Sermon Tone Analysis

*FROM UNDERDOGS TO MORE THAN CONQUERORS –ROMANS 8:28-39 *

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It always puzzles me how folks can talk about a game before it is even played.

A lot of people by into the hype of commentators’ dialogue about who has the upper advantage without even knowing what the outcome will be.

Commentator will discuss why one team has an advantage by highlighting the stars and superstars of on the opposing team and just by those highlights they dictate who will dominate the game.

Even the players from the opposing side have stated that they will win easily and do something called trash talking.

There is to psych out the opposing side to make them anxious and to bring fear to the opponents once they get on the field.

*Underdogs - a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest *

*          2**: a victim of injustice or persecution*

I am convinced that there has been a lot of trash talking about God’s people in the church of whether or not it will survive.

Trash Talk is cheap talk.

I am convinced that I don’t need any more negative conversations, doubts and unbelief.

If we are going to go to the next level in God we need to be around people of faith, confidence, assurance and folk who know that God is on their side.

It is a dangerous thing when the people who call them themselves the ecclesia, the called out ones, who are suppose to know God, act as if God does not exist.

It is a shame when believers stop believing God.

If he said it, he will do it.

I heard the Pace Sisters sing a song the other day; It’s already done, already done, done, done, done.

When peace like a river attended my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; what ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trails should come, Let this blest assurance control.

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own Blood for my soul, It is well, It is well with my soul.

Nothing more than feelings.

Why do we do this?

Because we are wrapped up in how our feel.

You can’t go by your feelings.

One hour I am up and the next hour I am down.

One minute you are happy and the next minute I am sad.

God wants you to trust him.

If he promises it, it will come to pass.

Your storm will pass over.

For I am persuaded that there is nothing too hard for God.

God is God and my God is a mighty God.

He is a great God.

He is an exalted God.

He knows how to secure me from my enemies.

He knows how the block my enemies attack and he knows what I need.

He reigns and super reigns over everything and because he is God there is nothing he and I cannot do.

There is nothing that the enemy can do to stop me from winning this fight.

Some of us think because the mountain looks to high for us to climb we won’t make it.

However, God has given us the power to speak to the mountain and say mountain be thou removed and cast into the see.

Some we believe we are going to die, like the disciples did on the boat when they were trying to cross to the other side.

They just forgot one thing; Jesus was on the boat with them.

Watch this he was asleep.

At least they had enough sense to wake him up.

Guard what you hear and get a word from the Lord.

Don’t feel your mind up with trash talk about your situations.

That’s why you have to be careful who you share your business with and who you get good counsel from.

Everybody does not provide good advice.

Some folks just want to know your business.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3 – In all your way acknowledge the Lord and he shall direct your paths.

Until the game is played I can tell you that no one knows the outcome until the end of the game.

Be careful of false prophets who make assumptions about underdogs before the game is even played on the field.

When it comes to the child of God we win through and by God.

Not only do we win we have the ability to conquer every battle.

Through Christ we get victory after victory after victory.

God is the undisputed champion of conquering every issue in our life to make it good for God’ purpose.

What is God’s purpose?

It is to transform us into the image of his son.

To be more like Jesus.

In the text of Romans with theological concepts of condemnation versus reconciliation, salvation and justification and the law and the spirit.

Paul speaks about condemnation, sin (All have sinned and come short of the glory of God).

The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power unto God unto salvation to everyone who believeth.

He deals with folk who try to follow the law only to find out that we constantly fall short and that no on can follow the law fully and he gives a testimony about himself even saying.

The things I want to do, I find myself not doing and the things that I said I would not do, I find myself doing Oh wretched (Deplorable, dejected, inferior, afflicted) man that I am.

Who can rescue me from this body of death, And then he gives the answer God through Jesus Christ.

That is why he says there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

For God sent his son in the likeness of sinful flesh to deal with sin, he condemned sin in his flesh so that the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.

For all who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God.

For you did not receive a spirit of bondage or of slavery but of adoption.

Whereby we cry Abba! Father.

It is that spirit that bears with our spirit that we are children of God and if children then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ- If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him.

Aren’t you glad for Jesus?

Praise him right now for Jesus.

v.28–29 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

For those he foreknew he also predestinated to be conformed to the image of his son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.

*/Foreknowledge/* - to have previous knowledge of:* *known beforehand especially by paranormal (Supernatural) means or by revelation

*/Predestinated /*- destined, fated, or determined beforehand – (Pre-destiny) Past Participle meaning that my destiny was and has already been determined in God’s past but I have not arrived there yet.

Please note it does not mean that all situations are good in this life, but it means in spite of what we have to go through God’s purpose shall come to pass.

In other words God didn’t bless me in my mess but in spite of my mess he had a purpose to still bless

v.30

And those whom he predestinated he also called; and those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified he glorified.

*Justified -* to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation

                    Absolve (Legal term) which means he took the guilt away

I was guilty in my sin and I deserved to go to hell, but God through Jesus on the cross took the guilt away.

You would think that would be enough, but we went from bring justified to being glorified.

*/Glorified -/* to cause to be or seem to be better than the actual condition 〈the new position is just a /glorified/ version of the old stockroom job〉

*Paul asks 7 questions.

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V.31 1) *What then shall we say to these things?

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2) *If God be for us, who is against us?* That’s why I praise him, because he loved me so much.

He gave me more that I ever deserved.

3) He *who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for us all, will he not with him also give us everything else?** *God is not holding back from you, he trying to get something to you.

4) *Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?*

What heaven or what hell can a man or woman put me in?

It is God who justifies.

5) *Who is to condemn?*

It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who sits at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

6) *Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

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7) Will:

*/Hardship /*– The things we need or lack for survival, something that I am deprived of, something that causes me pain – That ain’t going to work

*/or distress/* (trouble) – Mentally agitated, Worry, to be placed in a state of danger, That ain’t going to work either because the Bible says in Isaiah 26:3 he will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.