Sermon Tone Analysis

4 ways Jesus brings pleasure to God.

Chariots of Fire- true story of two British runners competing in the 1924 Olympics.

Eric Liddell is a devout Christian and one of the finest runners in the world.

Eric’s sister, Jennie, wants him to leave competitive running to join the family on the mission field in China.

Jennie feels Eric is putting running ahead of serving God, and she questions his commitment.

In one scene, Eric attempts to help his sister see his point of view.

Eric announces with a smile, “I’ve decided I’m going back to China.”

The missionary service has accepted,” Jennie interrupts, “Oh, Eric I’m so pleased.”

Eric continues, “But I’ve got a lot of running to do first.

Jennie, you’ve got to understand.

I believe that God made me for a purpose, for China.

He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure.

To give it up would be to hold him in contempt.

You were right; it’s not just fun.

To win is to honor him.”

Marathoner Comes in Last—for a Purpose

Out of the 26,639 people who completed the 2016 Boston Marathon, 72-year-old Fran Drozdz finished 26,639th.

Dead last.

The roaring crowds and official coronations had departed.

Workers were still tearing down the stands and barricades when she crossed the finish line at 8:45 p.m.

But the real story is not her last place finish; it's about who she was running for.

Drozdz has run in more than 75 marathons throughout her life, and she ran the Boston Marathon this year for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Her husband, who is currently battling cancer himself (for the third time), met her with a medal at the finish line.

He had called the police earlier in the day, thinking his wife might have gotten lost or hurt.

As one media outlet reported, "It turns out this race's 'loser' is quite the winner."

Possible Preaching Angles: (1) Humility; Pride—Jesus clearly said, "The last will be first."

(2) Hiddenness—Who are you living for?

Christians live and work and serve the living God, our "Audience of One."

Justin Block, "The Boston Marathon's Last Place Finisher Is It's Biggest Winner," HuffPost Women (4-19-16)

If God were to write a commentary on my life, what kinds of stories would it contain?

If God were to write a commentary on my life, what kinds of stories would it contain?

Phil.

2:13

AMP- For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

Quote: “Let us think often that our only business in this life is to please God.”

Identification with His Father

Jesus baptism shows his humility.

His identity is clearly made known by the Spirit descending on Him.

Believers are marked by God by our possessing the Holy Spirit.

Believers are marked by God by our possessing the Holy Spirit.

Whenever I fly and I go to the airport to get my boarding pass, I have to show an ID- an Identification to prove that I am who I say I am.

Without a picture ID I will not be getting on the plane.

The ID is proof, it validates my word.

The Spirit of God descending on Jesus is proof that He is in fact the Son of God.

His ID is being validated by God.

He is confirming that His testimony is true.

The Spirit of God coming on Him is also a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that the Spirit of the Lord would be on Him.

HIs name is Jesus, the Son of God.

He is the One the prophets foretold would come to bring salvation for His people and for the world.

His identity is further attested by the voice from heaven saying “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

God loves His Son.

In the next few verses that idea will be challenged.

Does God really love His Son?

“With you I am well pleased”- “I take pleasure in you”

We can strive to bring pleasure to God or bring pleasure to ourselves.

African Proverb on doublemindedness- “The man who tries to walk two roads will split his pants.”

Two Great Moments

“

Two Great Moments

"There are two great moments in a person's life: the moment you were born and the moment you realize why you were born."

—Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell …

What kind of people does God take pleasure in?

God takes pleasure in people who are full of the Spirit-

We are controlled by the Spirit of God-

We bring pleasure to God by setting our mind on the Spirit and being controlled by His Spirit.

God takes pleasure in people who honor Him

Heb.

Abel honored the Lord through his faith.

His faith enabled him to give his best to God.

We bring pleasure to God by honoring God.

We honor God by walking in the truth.

Giving God my best and not the left-overs.

God takes pleasure in people who trust Him

Heb 11:

We are learning to trust God with our boys being 1,500 miles away.

Don’t lean on my own understanding.

Trust God for His provision and protection.

We bring pleasure to God by trusting Him.

Our identity is so important

Determination to obey His Father

Resolute- unwavering, resolved, single-minded, tenacious, persistent.

He would not be shaken in his identity or his mission.

The fight against sin is real, not imaginary.

It is an intense fight, an internal fight.

It does not come with an announcement or warning.

Jesus you are going to be tempted tomorrow, and the next day and the next day and the next day....continuously.

3 Temptations were near the end of the 40 days- intensified since the previous temptations were unsuccessful.

Symbolic in nature…Moses was 40 days and Elijah spent 40 days in isolation, both prophets to deliver God’s people out of bondage.

Israelites wandered for 40 yrs. in the Wilderness and failed to trust God in their temptation.

Jesus in the wilderness was successful in trusting God in his temptation.

The 1st Adam in Genesis failed in his temptation to trust God even in a perfect environment, Jesus was successful in trusting God in his temptation even in a hostile environment.

Batman had many enemies- Joker, The Riddler, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Catwoman,

Batman also had several weapons to defeat his enemies including...

The batarang, Grappling Gun, Bat Shark Repellent, Built in Lie Detector (read criminals heart rate and body temp.),

Batmobile Remote Control, Utility Belt Taser, Finger Taser, Bat Bomb, Bat Cuffs, Smoke Pellets, Bat Computer, etc.

, Finger Taser.

The pull of temptation to sin becomes greater because of....

The pull of temptation to sin becomes greater because of....

A depraved heart- the heart is deceitful.

It is easily deceived or tricked.

We can live in denial that we even have a problem.

The first step out of an addiction, hurt or hangups, is to acknowledge that I have a problem.