Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction- God’s Presence, God’s Power and God’s Promises

I would like to ask you to put your imagination caps on.

This isn’t going to be difficult to understand, but I think it will help if you attempt to imagine yourself to be in the shoes of the Israelites

You have been wandering in the wilderness east of the Jordan River for most of your life.

Now you are standing in front of a river that is overflowing its banks, waiting to cross over it so you can begin a life that is settled.

You will be given land, land that is yours to care for and manage.

A land that is fertile and will bring many blessings, a Promised Land.

The Lord was about to do something wondrous and miraculous.

He stopped the water from coming down the river bed, as soon as all twelve of the levites, who were carrying the ark, entered into the water.

I don’t think we can fully comprehend what took place.

Millions of gallons of water were heaped up and held in place until the Israelite people crossed over the river bed, on dry ground.

God is present and is going to show His Power in order to fulfill His promise.

He could have let them figure out how to get across the river and they most likely could have gotten it done but He had another plan.

Review- Ready, set, go= consecrated/being set and devoted to God’s purpose and plan.

Wonder = Amazed, Distinguished by marvel or something being done out of the ordinary/possible.

The Wonders of God!

Doing or making a wonderful thing!

Something that is too difficult to comprehend or accomplish under normal circumstances.

An action that is distinguished by its marvel and unusual nature.

Sometimes the Works of God are unexpected and amazing.

He does this to show His presence.

The also does it to show His power and He does it to show His ability to accomplish His promises (to show His faithfulness)

Sometimes the Works of God become unappreciated but they are none the less amazing.

For example the miracle of the human body and the vast number of systems, cells, chemical reactions and functions happening every second of every day of a persons’ life is absolutely mind boggling to think about.

Yet, God created each of these things from nothing.

God is still working today.

I want to ask you to watch for His wonders being evidenced in your life.

Whelmed = Soaked, submerged, flow or heap up abundantly.

What is it to be “Wonder-whelmed”?

The nation of Israel was often described as being “Under-wonder-whelmed”

The Psalmists are “wonder-whelmed”

This exact same phrase is repeated 4 times in this Psalm.

It is not surprising but certainly worth mentioning that God’s Word, The Scriptures reveal many of the Wonders of God’s commandments and precepts to us.

The Psalmist identified this in Ps 119:18 and Ps 119:27.

God’s Word teaches us the Wonderful will of God.

We ought to be bathing ourselves in the truth and the hope of God’s Word

Are you soaked in the Wonder and Worship of The Creator?

Are you able to identify the wonders of God in your life?

Just as the Ark went before the Israelites, representing the very presence of Almighty God, which was leading them to the Promised Land, we have been blessed to see and celebrate the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, God with Us, God in the flesh.

This is truly a miracle of God.

What a Wonder-whelming WONDER of God is the AMAZING GRACE of Christ and the life that we have in Him.

During the Men’s group discussion about the miracles that are recorded in Matt 5, the point was made that in each of the three miracles recorded, there was no human solution to the problem.

The demon possessed man, the woman with the issue of blood and Jairus’ daughter was dead.

We too were once in a situation that was beyond any human’s ability to fix but God made a way.

This is why we celebrate communion this morning.

This is why we come to the communion table on a regular basis, so that we will never forget the most wonderful miracle, the miracle of new life in Christ.

Help us Lord, to make much of you!

To celebrate your wonders, to be “wonder-whelmed” by You and to think less of ourselves.

THANK YOU, LORD GOD!