Sermon Tone Analysis

For the past year we have been examining the Name in which we are to commanded to pray:

John 14:12–14 (NASB95)[Jesus said:]“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

John 16:23b–24 (NASB95) [Jesus also said:] “… Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.

24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask [in My Name] and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

In accordance with these promises of scriptures, promises that Jesus Himself made, we strongly believe in praying according to the authority and nature of Jesus.

Tonight’s preface to prayer introduces a new consideration of a particular aspect of the nature of Jesus.

Jesus attained that aspect by humbling Himself to become something that we cannot.

He was broken.

No bones were broken, but He was broken in so many others ways.

I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet, but this morning Bro.

Wagner was preaching on brokenness:

The sermon title was entitled: “Let the Breaking Begin”

Based on James 1:2-4

King David said in: Psalm 51:15–17 (NASB95) O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.

16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Jesus willingly submitted Himself to be something we especially remember and recognize at this time of the year.

Or, at least, I pray that every year at this time we think about Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

This past Wednesday we began a special season.

Liturgical churches observe a season of Lenten or Lent.

Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) says: Lent is the 40 days (not including Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter.

Lent is often described as a time of preparation and an opportunity to go deeper with God.

This means that it’s a time for personal reflection that prepares people’s hearts and minds for Good Friday and Easter.

I can’t think of a better way to prepare for remembering the death and burial of Jesus and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus than thinking about what the John the Baptist said in:

John 1:29 (NASB95) The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:35–37 (NASB95) Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

As I prepared for this prayer devotional I wondered what John meant, what the Holy Spirit was leading him to reveal, as he spoke of Jesus as the Lamb of God.

Was he thinking about the pre-figuring of who Messiah was and what He would do as the Lamb as revealed in Genesis and Exodus.

Or maybe the Holy Spirit was reminding John of the prophecy of what Messiah would do as the Lamb of God is revealed in Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53:7 (NASB95) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.

Though he couldn’t see it yet, maybe the Holy Spirit was giving John a glimpse into heaven

to see and hear the proclamation of Jesus as the Lamb of God as Jesus is proclaimed the Lamb of God.

We see and hear that proclamation in Revelation.

Revelation 5:6–14 (NASB95) And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.”

And the elders fell down and worshiped.

So tonight, as we prepare to pray, let’s begin to think about Jesus as the Lamb of God as we think about His prefigurement in:

Genesis 22:1–18 (NASB95) Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”

And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.

5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife.

So the two of them walked on together.

7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”

And he said, “Here I am, my son.”

And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

So the two of them walked on together.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.

14 Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.”

15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.

18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Before we pray tonight, let’s think about this passage from Genesis.

First, God tested Abraham.

Are we ready to be tested?

Perhaps we are in the middle of the test — how are we doing?

Consider to God’s test of Abraham as He commanded in:

Vs.2 “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”

And Abraham did it!

By faith, he took the son that God had given him in his and Sarah’s old-age to offer him as a burnt offering.

Hebrews 11:17–19 (NASB95) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.”

19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

Lent is often considered a time for “giving up” something.

How appropriate that we think about Abraham giving up his miracle-boy because he believed the promise God had given him — “that your descendents will be a numerous as the stars in the sky” that God’s promise would be fulfilled through Isaac.

Even though God told Abraham to offer up Isaac, he stilled believed the earlier promise that God gave him.

Incredible!

What is God asking us to give up?

To what is God referring when He asks, “Do you love me more than this?

Or more than these?”

Second, think about the journey to fulfilment.

Three days to get there — it must have seemed like an eternity to Abraham!

Do doubt there were constant questions from the boy.

To which Abraham would reply like he did in verse 8: “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

Exactly what God did in giving Jesus.

He provided a Lamb.

But going through that journey being questioned by Isaac, and maybe by his servants.

It can be hard when we question.

But then to have others pile on...

Thirdly, think about God’s provision.

It was in THIS provision that Abraham called God Yaweh Jireh — God who provides.

Not in times of famine or thirst.

Not in times of danger or being separated from family and friends.

No!

It was when God provided a Ram to replace Isaac.

A ram with his horns caught in the thicket by his horns.

Jesus was prefigured in that ram.

He love captured Him and caused Him to be taken as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Finally, think about God commendations and promises for Abraham’s obedience.

God will not call us to sacrifice without providing a better blessing.

Even if He calls us to give our lives — there is a better blessing in glory.