Sermon Tone Analysis

Battling Discouragement and Despair

The helmet was intended to protect from blows from a broad sword, to keep a soldier from being beaten down.

Satan will try to beat you down with discouragement and despair, often after the greatest victories.

Elijah’s moment of deep depression came right after the greatest “victory” of his ministry - : God met him in that moment and encouraged him by reminding Elijah of His mighty work in the past, showing Elijah His purpose during His present difficulty, and giving Elijah hope for the future.

When you are discouraged take up the helmet of salvation.

The truth of God’s Word will encourage you:

Salvation’s Past - Justification

Remember God’s mighty work in the Past.

Yahweh displayed His mighty power to Elijah in the strong wind, earthquake and fire.

They were reminders of God’s powerful work on his behalf in the past.

In the same way, God’s mighty work in salvation came with powerful signs:

God has accomplished your justification through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Signs of nature - darkness at midday, earthquake

Signs of God’s power - veil of the Temple, the resurrection

Justification declares that you are now right in the sight of God, because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

(ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(ESV)

You have been saved

“When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free, for God the Just is satisfied, to look on Him and pardon me.”

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Salvation’s Present - Sanctification

Sanctification is the work of God in your life through the Holy Spirit in the present, causing you to live a life pleasing to him.

God’s s

Sanctification is the work of God in your life through the Holy Spirit in the present.

Don’t get discouraged in difficulties and trials, know that God is at work in your life!

For Elijah, God’s present work in his life was through a still, small voice, in the same way God’s work of Sanctification in your life will occur as you listen to His voice through the Word of God.

Understanding sanctification changes our perspective on trials, we now view them as opportunities to learn the character of Christ.

(ESV) Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

(ESV)

What Satan designed to beat you down, because the source of strength as you turn to Christ.

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Cooperate with God.

(ESV)

(ESV) I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations.

For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations.

For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

(ESV) But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Salvation’s Future - Glorification

The Lord gave Elijah hope for the future.

“There are still 7,000”

Our future hope is being in the presence of Christ.

Paul cause it the helmet of the hope of salvation in .

What is the hope of salvation?

The appearing of Jesus Christ our Savior!

(ESV)

(ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people (Justification) 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (Sanctification), 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Glorification), 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

It Will Be Worth It All, When We See Jesus!