Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: In my daily devotion readings,“All The Days” by Vance Havner, I came across an unusual word last December.

He used this word for four consecutive days.

The word is, “Nevertheless”.

You have only to check your Bible concordance to discover how often that word “nevertheless” shows up [118 times].

Often against the dark background of conditions in this world, it turns the picture to say, “Notwithstanding, however, still, on the other hand, there is another side.…”

Nevertheless is a bridge one can cross to pass from darkness to light, from defeat to victory, from bad to good.

But unfortunately visa versa as well.

Havner, V. (1976).

All the Days (p.

188).

Fleming H. Revell Company.

What I want to do in the next few weeks or months is to discover the Bridge of Nevertheless.

Text; Mt. 14:9

Summary; This text is a flashback of Herod and the beheading of John the Baptist.

Herod had heard of the reports of Jesus’ preaching/works, but Herod believed that Jesus had come in the power of John the Baptist return from the grave to haunt him for what he had done.

Herod had put John in prison for boldly preaching against his sin of divorcing his wife and marrying his brother Philips wife, Herodias.

On Herod’s birthday, Herodias [evil woman] devised a plan to get John killed by sending her daughter, Salome, in before the king and his guests to dance provocatively while they were drinking.

She knew Herod had a weakness for women and Salome would have him eating out of her hands.

Her plan worked and Herod made a foolish oath before his guests, to give Salome whatever she asked even up to half his kingdom.

Her mother asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

1. Sorry, Nevertheless;

Sorry and nevertheless don’t seem to fit together.

Sorry- grieved, distressed, a state of sadness at someones misfortune

Herod was sorry that he let himself get put in this situation to cost John his head.

Herod liked to listen to John and knew he was a godly man.

Herod did not want to kill John the Baptist, but he gave the order so he wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of his guests.

Herod had made a promise and had sealed it with an oath.

Oath-A formal promise that binds an individual to do as pledged under threat of some penalty in the failure to fulfill that promise.

To back out on the promise would show his important guests [dignitaries, military brass, Roman government officials] that Herod was not a man of his word or that he was afraid of this “unimportant” prisoner in a dungeon.

Nevertheless- “however, on the other hand, there is another side.”

“Sorry John, However, I must save face before these important people.”

“Sorry, On the other hand, John, you had a good run but all things must come to an end.”

“Sorry John, but there is another side, hey you get to enter the kingdom of heaven early.”

Imagine a man being motivated like that!

He was afraid of what his guests might think of him for having made a promise and not making it good.

He would stoop so low that he would have a man killed to save face.

Herod crossed the Bridge of Nevertheless from wanting to do good by John to doing evil against him.

Pride is what made him cross that bridge!

I often wonder as christians, if when we make promises to God, that we do the same thing that Herod did with John, “Sorry, Nevertheless.”

2. Vows to God; Eccl.

5:4-5

Vow- A formal promise to God that binds an individual to do as pledged under threat of some penalty in the failure to fulfill that promise.

[Oath]

Vow is used 76 times in the scriptures and is always used voluntarily.

Look at some vows people make to God and then say “Sorry, Nevertheless”

Vow of faithfulness to our spouses in marriage - I know I said for richer or poorer, sickness and health, till death do us part, but I’m sorry she/he doesn’t make me happy anymore or fill my desires, nevertheless I found someone who does.

Vow to raise our children in the Lord- [Baby Dedication] Lord I know we promised to raise our children to know You and walk in Your ways, but God I’m sorry, I can’t send them to a Christian college because I don’t have the money or they might feel called to the ministry/missions and I can’t let them go overseas or out of state, nevertheless they have a great chance to play ball at “wherever” and I’ll make sure they’ll do what You want there!

Vow to meet God daily for prayer/devotion/seeking guidance- Every new year most christians make a resolution to spend more time with God and by now in May we have to say I’m sorry.

Nevertheless we move forward with life like nothing happened and we fall farther away from God moment by moment.

Vow to His church to minister through serving, giving and worship- Church membership is important because you are making a commitment to the Lord’s body to be active with your spiritual gifts to do your part to keep the body healthy.

God I’m sorry, I’m so busy, my job is overwhelming, the kids have these activities, I can’t tithe I can barely make ends meet, I can’t come on Sunday night because [excuse].

Nevertheless, I love You Lord, and I’m praying for the church will grow.

Vow to be more active in church if God will resolve my stressful situations- And when God does take care of those situations, we say, “God I’m sorry, but when you fixed my job situation I got a promotion so I’m over my department now and I don’t have enough time to spend with my kids in their activities if we have to be in church, and thanks for the raise but nevertheless we needed a new car for the trips we take so I can’t tithe, have You seen the price of a new vehicle, and we get back so late on Sunday afternoon that we need to get our rest for work and school on Monday.

If we were to compare what Herod did with his oath concerning John and how we treat our vows to God, we have crossed the same Bridge of Nevertheless.

From good intentions to bad practices.

It is a mistake to think an oath/vow of good intentions will justify our inactions or evil actions.

3. Don’t Cross that Bridge of Nevertheless; Eccl.

5:5-6

Don’t cross the bridge of good intentions to bad practices by trying to bargain with God.

“God, if You will do this for me, I’ promise ....”

Just don’t make vows you can’t/won’t keep and keep our mouth’s shut!

Close;

God gives us His best in Christ and the Holy Spirit and He loves us and wants to bless us every day.

We often prevent that from happening by making vows we know we will not keep.

To keep from failing in fulfilling our oaths/vows that we make, there are some things we need to consider.

We need to be careful before we enter into any oath/vow and make sure that it is lined up with God’s will.

If we enter into an oath/vow and then realize it was a mistake or that we cannot fulfill our part, we need to come clean and repent before God and the person we might have made a vow to, instead of letting our pride destroy us and hurt others.

Don’t take your spiritual commitment casually.

When we say “yes to God” we need to mean “yes”.

We never need to put ourself in a position to say to God, “Sorry, Nevertheless!”

That is a bridge we never need to cross!