Sermon Tone Analysis

The Ethos is the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations

“He who is partner with a thief hates his own soul,” the proverb says (29:24, PAR).

Those are surely right who have recognized in pride the root of all disobedience.

We think we are “big enough” to take our life into our own hands and disobey, instead of “humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God.”

And this will certainly be driven by the thought that if we do not take things into our own hands, we will not get what we want—another blow to our pride.

Our attitude should be, to the contrary, that there is no particular reason why I should get what I want, because I am not in charge of the universe…How do fleshly lusts war against the soul?

Very simply, by enticing us to uproot our dependent life, pulling it away from God, which will deprive our soul of what it needs to function correctly in the enlivening and regulation of our whole being.

To allow lust (or strong desires) to govern our life is to exalt our will over God’s…So sin, through desire and pride, alienates the life in us (the soul) from the life that is in God and leaves us in the turmoil of a soul struggling with life on its own.

Willard, Dallas.

Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ with Bonus Content (Designed for Influence) (p.

211).

Navpress.

Kindle Edition.

Romans 14:17