Sermon Tone Analysis

“Done is Done” -

Secular:

* Imagine the dumfounded disciples…

* Jesus who came in power and spoke with authority…

* This Jesus who was the Messiah… the one who was to usher in the Kingdom of God…

* Jesus who did miracles… Jesus…

*  The disciples, not unlike ourselves at times….

Were a little slow…

* I love handing my kids the mail you get from Ed McMann

*  They freak out… get excited about the million dollars

* Almost completely have it spent in their minds… by the time I tell them how that systems works….

*  Unlike Ed McMann… and the hundreds of you may have already won pieces of mail we get…

* We can trust in our Saviour’s Words… his final words from the cross…

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Biblical:

John 19:30b [Jesus] said, "It is finished!"

And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Personal:

*  If the words were unfounded… not rooted… apart from what we know about God, know about humankind, It is finished means very little.

*  There are people who if they came rushing up to you an proclaiming I have won a million dollars… and I want to share it with you… would cause you to rejoice… All right!!

* There are others who if they came rushing up to you an proclaiming I have won a million dollars… and I want to share it with you… you would go ya right… this is some sort of joke… some scam… something is untenable

Bridge:

* We are well served by reflecting on this day… Who is God?

The one who stands behind the proclamation… it is finished

* We are well served to reflect on Who are we?

Those who must stand before God?

Those whom are the benefited by the phrase “It is finished?”

*  If we ask what is finished… we need to know a few things…

* Who is God?

* Who are we?

* What is finished?

* How do we live the victory?

Body:

Who is God?

* You are probably thinking I am a little confused….

* Aren’t we past that discussion?

* Implications of thinking we know someone…

* Car sales…

* Misrepresented…

* not on purpose… same effect…

* So who is God…

* "God Transcendent" – Being above and independent of the material universe… and superior to it in everyway

* Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

* Solitariness… or sufficiency of God…

* God does what he does to his glory…

* Not out of need…

* The cross isn’t his need

* The relationship isn’t his need

* He is in perfect relationship

* It is about his Glory

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* "The Faithfulness Of God" –

* NAU 1 Peter 4:19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

*  This Transcendent God… who needs nothing outside himself… has chosen to be faithful to all he promises and all he loves…  to his decrees…

* Not arbitrary….

* NAU Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

*  We can trust… have assurance…

*  God does as God says… because of his nature…

* How many people can we trust like that?

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*   The Power Of God" –

* Habakkuk 3: 3 … His splendour covers the heavens, And the earth is full of His praise.

4 /His /radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays /flashing /from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power.

5 Before Him goes pestilence, And plague comes after Him. 6 He stood and surveyed the earth; He looked and startled the nations.

Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered, The ancient hills collapsed.

His ways are everlasting.

*  All things are subject to God…

* He is all powerful – the Lord God Almighty…

* Again not dependant on any other source but contains within his nature the ability to undertake anything he pleases… and the power to see it to completion…

* I would love a vehicle that was self-sustained in power… especially at $1.18 ~/ l

* But God is not hindered by limits….

Other than his own character of course…

* What God faithfully promises… will be done because he requires nothing external to ensure it…

* The world will be sustained as he pleases…

* He is limitless…

* Comfort?

ABSOLUTELY!

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* "The Love Of God " –

* NAU 1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

* God is love…

* Is that some sappy emotionally God… who loves romantic comedies… flowers and chocolate…

* No of course not…

* We know from 1 Cor 13’s description of love that it is not primarily and emotion but a choice…

* God chose to love us in creating us

* God chose to love us in calling people unto himself in the people of Israel and later in the church

* And most demonstrably on choosing to send his Son to the cross

* Love is the chosen relationship between God and his Creation…

* It is manifest in kindness, grace, and care of creation

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* "The Sovereignty Of God" –

* NAU Isaiah 46:9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; /I am /God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

*  God of power… transcendence… faithfulness… has complete jurisdiction over creation!

* I hope that this makes you sigh with relief… every time I hear this… I am relieved!

* We know the evil that reside in the hearts of man has made our world a complicated…

* But take great comfortable…

* Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive….”

*  God’s purposes can not be thwarted

* The Lord God Almighty doesn’t get up in the morning…and wonder what he will have to deal with…

* /God’s ultimate Lordship and rule over the universe so that the divine will is supreme over all else!/

* Ephesians 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

* With wars, and rumours of Wars, illness, schemes of mankind….

* Aren’t you glad that God works out all things to his glory… nothing is more powerful, nothing surprises him, nothing doesn’t achieve the purpose HE designed!

*  The cross is not some chance happening… an odd victory of Satan… it was God’s design… for his purpose…