NOTHING can separate us! October 4, 2019 Welcome to everyone here in person, and also viewing this video online. We’re so glad you’re joining us. And if you find the video encouraging, please share it with others. Let’s open up this message with prayer. [Pray] Today, we come to the last of our four essential Scriptures, which offer us comfort and hope in the midst of life’s pain and uncertainty. Please get your Bibles out, or pull up your Scripture on your electronic device, (be sure and check in on FB that you’re with us) and go to Romans chapter 8. Romans Chapter 8 is an essential Scripture chapter! Continue to read it and meditate on it and memorize it and get this important Word of God deep into your gut! Now, let’s review what we’ve learned the last three weeks: #1 - 8:28 reminds us not to despair because we can trust that God is working all things together for good for us who love Him! #2 - 8:31b If God is for us… who can possibly be against us?! No one! As the illustration on our FB pg for this video says, “If God is on your side, what do you have to worry about?” #3 - 8:34b This Scripture tells us of the astounding gift that Jesus Christ, Himself, is actually interceding for us! (At the right hand of God.) We recall that Paul also told us the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, twice, in Romans 8:26 & 27. We come now to the end of Romans chapter 8. Verses 38 & 39 will be our focus today. But first, Romans 8:37 is another important one in assuring us we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us! This is something on which to meditate. Have you ever thought about how not only are we victors, and winners, over challenges in life, because we have Christ and the Holy Spirit within us, and God is for us; but we also know that our faith grows stronger, and our trust in God deeper, as we go through the various trials and struggles of life. It is only “through Christ that loved us” which establishes us as more than conquerors, because of His strength! So if we can trust that God is working everything out for us, no matter what we’re going through; and He is for us; and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding for us, then, will anything be able to separate us from this magnificent advocacy?! -6- This is an important question. Romans 8:38, 39 is an important answer. It is important for everything we go through today, and it was important for the Christians in Rome who would soon undergo terrible persecution. In just a few years, Paul’s hypothetical situations would turn into painful realities. These words must have been tightly clung to as the people saw their friends murdered; persecution carried out against Christ followers at the command of Roman rulers - And a past which was behind them, with a very uncertain future ahead of them. Perhaps you feel uncertain about the future before you, and all of us, too. This Essential Scripture #4 can assure you that no matter what else happens, nothing can separate us from God’s love. Notice it’s about God’s love. Not just God, but His love. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are, we can never be lost to His love! Suffering doesn’t have to drive us away from God, but, instead, drive us towards Him! In Romans 8:38-39 Paul is bringing to a climax the argument he’s been building up throughout this chapter, and even beginning a few chapters before it. Don’t forget, as a gifted lawyer he knew how to build his case. And in this case, there is nothing more certain! Let’s look at Romans 8:38-39 together. [Read NIV] In 8:38, Paul says he is “convinced,” or “persuaded,” which means to have confidence in. And that is the point. This man who did so much for the Kingdom, when originally he was doing the opposite, had become convinced of God’s power and love and wanted all the believers to walk in this confidence too. The same is true for us today. Let’s leave our time together today with more confidence than ever before… in the love of God! Paul has been using a question/answer format throughout this section of Scripture. (We discussed this last week. Check out the video from 9/28 if you missed it.) Now he’s about to list the opposites of anything and everything that could possibly be construed as keeping us away from the love of God. These verses contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms. Going through illness, persecution and even facing death, people might have feared they’d been abandoned by Christ. -6- But Paul is here to assure everyone that nothing, not even death, can separate us from Christ! He says it’s impossible! Think about it. Christ’s death on the cross for us is proof of His unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christ’s constant presence with us. Nothing is greater than His love for us. God tells us how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure in Him. Quit looking for security in anything else. It’s not in our jobs. It’s not in money. It’s not in investments. It’s not in a house. Or a car. Or even beloved family members or friends or pets. It is through confidence in Christ that we find our greatest security. Paul contrasts gives us a list of 5 categories, (we’re going to include “powers” with “present and future;”) with 4 contrasts, to make his point: Death vs. life. Angels vs. principalities. (Greek language, instead of “demons.”) Things present or things to come. (Instead of “present nor the future.”) Nor any powers. Nor height nor depth. Or any other created thing. When Paul mentions “death nor life,” he’s saying that death will not separate us from God because when we choose Christ, we receive the gift of life forever after. Or, eternal life. (John 3:16) As Christians, we believe there is life after death, and an even better one than we experience on this earth. Revelation 21:4 tells us, “God will wipe away every tear from there eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…” Paul also mentions life because we will suffer in this life, but the sufferings will not separate us from the love of God. In fact, they will only draw us closer to Him, if we choose to let them. Just a few chapters earlier, Paul wrote in 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Do you notice some common themes here? When we go through suffering we can have hope! And what is it… God’s love! And how does it get into our hearts? Through the Holy Spirit! [Prayer for more of the Holy Spirit… baptism in the Holy Spirit… today… for all who are hungry for more of Him!] So we’ve covered the first category: Death nor life. -6- Next is angels nor demons, or principalities. Don’t forget that humans are not angels and no, we don’t become angels when we go to Heaven, either! Please don’t ever tell anyone their recently departed loved one is now an angel. That is bad theology. But Paul is saying the angels, good or bad, won’t separate us from God’s love. Remember satan was an angel and a worship leader when pride caused him to want to be more powerful than god and his rebellion failed and he took a third of the angels with him. They are the demons. But we must also always realize when people are under the influence of evil it is not them, themselves, actually, but “spiritual forces.” In Ephesians 1:21, Paul writes that God raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand, (sound familiar? Last week’s essential Scripture! Romans 8:34!), in the Heavenly realms, “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” And also in Ephesians 6:12, Paul instructs us to “put on the full armor of God,” teaching us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly realms.” BTW, Have you put your armor on today? From our Life Group study last week, we read these words: (from Larry Kreider) “It has been my experience that most spiritual failure happens when Christians fail to keep their spiritual armor in place. When you get up in the morning, declare that your armor is in place. [Put on the pieces…] Third category: “Nor things present nor things to come nor nor any powers…” Perhaps the best way to understand this is through The Passion Translation: “So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.” Fourth category is no power above us or beneath us - neither height nor depth. Fifth is “any created thing.” Also translated as “anything else in all creation.” Never forget that God is the only uncreated One. Colossians 1:17 (also written by Paul) tells us He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. -6- Remember this is all about confidence in Christ. This is about being assured of and convinced His love will never change. In Romans 5:8 Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And now he’s telling us it is impossible to be separated from Christ. God tells us how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure in Him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid! We will feel secure. We will have hope. We will feel loved. Notice Paul writes none of these examples will be able to separated us from “the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The phrase "love of God" refers not to our love for God, but to God's love for us. This fact is clear from verse 37, which says, "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." In fact, the context of this entire passage focuses on what God and Christ do, rather than on what we do. God spared not His own Son; God justifies; Christ died, rose, and intercedes. Therefore, the love from which nothing will be able to separate us is God's love. There’s a good reason we often read Romans 8:31-39 at funerals, or memorial services. It is a great comfort to hear that not even death will not separate us from the love of God. Jesus tells us in John 10:27 that we, His sheep, listen to His voice. He says He knows us, and we follow Him. Then, in the next verse, He says, “no one will snatch them out of My hand.” And after that He also says no one can snatch them out of His Father’s hand. These are promises we can count on. Just like Romans 8:38, 39. (From ministry http://magazine.org ) There is a pastor who shares the importance of this Scripture for him, personally: He says, “The promise of Romans 8:38 and 39 has meant much to me through the years. When my 14-year-old died suddenly from an accident, my faith in God did not waver, but the pain and suffering of that experience was so intense that God did not seem so near. The one thing that stands out in my memory of the funeral service is the Scripture reading. The minister read from Romans 8:31 to 39, closing in a climax of triumphant affirmation and assurance that I can hear even now: "For I am sure that neither death, -6- nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (verses 38, 39). As I listened to those words, I still could not understand the reason for this tragedy, but my heart was strangely warmed with the presence of the Father and the assurance of His everlasting love. Today I still join with the apostle in this confident assurance that nothing will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Let us pray. [Pray] Then, TRANSITION TO BLESSING JOHN SMITH… BEGINNING WITH THE VIDEO…
Jesus is praying for US?! September 27, 2020 Do you know what “GAL” stands for? Yes, some of you may know this word as the opposite of “guy,” and representing women. But it is also an acronym which stands for “Guardian ad litem.” You know what the word “guardian” means. A guardian is a “defender, protector, or keeper.” Some of you may be or may have been a guardian. Or some may have had a guardian. For others of us, the word “lifeguard” includes part of the term and is someone who protects the lives of those who are swimming in or who are near a large body of water. And then there’s the term “guard,” in general which brings to mind someone serving to keep people safety and protected. So a guardian it is to protect people unable to speak up for themselves. In the Florida court system, guardian ad litems are used to represent others in need of a voice. You know what guardian means now. How about the latin term “ad litem.” Any guesses? It means “for the suit.” Ad litem (Latin: "for the suit") is a term used in law, to refer to the designation by a court for one party to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party, such as a child or an incapacitated adult, who is incapable of representing themselves. Guardian, “defender or protector” and “for the suit,” is someone who defends or protects someone else in a court of law, for the lawsuit. In the case of a child, it usually has to do with custody. Volunteer Child Advocates speak on behalf of children who have experienced abuse, abandonment and neglect. The goal of the Guardian Ad Litem program for children is to help them find their way to a safe, loving and permanent home. This is a very important role, and if you are someone who has time on their hands and a clean record and loves chidden, or those unable to speak up for themselves of all ages, you can apply to be a volunteer for this very worthy cause. If you’re interested, just go to: “ http://guardianadlitem.org " Throughout the state of Florida, from January 2019 to January 2020, this worthy organization had almost 13,000 Guardian ad Litem volunteers for children. They drove almost 3 million miles, (mileage can sometimes be reimbursed); -6- put in over 340,000 volunteer hours; and represented over 38,000 children. 38,000 children throughout the state of Florida had trained advocates representing them! As you can imagine, the need now is greater than ever. Children and those who can’t speak up for themselves in a court of law need an advocate. A guardian ad litem can be a great source of encouragement for foster children and their foster families. As Christians, we are in need of encouragement and advocacy too. In fact, Hebrews 3:13a tells us we are to “encourage one another daily.” Not just “encourage one another,” but “daily!” Have you encouraged another believer already today? If not, get to work! And let me encourage you with our “Essential Scripture” #3 truth for today: “Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34b) What, you may be thinking, Jesus Christ is praying for us?! Yes. He’s doing that, and a whole lot more. He doesn’t take our belonging to Him, lightly. He doesn’t take us carrying His image around, or forming up with others to actually represent His body, as any small thing. And, in fact, as we encourage one another daily, we can appropriate the promises of God from Romans chapter 8, and hold them in our heart. {BTW… I will be teaching on several Scriptures today which include the important phrase… “so that.” This is a purpose statement. So. As we go through the message and the Scriptures today… keep your ears open to hear… “so that!”} We can grow our faith and trust in God, especially as we go through various struggles, and know that God is working all things together for our good, for those of us who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Essential Scripture #1 - Romans 8:28) We can also know that if God is for us, who can be against us? (Essential Scripture #2 - Romans 8:31.) There is actually no answer to that question. (Except… “No one!”) We asked everyone last week to please read Romans 8:31-19 this week. We also posted the reminder on Facebook. If you forget, or haven’t yet, please do. In fact, with today’s message, it might even carry more meaning for you. In fact, you may want to read it again. And meditate on it. As you do with any Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read. (He wrote the Book.) As you read, write down what jumps out to you. Or speaks to you. -6- What is especially meaningful to you for this moment in your life? Then, see if there’s something you can apply to your life from what you just read. We’ve talked about how knowing God knows about our circumstance(s), and is at work in our lives on our behalf, even if we can’t see it, is a hopeful promise to which we can cling! This also helps us wrench our eyes off of the circumstance(s) and back onto Him, which gives us more peace in the long run. We’ve also looked into how knowing no one can be effective in being against us if God is for us is also empowering! {Have someone… ?Troy… read Romans 8:31-35 from The Message.} When Paul wrote Romans 8:31-39, it was a rousing conclusion building up from Romans chapters 5-8! Romans 8:1 began, if you recall, with the good news that for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation! What would it mean to you if you were on Death Row, and you heard the words, “Not Guilty! Let him, or her, go free!” Of course they would mean everything in the world to you. Most of all, freedom! The fact is, the whole human race is on Death Row, condemned for repeatedly breaking God’s holy law. Without Jesus, we would have no hope at all. But thanks be to God, He has declared us “Not Guilty! and has offered us freedom from sin and the power to do His will!” So by the time Paul reaches Romans 8:31, he’s expounding on how we can find confidence and comfort in knowing that if God is for us, nothing or no one can ever make us feel ashamed or guilty or worthless anymore! Because of Christ we are of great worth. But don’t for a minute mistake His extravagant, life-saving, life-giving grace for cheap grace. Understand and be very clear on this. In I John 2:1, 2 John, (the disciple closest to Jesus and the one to whom our Savior entrusted His mother upon His death), writes: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But, if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” There’s Jesus as our Advocate. The same One Paul wrote about in Romans 8:34b “interceding for us.” The Greek word, the original language in which this letter was written, for advocate is “parakletos.” This where it starts to get very exciting! -6- “para” means “from close-beside,” and “kaleo” “make a call.” So, properly, this is a legal advocate who makes the right judgement call because they’re close enough to the situation! This is the regular term in the New Testament times for an attorney, or lawyer - someone giving evidence that stands up in court! Don’t forget, Paul was originally a lawyer, before he had a close up and personal encounter with the living, resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus, which totally turned his life around forevermore! He knew all about the legal system. But what’s also cool about this word is it is also another name for the Holy Spirit! (John 14:16, 26). Jesus said He would send a helper, or comforter, who would be with us always. He would be the Holy Spirit! Our very own “parakletos!” Jesus is our Advocate. He’s the lawyer pleading our case. (And you should know He never loses a case…_ Make no mistake, however, that this Scripture was never meant to give people license to sin. In fact, as one older Christian leader used to say, “people sin enough as it is without needing a license!” No. We are called to be holy as He is holy. When we belong to Him we don’t want to sin. When people want to, and choose to sin, it is questionable as to if they were really ever Christians to begin with. I John 2:1 is simply John telling followers of Christ about God’s provision for sin when it does occur. John gives us God’s provision for admitting our sin, being honest about it, recognizing and admitting it is sin and that we’re willing to turn away from it, and with honest confession relying on His power to overcome it! I’d like to take a moment, now, and share with you a powerful prayer from a Spirit-filled Methodist prayer evangelist named Terry Tekyl. [Read Prayer] Father, one of Your many good gifts to us is repentance. Would you grant me repentance and restraint to my phone usage, iPad fascination, and computer obsession? Redeem my time from these devices to be used in relationship with You and loving people. If You help me turn from these distractions, my turning to You and what’s important will be sure. I can have them, and they will not have me. Amen. -6- Confession is good for the soul. Ah. Be cleansed. Be renewed. Be forgiven. Be refreshed. Be empowered. The verse to encourage one another DAILY comes from Hebrews 3:13. In light of what we’ve just been covering, it seems even more appropriate. Hear these words from Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Yes. Sin is deceitful and does harden us. In I John, the beloved church father is teaching on repentance, and Jesus our Advocate. He answers the question, “How can we be sure we belong to Christ?” He says in I John 2:3-5 “We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands. Whoever says, “I know Him,” but doe not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His Word, love for God is truly made complete in them.” Later on, in I John 4:7,8, John writes, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Jesus loves us so much He died for us. And now He’s interceding for us. The Greek word for interceding is “entugecharro.” en toong khar o It has multiple meanings! It means “to confer with; “to entreat…” (sounds like en toong…); to make a petition (Ah ha! … as my Dad would say…); to make a suit or supplication. Sounds like something a parakletos would do! In Hebrews 3 we are instructed to encourage one another every day! It is also in Hebrews, 7:24, 25 where we read of another teaching on Jesus as Intercessor for us: “…but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Essential Scripture #3. Romans 8:34b. But first, 34a: “Who then is the one who condemns? No one.” Notice Paul uses the personal question/answer format here? 8:31 “What, then, shall we say… If God is for us, who can be against us? 8:32 “How will He not also, along with Him, give us all things? 8:33 “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? 8:34b “Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” -6- Paul says that Jesus is interceding for us in Heaven. God has acquitted us and has removed our sin and guilt, so it is satan, not God, who accuses us. When he does, Jesus, the Advocate for our defense, the parakletos, stands at God’s right hand to present our case. And remember, He never loses a case. So. Just as a “GAL,” or Guardian ad litem knows the deepest hurts of the child they represent, so our Savior knows ours. The Romans Essential Scriptures on which we’ve been teaching were written to increase the confidence of, and comfort the believers in Rome. May they also increase our confidence in our Lord, and receive His comfort too. Hebrews 4:15 sums it up like this: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Amen. Pray…
Essential Scripture #2: “If God is for us who can be against us?!” (Romans 8:31b; September 20, 2020) When I was in Maine a few weeks ago, I prayed and meditated on what to preach upon my return. I thought about the chaos and confusion of this strange time in which we live amid the pandemic and politics leading up to a presidential election. In our own personal lives, too, we struggle with various challenges that often threaten to take us under. So I thought about what is it we all need to hang in there and have peace and not just survive, but thrive. I thought about essential Scriptures. I thought about stronger faith. I find great comfort and encouragement in knowing that God is working on our behalf, no matter what things look like; and if He is for us who or what could possibly be against us?! So last week, (or two weeks ago), we studied “Essential Scripture #1.” Does anyone remember what it was? [Romans 8:28 “And we know that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”] It’s not all things at work on our behalf, it’s God. And it’s Him who works through all things. Not just some, but all. It’s not for bad, but for good. It’s not for anyone, but for us who love Him. And, we’re called according to His purpose. It’s not purposes. It’s purpose. Purpose is what helps us overcome selfishness. Purpose is what helps us fight past pain. Purpose is what helps us overcome depression, and discouragement, chaos and confusion. Because of God’s love and purpose in our lives, we can trust in Him. We look to Him for our identity and security. And we learn to accept, not resent, pain and persecution because we know that God is with us. We know we will learn and grow stronger through the struggle. We also know God’s goal is to make us more like Jesus. How many of you used this verse throughout last week, or the week before, after it was highlighted in the teaching? How many times did you encounter a challenge and say to yourself, or pray, “I know God is working all things together for good for me.” If you didn’t, or haven’t yet, I invite you to add this Essential Scripture to your tool box. Learn it. Use it. Pray it. Employ it. Believe it. Every time you come up against something that makes you feel like God has forgotten you, remind yourself of this verse. When you are looking at a circumstance that threaten to take you under, pull yourself up out of the water with this verse! Wrench your eyes off the circumstance and onto Christ. That’s where we find the peace and the hope. “I KNOW that God is working all things together for good…” We can trust in Him. We can count on Him and believe that He is working on our behalf, even when we can’t see it. After all, If God is for us, who can be against us? This is “Essential Scripture #2: Romans 8:31b “If God is for us, who can be against us?” When Paul wrote the letter of the book of Romans to believers in Rome, he clearly set forth the foundations of the Christian faith: All people are sinful; Christ died to forgive sin; we are made right with God though faith & this begins a new life with a new relationship with God. By the time Paul got to what we call chapter 8, he was getting excited about this relationship, and the freedom that goes with it, through the Spirit who gives life, which is the Holy Spirit! Paul begins Romans 8 with the assurance that “there is, therefore, now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (8:1) {Teach on this verse as led…} Paul goes on, in this most essential chapter filled with most essential Scriptures, to tell us that as God’s people filled with His Spirit, we are to live by the Spirit, and not the flesh. Romans 8:9 from the Passion Translation puts it like this: “But when the Spirit of Christ empowers your life, you are not dominated by the flesh, but by the Spirit.” More essential scriptures come next: Romans 8:14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” And from TLT: “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 Or “Abba,” Daddy. {Teach on “children of God” if led…} We learned an essential Scripture in July from 2 Timothy (also written by Paul) 1:7 which echoes the thought of being fearless as God’s children: “For we are not given a spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind.” We have God working on our behalf and in Romans 8:26 Paul also assures us “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us though wordless groans,” or “inexpressible groanings.” Sometimes we just don’t have the words, or the hurt is so bad or the pain so deep we can only lean on the Holy Spirit to intercede for us with wordless groans.” The important part is we are being interceded for, and God hears these prayers! God cares! And God will answer… it just may not be the way we thought it would be, or in the timing we hoped for. And that’s why Paul wrote “Essential Scripture #1, Romans 8:28, which we’ve already been over several times. Paul isn’t finished yet. Romans 8:31-39 is one of the most important passages in the Bible and contains Essential Scriptures #2, 3 and 4. You’ve heard the second one already. “If God is for us…” We need this for reassurance as we look at our lives and think, “This is not how I pictured it.” Have you ever thought, or thought lately, “This is not what I thought my life would look like at this point?” David was someone in the Bible who trusted God in spite of how differently his life looked from what he thought it would be. David was considered a hero for beating Goliath; eventually became head of the military and led many successful military campaigns; married the king’s daughter; and was anointed king of Israel. He had it all going for him. Then suddenly, because of jealous king Saul, David spent the next ten years, or so, on the run from this man determined to kill him. He spent a lot of time holed up in caves with a motley crew of misfits. It was not what he thought his life would look like at that point. {Read it yourself if haven’t already… I Samuel 16 onward…} In difficult times, we may be tempted to believe that God has abandoned us, or dropped his plan and purpose for our lives. The temptation to believe our dreams are shattered and hopes destroyed is strong! But God… But God will help us turn away from that temptation and through prayer and His Word and Godly counsel from Godly friends who won’t give up on Him or on us… we can be assured that if God is for us, no one or nothing can prevail against us! We choose whether our faith is going to be in the distressing circumstances, or in God! Here’s the important part many of us are learning: Putting our faith in God means we’re not going to quit. We’re not giving up on Him. Or others. Don’t give up! Don’t give in! Instead, we will continue to learn and grow, and change what we need to change. It may take a while. It may take years. God’s destiny for our lives does not change because of our circumstances. In fact, David’s destiny was fulfilled, and he became king of Israel. And, actually, his circumstances made him a more humble and compassionate king. Isn’t that what happens to us? What we go through, which is so painful and difficult, turns out to draw us closer to God and others, and also help us to become more humble and compassionate. So as we come up against the sometimes terrifying giants of our lives, like David, we can take the tools around us, (in his case, a slingshot and five smooth stones; in our case perhaps becoming part of a life group or reading something special in Scripture), and trust in God and face our giants without fear! The story of David and Goliath is found in I Samuel 17. There are many sermons in this story. For one thing, the way David viewed Goliath is a lesson for us all. Where most of those present saw only a giant, David, a simple shepherd boy at that time, saw a human man defying Almighty God. David knew he was good with a slingshot and Goliath would be a big target! (How’s that for looking differently at the circumstances?) David also knew he would not be alone. He knew God would be with Him. And he knew that if God was for him, NOTHING, not even a giant Philistine man, 9 foot 9 inches tall, named Goliath, could prevail against him. Who or what are the giants you are facing? Looking at them from God’s point of view changes the scenery dramatically. There’s nothing He can’t take care of. {Let’s put our names in that essential Scripture this morning… “If God is for me, insert name, nothing can stand against me!”} Another lesson from this story with David is that he didn’t let criticism stop him. His elder brother was anything but supportive, and, in fact, said some nasty things to him. But David didn’t let that stop him. People may try to discourage us, too, with negative comments or mockery. But let’s just continue to do what we know is right. By doing what is right in God’s eyes, we’ll be pleasing Him whose opinion matters most. David grew in his relationship with God throughout his life, which had a lot of ups and downs. Sometimes our ups and downs in life feel like a roller coaster ride. But it is a comfort to me to know God is the One in charge of the ride, and He’ll step in and get us out of the seat if needed. He’ll keep us safe. He’s watching over us. We can trust in Him. David knew that his purpose in life, like ours’, was to grow God’s Kingdom. Later on, another Jewish guy in the New Testament, Matthew, would record Jesus’ words which say, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (6:33) Another essential Scripture. God’s kingdom is simply the King, Jesus Christ, (also a relative of David’s by the way), and His domain. God is the ruler and the King of the whole universe. We are His servants and part of His domain. His kingdom includes every believer who names the name of Jesus Christ. It includes every congregation and family of churches who honor Him as Lord and believe in His Word. Aren’t we grateful to get to belong to this Kingdom?! As grateful disciples, we also want to be obedient to His command, also recorded in Matthew (28:17-19) “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” David knew God was with him. We can know God is with us too, and that if He is for us, who can be against us?! Earlier in Romans 8, verse 19 says, “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” I’d like to ask you this morning, do the people around you, does the creation around you, know that you’re a child of God? Is it obvious you live for Christ? Or is it a secret? Are you a child of God? Have you publicly confessed belief in and Lordship of Jesus Christ? Have you followed this up with baptism in water and of the Holy Spirit? Are you reading His Word, the Instruction Manual? Are you spending time with Him in prayer? Do you worship Him on a regular basis and even tell Him sometimes you love Him? He sure loves you. And are you obeying His final words to go and make disciples? Are we meeting needs and building relationships which then give us the right to tell others about Jesus and His Saving Grace? George Barna did a study not too long ago that found that only 50% of committed Christians had even heard what is known at “the Great Commission.” Today, you will not be counted in that number. You’ve heard it. The bigger question is, what are you doing about it? Let’s ask our Big God to fill us to overflowing with the power of His Holy Spirit to be able to fulfill our purpose and grow His Kingdom too! Our purpose is not to be comfortable. Or healthy. Or see how old we can get. It’s to make disciples. It’s to be effective grapes on His vine which are fruitful. Lush and fruitful. Sweet, and not bitter. Let’s let others see Christ in us! And then let’s share Him. When we give our lives to help others by praying for them, reaching out to them and discipling them, the Lord will make sure we are blessed in return. The ways of the Hebrew people of the Old Testament, our Jewish brothers and sisters which included David, always included generous hospitality. It was often through staying with God’s people and experiencing this unconditional caring and sharing, which led others from outside the faith to want to come in. May the same be true of us. This past Saturday (beginning Friday night) and Sunday was “the Feast of the Trumpets,” or “Rosh Hashanah,” the Jewish New Year. Happy New Year! It’s now Hebrew year 5781. Rosh Hashanah ends tonight. (Or last week.) Then Yom Kippur will begin next Sunday. (Or tonight.) and end on Monday. These are considered the two “High Holy Days.” Rosh Hashanah, literally means “head of the year.” And yes, Deuteronomy 28:13 says “The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.” Notice the “if…” Add Matthew 28:18,19 to that list. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the names to pray for, or pray in. Ask for “divine appointments” where you can share the love of Christ. Rosh Hashanah begins a ten day period, known as “Days of Awe,” leading up to Yom Kippur. God’s first people were never to lose their awe at His act of Creation and all that He had done for them. As they shared a meal, and prayer, together, they would enjoy apples or challah bread dipped in honey to symbolize blessings for a sweet new year. After ten days of reflection and repentance, too, they would approach Yom Kippur with tossing bread into water as symbolism of casting off sin. Today, we know that the Ultimate Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, has done this for us! Let’s grow in closeness to Him! Let’s grow our faith and trust in our Savior who is for us! After all, if He is for us, NOTHING can stand against us! Let’s walk in His strength and our heritage as God’s children filled with His Spirit, and be about the disciple-making business every day of our lives. To His glory. [Pray]
Essential Scripture September 13, 2019 During this covid pandemic, we’ve become familiar with the term “essential worker.” People were told to stay home during the initial quarantine/self-isolation period, unless they were designated as “essential workers.” We’ve honored those in this category who were willing to continue to work in spite of the possibility of contagion. Most people in this category were also grateful to be able to continue to have this income. The loose definition of an essential worker was, basically, anyone who did a job we cannot do without. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, essential jobs include: {Feel free to give a shout out if you hear your vocation mentioned… or type in a “hooray” if you’re online with us this morning…”| …energy, child care, water and waste(water), agriculture and food production, “critical retail” (which includes grocery stores, hardware stores and mechanics), critical trades, (including construction, electricians, plumbers, etc.), transportation, and nonprofits (whew) and social services. Of course there are others not mentioned we consider essential too, such as educators and medical workers and first responders and law enforcement and cafeteria workers and uber drivers and airline pilots and realtors and security and chiropractic office workers and military and college bookkeepers and HR managers and wedding planners and court system IT workers and pet-sitters and hair stylists and nail technicians too! Just as the term “essential worker” has become an important phrase in our current culture, I would like to invite you to consider the importance of essential Scripture, too. Scripture we cannot do without. Today, and for the next few weeks, I want to help you get some “essential Scripture” into your heart, mind, soul and spirit. There is so much in the Bible which is so important, it would be impossible to ever separate out just some verses and disregard the rest. So as we highlight some essential Scriptures, keep in mind It all ties together. It is one book. It is the story of God and His people. And that includes us, today. We learned recently in a small group studying 2 Timothy that “All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim 3:16. {A lot of “3:16s” are important too! John 3:16, etc. -6- Look them up sometime when you’re looking for something to do…} This is an essential Scripture too. Please memorize it if you haven’t already. Write it down. Post it where you’ll see it often. Reward yourselves, or others, for being able to recite it by memory if that helps. Please read the Bible daily, or at least several times a week. If you’re not, ask the Holy Spirit to give you a hunger to do so. This is how we become “equipped!” For after all, another essential Scripture comes to us from Psalm 119:11 which states: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” We don’t want to sin against our Holy God because He is holy and we are too, in Christ. In fact, because of our relationship with Him through Christ, we can trust that we have nothing to fear, for He has cleansed us by His blood and clothed us in His righteousness. While I was away in Maine, I did a word study on righteousness. The Bible has a lot to say about this word. And it ties in with last week’s message + today’s essential Scripture too. At the beginning of this book of Romans, Paul writes “it is those who obey the law,” or the ways of God, “who will be declared righteous.” (1:13) And in 1:17 we read “the righteous will live by faith.” Faith is extremely important to someone who is loving God, and can trust, implicitly, unequivocally, undoubtably, that God is working all things together for us who love Him! Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we cannot see.” Beloved, I want to assure you today that no matter what it is you’re going through, if you truly and genuinely love God and believe in His Son Jesus Christ, He IS working everything out for you! And if you haven’t decided yet to choose to love Him and believe in His Son, today is the day to make that decision! [Prayer, as led.] This doesn’t mean it won’t be painful. It will. This doesn’t mean it might not take a while. It might. But no matter what we’re struggling with, we can trust God. He loves us. He wants the best for us. When we follow His ways we can be assured that’s where the “sweet spot” is. There’s a book I’ve been reading for several months now that teaches about the fruitfulness in our lives which come from pruning. If you’re familiar with gardening, you know every fruitful plant must be pruned to produce better and healthier fruit, or flowers, or whatever it may be. -6- So it is in our lives. We don’t want to go through painful times, but isn’t that when we cry out to God, and others, for help and draw the closet to Him? And others? Isn’t that from where we learn the most important lessons of our lives? Isn’t that why Paul also wrote in 2 Cor. 9:9,10 “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, than I am strong.” When we confess to Him we feel weak and we need Him, He comes through. Every time. Think back to all the times in your life when this was the case and how He was always faithful. We sang earlier a song entitled “Do it Again.” It praises God for His faithfulness. It said “I’ve seen You move… And I believe I’ll see You do it again.” Dear sisters and brothers, whatever mountain you may need moved in your life this morning, I want to encourage you today! I want to encourage you to not give up. Trust Him. Hang in there. Have peace. Continue to cry out to God. He hears you. And He will “do it again.” Romans 1:17 says “The righteous will live by faith.” Whatever it is we’re struggling with right now, let’s let it grow our faith. We have on the right clothes for the occasion, because we are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness! Another essential Scripture comes to us from Paul and Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.” The fruit of righteousness in our lives comes through Jesus Christ. We are cleansed by His blood and clothed in His righteousness. Paul also assured us, and the believers in Rome, that “righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Romans 3:22. Paul had a lot to say about righteousness in the book of Romans. In 5:21 he said “so, also, grace might reign through righteousness…” Have you ever thought about this before? Dan mentioned it in his message. When we have a “we” mentality, (this was Mike Shannon’s message too), instead of a “me” mentality, we are grateful for grace. A true follower of Christ walks in God’s grace and embraces and appreciates this gift, and lives with gratitude and humility at what God has given and continues to give, which we don’t deserve. -6- Are we living with gratitude and humility and thankfulness for His grace? Or are we, instead, complaining and negative and arrogant and self-sufficient and ungrateful? These last attitudes are behaviors we can work to eliminate as we realize that “God works all things together for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” In fact, because of our great gratitude and His ongoing work in our lives and our love for Him and His purpose for us, we respond to another of Paul’s writings from Romans 6:13b. We offer the parts of our body to Him as “instruments of righteousness.” That’s right. What we see, or watch. What we hear, or choose to listen to. What we say. Or choose to not say. What we do, or don’t do, with our hands. And the same for our arms and legs. We do this because “We have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Romans 6:18. And “now, we offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” For an inspiring message on holiness, I invite you to watch last week’s video from Amanda Stiles if you haven’t already. It is powerful. {Thnx to Dan, Mike + Amanda if haven’t already} So, if righteousness is being in right relationship with God, though faith in Christ, then this leads to increased holiness, which is increased Presence of God. When we obey, we are increasing in faith. Today I invite you to increase your faith. Choose to believe that no matter what it is you’re going through, God knows. God cares. God is at work on your behalf. The New Testament church grew stronger in their faith in God, and one another. We’re excited about starting up our Life Groups this week! Make sure you contact one of our Group Leaders, or the office, about jumping in and sharing the faith life in one of these groups. I’m happy to tell you there will be a Tuesday, Wed., or Th. option. And Zoom for all, with one group giving you the option to meet in person too. You will receive additional tools for living a successful faith life. You will be encouraged and prayed for, among many other things. It’s SO IMPORTANT to have fellow Christ followers with whom to share life. It’s so important to grow in integrity with how others see what they “read” in our lives. Being in a small group is the best way for this to happen. Paul writes to the Corinthians, and to us, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 -6- This is just one of the teachings we’ll be looking at, together, this coming week. Have you ever thought of your life as a letter others are reading? If this dismays you, it’s never too late to grow more in closeness and holiness with God. Meanwhile, our essential Scripture for today is Romans 8:28. Many of you know it by heart. I believe you’ll hear something new about this Scripture today that will equip you with further, fresh revelation. This verse is a great comfort to us when we don’t understand what is happening in our lives. Let’s look at what it says: The NIV reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This verse is often misquoted. Make sure you learn it, own it, and get it correct. Sometimes people will say “all things work together…” It isn’t that! Its God working all things together. When Paul wrote this letter to the people in Rome, (Hence the name of the book, “Romans,”), he was writing in Greek from a Greek city, Corinth. The Greek version of this verse reads something like this: “We know now that to those loving God, God works all things together for good for those who are being called according to His purpose.” Notice several things about this essential Scripture: It is in present tense. Then, and now. In other words, it is something we are currently doing. It is something God is currently doing. We are loving Him, right now! Not ten, or twenty, or thirty years ago (or more) when someone else took us to church as a child. Not later on when we think we’ll have more time, it’s our mindset and our lifestyle now! We choose to love God. We choose to live as people who love God. The Greek word for “works together” is cool. It’s “sunergeo.” (sun er cho) Notice it looks and sounds a bit like the word “energy” is in there. God is using His energy, like the sun, for us! He employs His endless, unlimited, rich resources on our behalf! “Even when we can’t see Him, He’s working,” we’re reminded in the song“WayMaker.” 3) Don’t miss this: there is a condition in this verse. It is conditional. In everything we are going through, not just some, but all… God is working for good for… who? Anyone? No! For those who LOVE HIM! This is one of those great promises of God found in the Bible. But it’s not just for anyone. It is for those who love Him, and are called according to His plan and purpose for their lives. How do we know if we love Him? -6- We OBEY Him. We follow His ways. We obey His commands. Henry Blackabee of Experiencing God says if we have an obedience problem we have a love problem. It’s true. Think about it. Hosea 14:9 reads “Who is wise? They will realize these things. Who is discerning? They will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Today we can come to the altar and receive the Lord’s Supper and confess any rebelliousness within us and asked to be cleansed from it. We can ask the Holy Spirit to give us a fresh infilling of His Presence and His self-discipline to turn away from the rebelliousness. We can ask for a fresh infilling of a desire to be obedient to our God. Jesus Christ was anything but rebellious. He could have chosen not to obey His Father’s will, which was the most difficult calling anyone ever had on their lives, but He chose obedience. In fact, I believe Amanda mentioned this section of essential Scripture last week. In Phil 2:8 we’re told “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient… even to death - even death on a cross!” And therefore, because of this obedience, God “exalted Him to the highest place…” The Passion Translation puts Romans 8:28, and some of :29 like this: “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfill His designed purpose. For He knew all about us before we were born and He destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of His Son.” That’s the goal. To be like Christ. And God is doing His part we’re told in Romans 8:28. Now, how about us? Are we doing our part? Are we truly living as His Covenant people? [Unpack this!] If not… we can start today. Because, after all… [Romans 8:28]
