Sermon Tone Analysis

The *Amplified translation* says “*If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, The Lord your God will set you high above all the nation’s of the earth*.”

Now *here we see* *a commandment with a promise*.

The words *“To listen diligently or hearken diligently,”* means *“To hear and obey what is heard.”*

*Then we see the results*.

The *Lord* *will set you high* *above all nations of the earth.*

*I) **PSA 119:4**.*

The word *“PRECEPTS”* here means *“precepts*, *commandments*, or *mandates.”*

*A) **David is telling us* *that diligence* *is a COMMANDED by God.*

*1) *The *result* of *keeping God’s Word* *DILIGENTLY *is *always blessings.*

*2) *In the *N.T.* we *also* *have an invitation to keep in God’s Word*, *and there are benefits in doing so*.

*3) **JOHN 8:31**.*

*a) *The word *“continue”** means* *“to stay in**, **abide in**, **endure in**, **be present in**, **remain in**, **stand in**, **and tarry in.”*

*b) *It's I really believe that the *more* that *we stay in the Word*, the *more we become imitators of God.*

*c) **Whoever* it is that *you’re around*, *you become like them*.

*d) *That’s *one reason* that we’re *not to fellowship with* the kingdom of *darkness*.

[People that are not serving the Lord, not born-again].

*e) **When you’re in the Word* of God *you will began to be* an *imitator of God’s character, *and there’s nothing wrong with that.

*(i) **(EPH 5:1)* Says from the *NIV**,* *“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.”*

*B) *(Jesus said in) *JOHN 8:31* *(“If ye continue in my word, {then} are ye my disciples indeed;”)*

*1) **If we’re truly continuing and abiding in* God’s *Word* *then we will be the Lord’s disciples and followers.*

*2) **By keeping God’s Word* *we will be set free from sin, tradition, legalism and so on*.

*3) **It’s the knowledge of God’s Word* that will *keep setting you free.*

*4) **JOHN 8:32*.

*a) **And you stay free* *by continuing in God’s Word*.

*II) *There are *other things* we are *told to continue in*.

*A) **ACTS 14:22* Here were told to *continue in the faith.*

*B) *In *(HEB 8:9)* it says that we should *continue in the **COVENANT OF GOD**.*

*C) *In *(ACT 13:43)* it says, *“Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God”.*

*D) *In *(ROM 11:22)* we’re told to *“Continue in {his} goodness**: otherwise thou shalt be cut off.”*

*E) *In (*JAMES 1:25*) it tells us that *1 of the conditions to being blessed* *is to continue in the LAW OF LIBERTY.*

*F) **(1TIM 4:16),* tells us to *continue in doctrine* *so that you will be saved,* *and* *those that hear you*.

*G) **(ACT 2:42 ASV)** *Says, *“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.”*

*1) *The words *“continued steadfastly”* means *“constantly diligent”*.

*2) **They were constantly diligent in the apostles’ teaching*.

*H) **JOHN 15:9** *We’re* encouraged to remain* *and CONTINUE IN CHRIST’S LOVE.*

*1) *Now the question is, *how are we to continue in Christ’s love?*

*2) *The *answer is simple*, *V 10**.*

*a) **Jesus said* that *we have to keep His commandments, and if we do, we are abiding in His love*.

*III) *Look at *V. 7 of JOHN 15**.*

*A) **Jesus is telling us* that *if we abide or continue in Him* *and His **WORDS **abide** **or** **continue in us*, *we can ask for whatsoever we want* *and* *it’s ours*; *as long as* it’s *in line with the will of God*.

*B) *That’s *without limitations*.

*1) **But Jesus makes 2* *very important points* *for this to come to pass*.

*a) **1st* you *have to abide in Him*.

*b) **2nd** His Words have to abide in you.*

*c) **When* God’s *Word abides in you*, *His WILL abides in you*.

*d) **Then your asking** **will be in line with the Word* of God, *and you will get whatever you ask*.

*e) **That sounds like something John wrote* some place else; lets *look at it*.

*2) **1JOHN 5:14-15* [*When we have His Word*, *we’ll ask according to His will.*]

*a) **Continue in God’s Word*.

*Be diligent in the Word*.

*b) **It’s God’s Word in your heart* *that will set you free and give you success in this life*.

*3) *HEB 11:6.

*TFC WED January 3, 1990 Diligen4.doc and WOLCC SUN AM 8~/11~/91*