Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.14UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.11UNLIKELY
Fear
0.14UNLIKELY
Joy
0.55LIKELY
Sadness
0.52LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.73LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.08UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.86LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.84LIKELY
Extraversion
0.19UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.66LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.69LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Review Sermon Theme - Unashamed: Building the Church through the Gospel
Review last weeks passage - Romans 7:13-20
Review last weeks sermon in a sentence - You Can't Stop Sin!
But God Can!
Main Idea - You Have An Enemy Lurking Within!
What Should You Do?
Know Your True Enemy - it's not the law.
The law is good and helps you to see your enemy.
Understand the Plan of Your Enemy - Sin wants you to give in to its desires, and those desires are contrary to the desires of God.
So, not only should you understand the enemy's plan, but you should also equip yourself with pursuing the ways of God.
Recognize Your Inability to Beat Your Enemy - You cannot win against sin by sheer willpower.
Humble yourself before Christ and, by faith, depend on Him to make you capable through his Transformational Grace.
ENGAGE
What does one do when one discovers there is something living within them?
You know, like a parasite or cancer?
You and your doctor create a treatment plan.
Last week we discovered that there is not only an enemy outside of us (Satan), but, according to the apostle Paul, there is an enemy within as well (sin)!
And it desires complete control and isn’t pleased whatsoever that you now have a new mind - the mind of Christ.
Your challenge isn’t a parasite or cancer ( I mean, it might be a problem...) but I guarantee, the challenge you face is greater.
What is the challenge?
You have sin dwelling within you.
And, in a sense, because this is your reality as a christian, you need a treatment plan.
ENCOUNTER
Main Idea - What Can You Do About the Sin Living in You?
Transition - Every follower of Jesus needs to ask themselves this question on a regular basis.
Not just ask the question but also follow a plan that will help them deal with the insidious enemy living within.
According to Paul there is a crucial first step you can take to fight the enemy within.
1.
You can Protect Your Mind! (vs.
21-23)
Have you heard of the different gates that we have in which information can come in a person?
The ear gate and the eye gate.
The ear gate - what we listen to
The eye gate - what we see
Remember the old children’s song...
“Oh be careful little eyes what you see...”
“Oh be careful little ears what you hear...”
You see, whatever is allowed into those “gates” can have a profound affect on your mind.
You have a responsibility to protect what comes into your mind.
You cannot be passive about this.
You must be proactive!
Why?
Well, this is what Paul is about to tell us in verse 21..
And Paul’s first reason is...
a.
Your Enemy is Always Ready to Fight! (21)
Have you ever experienced this?
You are planning to do the right thing, whatever that might be, and then all of a sudden a thought contrary to doing right pops into your head.
Yeah, that most likely isn’t the Devil - don’t give him too much credit.
No, that is straight from your sinful flesh!
According to Pau, you are freed from the Law, but there’s another law!
What is this law?
It is a principle or a truism.
In other words, it always seems to happen.
There is a pattern that Christ followers can expect when they purpose to do right.
They can depend on their sin tempting them and try to trip them up.
So, know this - your enemy is alway ready to pounce and fight you - don’t be surprised by this line of attack!
Your sin is always ready, you should be as well!
One more thing to notice - The text says that “evil lies close at hand.”
In other words, evil is with you but it does not define you.
Christ defines me...
Secondly, here is a positive place you can go...
b.
Your Mind is a place of refuge!
(22)
Why are we to delight in God’s law?
Because God’s law is good!
The God’s law is not evil because God’s law is a reflection of God’s character.
Remember, if you are “in Christ,” you have a new mind - the mind of Christ.
And this mind of Christ loves the law of God.
Now I want you to think about how delighting in the law of the Lord is a protection for you.
It is a safe haven for the believer.
We are not just waiting for the next attack from the enemy from within, we are also to proactively spend time in our safe place - rejoicing in God’s truth.
Have you ever considered that God’s law, his word, is a place of protection for you mind?
Is there anything more true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or worthy of praise than God’s holy word?
Then it is your safe place!
Meditate on it often and it will provide you with overflowing wisdom as a beneficial byproduct to the safe refuge it provides.
Meditate on God truth!
It will do you good!
While it is a glorious truth that meditating on God’s Word will give you a safe place, you still have to deal with life.
And so you need to remember that...
c.
Your Inner War is Real! (23)
In other words my body is waging war agains my mind/inner self and causes me to be a prisoner.
It feels like the insidious evil from within is winning over my mind!
Sometimes it is so powerful I feel powerless!
“Paul is actually describing a profound conflict that every Christians finds inherent in his life in Christ (Gal.
5:17-18): Christ dwells in him (Gal 2:20), yet sin also dwells in him (vv.
17, 20).
Perfect conformity to God’s will is at present out of his reach.
Salvation has ‘already’ and ‘not yet’ dimensions.
We are already liberated from the power of sin, but we are not yet free from the presence of sin.” - The Reformation Study Bible
So, what are we to do?
Can I make a suggestion that should help you in this fight.
It’s something I do on a daily basis that no only helps me to fight the devil that is prowling around seeking to destroy me, but also it helps to fight against the insidious enemy that lies within me as well.
Turn in your bibles to Eph 6...
We are strong in the Lord’s might
We are commanded to put on the whole armor of God so we can stand up!
We are at battle with sin
We are able to stand firm against evil by wearing the full armor - We face a daily battle and we are dressed as if we are going to the beach.
How are we to stand up?
Fasten the belt of truth -
Put on the breastplate of righteousness -
Put on gospel shoes of the gospel of peace -
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9