Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction to Message with Video

Well, it's great to have all of you with us today.

How many of you like that annoying song?

Be positive and say you do.

I love that little song.

We are starting a brand new message series called Stay Positive.

I think, honestly, one of the reasons I'm so excited about this message series, if I can be honest, is because I really need it.

It's amazing how quickly, like so many people, I can drift into negativity.

In fact, how many of you here today at our campus or online would agree that around the world today, there's almost an epidemic of negativity, just people looking at things, seeing the downside over and over and over again?

On the other hand, the youngest child in me, that loves to poke the bear, disturb the bee hive is excited about this serious because I know that there is nothing that drives religious legalist nuts then when you start preaching about joy and having a positive outlook on life.

The religious legalist love to be put on long faces like every day my faith is burden to bear, a choir to perform a rule to keep.

Free us God from religious legalism.

I don't know what part of the two words "Good News" relgious legalist don't understand but if our faith is anything it is positive because it is good news.

For the next few weeks, as we gather together here on our campus and our online families, we are going to discuss God's word, we're going to talk about six different, very important, positive biblical qualities.

Next week, we're going to talk about gratitude.

Week number three, we're going to talk about encouragement.

Week number four, we're going to talk about generosity.

Week number five is probably my favorite.

We're going to talk about enthusiasm.

Week number six, we're going to talk about being confident because of who God says we are.

We're going to let God's word transform us into people who see him working in our lives and therefore, we are positive.

I got a feeling by the end of this message series there are going to be some frowns turned upside down.

There are gong to be some dads who are going to be much more positive with their wives and children.

Some moms that are just going to overflow with warmth and love because of how God is going to meet with us in His Word during this series.

Today, the theme I want to talk about is optimism.

I've titled this message אֶשְׂחַ֣ק eschaq I'm optimistic but literally "I laugh."

It comes from the Proverbs 31:21 woman who it says of her תִּשְׂחַ֗ק†לְי֣וֹם†אַחֲרֽוֹן

teeschaq leyowm acharown "She laughs at the days to come."

It is one of the hallmarks of a virtuous woman that she so optimistic about the future that she can laugh, and laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

Could you look at the person sitting next to you and say, "I don't know about you, but I'm optimistic about the future.

Now, look at the person to your right and let out a little smile and a laugh.

All over the world today, it seems like people are looking for a reason to be critical.

It is not fake news that bothers me as much as "hate news."

People looking for a reason to be negative.

It's almost as if it helps people feel better to be incredibly negative.

Think about what you hear all the time.

Even in your own self-talk, without knowing it, you can talk down to yourself, saying, "I don't have what it takes.

My life stinks.

I can't stand where I am in life.

Everybody hates me.

I never get a fare shake.

My life sucks."

Literally, we say that to ourselves over and over and over again until we almost talk ourselves into having a bad life.

You talk to people all over today and when you get done it either feels like the apocalypse is here or it feels "icky" like man isn't there anything to celebrate, isn't their any good will, any faith, any hope any love?

The reality is there are a lot of things going wrong in our citiy, our country and in the world.

There's no doubt about it.

We as Yeshua followers don't deny the evils in our world or put our heads in the sand and pretend like there's not things going wrong.

At the same time, God is doing a lot of amazing things.

Just open your eyes and look and see.

You see a mess, God's got a miracle coming.

You see mourning, God's going to bring dancing.

You see ashes, God creates beauty.

You were troubled through the night, there is joy in the morning.

While there are things going wrong, there are so many things going right.

We will often find what we are looking for.

ILLUSTRATION

I just love the illustration of two different types of birds.

You take a buzzard and a hummingbird.

Every single day, what does a buzzard find?

A buzzard swerves around and finds dead things.

Every single day, what does a hummingbird find?

Sweet things, day after day, proving you will always find what you look for.

That's just not a cheesy rabbi illustration.

In fact, scripture actually teaches that very same principle.

BIBLE VERSE