Sermon Tone Analysis

Two-Faced Man

In the frescoes of Signorelli we have “The Teaching of Antichrist”—no repulsive figure, but a grand personage in flowing robes, and with a noble countenance, which at a distance might easily be taken for the Saviour.

To him the crowd are eagerly gathering and listening, and it is only when you draw close that you can discover in his harder and cynical expression, and from the evil spirit whispering in his ear, that it is not Christ.

—Augustus Hare

The Choosing is God’s

The Speaker is God’s

What Protects it is God

Two-Faced Man

In the frescoes of Signorelli we have “The Teaching of Antichrist”—no repulsive figure, but a grand personage in flowing robes, and with a noble countenance, which at a distance might easily be taken for the Saviour.

To him the crowd are eagerly gathering and listening, and it is only when you draw close that you can discover in his harder and cynical expression, and from the evil spirit whispering in his ear, that it is not Christ.

—Augustus Hare

Early in the last century the nations had fought a great war that was supposed to end all wars.

They celebrated the armistice that ended that war on November 11, 1918, and established an annual holiday called Armistice Day.

But many other wars followed that war, so the name was changed to honor the veterans who had fought in any of those later wars as well.

However, there is still no real peace in the world.

The fact is that there can be no lasting peace between men and other men until there is peace between men and God.

Only the Lord Jesus Christ can make such a peace, for He alone is the “Prince of Peace” ().

Indeed, He has already paid the price to make such true and eternal peace, for He “made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself” ().

In 1918, humanity’s truth said that there would be no more wars, certainly (they believed) no more like the magnitude of WWI.

They were convinced they had finally put to death such atrocities and strivings by nations and men.

By the time those soldiers’ sons became men, the U.S. entered into another World War Dec. 7th, 1941.

Truth about ending war once and for all could not be declared by humanity, it could not be accomplished by humanity, it could not be secured by humanity.

The fact is that there can be no lasting peace between men and other men until there is peace between men and God.

Only the Lord Jesus Christ can make such a peace, for He alone is the “Prince of Peace” ().

Indeed, He has already paid the price to make such true and eternal peace, for He “made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself” ().

Since the beginning of time, humanity has tried to determine, altar, define, and use truth according to their own understanding and motives.

No matter how hard they try, no matter how long they strive, humanity alone does not have the power to determine, define, or proclaim truth or prophecy, that can only come from God who spoke all things into existence according to His truth.

All Prophecy is God’s

Prophecy is God’s communicated truth

Prophecy is unchangeable

Prophecy is unreachable

If all Prophecy or truth is God’s, then it is reasonable to understand that the giving and receiving of it is by God’s choosing not our own.

The Choosing is God’s

God Decides What

speaks of the content and power of God’s truth in our lives.

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God Determines Who

God Determines Who

God Determines When

If truth is not defined, determined, or recognized by mankind apart from God, then it is reasonable to understand that even those who received, wrote, and spoke His truth were chosen by God Himself.

Those Who Spoke are God’s

They are set apart by God

They speak for God

They are limited by God

If truth comes only through God’s choosing, His determination, then the ver veracity of truth is found only in Him.

Its Preservation is from God

The Holy Spirit is its Protector

The Holy Spirit is our Guide

The Holy Spirit Carries Us in Truth

helps us to understand this idea of carrying, or bearing us up.

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship;

Two-Faced Man

In the frescoes of Signorelli we have “The Teaching of Antichrist”—no repulsive figure, but a grand personage in flowing robes, and with a noble countenance, which at a distance might easily be taken for the Saviour.

To him the crowd are eagerly gathering and listening, and it is only when you draw close that you can discover in his harder and cynical expression, and from the evil spirit whispering in his ear, that it is not Christ.

—Augustus Hare