Sermon Tone Analysis

Restoration to holiness

The means

 

*8*

!!! Votum

I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” \\ My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

(Psalm 31:14-16)

!!! Blessing

*8*

!!! Doxology:     Hymn no  339:   /“Christ whose glory fills the skies” (Tune 396)/

!!!

Call to worship

!!!!!! *8* Let us worship the Lord.

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

(Psalm 125:1-2)

!!! Invocation and the Lord’s Prayer

!!!!!! Invocation

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

(Psalm 90: 1-2, 12).

Hear the prayer of your people, gathered here in the Name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

!!!!!!

The Lord’s Prayer

!!! 8 Hymn:      No 428:                 /“Blessed is the man”/

!!! 8 Children’s Address

*8*  A Christian grocer was in financial difficulties because his customers thought they could run up their bills indefinitely.

They felt that such a good Christian man would never press them for payment or take them to court.

Their ready excuse was, "We don't have money to pay our bills."

*8 *"How can I pay the people I owe money, if the people I have trusted do not pay me?" puzzled the grocer.

*8*  What should a Christian do in such a case--believe all things and all men and go bankrupt?

He pleaded with them.

*8* He got a bright idea.

He nailed the following notice on the bulletin board in front of his store: "On this bulletin board, thirty days from now, will appear the names of all persons who have owe me money for one year or more and who, after I asked them over and over again, have refuse to pay!

Some have told me that they are unable to pay, but they are able to build homes, drive cars, and have other things that I could have if I had the money due me.

I hope I don't have to put any names on the board, but I won't be put off any longer!"

Results followed immediately.

Many paid their old accounts, while others promised to do so on the next payday.

*8 *This grocer's action was wholly consistent with Christian love.

He refused to believe the lies of others and by so doing didn't allow them to continue to dishonest and unfaithful.

Love believes all things that develops honesty and good in others.

Love does not believe lies but try to correct them.

!!! 8 Behold what manner of Love (song)

!!! 8 Scripture Reading                                Romans 3:21-31 8 (with verse 22-23)

!!! 8 Prayer of Adoration and Confession

*Adoration *

Our heavenly Father, who is as wonderful as You are!

We worship a personal God; our God is not only a power or a source of energy.

Our God created to world, and He is involved in his creation day by day, moment by moment.

With David in Psalm 139 we declare:  O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thoughts from afar.

You scrutinize my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, You know it completely.

You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too lofty for me to attain.

(Psalm 139:1–6)

*Confession*

Your eyes are on the ways of a man, and You see all his steps.

There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

You do not need to examine a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

(Job 34:21–23)

So Lord, we confess our sins.

We admit our wrongdoing and stiff-neckedness.

We beg for forgiveness.

Thank you Father that You will not always strive with us, nor will You harbour your anger forever; You do not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is Your love for those who fear You; as far as the east is from the west, so far have You removed our transgressions from us.

Thank you for the fact that You as our Father have compassion on your children, and as our Lord You have compassion on those who fear You.

Amen.

(Psalm 103:9–13)

!!! Declaration of pardoning

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

!!! 8 Hymn:      No 378:                 /“Sing them over again to me”/

!!! 8 Announcements

!!! Offering and Dedication

!!! 8 Hymn:      No 395:                 /“O come our all victorious Lord”/

!!! 8 Scripture Reading                                /Isaiah 1:21-31 ( //8// // //with verse 27)/

*8**  Announce the theme*

!!! Sermon

!!!!!! Introduction

Dear Brother and Sister in the Lord,

*8* In our study of Isaiah we last time heard the Word of God titled “The Gospel according to Isaiah”.

In verses 24 and 25 the Lord announced judgement because of the unfaithfulness and rebellion of his people.

But by his judgement, God had a plan of redemption for his elect.

He announced that He would turn to his people.

This turn of God had in mind destruction of the rebellious, but also the restoration of the elect.

In the process God was the One who promised and acted.

The people themselves had nothing to offer.

*8* Their restoration was an act of grace and mercy.

It was based and founded in the covenant of grace and mercy.

God promised to provide a redemption, and that He did in the perfect sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.

In this way God was the Author of the Judgment and Redemption.

Now we know the reason for the judgment:  Israel’s rebellion as recipient of the covenant.

We know the object, or source, of the judgment:  *8* God as the Author of the covenant.

*8* Today we the Word points to the means and the effect of restoration through judgement.

!!!!!! Means of restoration

Verse 27 of chapter 1 addresses the subject of restoration:  It is Zion.

This is another name for the people of God; his covenant people.

*8* In this instance they are the rebellious child of verse 2, and the unfaithful bride of verse 21.

But, the amazing fact is that God still addresses his people as his people.

*8 *Like the father in the parable who lost his rebellious son who squandered away his inheritance and therefore his right to be called a son – this father did not hesitate to welcome him back and call his him son!