Sermon Tone Analysis

This little light of mine . . .

We know the song, and it is a fun song to sing, but there is a big truth to it too, isn’t there?

(expand)

(Insert slide - - - - little light)

(Insert slide - - - lighthouse)

In this series “Let our light shine” in our passage for this series Php2:12-16 we have seen:

Php

Work out our own salvation (v.12)

Work out our own salvation (v.12)

Work out our salvation with fear and trembling (v.12)

Work it out allowing God to work in us (v.13)

Work it out without grumbling or disputing (v.14)

Work it out as children of God without fault, being blameless and harmless (v.15)

To be a shining light, more than just a dim light or a little light it is imperative that we holdfast to the the word of Life (Php2:16)

Word of life instructs us how to work out our salvation

Word of life teaches us the fear of the Lord

Word of life is the sword allowing God to work in us

Word of life help us to not grumble or complain

And Word of life aids us in being blameless and harmless without fault.

We can learn about how to hold fast to the word of life from a great example set in Ezr7:10

(below not on a slide)

Ezra learned by study

Ezra studied to apply

Ezra applied so could teach

So maybe we can follow that example to take that little light and turn it into a light of the world, a lighthouse, a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden and make is shine bright.

Hold Fast: Through Diligent Study

Now diligent study is just that, study, it takes effort, it takes longing, it takes receiving (1Pt2:2; Jm1:21; Psm119:11; Jos1:8 and Ps1:1-3)

Longing for the word as a baby longs for milk

Leaving the things aside that hinder us (v.1) and then longing for the pure milk of the word for a reason, to grow in respect to salvation.

We have the word implanted in us, by study, by listening, by the preaching of the word; all of which is able to save souls!

Save souls that treasure the word in their heart study the word diligently so they do not sin against God.

They treasure the word

Being diligent in the study of the word helps you to not walk in counsel of wicked, but it is delight, the delight of the word!

The implanted, received word will yield fruit and will not wither and will prosper according to the Word.

Diligent study is necessary so to be able to rightly divide the Word.

There is the strong warnings Paul gives (2Tim2:14-16; 1Tim6:3-5; Tit2:7-8)

The implanted, received word that comes from diligent study prevents being able to be ruined (v.14) and to be one approved by God (v.15) and helps us to avoid further ungodliness (v.16)

We don’t want to shamefully, disgracefully handle the word of truth which can lead others to ungodliness.

1Tim6:3-5

Without diligent study you can be tricked by different doctrine, we need to know sound doctrine and be careful of those of depraved mind and deprived truth who view godliness is a means of gain.

Prepare our minds, prepare out hearts and hold fast to the word of life through learning and applying.

II.

Word of life: Through Application

we need to be careful and not just be hearers but doers of word through application (Jam1:22-25)

Being diligent not to be deluding ourselves.

Someone who quickly forgets the type of person he was.

Being diligent to look intently at the Word by applies it and when we do we are blessed by our doing!

(Insert illustration here: you itch, you buy itch cream, but you don’t apply it)

See we can deceive ourselves, but cannot deceive God, He knows our hearts

We don’t deceive Satan for when we hear and not apply that is right where he wants us to be

We don’t deceive those around us for they would see the hypocrisy in us because they know us.

Don’t deprive yourself (ourselves) of the blessings by doing that we receive in being doers and not just hearers!

We have the needed thing so that we can hold fast to the Word of God when we hold the bible and diligently study and apply it.

Don’t be a Pharisee, there are already enough of those (Mt23:1-3)

(Insert slide “Hypocrisy Free Zone”)

That is people who say all the right things but don’t do them.

We need to be diligent to apply the Word of God and practice what we preach (in other words what we say) no hypocrisy allowed.

Let the Lockett Church be a hypocrisy free zone!

When we are diligent to apply and we are consistent we then demonstrate the value of the will of God (Rom12:1-2)

The will of God so we can offer a living and holy sacrifice that is acceptable that is transformable, by the renewing of our mind!

Renewing so it can be proving what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let our actions speak just as loud as our words, for sometimes people don’t listen to words they look for actions, hence why to be diligent to apply the word of life.

Others watch, and when we hold fast to the word of life we open the door to teaching.

Hold Fast: Able to teach others

So you study to show yourself approved

You apply the word to prove you are approved and acceptable

Next naturally would be taking what you studied, what you are practicing and teaching it to others, remember where we started (Ezr7:10)

We need to pay attention to the order and apply in order, don’t try to teach, attempt to do then study, study, do then teach.

Remember we need to be workers not ashamed (2Tim2:15); people will want to ask us, and as Peter says we need to be prepared to share the hope (1Pt3:15)

Sharing the hope is proclaiming the praise of Him who called us (1Pt2:9-10)

Notice what it says so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you.

Look at these other passages too (2The2:14; Col1:13-14)

Called through the gospel so you may gain the glory

Like Peter speaks of being called out of the darkness, Paul says we were rescued from it!

May this be what we are studied, what we are applying, what we are teaching to others the truths of the Word of Life for that is where our hope is in the midst of this wicked and perverse generation (Php2:12).

If we are to Let our Lights shine, and take our little lights and turn them into lighthouse lights that shine bright for Jesus we need the word of life in all areas of our life and be ready to share it other others.

(insert lighthouse slide again)

There is no doubt that this world, this county are heading in the wrong direction, not drawing closer to God and many Christians are not shining bright for Jesus so it seems that the wicked and perverse generation is winning more souls for satan than the Christians winning souls for Jesus.

We need to have the heart for God so we have the word of God so we can do the work of God with the words of God to lead the people to know the God of all hope!

We cannot legislate spirituality, a relationship with Jesus Christ, it is personal, and we can change the heart of man, one at a time.

We started this series with saying we are living in a “post-Christian culture” and we can do something about it, in our world, our world right here when we have changed hearts and changed actions we can change the world.

(lead to invitation)

(insert invitation slide)

(end recording)

(insert exit slide)