Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

How do you find yourself looking at life?

Each person has influences that impact how they view life.

Every person has different values they place on what is important in life.

Every person has a value system by which they live.

The question before us this morning is what is the basis for your value system.

Often, many Christians it seems develop a dichotomy in how they live.

Many seem to live with two different calendars…one that tracks their spiritual life and another that tracks their daily life.

Rarely do they intertwine and it too often enough the daily life calendar trumps the spiritual calendar.

As Christians we are too often mentally separating our walk with God and our “necessary” daily routine and tasks list.

We today sit back and wonder why churches are struggling.

In large part it is because many have as one commentator put it “compartmentalized” their lives.

They believe in the truths the Bible teaches.

They do not deny the commands of God.

They do not doubt God’s forgiveness.

They do not doubt God’s character.

However, these truths do not mesh with their daily calendar of events.

They have tried to live with splitting their values into two different parts of their lives.

Sadly, this impacts their own relationship with God.

It impacts their relationship with others.

It impacts their commitment to the church.

It impacts their commitment to their relationship with God.

The issue is that this type of Christian has a wrong view of God himself.

He has an “awe problem” as Paul Tripp states in his book entitled “Awe.”

The question to ask yourself this morning is “Where do I have an awe problem?”

As we look to answer this question, how would you define the word awe?

Here are a few definitions:

The term refers to an emotion combining honor, fear, and respect before someone of superior office or actions (Pss.

4:4; 33:8; 119:161 KJV) (Gen.

28:17; 1 Sam.

12:18; Matt.

9:8; Heb.

12:28 NIV).

It most appropriately applies to God.

Chad Brand et al., eds., “Awe, Awesome,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 147.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 (Awe)

Fear mingled with reverence and wonder, a state of mind inspired by something terrible or sublime.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 (Awe)

the word stands for man’s attitude of reverential fear toward God.

This is the characteristic attitude of the pious soul toward God in the Scriptures, esp. in the OT.

It arises from a consciousness of the infinite power, sublimity and holiness of God, which fills the mind with the “fear of the Lord,” and a dread of violating His law.

Based on scripture, an awe problem in relation to how we view the world comes down to not fearing God.

It is a failure to live in wonder and amazement at his character and works.

It is a failure to have a proper attitude toward God’s sovereign control over the earth.

It is this idea that Isaiah speaks to in Isaiah 40.

As we ask ourselves this question we are going to look at Isaiah 40.

This chapter shows the majesty and wonder of God our Creator.

This passage will help you and I assess our lives as to where we may have a awe problem.

Multiple areas of life can manifest an awe problem but nothing is more foundational then how we view our lives at large.

It is vital that you and I have a proper worldview if we are going to live as God has designed for each of us to live as his children.

Taking a look into Isaiah 40 will help us uncover areas where we may be having an awe problem.

Our Key Application this morning is: Daily live in awe of God!

We are going to take a look at Isaiah 40 and see four biblical truths followed by 2 simple truths that echo our key application.

Our first truth regarding having a proper awe of God is found in Isaiah 40:1-11

Isaiah 40:1–11 (NASB95)

1 “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. 2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.”

3 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

4 “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Call out.”

Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”

All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

9 Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear.

Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him.

Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.

11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

1) We stand in awe of God for keeping his promises.

40:1-11

Deliverance from sin (1-2)

When God comes to set up his kingdom and to shepherd his sheep, his powerful arm will rule all people and there will be no warfare anymore (cf.

2:4).

Indeed, this is comforting news.

Forgiveness of Sin - God’s compassionate forgiveness of Jerusalem will be an act of divine grace that will bring comfort to his people.[i]Gary

Smith, Isaiah 40-66, vol.

15B, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2009), 94–95.

Our Response found in Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 (NASB95)

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

God’s Word stands forever = Our Response should echo Proverbs 3:5-6

God’s sovereign shepherding = Our response found in Psalm 56:3

God had told Judah to trust him and no one else.

They refused and suffered for it.

But God does not forsake people who forsake him.

His promise, his initiative, his imagination, his grace and glory are our comfort in our failure.

You can trust this God even more than you trust yourself.

You can trust this God absolutely.

- Hughes

2) We stand in awe of God for being all-powerful.

40:12-20

When you think of power, you may think of construction vehicles or possibly you think of a train or the ocean.

Maybe you are into fitness and when you think of power you think of weightlifting.

This last week I was watching Thursday night football and they showed a video clip of a star player for one of the teams during his workout.

He squatted 675 lbs.

It was a display of power.

Christian, our God is a God of power!

He has not lifted hundreds of lbs of weight.

He has not driven a train.

He spoke the world into existence.

He paid for the sins of the whole world.

He arose from the dead.

He will conquered sin.

He controls creation with his words.