Sermon Tone Analysis

1st Talk December 1

· To begin the advent journey.

starts tomorrow: Advent (from Lat.

adventus “coming”).

A term often taken to designate either the incarnation of Christ or the Parousia, his second coming.

· ADVENT -is a time for reflective waiting and preparing for Jesus return, as we remember his first advent as our saviour from sin and restoring us a child of God.

Be Still in His Presence

§ Scripture

§ Expounding on the topic from scripture

§ Personal example /testimony

§ Song

§ Prayer

Psalm 37 " rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him".

( be silent.

2. be still (opp.

to both speech and motion)

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God"

John 15:4-5 Abide (menō), remain; stay; reside.) in Me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches.

He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Expounding on the topic from scripture

§ Being still before the Lord is not something that I will confess that I have done very well or even been consistent with in my walk with the Lord.

§ For those of you who are like me and many others (Christians) resting and Waiting (especially Patient waiting) does not come easy.

§ We live in a world that expects things to happen immediately, instantaneously, Technology and especially the internet is a good example of being conditioned for instant response.

§ I can remember the days of dial-up (sure) 5 min or Longer to connect.

Then you started a download, made a cup of coffee, put some bread in the toaster after about 10 min you take a look to see haw much of the 10 kilobits of information actually arrived!

I a file takes more that a few seconds we get frustrated and wonder what’s wrong with this stupid internet!

You know what I'm saying?

§ God tells us to REST/ABIDE IN HIM- WAIT- BE STILL

§ WE like doing.

Lots of activity.

(MINISTRY) That’s what we are called to do right.

To Be Jesus’ Hands and feet in a hurting world to defeat the affects of satan wherever we see them.

That means Action!

§ Can there be a balance-Is there even supposed to be a balance?? Between presence and service (resting in Him and service to Him).

§ Its very obvious Jesus went off by himself to spend time with Heavenly Father.

Some amazing signs, wonders and miracles followed these times alone with Father.

Personal example /testimony

§ In the early days of my walk with the Lord, I thought it was about the doing , the serving.

I knew I needed a relationship with Jesus.

And there was although my identity (we hear a lot about identity these days) was wrapped up in what I did in ministry.

In the parish as an associate priest, and all the function associated with it.

I confess there was little resting and waiting on the Lord.

Getting to know Him enjoying His presence.

Even my reading of scripture was more Quota versus learning lessons of life from it!

§ My usual MO (modus operendi) was to embroil myself in doing.

Most of the time it was Good.

People saw what I was doing and would say nice encouraging things.

I’d come up with ideas and invite Jesus to join me.

§ There were some successes but there were also many times I’d get frustrated when things didn’t go as I planned or get discouraged, disappointed.

Etc.

§ Lately Father (past few years) has revealed to me that it is not the works (service) from me He wants but my presence with Him.

He enjoys to spend time with me.

§ When I wake in the morning I am excited to be with Him in what ever He has for me.

At night I am eager for Him to minister to me and speak to me.

§ To meditate on His word as He reveals things of His character and nature and especially as he shows me how much He loves me.

And I can thank Father and tell Him I love Him too!

Can we be still in His presence, block out the earthly to hear the heavenly?

§ Song

§ Prayer

Song For The Bride (Brian Doerksen)

Verse

I have longed to hold you in My arms

And take all of your fear away

I will take your filthy rags

And make them clean if you'll receive My love

If you will receive My love

So wait for Me and hear My Spirit say

Chorus 2

In repentance and rest is your salvation

In quietness and trust is your strength

And rest is your salvation

In quietness and trust is your strength

Is your strength

2nd Talk December 1

Be still and HEAR HIS VOICE

Scripture

Jeremiah 33:3 “call to me and I will answer you.”

Job 33:14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.

NKJV

For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.

NLT

Expounding on the topic from scripture

§ I asked our congregation one Sunday morning some weeks ago this question: Can you think of a time when you heard God speak?

What did He say?

§ I didn’t get a lot of response.

There were some nods, YES but no one gave a testimony to what God said!

§ The scriptures say God speaks to us: “again and again”.

I believe it because God said it!

How often today do we hear or recognize when God is speaking to us?

In some ways many of us have lost the ability to recognize His voice.

Or we wonder if what we are hearing is from the Holy Spirit or the flesh.

§ I’ll comment on our congregation: I believe Every Sunday morning as we Gather to Worship God is speaking.

I believe God has things He wants to say to the whole Congregation but to our shame in many of our worship services the opportunity for sharing what God’s spirit is reviling to his people isn’t encouraged. 1 Thess 5:19,20 “Do not quench the spirit and do not despise prophecy”

§ I believe God is far from being silent.

We can hear what the spirit is saying to the Church!

Personal example /testimony

§ Many times, I asked God this ,” I said Lord help me to hear you clearly.

I want to hear your voice”!

§ The TRUTH is God was speaking to me all along but I wasn’t listening.