Sermon Tone Analysis

We’ve been on the subject called “*/Knowing God Intimately/*.”

God wants us to spend time with Him so that we can get to know Him, not just knowing about Him, but having that close personal fellowship with Him.

We’re going to *pick up from where we left off last week*.

*I.

/Last week/* I said that */every person has a void on the inside/* of them.

People try to */fill/* that */void/* with */drinking/*, */drugs/*, */hobbies/*, */work/*, and many */other things/*.

*A.

*The */only thing/* that is going to */fill/* that */void/* is */fellowship with God/* */and/* the Lord */Jesus/* Christ.

*2.

*In order for us */to fellowship with Him/* we */must spend time in His presence/*.

*a.

*(*/PSA 16:11/*) Says, “*/In thy presence is fullness of joy/*.”

*b.

*That’s where you’ll find fulfillment in your life.

*i.

/Other things/* are */secondary/*, like having a family, or a great jo*b.

*

                                           *ii.

*Your */true fulfillment/* is going */to come/* when you spend time */in His presence/*.

*B.

*Last week we ended with */PSA 81:13-16/* so let’s turn there.

*1.

*The */NIV/* words it a little better.

The */NIV/* says, */“If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you/*.”

*a.

God clearly states what* will happen If we *listen to Him. *(Listening comes from fellowship)

                                           *i.

*Our */enemies/* would be */subdued/*, and */God/* would */supply us with/* the */finest in life/*.

*ii.

/God offers/* His very best.

*iii.

/He offers/* His */wisdom/ **/and/* His */direction/* in our lives, */but/* it */only comes by listening/*.

And we */hear/* the */best/* when we're */in His presence/*.

*C.

*In the */N.

T./* we find */many references/* where */Jesus/**/ spent time alone/ to **/hear/ from **/His Father/*.

*1.

/Jesus/* was */always looking to His father for guidance/, **/direction/, and **/fellowship/*.

*a.

*Jesus said in (*/JOHN 5:19/*) “*/I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does/*.”

*b.

*The *night before Jesus picked* the *12 disciples*; He *went to* the mountains to *pray*.

*c.

*Look at */LUK 6:12–13/*

                                           *i.

/Why/* did */Jesus go/* to the */mountains/* to pray?

                                           *ii.

*So He could */have/* that */close fellowship with the Father/*.

*iii.

*So He could */get/* the */Father direction and guidance/*.

*2.

*The */time/* that */you spend in private fellowship with the Lord/* is what */is going to bring God’s power in your life/* for public benefit.

*a.

*Jesus said in (*/Matthew 6:6/*) “*/When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly/*.”

*b.

/Rewarding you openly/* is a */result of what is done in secret/*.

(Good or Bad)

     *II.

/Jesus/* was */led by/* the */Holy Spirit/* *into* the */wilderness/*.

*When* He */returned/*, He *came **/in the power of the Spirit/*.

*A.

*He was *led**/ into a time of fasting and prayer before beginning His public ministry/*.

*1.

*He was *there so He could **/complete His preparation for ministry/*.

*a.

/Mainly/* to */spend time in God’s presence/* and to continue to walk with Him, always.

*b.

* */Then He returned in the power of the Spirit/*.

*2.

/Only if all/* of us */could learn/* this */one truth/*.

*/If Jesus needed to go into the presence of His Father to be renewed/, **/find direction/ **/and to be empowered/, **/how much more do we need to do this/*.

*B.

*Lets turn over to */EXO 34/** *In this chapter */Moses/* had been */fasting 40 days/*.

He was */given/* the */10 commandments/* and was */on his way down from mountain/* Sinai.*

*

                        *1.

*Look at */EXO 34:29–30/*

                                  *a.

/Moses was in the presence of God/ for 40 days*, there was a */dramatic outward effect/* – an */unconscious effect/*.

*b.

*(This will also happen to you.) [New birth on the inside, people change on the outside.]

*i.

*But I’m */not just talking about/* a */change in the natural/*, I’m talking about being */radiant with the glory of God/*.

(It comes from being in His presence.)

[You're going to */glow in the dark/*]

                        *2.

*Let's begin to */have/* that */time alone with the Lord/*.

*                                  **a.

/As we do press on to know Him in a greater way/*, */His ways will become our ways/*.

We should be */taking on His character/*, and */become more and more in His likeness/*.

*III.

**/HOSEA 10:12/* Notice he says.

“*/Break up your fallow ground/*.”

*A.

*There are */2 kinds of Christian lives/*: the */fallow/*, *and* the */plowed/*.

*1.

**/Fallow/ **/ground/ *is* **/uncultivated/*, */unused/*, */idle/*, */dormant/*, and* **/inactive/*.

*a.

*It's */possible/* that */it was plowed/* at */one time/*, *but* because it */remained untended/*, because of the natural things, it */hardened and became crusted/* until *final**/l/y* it */needed to be broken up again/* in order */to receive seed/*.

*2.

*In the *same way*, the */fallow life Christian/* is */content/ **/with/* whatever */fruit/ he may have **/produced in the past/*.

*a.

*He is */tolerant/ of **/those/* that are */seeking God 1st/*.

*/But/* he is */unmotivated/*.

*i.

*He */always complains/* */about how things are/* */and/* */how things should be/*, */but does nothing/* to make thing better.

*b.

/This/* is the */person/* that has */lost his passion for the presence of God/* in his life.

*i.

*He */looks back with satisfaction at/* the */glory/* that */once was in his life/*.