Sermon Tone Analysis

*We’re going to continue* on the *subject* that *we’ve been on* the *last few weeks* *and that is* *walking in God’s promises* *and* *walking in victory in our lives*.

*We’ve heard messages along these lines* *from time to time*, *but we need to go back to them* *so that we can be built up and encouraged*.

*If discouragement sets in*, *then we began to get negative* *and* *walk in doubt*.

*When we’re in doubt* *we’re not going to receive anything from the Lord*.

*I) **We need to be built up* *and encouraged in the Lord*.

(*Proverbs 15:23*) *says*, *“A word spoken in due season, how good it is!”* (KJV)

*A) **A fit word from God* *at the right time* *is very, very good*.

*It ministers life*, *freedom*, and *victory* *to the person* *that hears it and receives it*.

*B) *Turn with me to *EPH 2:4-6**.*

*1) **This V says* that *we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus*.

*a) **Your victory** **is a direct result of your relationship with God*.

*(i) *Really the *victory* that *you have* *does not have any thing to do with your circumstances*.

*It’s a gift* from God. He’s *already given* it *to you**.*

*2) *So *if you’re not walking in victory* *you need to examine yourself*.

*a) **There can be things in our lives* *that can be hindering us* *from walking in victory* *and* *from walking in the promises of God*.

*(i) **Of course*, *we know sin* *is going to be a hindrance*.

*But there are some things* that *we don’t even think about* *that can hinder us*.

*(ii) **Things like*, *BITTERNESS*.

*Now if you ask somebody* *“Are you bitter?”* *The answer will be*, *“Of course not.”*

*b) **Let me give you a very simple definition of* *“BITTER OR BITTERNESS.”*

*(i) **If you don’t have joy* *in your life then you’re probably in* *bitterness* *or* *angry** about how your life is.*

*(ii) **The Bible says* in (*JOB 21:25*) *“Another dieth in bitterness of his soul*, *and never eateth with pleasure*.”

*(a) **Bitterness* *or* *you could say* *the lack of significant joy in your life*, *will severely hinder you from receiving the blessings* *and* *pleasures of God’s promises*.

*c) *Turn to *Proverbs 17:22*.

*(i) **A merry and joyful heart* *brings about God’s promises*, *but those that have a broken spirit*; *those that walk in bitterness*, *hatred*, *and* *negativism* *receive the worst in this life*.

*(ii) **If you lack joy* *you need to spend more time in the presence of God*.

*In his presence is the fullness of joy*.

(*Psalm 16:11*).

*C) **Another area* that *the Lord quickened to my spirit* *on what to minister today* *was the words that come out of our mouth*.

*1) **The Bible says* that *death and life are in the power of the tongue*.

*a) **Every word* that *you speak* *is a seed* *and if you’re planting bad seeds* *you’re going to have a harvest of weeds*.

*That would be a harvest of every bad thing* that *you’ve sown*.

*(i) *(*Galatians 6:7*) *says*, *“For whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”*

*(ii) **If you sow negative seeds* *like; I always get sick*, *or* *I always lose my job*, *or* *I’m such a failure*, *that’s what you’re going to receive*.

*2) **But* *there is another area* *that has to do with the words we speak* *and* *that has to do with* *SWEARING*, *FOOLISH JESTING*, *GOSSIPING*, *and* *USING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN*.

*a) *(*Ephesians 4:29*) *says*, *“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.”*

*b) **In* (*Ephesians 5:4*) *it says* that *the saints of God should not be partakers in FOOLISH TALKING or in EVIL JESTING*.

*c) *In (*Exodus 20:7*) *it says*, *“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain*; *for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”*

*(i) **Using the name of* *“GOD”* *or “JESUS CHRIST”* *or* *the name of the Holy Spirit*, *as a slang* *or* *as an expression* *is using the Lord’s name in vain*.

*(ii) **Don’t go around saying*, *“OH GOD”* *unless you’re referring to God* *or* *talking to Him*.

*(iii) **Don’t go around saying* *“Jesus Christ”* *unless you’re referring to Him* *or talking to Him*.

*II) **1COR 15:57*

*A) **It is possible* that *we are doing things right*, *but* we *still* *don’t see the victory*.

The *Word of God gives* us some *insight* into that *HEB 10:36*

*1) **I like the way the NIV puts it*, *(Hebrews 10:36)* *“You need to **persevere** so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”*

(NIV)

*a) **When the KJV says* *“You have need of **patience**”*, *the NIV says* *“persevere”* *the Greek literal says* *it’s a steadfastness*, *constancy*, and it an *endurance.*

*2) **While* *we’re waiting in patience*, *doing the will of God*, *we should still be checking ourselves*.

*a) **(1COR 11:31)* Says, *“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”*

*B) **There are some important things* that *you should know in order to have this victory*.

*1) **1st* look at *ROM 8:28*

*a) **It’s essential* *to know that all things will work out for good if you love the Lord*.

*b) **Notice* that there is a *condition* to that V., *“To them that Love God.”*

*(i) *The word *“love”* here is the *Greek* word *“Agapao”* which comes from *“agape”*

*(ii) *This is the *highest form of love*, an *unconditional love*.

*(iii) **This is the best love* *that we could have for the Lord*.

*And the Lord says* that *if you have this kind of love for me*, *all things will work out for good*.

*(a) **God has a way of turning situations around* for His glory.

*(b) *But your *love for the Lord is the key*.

*c) *Let’s just go to a *little side thought* here *about* *love*.

*(i) **JOHN 21:15-17*

 

*d) *Back in *(Romans 8:28)* It *Says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”*

(KJV)

*(i) *The *beginning* of that *V* *says that* *“We know”* *You have to have* *that knowing & that attitude* *that God will turn the situation around*.

*(ii) **Other wise* *you* will *get into negativism* *&* *that will bring defeat*.

*2) *The *2ND* *thing* that *you need to know* *to have victory* *is found in* *PHIL 4:13* (*1st* was to *know* that *God* *will turn the situation around*.)

*a) **It’s important to realize* *that you can have victory through Jesus*, *& that’s where victory comes from*.

*b) **If you don’t understand that* *then you will be defeated before you even start*.

*3) **3rd* *ROM 6:14*

*a) **It’s very important* that *you realize* that *you are not under sin’s dominion*, *nor are you under the curse of it*.

*b) *(*2COR 5:21*) Says*, “For he hath made him {to be} sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”*

*(i) **If you have*, (what I call), *a sin consciousness*, *it’s going to hinder your relationship with God*.

*(ii) **HEB 9:14*

*(a) **The NIV says*, *“Cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” *

*(b) **You can’t really be serving God* *in the fullest* *with a sin consciousness*.

*(iii) *(*HEB 10:22*) *Says*, *“Let us draw near *(that’s talking about God) *with a true heart* (or you could say *“Pure Conscience”*) *in full assurance of faith**, **having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience**, **and our bodies washed with pure water.”*

*c) **If we’re coming to God** **&** **want to walk from victory to victory* *it’s important to have* that *“Pure Conscience.”*

*(i) **We need to know* that *we’re no longer under sin*.

*C) **There’s 3 steps* that *we all need to take to have* that *victory*.

*JAMES 4:7*

*1) **1st* of all *submit yourself to God*.

*a) **That means serving Him** **& being obedient to Him*.

*2) **Then* He says *“Resist the Devil”*

*a) **Resist* those *temptations to sin*, *resist evil thoughts*, *resist those works of the Devil*.

*b) **Then* *the Devil will flee*.

*3) *Then *in (V 8)* *he says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”*

*a) **When you draw nigh unto God* *& He draws nigh unto you*, *then you have victory*.

*b) **But notice* that the *submitting to God comes before* *the drawing nigh* unto Him.

*4) *Look at *DEUT 28:1*

* *

 

*a) **In order for us to have this kind of victory*, to where we are set high above all nations, *we need to follow these conditions*.

*(i) **1st* of all he says, “*HARKEN* *unto the voice of the Lord,”* The word *“Harken”* *means* *“listen intently to.” *

*(ii) *The word *“OBSERVE,”* *means* *“To guard, & to protect.”*

*(iii) **Then he says*, *“And do all His commandments.”*

*b) **In other words* he’s saying*, “Listen intently to the Word of God*, *protect & guard that Word in your heart*, *&* *do it.”*

*III) *Turn with me to *1COR 9:24-27*

*A) *In (*V 24*) *he tells us to* *run this race of LIFE*.

*1) **He goes on to say*, *“Don’t just run it any old way*, *run to WIN.”*

*B) **Then in* (*V 25*) *he says*, *“Be temperate in all things”*

*1) *The *RSV* *says*, *“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.”*

*a) **We as Christians need to be temperate* *or* *use self-control* *in all things*.