Sermon Tone Analysis

Alêtheia Christian Fellowship ~~ Sermon 88 ~~ September 18, 2005

 

Last week: James opens chapter three with…*3:2 For we all stumble in many ways*.

Never think I see myself as a superior person trying to get you to be as holy as me.

I am a worse sinner than any man, but I've been called by God, for His reasons, to speak His Word.

If that Word makes you unhappy, good, it makes me squirm too!

God wants what's best for us and that means spiritual maturity, so I will continue to preach God's Word and will continue to try to apply it in my own life and will continue to pray that you will do the same.

Human *pride is the litmus test* for an evil heart.

If the "Love Wheel," starts with selfless love then the opposite would start with self-Love.

\\ *1- Agapê*

*2- Faith*

*3- Trust*

*4- Obedience*

*5- Loyalty*

*6- Reliability*

*7- Philia*

*8- Erôs*

* *

*1- Self-love*

*2- Fear*

*3- Manipulation*

*4- Pride*

*5- Self-protection*

*6- Conflict of interests*

*7- Hatred*

*8- Murder*

\\ *Narcissism*, from the Greek Na>rkissov, the guy the nymph Echo, made fall in love with his own reflection.

In Greek it is from the root for numb and therefore narcotics and narcolepsy is a numb attack.

In pychology it is the pattern of thinking and behaving which involves infatuation and obsession with one's self to the *exclusion of others*.

It may be seen manifest in the chronic pursuit of personal gratification and public *attention, in social dominance and personal ambition, braggadocio, insensitivity to others (lack of empathy) and~/or excessive dependence* on others to meet his~/her responsibilities in daily living and thinking.

The narcissist has an unhealthily high self-esteem.

Often becoming depressed when things don't work out they are often *thought to have* low self-esteem.

*Sigmund fraud* said it was normative in adolesants, but not as adults.

We socialize it into hiding!

/Half the harm that is done in this world Is due to people who want to feel important \\ They don't mean to do harm ­ but the harm does not interest them.

Or they do not see it, or they justify it Because they are absorbed in the endless struggle To think well of themselves.

/*T.

S. Eliot*

 

 

*§ James Chapter 4:11&12 ~~*

Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters.

He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law.

But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.

But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge—the one who is able to save and destroy.

On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?

*The position is filled*!

Living: Criticize

New Century: Tell evil lies

God's Word: Slandering

Message: Bad-mouthing

 

The word is katalale>w, another use in the NT is in 1 Peter.

Here is

*1 Peter 3:16&17* ~~  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who *speak maliciously against* your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

It illistrates that the term in no way meant the story was fabricated or false.

It is gossip pure and simple and it is always evil.

The person or persons talked about cannot have their day in court and the story seeks to elevate the teller at the expense of the one betrayed.

Gossip is like mud thrown against a *clean wall*: it may not stick, but it leaves a mark.

We will look at this, conclude that it isn't really talking about us or that it really isn't that big of a deal and will continue to sabotage others to make us feel better.

Story of old friend and rich woman.

*§ James Chapter 4:13-16 ~~*

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”

You do not know about tomorrow.

What is your life like?

For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.

You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”

But as it is, you boast in your arrogance.

All such boasting is evil.

It's all about attitude.

It's a heart thing, and it always is… Humble to be saved and transparent to be real.

What do you really believe and how much do you believe it?

Catch a football or get a rebound.

Become a pilot or own your own business.

What are you willing to give up to get….

How much do you believe and how important is God to you?

 

Give up alcohol?

TV? Ice Cream?

We are so totally wrapped up in this world I'm not sure you could extract us with dynamite.

The marketing and commerce.

God wants you to do an honest day's work for an honest day's pay.

*Colossians 3:22-24* ~~ Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who /merely/ please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.

It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

*2 Thessalonians 3:10-12* ~~ For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.

Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

But, Who give you breath?

*Isaiah 29:13-16* ~~

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”

Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us?

Who will know?”

You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!

Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”?

Can the pot say of the potter, “He knows nothing”?

What evil to get wrapped up in this world, how dumb.

I'll give you half a candy bar now or if you'll trust me and be patient when I go to the store I'll buy you ten candy bars.

$100 now or $1,000 in two years or 10,000 in 20 years?

*Revelation 13:16* ~~ And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and /he provides/ that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, /either/ the name of the beast or the number of his name.

*Follow God in business* or Plan like the world, which leads to hoarding and pride.

Borrow an old item vs a new one.

God has a different way to invest.