Sermon Tone Analysis

Let’s turn in our Bibles to .

You all know that I am not afraid or hesitant to call sin exactly what it is, and I will continue to do so.

Usually, in discussing many of those topics, I refrain from being very specific or blunt.

However, I have found that sometimes, we need to hear it plain and simple.

However, I have found that sometimes, we need to hear it plain and simple.

Some of the subject matter to be covered today requires that I get down to where we live and then some.

So, buckle up, and let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart through the Word of God.

Some of the subject matter to be covered today requires that I get down to where we live and then some.

So, buckle up, and let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart through the Word of God.

With that said, Let’s turn in our Bibles to .

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

The Bible says that if we love God, we will love the children of God also.

In fact, we remember that Jesus said:

The Bible says that if we love God, we will love the children of God also.

In fact, we remember that Jesus said:

  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John goes on to say:

  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Now he introduces an aspect that is all important in this matter of loving God and others.

He says that we will know that we love the children of God WHEN - NOT IF we love God AND Keep His commandments!

In other words, when we are truly obedient from the heart, then we know that we love God and the children of God.

True obedience is the natural outflow of a heart filled with true love!

John put it this way:

  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

That is not to say that we do not tell others that we love them, but rather that saying it is not to be all that we do.

That reminds me of the grumpy old man who was sitting in church as the pastor was speaking from where the Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives...”

He said, “Men, you should tell your wife you love her! Tell her often.

Tell her in the morning.

Tell her in the evening.

Tell her as many times as you can in between!

After the service, the old grump passed by the pastor and shook his hand.

He looked at the young pastor - he was probably very young like me - and said, “I don’t get it.

Why do you think I need to tell her so much?

I told her when we got married, and nothing has changed!

If it does, I let her know!”

Don’t be like him!

Men, you should tell your wife you love her! Wives, you should tell your husband you love him.

Parents, tell your kids you love them.

Kids, tell your parents you love them.

Church, tell others that you love them!

But don’t let our love only be expressed in words!

We should say it, AND we should show it!

Church, tell others that you love them!

We should not only say we love Jesus; we should SHOW it also!

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Jesus says for us to not just say we love Him but to LIVE that love by living in obedience to Him.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

I recognize that obedience, submission, are commitment are all words that are fairly taboo in our society today - especially when it comes to a pastor preaching that we are to commit to, submit to, and obey God.

There are many who proclaim their freedom in Christ as if it is a license to live in sin.

There are many who tip the scale so far the other way that the Christian life appears to be a burden.

True Christianity is a life of love for God and others that produces a life of love and obedience to God and His Word.

It is not a burden.

It is not a bother.

It is a privilege to serve Jesus Christ!

David Livingstone (1813-1872) - Scottish missionary and explorer in the interior of Africa said, “If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?”

In other words, why is it an honor to be asked to do something by an earthly king, but for God to ask us to do something, it is such a bother?

See, we are grateful that Jesus saved us from eternity in Hell, but many of us are just not ready to love Him enough to obey Him.

We say we love Him, but we do our own thing.

We say we love God , but when it comes down to truly living in obedience, we don’t.

Yet we think we are right with God!

How can we be right with God and live in disobedience to Him?

Let’s just think of a few sinful things that we do when we come to church.

Did you

How about not singing with the church family or singing songs of worship and not truly worshipping God - making a show, but no real worship taking place from our hearts?

What about knowing that God is working in your heart during the preaching, but you do not respond and certainly do not repent?

What about knowing that God says that we are supposed to give at the very least 10% of our increase to the Lord’s work, but we only give a $5, $10, or $20 when we made more than $200 that week?

What about when we wait around for others to be friendly to us before we speak to them?

What about when we neglect to remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Those are just a few of the things that we do at church.

If we are going to sin at church, you know you are going to sin it up when you get away from here!

I don’t mean you are going to go out and find a dealer to sell you some drugs.

I don’t think anyone is chomping at the bit to get out of church so they can go commit adultery, but how many will go through your week and not open your Bible to read it and hear from God or pray and talk to Him (with the possible exception of thanking Him for food or asking Him to bail you out of the mess you’ve gotten yourself into).

See, God has given us His Word so we can read it and learn more about Who He is and What He is like.

As we read It, we can be changed to better reflect Jesus Christ, but we have to do it!

We cannot just think that a simple perusal of the Scriptures will transform us.

Jesus said:

  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Now, if you are saved, you can certainly go on doing as you have always done, but you will miss out on the blessings of obedience to your Father.

Without the wisdom that comes from the Word of God, we will go in a direction that makes sense to us, but it will bring damage and destruction.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

So, God gave us a book to teach us wisdom - to teach us to discern and obey the will of God and thereby receive blessings from His hands.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;  2  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;  3  To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;  4  To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:  6  To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It is the foolish man who resists the will of God and will not seek God’s wisdom in the Bible.

We seek after many things to bring us pleasure and peace, but these cannot be found in the ways of the world.

King Solomon was the wisest man to ever walk this earth (except for Jesus Christ).

Although he had been blessed with such great wisdom, he utilized his blessing to seek after things to bring him joy.

In the end, he said, “It is all vanity!”

It is all an empty and senseless waste of time and energy!

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

9  And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10  The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

11  The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12  And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Fear God - have a reverential love and honor for God - and keep His commandments!

Love God enough to do what He says to do!

Now, as we emphasize the importance of obedience as it relates to love, there are three truths that we must remember.