Sermon Tone Analysis

I want to speak today about the need for light in this world that doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense right now.

We are in a place right now where COVID has caused major disruption in everything.

I just want to share some hope.

Psalm 119:105 “105 NUN.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.”

I want to remind you of the Word of the Lord, which says Jer 29:11 “11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

There are times when life is very difficult.

This is not new, I want to assure you, that even in this time when it may be easy to think God is far away, I want to assure you He is always there.

Understanding The Nature of God

Our hope and fear is in God

If you think about it, hope and fear in the common mind are the same emotions with the only difference being the perceived outcome

If the outcome is good - then hope, if the outcome is bad - then fear

However, as Christians we should know that hope is in a person, Jesus Christ, not an outcome.

Fear is in a state, being lost without Christ.

Lets look at Romans 8:15

Times like this require us to take up our cross

a.

To live for Christ is to be crucified with Christ -

​Galatians 2:20 KJV 190020 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

b.

The things we used to live for - that which is good in the world’s eyes, died when we were buried with Christ

​Philippians 3:7–8 KJV 19007 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Times like these are opportunities to be a witness

Times like these are opportunities to show the world that we do not fear death, or disease, though we are as susceptible to them as any one else, because our hope is not in this life, but in Jesus Christ

A healthy life and wealth gained in this world Paul says, “what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.”

Christian you cannot have it both ways.

You cannot be a witness for Christ and be afraid of the what the world is afraid of.

Overcoming fear is assurance of being in Christ

Before we were Christians we were gentiles, lost and without hope.

The children of disobedience, until we were called out of the darkness by witnessing the light of Jesus Christ.

In John 3:3 we read that a man must be born again to see the Kingdom of God:

​John 3:3 KJV 19003 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Acknowledging that I am a sinner before a Holy, and righteous God.

This is important.

You must realize that you cannot of yourself atone for your own sin.

The sin problem that we have as sons of Adam can only be reconciled through Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that in John 14:6 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The Bible also says that there is one mediator between man and God the man Jesus Christ.

Consider the Roman Jailer: Acts 16:25-40 “25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all…”

Just as the Roman jailer was faced with his whole world falling apart, he cried “sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

that is the questions each and everyone of us needs to ask.

If you are not 100% sure where you will go when you die, then talk about this with one of us, and we will show you in the Bible how to be 100% sure.