Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Matthew Sickling wrote up what he saw as today’s Beatitudes for churchgoers who let the cares of this world dominate them.

THE DEVIL'S BEATITUDES

1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend even an hour once a week with their fellow Christians – they are my best workers.

2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.

3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church –for they are my missionaries.

4. Blessed are the trouble makers – for they shall be called my children.

5. Blessed are the complainers –for their complaints are music to my ears.

6. Blessed are those who keep a list of the preachers mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons.

7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church – for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

8. Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.

9. Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.

10.

Blessed are those who do not give an offering to carry on God’s work – for in stealing from God you steal for me.

11.

Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he shall be with me forever.

12. Blessed are you who, when you hear this, think the preacher is talking about someone other than you– for I’ve got you right where I want you.

Transition:

So goes the Beatitudes of the word’s system with satan as the prince.

These worldly Beatitudes might be a little too painfully familiar.

John talks about this matter concerning what the world teaches in contrast to what the Word teaches, and again, like last week, offers another test to the authenticity of a teacher.

Scripture Reading:

John knew what it was to enjoy a personal relationship with Christ and the benefits associated with that.

He experienced something many in his day did not.

This relationship set him apart from the world as it should us today.

This personal communion with our Creator gave him power that stood out and commanded attention.

Consider:

Transition:

I. Our Power (v.4)

In contrast to those who are against God from the previous and following verses, John reassures his readers that they belong to God.

First is John connecting us by relation to our power and what that results into– victory!

“have overcome them” This seems to be a reference to both the victory in doctrinal matters and then even the victorious Christian life.

What a wonderful word of encouragement for them and us!

John is concerned with the Christian’s victory over sin and the devil.

He uses this term (overcome/victorious) 6 times in I John (cf.

2:13, 14; 4:4; 5:4, 5), 11 times in the Revelation, and once in the Gospel (cf.

16:33).

This is a major thing for John and we can tell because this term for victory was used only once by Dr. Luke in Luke 11:22 and then only twice in Paul’s writings (cf.

Rom.

3:4; 12:21).

Many were the struggles of John’s day and many of those struggles continue today, but we do not have to live in defeat.

We can overcome with the power of Christ, our Lord!

He dwells within us through His Spirit, and He is greater than our adversary.

The world says we are weak and dumb, but we have strength and wisdom this world cannot possess or give.

Life will continue to bring struggles, but we can overcome in Christ!

“for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” This is an emphasis on indwelling deity.

Who exactly is John saying is in you as a believer?

Jesus? the Holy Spirit?

Here, it could even be a reference to the indwelling Father as in the Gospel John 14:23

Other NT passages also emphasize

the indwelling Son (cf.

Matt.

28:20; Col. 1:27) and

the indwelling Holy Spirit (cf.

Rom.

8:9; 1 John 4:13).

The Spirit and the Son are closely identified

The following is a comparison of the work and titles of God, the Son and God, the Spirit.

1.

The Spirit called “Spirit of Christ” or similar expressions Romans 8:9; Gal.

4:6; 1 Pet.

1:11.

2. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are called by the same terms

a.“truth”

1)Jesus called truth (John 14:6)

but later in the same chapter The Spirit is called truth (John 14:17)

b.

Both called “advocate/Helper”

1)Jesus in our epistle as we saw a few weeks back(1 John 2:1)

The Greek word here for advocate is παράκλητος

2)Spirit (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7)

Same Greek word for Helper = παράκλητος or Paraclete

3.Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit indwell believers

a.Jesus’ indwellings

b.No surprise to find proof that the Spirit indwells us:

All this to show that it is both God, the Son & God, the Spirit who supply us the everlasting power to defeat satan and this world.

Transition:

But now let’s look at the power of the world

II.

Their Power (v.5)

These people in verse 5 are the false prophets who belong to this world and cannot belong to God.

The false teachers, being a part of the world system, speak from the world’s viewpoint and so find easy acceptance by the world that listens to them.

False teachers are popular with the world because, like the false prophets of the Old Testament, they tell people what they want to hear.

John has already warned before that Christians who faithfully teach God’s word will not gain a large following in the world.

Why?

People don’t want to hear their sins denounced; they don’t want to listen to commands & demands that they must change their behavior.

A false teacher will too eaisly relate to unrepentant sinners, and in turn, be well received by non-Christians or anti-christs.

In John’s Gospel and letters, the term world describes the world system of beliefs and those who stand in opposition to God rather than the physical Earth.

John uses “world” here in the specific sense of the fallen human race which desperately tries to meet all of its needs apart from God. World, then, refers to fallen humanity’s collective independent spirit in vein effort to become their own gods!

So what is their teaching or their Agenda?

Since the world doesn’t share our desires or possess the hope we enjoy, they have an agenda that is in sharp contrast to the lives we live to attempt to shield themselves from the ALL-Powerful One.

They promote worldly desires and philosophies.

They seek their own pleasures and are quick to silence those who share opposing beliefs.

Concerning this world system, Dave McFadden rightly points out the problem of preaching to this world:

Political correctness says I can't preach on Lot: he's homophobic.

I can't preach on Moses: he's a legalist.

I can't preach on Samson: he was unwelcoming toward those illegally entering his country.

I can't preach on Hosea: his views on his wife's promiscuity were too narrow.

I can't preach on Paul: he's a misogynist (prejudiced toward women).

The fact is, anything I preach on from God's Word will be contrary to the views of this world.

But this is to be expected!

We are in the world, but not of the world.

We don’t enjoy or invite conflict and opposition, but we cannot expect the world to embrace our faith or promote Christian principles.

False teachers must justify their sins and therefore despise sound teachings.

They seek the things of the world, the things that please the flesh and this is prophecy! 2 Tim.4:3 –

I don’t think this passes is just referring to those who crave Joel Osteen’s style of preaching.