Sermon Tone Analysis

Have you *ever wondered* *what really happened between Cain and Able**?*

The *1st born* of Adam and Eve *became a murder **and a liar*.

*I*.

*GEN 4:1-12*

              *A*.

*Cain and Able represent* both *good and evil*.

*1*.

Let's *look at Able*, who *represents Good*.

*2*.

To understand what's going on it's *important* to *understand* that *Able represents good*, *or* you could say, He portrays *godly characteristics*.

*a*.

You may have heard *people say* they *feel sorry for Cain*.

(*Brought* an *offering*, but *God rejected it*.)

                                  *b*.

*If you think about it:* *If you to bring an offering to God* *and* *it was your very best* *and* *God didn't except* *you would probably get* your feelings *hurt*.

*i*.

*Then, because of His hurt and rejection* *and* *maybe* that *mixed with a temper*, *he killed his brother Able.*

                        *3*.

*Many* people *have* *such concepts about Cain and Able*.

*a*.

*They've come up with* their *own opinions*, *because* they have *never been taught* *what the Word says about it*.

              *B*.

*Able* was a *good son*.

THE Bible says that he was a *keeper of the sheep*, in other words a shepherd *and* he *brought 1 of his firstlings* of his *flock as an offering to God*.

                        *1*.

*Cain* was a *tiller of the ground, or a **framer*, *and* *he brought* some of *his crops* *as an offering to God*

                        *2*.

*God accepted Abel’s offering, **but He refused Cain's*.

*3*.

*Why would God refuse 1 offering **and accept another*?

*4*.

Over *in* *HEB.

11* we get some *valuable information about Abel’s offering.*

*C*.

*HEB 11:4, 6*

                        *1*.

There are *3 important points* we need *to understand* in these passages.

*a*.

*1st **Abel’s offering* was *more excellent than Cain's*.

*(V4)*

                                           *i*.

We can safely say that *Abel’s offering* was *better than Cain's*.

*ii*.

But *why* was it *better?*

*iii*.

Did you notice that *Able offered *(presented) his *offering **by faith*?

*b*.

That's a very *important statement*.

Evidently, *Able was a man of faith*.

*c*.

THE *offering Able brought* to God *was by faith.*

*2*.

*Able* *came* *to God* *by faith*.

*3*.

*(ROM 10:17)* Says, *"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."*

                                  *a*.

*Faith **comes by hearing the Word* of God.

                        *4*.

In *(HEB 11:4)* *Able acted in Faith*.

*a*.

He *had* to have *God's Word on it.*

*b*.

*In order to act in faith*, you *must know* that *you are acting according to God's will.*

*c*.

*If* you *don't know* *that something is God's will*, *how could you possibly act in faith?*

                                  *d*.

*You have to have God's Word on a subject* *to act in faith.*

*i*.

*Written *Word.

*ii*.

*Spoken* Word.

*5*.

*Able* must have *had God's Word* on this subject *to* have offered a *sacrifice in faith*.

*a*.

*Faith begins where the will of God is known*.

*b*.

*Abel’s offering* was *more excellent*.

*c*.

*It was by faith*.

*D*.

Our *2nd point* of the *3 important things* that we need to understand is that *Abel’s actions **verified his **right standing with God*.

*1*.

*(HEB 11:4)* *tells us* that *because* *Abel offered a sacrifice by faith, **He obtained witness that he was righteous.

*

                                  *a*.

*"Righteousness"* means *"To be in right standing with God.*"

                                  *b*.

*If you're in the place of **right standing with God*, you're in the *best position there is.*

                                  *c*.

*If you're righteous*, *you can pray with confidence*, *and* you'll *have the assurance* that you're *prayers will be answered*.

*i*.

*How* can you *have* that *assurance?*

                                           *ii*.

*Because* if *you're in right standing with God*, you'll *have communication and fellowship with Him*.

*2*.

*1JOHN 1:3-7*

                                  *a*.

*When* you're *walking in the light* *and the blood of Jesus is cleansing you* from all sin, *you're in right standing with God*.

*b*.

*And not only* *will you have fellowship with one another*, *but* you will also have *fellowship with God.*

                                  *c*.

*When you have* that kind of *fellowship with Him* you can *have* that *assurance* that you're *prayer will be answered*.

*      *                             *i*.

*(1JOHN 5:14-15)* Says, *"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.*

*II*.

The *3rd **important point* about (*HEB 11:4*) is that *because **Able offered a sacrifice **by faith*, there are *witnesses who will testify about him.*

*A*.

*(HEB 11:4)* Says that *God* Himself *gives testimony of Able*.

*B*.

There are *2 ways* in which *God gives* this *testimony*.

*1*.

The *1st* is thru *God's Word*.

*2*.

Go back with me to *HEB 11:4*.

*3*.

The *11th* chapter of *HEB* includes a *long list* of *people* who are *commonly referred to as* *"The Heroes of Faith."*

*a*.

The *O**.T. saints* listed here were singled out and *listed* by the H.S. *for our benefit*.