Sermon Tone Analysis

*GETTING UP FROM A FALL*

 

In the 1980s there was a new system called Medic Alert to help people in their homes in case of emergency.

If no one was home and all they had to do was push a button and someone would reach out to them by way of telecommunication system and ask Can I help you?

What was interesting about the commercial is that they had an elderly woman who appeared to be frail, weak and incapacitated to get her self up.

Her response was I have fallen and I can’t get up.

It is a dangerous thing to be in a fallen state and realize that after a fall that you have no way of getting back to a position where you can help yourself.

It is even worst when you are all by yourself and there is no one else that can help you get back on your feet.

Definitions of a Fall –

           

1) to lower or become lowered

2) to leave an erect position suddenly

3) to stumble, to stray

4) to become captured by an enemy

5) to suffer ruin, defeat, and failure

6) to decline in quality, activity, quantity and value

7) to assume a look of shame, or dejection

8) to backslide, to be deficient, to fail to achieve all that God would have and has declared you to be.

Whenever someone falls there are usually several things that affect a person physically, mentally, emotionally, and since we are talking about falling from grace or God’s divine favor, of course even spiritually.

Remember I shared with you sometime ago that we wrestle with our fleshy desires, the world and the devil.

This battle started the moment I got saved.

*1)* You have to deal with the pain, guilt and shame of the fall ( How did I allow myself to get this state, why didn’t I watch my steps more carefully and what was it that enticed me to go after something that caused me to risk everything that God was trying to do in my life.

It caused me to lose my anointing, caused me to lose my joy, caused me to now delay my destiny.

Fleshy desires are very interesting because we will go after what we want until we are satisfied.

Then when we get it we realize that it was not all that I thought it would be.

Then comes the guilt of being sad with tears and the flesh even though it is weak will get strong after the fall and we will say I will never do that again.

Psalmist in 119: 33-25 Teach me O’Lord the way of your statutes.

Statutes are boundaries.

How far you can go.

And I will keep it to the end.

Give me Understanding and I shall keep you law; Indeed, I shall Observe them with my whole heart.

Make me walk in the path of your commandment

 

Illustration – You know how you teach your child to look both ways before they cross the street.

There was a time when my son A.J. was ran into the street after a basketball and he did not look for the dangers of cars coming.

So many times we are so busy looking at the ball and the pleasure of the ball and the so called value of the ball that we forget to look both ways because we are caught up in the moment and we forget that we sometimes can put ourselves in jeopardy.

See you can get another ball something happens to the ball.

But I can not get AJ back if something tragic was to happen to him.

That is why you have the Holy Spirit to teach you not to run after stuff that is not as valuable as you think it is.

You running chasing that woman and chasing that man.

God is saying it is not worth it.

You chasing after titles, fortune and fame.

God is saying is not worth all of that.

The Bible says if you just would walk upright before me, no good thing would he withhold from you.

God says in all of thy ways acknowledge the Lord and he shall direct you paths.

*2)* You have to deal with the embarrassment of the fall (Haters never forget when you fall) Now people have information that can and will use every time you try to move to the next level.

*3)* The consequences of the fall (falling sometime does not only affect you it also affects everyone around you.

Michael Vick, the Falcons and the NFL – He has not been in court and already he is guilt because the word has gone out.

His name will forever be associated whether guilty or innocent with this present situation

 

Young people be careful who you run with.

Don’t ever say that this will never happened to me.

All it can take is one moment in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people and you can be guilty just by association.

One of your prayers everyday for yourself and for other saints is God keep me from falling.

Brother Jude in his benediction of his letter verses 24, 25 who says, Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, stumbling.

And to present you faultless before the presence of God’s glory with exceeding joy.

To God our savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever, Amen.

Jude encourages the saints to not let their failures discourage them because the victory is not based on my own wisdom it is based entirely on Christ and his ability to hold you in his hand.

You can get up from a fall.

It is also Jude in the 21 who says keep yourselves in the love of God looking for mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

* *

*The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 22:1 that a good name is to be chosen rather than riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.*

You have to protect your name.

That is why my brother and sisters don’t let anyone call you out of your name.

Sisters you are not a female dog.

Brothers you are not a thug or a gang banger.

You are children of the most high God.

The older people use to say it this way.

Jesus made what I am and I am nothing but a Child of God.

Your name represents your character and your reputation.

You reputation is precious.

Drop this while its hot.

When you look at character we should separate what people can do talent wise from who they are.

Talents can sometime be higher than the person’s character.

You can sing well but if you mean as a hungry cat, people will say that your singing is in vain.

You can preach well, that is wonderful, but if I don’t live what I preach then I have blown my Christian testimony.

That is what happens when you fall.

Protecting the integrity of your name can determine the kind of future you and your children enjoy.

A respected name is a valuable treasure.

When you do job search people want to check out your references.

People want to know from other people are you as good as what you say you are.

A lot of people talk well, but the proof is in the putting.

Do you have substance that backs up your talk?

In other words does your talk match your walk?

What you see on the resume is not always what you get once people get the position.

Look at somebody and tell them “Check the references.”

John Maxwell who writes on leadership who says Talent is never enough.

You need more than just a talent.

You need discipline, you need focus, courage, perseverance, preparation, you need to be teachable, and can you get along with other people.

It’s a sad day when you can’t get along with nobody.

Sam Cooke had a song some years ago that said, “It’s a mean world to live in all by yourself.”

The Bible teaches us in John 10:10 that the thief comes to steal, kill and to destroy, but Jesus says I have come that they may have life and have life more abundantly.

The Amplified version says life to the full.

Now all of us can fall.

Isn’t amazing that people would rather hear the testimony of someone who has fallen rather than the testimony of someone getting up.

*The Bible teaches the saints in Romans 15:1 that we then who are strong aught to bear (to lift up, to pick up or to sustain) the infirmities of the weak.

We should not make fun of or point fun at anyone who has fallen from grace because when one falls it hurts everyone.

Christian love is unselfish and God’s people should be willing to support one another.*

I John 1:5-10 \\ \\

The epistle of I John is believed to have been written by John the “beloved disciple.”

He is a part of Jesus’ inner circle of Peter, James and John.

He is also credited for writing the book of St. John.

He is the brother of James and known as one of the sons of Thunder.

He is quick tempered.

The boy had an attitude and zeal.