Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening

Praise the Lord and welcome to the House of the Lord today!

We are so glad that you chose to worship with us today.

A special welcome to our guests this morning.

Much love to our dear friend Sis.

Becky McMurrey from Louisiana.

Glory and honor be to our exalted God…Jesus is His name and He is mighty to save!

John 14:17

There is an acute difference between the verses above.

One prophesies the birth of Jesus and sets the stage for His earthly ministry.

The other reaffirms the fact that He is with us, but goes a step further to prophesy that He shall be in us.

here is an acute difference between the verses above.

One prophesies the birth of Jesus and sets the stage for His earthly ministry.

The other reaffirms the fact that He is with us, but goes a step further to prophesy that He shall be in us.

Many so-called Christians today and even many throughout history have been content with a “God with us” relationship.

“God with us” stops short of the full breadth and depth of the relationship, which God desires to have with His people.

The “God with us” relationship limits God’s influence in our daily lives and in fact keeps God at arms length.

“God with us” implies that I can leave Him at home, at church or anywhere else that is convenient.

I don’t have to take Him with me if I decide to go somewhere that I know He wouldn’t want me to go.

I can set Him aside so that I can indulge myself in some activity where it would be awkward to have Him around.

This isn’t to say that we don’t know Him.

In fact we know Him well, but we have chosen to keep Him segregated from portions of our lives.

We have chosen to limit His influence and even His purpose for our lives.

This isn’t to say that we don’t know Him.

In fact we know Him well, but we have chosen to keep Him segregated from portions of our lives.

We have chosen to limit His influence and even His purpose for our lives.

John, the Beloved, the Revelator, he was in fact prophesying in of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost when he wrote, “for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

In effect Ananias told Saul (who was renamed Paul) that Jesus had appeared to him, but there was more.

That same Jesus sent me to pray for you to receive your sight again and to be filled with the Holy Ghost…Jesus in you.

In effect Ananias told Saul (who was renamed Paul) that Jesus had appeared to him, but there was more.

That same Jesus sent me to pray for you to receive your sight again and to be filled with the Holy Ghost…Jesus in you.

The “God in us” relationship takes things to a much deeper level.

Water in the desert example:

Imagine for a moment that a group is trekking through a vast desert.

It’s so hot that you could fry an egg on a rock, so dry that even the camels are thirsty, but they were smart.

They packed lots and lots of water.

So on they go crossing the hot, dry desert.

A couple of hours pass and the effects of the heat are beginning to get to them.

Someone pipes up and says it’s ok, I know we are thirsty, but we packed plenty of water.

It’s with us right here on the camel.

Just think about how good and refreshing it is and we’ll be just fine.

Now we all know how silly that sounds, but some of us here today are in the same boat with the poor simpletons who don’t have the sense to drink the water they packed for the trip.

While it might be slightly comforting to think about the nice cool, fresh water just a few feet away in the camel’s pack, it isn’t going to help anyone as long as it is “with us”.

In fact, knowing that the water is “with us” and choosing not to drink it can be exceedingly frustrating and even maddening.

Have you ever known someone who knew about God, but choose not to serve Him?

Most of the time they are extremely miserable people.

Finally, a rocket scientist in the group suggests that they actually stop, open up the pack and drink the water.

Wait a second…the water’s been “with us” the whole time, but it isn’t until the water is “in us” that it can refresh and sustain us.

You can talk about God all you want, but until you experience Him for yourself you will never be truly satisfied.

Water provides the necessary fluid for the cells of our body to rebuild and to continue to function, but all the water in the world won’t keep us alive if we don’t drink it.

Oh, wait.

Could that be what John was talking about in 14:17?

Yes, it’s comforting to know that “God is with us”, but we need so much more than comfort.

In order to survive and reach our full potential in Christ, we must be filled with His Spirit, which Ananias and the Apostles referred to throughout scripture as “the Holy Ghost”.

So what’s all the fuss?

Just like the natural man requires water to survive, the spiritual man requires the infilling of the Holy Ghost (“God in us”) to survive.

Over and over again the scriptures command us to be born again of the water (which we know from scripture is baptism in His name) and of the Spirit (which we also know from scripture is the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues).

Over and over again the scriptures command us to be born again of the water (which we know from scripture is baptism in His name) and of the Spirit (which we also know from scripture is the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues).

I’m preaching to someone today who is no longer content to simply have a “God with us” relationship, but someone here this morning is craving more…”a God in us” relationship.

I need Jesus Christ in me, guiding and directing my actions and using me for His glory.

Life is too short and time is too precious to keep God at arms length.

Please invite Him in today.

Let’s repent of our sins and ask Him to fill our lives with His Spirit.

If you haven’t already done so, now is the perfect time to be baptized in Jesus name.

Don’t wait…tomorrow is not promised.

Invite Him in today!