Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.1UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.06UNLIKELY
Fear
0.68LIKELY
Joy
0.57LIKELY
Sadness
0.58LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.62LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.49UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.46UNLIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.57LIKELY
Extraversion
0.12UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.76LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.5LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Dr. Tozer once said, “Men are not revived because they sing; they sing because they are revived.”
INTRO - “Did you turn it off and back on again?”
When I worked for the Villages IT department, that was typically the first thing I asked when I was called to help someone fix a computer problem.
There are two types of computer reboots, a hard reboot and a soft reboot.
Similarly there are two types of renewal in the life of a Jesus follower.
One is when we believe in Jesus and ask him to forgive and save us.
The other happens when we need to remember Jesus.
In a way, we are like a computer that just is not working the way it is designed to function.
Sometimes we need a reboot, a refreshing, a reviving.
TRANS - Our text today tells of the time when Jacob needed a personal refreshing, a spiritual revival, a reboot.
He was in an evil place:
Last week we discussed the result of being in that bad place and how it led to the moral defilement of his daughter.
Also, two of his sons had done some very evil things.
Let’s refresh our memory by reading that account of Simeon and Levi’s wicked actions.
As I often remind people, sin is like a cobweb.
As this story reminds us sin leads to more sin.
EST - God speaks to Jacob in his time depression and despair.
ESS - Our message notes the process of personal revival and renewal.
OSS - We will end our time with a call to God for personal revival and renewal.
TRANS - Do you need God’s help when enduring personal hardship.
Me too and this morning we are visiting how this works, our part, and how revival appears.
What does it say?
What does it mean?
Precept in Rebooting “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there”
Two steps for doing a cold reboot on my computer.
Press and hold the power button until it shuts down.
Press the power button and let the computer boot up fresh.
Similarly, there are two things when God calls for our reboot.
Submit to the reboot “go up to Bethel”
If Jacob wants to be revived, he has to submit to God.
Feeling like you need a personal revival?
Are you doing what God says you must do?
Scripture in a reboot “God said”
I have a bit of a rebellious nature in me.
Let me paint you a picture of how I’ve noticed past sin messing up my life.
When God say’s do things together with other Jesus followers, I’ve expected them to do things my way.
Then, I complained about all the problems.
Think about that for a moment.
I got my way, even if I had to blow my top, I made things go my way.
Then, I wasn’t happy because of problems.
Sound familiar?
I was not as mature a Christian back then.
Today I know everyone has ideas and fortunately they are not always the same as mine.
Even better, because I work with people who bring their own ideas, I’m not standing in Gods way.
And that leads to changes happening.
You see, selfishness prevented me from feeling good.
Even worse, it prevented change and inhibited God’s will.
While I may think having things my way is better, I’ve found that just makes my life more difficult.
Got problems?
There is more I don’t know that what I do.
But one thing I do know is If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
God called me to “drop” the selfish and rebellious part of my nature and “listen” to him.
It’s not so easy.
Maybe that’s why God allows personal breakdowns?
You know what else I know?
Listening to Him is more important than my problems.
Revival comes when we listen to His Word.
When life seems overwhelming, who’s voice is loudest?
TRANS - Okay, so our precepts are submission and Scripture.
Now let’s consider the where or the “place” of rebooting.
Place of Rebooting “Arise go up to Bethel”
When we listen to God, he puts us where we need to be for a reboot.
Living in the wrong places, hanging with wrong sort of folks, watching the wrong sort of stuff on the television.
When the “wrong” influences our “right” choices and messes up people called to be “holy unto the Lord” and the condition of our soul is trashed, we need change.
2 things
A return “to Bethel”
Jacob was previously in Bethel.
It was there he dedicated himself to the Lord.
Jacob needed to return to the place in his life where he knew he was most right with God.
Do you recall the command Jesus gave to the church of Ephesus in the book of Revelation:
ILL - While studying for this message I was reminded of my trip to Oneonta, NY in August of last year.
It was my Aunts wish for me to preform her service.
Oneonta is much more than just some destination.
You see, both my natural birth and second birth happened in Oneonta.
For me, that city is a very special place.
It was there I remember my sister Cecilia laughing at a birthday party while getting a birthday spanking.
It was there I remember standing in line for that first day of kindergarten.
It was there I had my fort in the bushes.
Yes, lots of good memories.
But, far exceeding them all is the memory of God calling me to himself.
I recall the day I said yes to Jesus.
That is the best day of my life.
You and I must return to Jesus over and over again.
Everyday we must seek God and ask to be filled with the HS.
So we must return, the second thing is getting to it.
A Rising “Arise, go”
Bethel’s location is up, that is geography it is situated at a higher altitude.
ILL - In order to get from the couch to the dining room table, we have to use our feet.
If you want to eat, get on your feet, right!
ILL - When I was a boy I took swimming lessons at the YMCA.
I was a brand new swimmer, so I was in the minnow class.
One of the first lessons was treading water.
Once I demonstrated I could keep my head above water, I learned how to propel myself forward.
Some Christians get saved, just keep their head above water, but fail to make any forward progress.
They go through life never sacrificing anything for Jesus.
They may give some money to the church, attend Sunday School, go to services, but when come time to add up their sacrifices, they’ve nothing to give Jesus.
They simply never move.
If you ask God to revive you without the willingness to do your part, I hope you are not expecting anything all too soon.
Our text says “Arise, go.”
Symbolically this text is telling us that revival, renewal, a rebooting puts us on higher ground.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9