Satan, ‘Go ahead and test Job.’
A. This leads me to the next few words in verse one.
2. “WHEN SORROWS LIKE SEA-BILLOWS ROLL”
A. Why would God allow Satan to test us in this life?
1.
If our love for God is never tested and we simply receive everything, our love is only that of a spoiled child.
A. Even after losing everything, he told his wife, who had lost everything as well, “you speak as a foolish woman.”
B. Job could say what he did to his wife, because he had an understanding that his wife did not.
C.
This is the same conclusion that Spafford must have come to in order to say “It Is Well with My Soul.”
D. Job understood that we only have what we have in this life, because God has blessed us with it.
1.
This leads to the next part of verse one.
3. “WHATEVER MY LOT, THOU HAST TAUGHT ME TO SAY, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”
A. Whatever our lot is in this life, it can change and if that is where our trust is, then our life can fall apart easily.
1. Job’s lot in life changed.
2. Spafford’s lot in life changed.
3. Our lot in life can change just as easily!
B. The devil is still at work in this world and God could allow him to knock down our hedge.
1. God asked Satan in Job 1:7 “from where do you come?”
2. As God’s people, Satan is looking for every opportunity to devour us.
When he tries, make sure “It Is Well with My Soul” is your attitude.
CONCLUSION:
1.
If the life you had yesterday was gone with no hope of ever getting it back, what would you be left with today?
A. Job and Spafford answered this question.
1.
What is your answer?
A. If God is not the answer, you will be left with nothing!
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