Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

What a time we are living in.

Fires, Earthquakes, Hurricanes, shootings, racial tension, wars, and constant rumors of wars.

The news can’t keep up with it all.

In regard to the natural disasters, the news moves on before recovery has even fully taken place.

If I were to talk to you about those who are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas… you might be tempted to think or say..whoah “old news.”

Think about Puerto Rico, think about Florida, or Mexico or think about Northern California.

And that is only North America!

Anyone here afraid of the prospect of open war with North Korea?

We are learning about wars on own streets, and its largely done, not by some terrorists group form another country, its done by our people.

I recently read a book, called “Under Our Skin” which examines the racial strife that currently exists in America.

While I can’t summarize his book in one sentence, the author uses a catch phrase that summarizes one of his biggest points.

Our society doesn’t have skin problem, it has a sin problem.

Sin is the cause for civil and political unrest.

Radical Hatred has infected even the most loving hearts.

Could it be the 4 angels holding back the 4 winds of strife will be releasing their grip soon?

It is interesting though, much of what I have mentioned, has not affected us here in Boone to much.

Life still continues as normal.

Do we need a tornado or war planes flying overhead to wake us up?

I don’t say these things to scare any of you.

I want us to know and cling to and grip tightly to the hope that is found in Christ Jesus.

You see we are not that far removed from these events of calamity.

In Banner Elk last week, I met a man Octavio, current resident of Puerto Rico who is here trying to raise money for relief efforts.

He’s sharing his testimony to the Banner Elk church today, in fact. 2 weeks ago while in Moab, Utah, while my friend was trying to take a picture of the sunrise of the Mesa Arch surrounded by well over 120 people, he took an opportunity to help a woman who didn’t have her battery charged at the time it was time to take the picture, by giving her his spare battery.

My friend and I didn’t know it at the time, but only 2 days before, this woman and her husband had been running for their lives as bullets were being sprayed into the country music concert in Las Vegas.

The wife especially was suffering from PTSD.

That same day which was more than a month after Hurricane Harvey, I met a couple who was hiking telling me they lived in Texas, where there home was on a strip that didn’t get touched by the flooding, but all the homes across the street were destroyed.

I meet these people, and I wonder, how removed am I? As Adventists, we reference often the coming time of trouble.

Well my friends, there are people who are currently experiencing a great time of trouble.

For them there is nothing future about it, it is now!

You can’t fault to much those who are asking God, where are you?

How can you have let this happen?

We don’t often ask that question until it is who are currently realing from the devestation.

My sister-in-law, and her sister, and their mother....were all asking that question recently.

These 3 women faithful to God their entire lives, asking God, why did he allow their father, or in their mother’s case, husband be taken from them so suddenly?

Why?

I can’t imagine the strength it must take for our God, to see all the heart ache in the world, and not be tempted to wipe out all the pain.

But he doesn’t do it yet.

He is patient, he call his remnant to be patient and endure.

12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Notice does not say for his saints to be ignorant, but gives a call for endurance.

I came across a verse in Isaiah, which I had read before, but when I came across it this time, I found a unique perspective I had not yet understood about God and the patience of the saints.

Its a passage I found great encouragement and hope in, even in the temulteous times we are living in.

Before I read it to you though, lets take a moment to pray.

One of the things I think is difficult for some women these day who are about to get married, is the idea of changing your last name.

This is done traditionally, there is nothing mandated, that I am aware of in our country.

I know a few couples who elected not to change any names even though they were married.

Call me crazy, I like the idea of a married couple holding the same last name, but thats just me…but it must be hard.

My wife was a johnson, and now she is a Knight.

For three years, she was referred to by her students as Ms. Johnson, and now its mrs.

Knight.

My sister-in-law was talking about this with me recently, telling me she was happy to take on a new name, but it was definitely challenging, because in some ways you feel you are losing your identity, and in some ways gaining a new one.

I mean, i think that is some pretty good observation there.

One think I know personally, my wife has the last name Knight legally, but there is no taking away the fact she will always be a Johnson.

I remember being very blessed a few months ago when the Echemendias were up front here singing about the concept of God giving us a new name.

Enoch shared with us the blessing he and his siblings have experienced in receiving a new name…embracing a new family, embracing a new family identity.

In and 62 we read about the favor in which God has for his people.

Talking both about his literal chosen nation Israel, and also referring to believers beyond the 1st coming of the Messiah, whom we identify as spiritual Israel.

Even in bondage, God had remained faithful to his people.

The prophets, Ezekial, and Daniel, and Jeremiah had pleaded and even interceded with God for the restoration of their people.

In God answers, saying “the nations shall see your righteousness.

Yahweh’s redemption of Israel created a righteous remnant.

They are righteous because of God’s forgiveness, not because of their merit or ability to keep the covenant on their own.

Yahweh’s redemption of Israel created a righteous remnant.

They are righteous because of God’s forgiveness, not because of their merit or ability to keep the covenant on their own.

There city Jerusalem reclaimed.

The prophets proclaimed this city as, the city of Yahweh, the city of righteousness, and the faithful city.

Maybe it wasn’t their faithfulness, maybe it was because of God’s faithfulness.

But listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah in verses 2- 4 of .

2  The nations shall see your righteousness,

and all the kings your glory,

and you shall be called by a new name

that the mouth of the Lord will give.

3  You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4  You shall no more be termed Forsaken,

and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,

but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,

and your land Married;

for the Lord delights in you,

and your land shall be married.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

This new name is not a renaming of the original.

Israel is Israel, Jerusalem is still Jerusalem.

The qualitative name has been changed though.

This was a people who in shambles.

This once great conquering nation was now an embarrassment.

Verse 4 says, you shall no more be termed “forsaken” and your lands no longer be termed “desolate.”

If Israel at this had a middle name or last name at this point, it was Israel Desolate, forsaken!

No longer!!!!! God says, I’ve been teaching you a hard lesson, but in you I still find favor, unmerited favor, but favor still the same.

You are my people.

Isn;t that how it goes both in scripture and in life, if things are not going right we wonder where God is, or maybe we wonder, have we lost favor with God

I loved it how Pastor Huskins put it last week at Banner Elk Homecoming, when referencing the prodigal son story.

The son who has wandered from his father, taken and squandered his inheritance assumes he has lost favor with his father.

The father’s love was never contingent upon his son going or staying, being a servant or some great success.

His love was not so flimsy.

His son assumes he has lost all favor and has taken on shame, or slave as his new name.

This has become his new Identity.

His father won’t have it.