Sermon Tone Analysis

*Secular:*

*Exercise!!*

* Weight gain

* TV and particularly Radio

* Weight loss… pills… machines (electric stimulation)

* Instant… make the choice… enjoy the immediate painless outcome!

* No  it is about diet and exercise… good choices… hard work and sacrifice

* Outside of some radical cosmetic surgery… there is no easy way out

* Jesus ministry… and especially his cruel death, his burial… and of course his glorious resurrection testify to the fact… there is no easy way… if he didn’t tell us there was… and he couldn’t find it… it ain’t there…

* The Christian faith is a journey down the Rocky Road… a journey we get to take together and with our Saviour… but it is a journey

* *

*Biblical:** *

NAU 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory

 

*Personal:*

Rocky Road ice cream… is a mix

Hard crunchy… salty almonds

Gooey sticky… marshmallow

Engulfed in creamy… silky smooth chocolate ice cream…

The combination of hard and soft… creamy and crunchy… salty and sweet… make this an extraordinarily tantalizing treat…mmmm

Hard to explain this one… maybe you need a taste

*Bridge:*

What makes the Rocky Road so delectable… is the recognition of the God we serve… all that is blended into our lives… the hard… the crunchy… the salty… the gooey… are all enveloped in the rich and creamy relationship!

We know how the story ends…

Christ is Risen… how sweet is that

Christ is Ascended… how sweet is that

Christ will Return… how sweet is that

The Rocky Road is far less daunting when we serve the Risen Saviour

 

 

 

*Body:*

* *

*JOB:*

NAU Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings /according to /the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts."

Thus Job did continually.

What a guy…

·         Blameless, upright, feared God

·         Not unhappy

·         Recognized sinfulness of family

·         Not unhappy

·         Not seeking evil

 

Job is a man who loves and honours God!

Living the Sweet Life!

But wait…

 

Goodness, righteousness, holiness… faith… do not prevent us from facing trials!

NAU Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

7 The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?"

Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

8 The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?

For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 "Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side?

You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

11 "But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face." 12 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him."

So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

* Took his livelihood… donkeys, oxen

* Took his food… his help… sheep and servants

* Raiding party killed camels and servants

* Wind blew… knocked down the house… killed his family

 

-          Job… Blameless, upright, feared God… was now facing the Rocky Road

o       Did he lack faith?

o       Did he shun God?

o       Did he turn away?

NAU Job 1:20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and *worshiped.*

21 He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the LORD."

22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Job came to the realization… that God does not dole out favours like a PEZ dispenser

 

NAU Job 9:3 "If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand /times/.

NAU Job 9:10 Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number.

NAU Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD and said, 2 "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

3 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?'

"Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

4 'Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.' 5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; 6 Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes."

God ultimately restored Jobs wealth… even increased it…

There is no need to wonder what old Job would have thought if God didn’t restore his wealth, his health… "Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

* Job realized that even when God’s will is beyond our understanding… He is still God… /where were you when I formed the heavens and the earth?/

* The Rocky Road… was the Path set before him by God

* *

*JOSEPH*

Joseph was the favoured son of Jacob, Son of Israel….

Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic.

I have heard Joseph  described as obnoxious… I mean… the favoured child… gets the good presents… and shares two dreams…

NAU Genesis 37:5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

6 He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf."

8 Then his brothers said to him, "Are you actually going to reign over us?

Or are you really going to rule over us?"

So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

NAU Genesis 37:9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." 10 He related /it /to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had?

Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?"

11 His brothers were jealous of him!!

I Guess so…

It could drive you a little crazy…

* Fancy jacket

* Dad’s pet

* Dreams of grandeur

 

From Joseph perspective… things are pretty cool…

… then the Rocky Road

Plan A: Kill him!!

NAU Genesis 37:18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.

19 They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer!

20 "Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, 'A wild beast devoured him.'

Then let us see what will become of his dreams!"

Plan B: Sell him into slavery…