Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 3:7-14

Introduction:

All struggle with different areas of their lives at different times in their lives.

Some struggle with the present: finances, relationship, burdens, society, etc…

Some struggle with the future: health, retirement, uncertainty,

Some struggle with the past: decisions, sins, choices, regrets, etc….

These areas can become real hindrances in the life of everyone.

For some the present is difficult, others dread the unknown future, but for many the worst foe of the soul is the past.

Mainly because the past is able to become a dreadful present.

Satan, the great deceiver, has tempted, tested, tainted and brought turmoil to many people because of a past that haunts them…

Most of us would remember a certain place from our childhood that was “haunted”…a house, a room, a closet, etc… While I do not hold to the notion of a place that is haunted, I do believe that there are many “lives” that are haunted by a past!!!

Satan’s devices have not changed:

First: he tempts the person making light of sin and the consequences.

Example of Adam and Eve

Second: when the person follows the devil and commits sin, he then tries to persuade the sinner that there is now no forgiveness….

I. Remember and Reflect- vs. 7-8

Def: advocate=one who pleads the cause of another

Remember and Reflect

II.

Repent and Rejoice-vs.

9-10

“that I may know Him”

The power of His resurrection:

Some may say there is no way that God can forgive me…my past is just too horrible…my sins are just too great!!!

One of the greatest helps for all of us that are dealing with a giant of past is to see in the Word of God how Jesus dealt with folks…concerning repentance and restoration!!!

The publican:

Zacchaeus:

Luke 19:1-9

Woman in Adultery:

John 8:1-11

Note- we see here “mercy and truth”

Mercy- Neither do I condemn thee

Truth- go, and sin no more

Woman at the well in John 4

Forgiven woman in Luke 7

Peter and his denial, as soon as he sinned Jesus turned and looked at him, he went out and wept bitterly.

The Apostle Paul: the great writer of 13 books of the New Testament:

The devil(or your guilty conscience) will alway bring up your past mistakes!!!

If you have repented of your sins(and in some cases made it right with the person you sinned against) then you can REJOICE because Jesus Christ completely forgives your sins!!!

Remember and Reflect

Repent and Rejoice

III.

Remind and Refocus-vs.

12-14

Some have let a sin in their past become a giant while others have let the memories of:

The “good” old days…

The way it used to be…

I used to…

Become a hindrance of their current walk with God!!!

Elders in Ezra’s time as the temple was being rebuilt: wept because the new temple would not be as glorious:

In Ecclesiastes, there were those who were saying, “Why were the old days so much better than our days today?”

God said that these questions are not wise.

Stop lamenting the way things used to be!

Certainly, you can be thankful for your history, but don’t live there!

The past then becomes your giant of today.

You’ll live ungrateful for what God is currently doing, whether it be big or small.

Zechariah 4:10

For who hath despised the day of small things?…

Whatever God is doing, it is to be seen as marvelous in our eyes.

There are those today who are so fond of the great revivals of the past that they are missing the revival that God may desire to do in their own lives today.

They are seeking something from the pages of history rather than looking expectantly at what God is doing today!

Remember the lessons of the past, learn from the hurts of the past then slay that giant…I CHOOSE TO CHANGE!!

Conclusion:

A man was in great misery of soul: wandered along a country lane in England.

He walked on and on until, finally, exhausted, he sat down under a hedge.

After a while of sitting there he heard two girls talking on the other side of the hedge:

They were discussing a sermon that had been heard:

One of the girls said I heard the preacher deliver his message and it stirred my soul and gave me hope…the other one enquired as to what had been said…

The preacher in his sermon stated:

The world will always say, “you made your bed and now you must lie in it’ but One greater than the world has said, ‘Take up thy bed and walk.

Thy sins be forgiven thee.”

To every soul troubled by your past…He Says to YOU…take up your bed and walk.

Thy sins are forgiven!!!