Sermon Tone Analysis

BATTLING BITTERNESS

(NKJV)

Chapel Message Guide

Pastor Burns

The family was instituted in the garden by grace and was a delight to the eyes of God

The family was interrupted in the garden by sin and became a dysfunction in the eyes of God

Sin is the seed of Satan that disrupted the beauty of the family.

After Adam and Eve sinned the very first act of sin that followed was Cain’s killing of Abel.

· Why was this the first?

Because Satan knew the power of the family

o Thus, the first place of dysfunction is the place of the family: and we continue, today, to see the effects of it

§ Because man is still wrapped in sin

§ Because saints still battle with sin

§ Thus, the enemy, still has the possibility of influence over the family because he still can influence believers

· Our text

o Spoken to a church (a family) as to how to deal with the presence of sin

§ I. Never think yourself above being influenced by it and acting it out

§ II.

Never see sin as personal but always of corporate

§ III.

Never forget that unconfessed sin produces a hard heart

§ IV.

Never forget that a hard heart is inconsistent with a living faith

Keller’s statement of the social, political, spiritual impacts of sin

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

“A callus is a toughened area of skin which has become relatively thick and hard in response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation.”

Look at this quote

“Hard heartedness can easily become habitual, closing our hearts more and more to god (and others) making it harder and harder to engage in regular worship with god and healthy relationships with others

SO HOW DO YOU BATTLE BITTERNESS?

1. REPENT FOR YOUR BITTERNESS

Tell the Lord that you are sorry for carrying a pain that He died to conquer and heal on the cross.

2. REST IN GOD’S LOVE

Fight to know that regardless of how humans have let you down and have not showed you love - know that Jesus is absolutely in love with those who fight to love and trust His Son.

3. RECONCILE WITH OTHERS

Why did I put “Rest in God’s Grace” before “Reconcile with Others?”

a. True reconciliation with another person is never possible until you have reconciled or returned to the Love of Christ

b.

You need to know that your obedience to Jesus is what God holds you responsible for; not the response of others