Sermon Tone Analysis

*The Power Of No Part #4:*

*Shake It Off!!!*

*7-26-09*

 

Review Power of No Series highlights

·                    Drawing line in the sand

·                    Conviction~/Boundaries

 

(Part #3 was preached by Jake)

 

Want to Go to a place in this power of no series that I think is so vital for us to define

·                    It’s about that place when on the journey of life

·                    When we’re in the middle of God’s will

·                    Serving the best we know HOW to serve

·                    And yet, somewhere in the midst of the obstacles~/challenges we face

·                    We get stung—things get hard

·                    And we have a choice in the midst of this hardship

o       Will we let this moment destroy our faith

o       Rock us in a way that will stop us in the battle

o       Or will we SHAKE IT OFF

o       Will we say, ‘NO’—I’m not allowing this thing to define me

 

Over the years—seen people walk zealously after God

·                    Fruitful—blessed

·                    But there is a testing we all face on journey of life

·                    That testing is a telling moment

o       Will we give in~/quit

o       Or draw line and say ‘NO’

 

Turn with me to Acts 28—amazing account out of the life of Paul

·                    Background:  Paul at the culmination of his ministry and life

o       After Jesus’ Rez—Ascension—Acts 2—Revival in early church

o       Imagine what it was like for them—seen Risen Christ—HS—etc.

o       In midst of revival—persecution starts

o       Saul came against—Tarsus experience—met Jesus—conversion

o       Over lifetime—shared Jesus—Gentiles—Planted churches

·                    Led by Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem

·                    Warning—he will walk in chains~/tribulation—develop

 

Acts 20:23

22 And see, now yI go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that zthe Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

24 3But anone of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, bso that I may finish my 4race with joy, cand the ministry dwhich I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

 the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

37 Then they all swept 1freely, and tfell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more.

And they accompanied him to the ship.

[1] “But there is another urgency before me now.

I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem.

I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there.

I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead.

But that matters little.

What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

     25–27     “And so this is good-bye.

You’re not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God’s inaugurated kingdom.

I’ve done my best for you, given you my all, held back nothing of God’s will for you.

·                    There was the warning—yet Paul compelled to go

 

So here he is—fulfilling the leading of GOD in His life

·                    Sounds romantic, doesn’t it?

·                    What did he face??

 

Arrested

·                    Falsely accused

·                    Testifies before kings

·                    Plots to murder him

·                    Ends up on ship

·                    Heads into storm—many days of storm

·                    Ship gets shipwrecked

·                    Goes ashore

This brings us to our FIRST POINT today:

*Just because you face trials~/testing doesn’t mean you are out of God’s will*

 

*/Just Because you are walking in God’s will doesn’t mean there won’t be moments where you get stretched or tested on the way/*

·                    All that had happened—happened while Paul was in the MIDST of doing the WILL of God

·                    He was on schedule

·                    On track

·                    Spirit led

o       OBEDIENT!!!!

·                    Fulfilling God’s purpose for his life

·                    But it wasn’t fun . . .

.

Anybody here relate to that?

·                    Is 55:9 God’s ways higher than OURS

·                    Romans 8:28 But in all things God works together for good

·                    Because Paul in chains—forced writing of many letters

·                    Tapestry

·                    All going to face testing in life

o       Wanna get something good out of it?

Acts  *28*     */Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness.

They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold./*

·                    *They showed him UNUSUAL KINDNESS*

 

*In midst of attack~/hard~/testing journey—God will send HIS blessings—Kindness—love notes (DEVELOP)*

·                    Watch for them

·                    Prophet in desert getting fed

 

Develop—when in midst of hard journey

·                    NIKO—going up a hill at night . . .

cramp in back . . .

friend push the backpack up

·                    *Look for that ‘hand on the backpack’*

·                    Kindness in the midst of the battle

 

That’s JESUS—right there with you—in the midst of the storm—look for it—watch for it

·                    Susan Kubanda in midst of suffering

·                    Watching hands of mercy—holy thing—beautiful—anointed

 

In midst of test Keep your head

·                    God’s going to send you that kind of encouragement, mercy and comfort in the midst of your pain

 

Aaron’s funeral- people reaching out in amazing ways

·                    That’s God meeting you

 

*/3 /**/Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand./*

*Sometimes on the Journey—You will Get BIT*

·                    Smile—Murphy’s Law—Isn’t it ENOUGH that . . .

?

 

Sometimes—as you are walking on the journey with God