Sermon Tone Analysis

Last week we began our series, “Pray for one.”

The focus of this series is to bring into action a simple prayer that we all pray every single day.

“LORD give me one person that I can show your love to today.”

The showing of God’s love will be different every single day.

God’s love is vast and He expresses His love in so many ways, and the same will be true for our showing His love to others.

It will be in our telling someone the Gospel.

It will be in loving your children better.

It will be in serving your spouse.

There are going to be countless opportunities to show God’s love to people.

You will not be limited in your opportunities, unless you back down.

That was our focus last week.

Before we can ever begin to pray this prayer, which will be answered, we have got to recognize if we have the heart of a hireling or the shepherd.

The way we tested our heart is by focusing on evangelism.

Now, pray for one is not just about evangelism, but for many this is probably the most intimidating aspect of the Christian faith.

We essentially tested whether or not we were afraid of heights by walking to the top of a ledge.

What did you find?

For some of us we were convicted.

We went to the LORD in prayer to call it what it is and asked for the heart of the Shepherd.

That is where we needed to start.

We cannot even begin to take these first steps if we have any hint of backing down.

We cannot back down.

God will answer this prayer, every single day, and we need to step into the call.

What a beautiful and terrifying call it is.

Extrovert, introvert, social, anti-social alike.

But it is also exciting.

This week, assuming we have taken the past week to address our hearts, seeking to share in the same burden at the Shepherd, I want us to look at the sheep we are responsible for.

Last week we looked at the parable to the lost sheep and how the Shepherd went after the one.

I want us today to look at the sheep we have already been entrusted: our spouse, our children, our grandchildren, and our dear friends.

Lets actually use that list as our order.

Our spouse, how can God be calling us to begin with them? in our prayer to pray for one, God may go no further than the person you wake up next to.

“LORD, give me one” and He is like (Mime).

You cannot overlook the importance of His divine love constantly being injected into your marriage.

In our 3/3rds discipleship group a couple weeks ago I felt believed that God was wanting to teach me something through service.

My wife is an outstanding wife and mother.

She truly works hard at both.

But, I found myself, backing off.

I began handing more over to her in terms of house maintenance and cleanliness.

I truly believed God was calling me to learn something in my life and service was the mechanism through which He was going to show me.

I needed to help more.

Tired or not, wait, that “or not” does not exist anymore, tired or really tired I need to push through and be obedient to the process.

I am still growing in this and trying to help more, and He has not shown me what I think He is going to, but He certainly has created in me a deeper love and appreciation for her being my wife.

Beginning with the one you are married to is an outstanding way to pray for one. 1 Peter 3:7 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

At first glance you might read this and be a little offended.

Weaker!?

I get it we live in a time where testosterone does not exist.

But even still this is not what Peter is getting at.

Doug Wilson, I believe, explains best what Peter is expressing here.

Has anyone ever grown up with this useless thing called “China?”

That very expensive crystal which was never used but took up and entire cabinet?

Horrible to clean and very delicate.

Or lets take jewelry.

Why does it seem that the most precious jewelry is so delicate?

It is not that women are weak in their standing but that they are valuable.

In all that is of great value there brings with it also the delicate nature by which we are to handle them.

Have you ever been given something expensive.

The incredible panic which floods through your body.

“What id I drop it!

What if I break it!”

This week, I would like for you to read Proverbs 31 specifically verses 10-31.

I will only read Proverbs 31:10-12 10 An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.12

She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

Men we read that and think, “Yes!

That is the woman I need!” Men, let’s begin by treating them as the delicate, valuable, priceless crown upon our head that they are before we start making demands as to how they are to treat us?

She is more valuable than precious Jewels and as Peter commands, we are to treat them that way.

Pray for one, let’s start there men.

Women, to have a husband who treats you with tenderness and care, is easier to read your commands as a wife with willingness.

Ephesians 5:22 “22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

That is a little bit easier to do when He is doing what he should be doing.

But what happens when he is not.

What happens when he is in a funk.

He had a bad day and does not know how to express it.

He is not a believer at all.

What then?

Peter also helps us, 1 Peter 3:1-5 “1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;” Peter begins by encouraging women to recognize the example they carry to their husbands.

No one’s opinion means more to a man than what his wife has to say.

Wives you have a remarkable opportunity of influence your husband for Christ.

But it begins with your conduct.

It begins with how you carry yourself.

How you honor him.

How you submit to his headship.

Peter uses the adornment of a woman, he doe snot condemn women for adorning themselves, but he does express that the inward adornment of a woman is where the Love of God is expressed.

If you remember last week, we cannot show anyone the Love of God unless we know the Love of God for ourselves.

Wives, you can show God’s love to your husband through the way you treat your husband.

Many men have been converted to the faith because of their wife.

Lee Strobel faced this, as an atheist, when his wife became a Christian he saw a noticeable change in her that he could not reconcile.

This sent him on a journey which brought him to faith in Christ.

We want to pray for one.

We want God to show us the person we are to show His love to.

For many of us, it starts at hoe with our spouse.

Husband and wife, if we cannot even love each other with the sacrificial, self-less Love of God how can we ever express it to the world?

As you begin to pray for one, do not miss the sign which points directly to the one sleeping right next to you.

For some of you God will call you to your children.

I am not foolish to think we do not have any broken homes in our church or listening online.

You have shared custody.

Or maybe you find yourself working a lot to provide for your families.

Regardless as you begin to pray for one God will call you to show your children the Love of God.

How do we show the love of God to our children.