Sermon Tone Analysis

Overall tone of the sermon

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Anger
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Tone of specific sentences

Tones
Emotion
Anger
Disgust
Fear
Joy
Sadness
Language
Analytical
Confident
Tentative
Social Tendencies
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Emotional Range
Anger
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Introduction
PRAY
We are going to look at a lot of verses.
Originally I planned to look at even more.
But I have this really neat tool in my Bible software that gives me a word count and estimated time of presentation.
And there’s no way we would have made it.
lol.
So you should be thankful for technology today too.
:)
PRAY
In 1972 NASA launched Pioneer 10.
It’s mission was to take pictures of Jupiter and it’s moons, while sending back data on the atmosphere, magnetic field, and radiation.
At the time this was a very ambitious plan.
However, Pioneer 10 far exceeded expectations.
Jupiter’s gravity sped the little satellite up and propelled it toward the edge of the solar system.
At 1B mi from the sun it passed Saturn, at 2B it passed Uranus, Neptune at almost 3B, Pluto at almost 4B.
In 1997 after 25 years it was nearly 6B from the sun.
The amazing thing is that all the data recorded from this journey was sent back to earth by an 8 watt transmitter.
About as much power as a night light.
Contact was lost with Pioneer 10 on Jan. 3, 2003 when the transmitter ran out of power.
8-watts seems like too little to accomplish much.
Yet it sent out 31 years worth of data.
We look at ourselves.
Our abilities, talents, and gifts, and we think that not much can be done with what we offer.
“I’ve only got an 8 watt potential.”
God says, “you give me that 8 watts and stand back.
I’m going to do incredible things.”
God can use us no matter how little or how much ability we have.
However, He cannot use us if we give up.
If we quit our usefulness ends.
I want to talk to you this morning about crossing the finish line.
All of us are going to cross the finish line.
That we have no control of.
What we can control is how we cross it.
A good runner is going to sprint across the finish line.
I compare this to a believer who is called home while still faithfully serving Christ.
When I am called home to be with Jesus, whether by rapture or by death, I want to be sprinting.
I want my arms to still be pumping, my legs to be kicking.
If that is our desire this morning, we need to follow the example of Paul.
Paul gives us three requirements if we are to cross the finish line well.
I want to finish well because…
A “well done” awaits those who sprint across the finish line.
Is that what you want to hear?
I do.
And so, three requirements.
Requirement #1…
1. Fight v. 7a
Fighting a good fight acknowledges the possibility of fighting poorly.
I would suggest that we fight poorly when we do not live in constant awareness of the battle.
It is impossible to fight a fight you don’t know you are in.
We need to know there is a battle.
Once we are aware of the fight, we must fight well.
To do that, to fight the good fight, three tactics are required.
Tactic #1.
To fight the good fight we must…
a. Know our enemy
Who are we fighting?
This is an essential question we must answer.
In many sporting events the teams or competitors learn all they can of the opponent before the event.
Success or failure can often ride on our knowledge of our enemy.
We must know our enemy.
To do that I want to go to three passages.
First, (S).
The battle we are fighting is not against physical foes.
We are not battling politicians, laws, or societal rules.
We are fighting the forces of darkness!
Do not make the mistake of fighting the wrong battle.
Please understand, I am not saying we need to avoid politicians or politics.
I am saying that we must bear in mind one crucial fact.
The hope and change our world needs cannot be legislated.
True hope and lasting transformation is only found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are fighting a spiritual battle against the spiritual forces of darkness.
Make no mistake, the enemy of our souls is out to destroy you and me.
That is clearly displayed in our second passage.
(S).
Notice how personal this is.
“Your adversary”.
He knows you and me.
Knows our weaknesses and strengths.
Knows how to trip us up.
If we are not careful and vigilant, we will be devoured.
Part of knowing our enemy is knowing that his goal, his desire, is our destruction.
The counterfeits he offers promise to fulfil our desires, promise to complete us, but they destroy.
Our enemy is a roaring lion.
But he doesn’t look like one.
Turn with me to our third passage.
(p.
1319).
(p.
1319)
Satan, our enemy, appears like an angel of light.
Those on his side often appear as if they were the apostles of Christ Himself!
Last week we discussed the need for discernment.
This is why.
False teachers are known by the content of their message.
We cannot fight the good fight if we do not know our enemy.
Our enemy is Satan.
He will appear to be a powerful proclaimer of Christ, but he is a destroyer.
Know the enemy.
Tactic #2.
To fight the good fight we must…
b.
Know our weapons
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