Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_symbols

A number of peace symbols have been used many ways in various cultures and contexts.

The dove and olive branch was used symbolically by early Christians and then eventually became a secular peace symbol, popularized by Pablo Picasso after World War 2. In the 1950s the "peace sign", as it is known today, was designed by Gerald Holtom as the logo for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament,[1] a group at the forefront of the peace movement in the UK, and adopted by anti-war and counterculture activists in the US and elsewhere.

The V hand signal and the peace flag also became international peace symbols.

Is there peace in your life right now?

Do you want to be at peace with others?

Christ called the prince of peace!

we are christians....

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Illustration of need addressed.

Connect illustration to present day hearers.

Transition = Show this need or similar issue was also the question behind the biblical text.

Clearly state the theme of the text/sermon.

Title & Text

Peace

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Theme

In the face of persecution this blessed son of Abraham sought peace.

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Pray

God our desire is to be at peace with all mankind so that your glory might be seen.

We often fail to be as peace filled as we desire to be.

We ask that through this text today you might show us how to grow in our ability to be peacemakers.

Be with us in your Word today and grant us your Spirit so we might understand and apply it.

Amen

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THE SERMON BODY

Gen 26.12-25

v12-16 = When we live as God directs it should not surprise us that people of this world are displeased with us and the blessings we receive.

If they hated me they will also hate you

- overcomers of the world.

12 And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold.

The Lord blessed him,

Do not be deceived we sow what we reap don’t we!

Isaac sowed faithful obedience and reaped his reward from the LORD

God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our circumstances

Famine in the land yet reaping 100 fold!

Do not think we ourselves deserve to increase.

The LORD blessed him

remember what this follows in Isaacs life

13 and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.

13 and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.

Faithfulness to God absolutely does NOT guarantee us prosperity!

Faithfulness to God absolutely DOES guarantee us blessing!

Where are we investing?

What are we seeking to sow?

14 He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.

14 He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.

These Philistines were envying him for perishable goods

No one ever envied anyone for their dust bunnies!

When we view others as more deserving then ourselves we do not get jealous when they are blessed…

Are we living life like a Philistine or like Christians?

15 (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.)

Inside information from Author

the foolishness of envy

the selfishness of envy

when we live a life of envy we hurt ourselves!

This was spitefully done.

Because they had not flocks of their own to water at these wells, they would not leave them for the use of others; so absurd a thing is malice.

And it was perfidiously done, contrary to the covenant of friendship they had made with Abraham, ch.

21:31, 32.

No bonds will hold ill-nature.

Just as Abraham’s prosperity became the occasion for the conflict between his shepherds and those of Lot (13:5–7), so also Isaac’s wealth angered the Philistines

That they destroyed “all” of the wells indicates the intensity of their ire.

16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

Abimelech got it just right!

humility before the mighty

humility before God

cleaving to the mighty

Abimelech misses it!

Gen 12.

Greed - Pride - Power

fear!

v12-16 = When we live as God directs it should not surprise us that people of this world are displeased with our success.

displeased with us and the blessings we receive

When we live as God directs it should not surprise us that people of this world are displeased with us and the blessings we receive.

v17-21 = When we live lives as God directs it should not surprise us if the road before us is still difficult.

now your work has thorns.

17 So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.

Isaac does not leave promised land!

Isaac does not rage or fight but chooses peace

encamped = like Exodus - chose humility rather then being humbled...

We should deny ourselves both in our rights and in our conveniences, rather than quarrel: a wise and a good man will rather retire into obscurity, like Isaac here into a valley, than sit high to be the butt of envy and ill-will.

Are we most likely to fight for the glory of God or the glory of self?

18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham.

And he gave them the names that his father had given them.

Water is life in the desert

Look for water where it can be found

our fathers wells

bad water

good water

Where do you most often find yourself looking for water?

Author pointing to the rightful ownership of the wells = “Isaac dug again” - “gave the same names”

new truths - scripture - society

enduring truths - scripture - God

new truths

19 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water,

Zao = Greek - Chay = Hebrew / living / alive

Here in the valley

Here away from others

Here as a cast away

continues source of water

enough to share

Are you getting enough to drink or afterward do you leave thirsty?