Sermon Tone Analysis

How easy is it to fool someone with the words we say?

Have you ever had someone tell you a riddle and completely frustrate you with what they ask?

Here’s one for you:

You measure my life in hours, and I serve you by expiring.

I’m quick when I’m thin and slow when I’m fat.

The wind is my enemy.

Type your answer in the comments!

(Answer: A Candle)

The whole point of a riddle is to confuse someone, and if the riddle is REALLY good you usually don’t get it right away or even on the first try.

We can say all kinds of these to confuse people, maybe it’s a half truth, or a flat out lie.

How about silence?

Have you ever been confused my silence?

I believe that whether you say things or don’t, the truth within your heart can be revealed.

Today we end our holiness series with this message which I’ve entitled “The Call to Holiness: A matter of the heart” I preached a sermon a couple of months ago going into depth on this topic.

I highlighted that we were called to Holiness in what we think, what we say, and how we live.

But you know what I’ve realized, deeply, since I preached that sermon and since we started this series?

Holiness, at its core, for any human, TRUE holiness begins in your heart.

Because what is in your heart will be reflected in what you think, what you say, and how you feel.

This thought brought me straight to our scripture focus today.

Scripture context: This is Jesus speaking to the Pharisees, they had just accused him of being “Prince of demons” for casting out demons from a man who was being tormented.

He goes off on them letting them know that he did this in the Spirit of God.

Jesus PERFORMS A MIRACLE, and they tell him it was “Satan’s power”.

The Scripture says He knew their thoughts.

And Jesus says this:

Matthew 12:33-37

33 “A tree is identified by its fruit.

If a tree is good, its fruit will be good.

If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.

34 You brood of snakes!

How could evil men like you speak what is good and right?

For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.

36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

This Scripture tells us many things

1.

They will know you by your fruit- You are the tree he is talking about.

2. What is in your heart determines what you say (v34) other versions say from the overflow or abundance of your heart.

The message says “How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded?

It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.”

3. A good heart produces good things- (V 35) The passion Translation “When virtue is stored within, the hearts of good, upright people will produce good fruit.”

The Message “A good person produces good deeds and words season after season.”- it continues

4. At the end of the day those words flowing from your heart matter (V36-37) TPT “You can be sure of this: when the day of judgment comes, everyone will be held accountable for every careless word he has spoken.

37 Your very words will be used as evidence, and your words will declare you either innocent or guilty.”-

This comes back to the Scripture Captain shared last week Heb.

12:14 “without Holiness no one will see the Lord.”-

do you see how this is all connected?

The condition of your heart determines the words that come out of your heart, those very words, Jesus says, will either acquit your or condemn you, you will be found either innocent and see the Lord or guilty and meet eternal damnation.

You choose!

So what is the true mark of Holiness?

A pure heart, a heart turned to Jesus.

If your heart is holy, your thoughts will be transformed, your words will reflect it, your actions will show it, your life will be a testament to the One true, life changing, transforming, HOLY God.

Call to reflection: What’s the condition of your heart today?

Only you and the Lord would know.

What needs to be changed?

Or upgraded?

Go from iOS 14.8 to 15.1?

Holy living isn’t a “one and done” deal, we grow in it.

Ask the Lord to do the work in your heart, trust me he will.