Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Where Do Exiles Draw the Line in Matters of Faith?

Text: Hebrews 11:17-29

Series: Christ-centered Endurance

Introduction:

“What will a man give in exchange of his soul?”

Mark 8:34-37

“34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

What is the goal of the sermon?

To confront the hearer with the following statement: “If Jesus really is better…, then where do we draw the line as to what we are willing to lay down for Him?”

Why is this goal needed?

To encourage those who are putting all on the line by faith to continue.

To awaken those who say they are walking by faith but are not.

To present three real ways in which we can examine our faith.

How will you accomplish this goal?

(1) The line of natural affection (2) The line of certain death (3) The line of temporary pleasure (4) The lesson and call for evaluation (The answer and call for response)

Is there a key word or phrase for the sermon?

When is God asking for too much?

Where do you draw the line?

Sermon Theme:

Evaluate honestly where you draw the line on your faith in God.

(1) The line of natural affection - Hebrews 11:17-19

Hebrews 11:17–19 (KJV 1900)

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Observation:

The testing of Abraham (v.

17).

God tested Abraham not because God did not know whether Abraham had faith or not, but because this test revealed the faith Abraham had.

The Natural Affection Line (v. 17a).

The testing of Abraham was on the line of natural affection.

Abraham was commanded to offer up his son.

The Role of God’s Promises (v.

17b-18).

The testing of Abraham potentially called into question God’s promises.

The Faith in God’s Ability (v.

19).

The testing of Abraham revealed a faith in God’s ability over the loss of natural relationships.

After that bitter and blessed experience I think the words "my" and "mine" never had again the same meaning for Abraham.

The sense of possession which they connote was gone from his heart.

Things had been cast out forever.

They had now become external to the man.

His inner heart was free from them.

The world said, "Abraham is rich," but the aged patriarch only smiled.

He could not explain it to them, but he knew that he owned nothing, that his real treasures were inward and eternal.

Tozer, A.W.; Christian Book Collection.

The Pursuit of God (Optimized for Kindle) [Updated 4/14/2010] (p.

28).

Kindle Edition.

Meaning

Self-Revelation.

God’s testing of His children reveals to them what is in them.

What kind of faith did Abraham have in the promises of God? God’s testing of His children serves to reveal a supernatural working of God that thereby leads to bold, exilic faith.

Evaluation.

God’s testing of his children draws a line — what is faith in God worth offering?

Application

To the weary - the testing will reveal strength of faith leading to encouragement because you know it is only God.

[Example: In 2009 two mothers, and man who lifted a 1.1 ton car off of a boy - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190759/Mighty-mothers-superhuman-strength-lift-1-400kg-car-run-schoolboy.html]

The test revealed something in them that previously was not evident.

So it is with those who are tired of trials that the trials reveal God working in you.

To the complacent - evaluate carefully what you profess with what you practice.

Where do you draw the line?

Are your children too much to entrust to the Lord?

(How does your family worship show this?

Priorities?…etc)

Illustration:

Matthew 13:44 “44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

Charles Simeon, “…shall we find it in vain to sacrifice any thing to the Lord?”

Transition:

In the faith of Abraham we see that faith in God is worth all natural affections being offered to Him freely.

(2) The line of certain death - Hebrews 11:20-22

Hebrews 11:20–22 (KJV 1900)

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Observation

Three Patriarchs.

Isaac, Jacob, Joseph had faith.

The nature of Isaac/Jacob’s blessings invoked (v.

20-21).

Powerless to fulfill.

These are blessings they had no power to accomplish.

Isaac and Jacob were dying.

Mere Channels of Blessing.

These were blessings offered from individuals who had been blessed of God.

Faith in God’s Ability.

The presumption then is that these men were expecting God to continue through their offspring the blessings He had begun through them.

The nature of Joseph’s pronouncement (v.

22)

A Remembrance.

Joseph’s pronouncement is actually a remembrance of a promise made to his great-grandfather.

Genesis 15:13-14.

God’s Faithfulness.

Joseph’s faith was in the reality that God keeps His covenant.

Meaning

The Unifying Theme.

The Unifying theme of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph’s faith is found in three statements:

i. Bless, concerning things to come (v.

20)

ii.

Bless, when he was dying (v.

21)

iii.

Remembrance, when he died (v.

22)

They Die; God’s Word Continues.

All three were dying.