1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,160 Today we have a wonderful crowd for which we are thankful and 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,200 has already been mentioned. If you do consider yourself a 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,280 visitor, we want you to know you are our honored guest and 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,240 welcome. It's good to see you. 5 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,840 It's good to worship together and as always is the case, I do 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,320 consider it an honor to speak concerning the word of God. 7 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,520 As Wade had announced, we're going to continue in the series 8 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,320 that I'm really, I've really enjoyed the series very much. 9 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,640 I've enjoyed the study of it. I've enjoyed preaching on these 10 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:30,920 things. These are some of the most 11 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:36,320 incredible, encouraging things that are practical in our life 12 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,720 to help sustain us as we journey along life's Hwy. on our way to 13 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,160 heaven. Unbelievable blessings. 14 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:51,680 And today the title of our lesson is God is on our side in 15 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,720 Romans chapter 8 and verse 31, an introductory text reads as 16 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:58,000 follows. The apostle Paul says, what then 17 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:03,360 shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be 18 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,640 against us? Now remember by way, a very 19 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,360 brief review. There are five unbelievable 20 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:13,840 blessings that the apostle Paul Lewis in Romans chapter 8 to 21 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:18,040 help sustain us as we go through life even with the challenges 22 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,680 and the difficult times. And I got to tell you, we're 23 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,040 going to have some difficult stuff. 24 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,040 It's just called life. That's just life. 25 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,160 But as we journey along from a spiritual perspective, we are 26 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,400 not alone. We have 5 unbelievable blessings 27 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,760 that were given from God to help sustain us. 28 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:37,880 Number one, we have hope, and as we noticed last time, we're not 29 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,400 going to elaborate on these again. 30 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,720 But as we noticed last time, hope is not postponed 31 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,760 disappointment. Hope is real. 32 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,000 Hope is trusting God for the future, just like faith is 33 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,120 trusting God in the present. Unbelievable. 34 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:56,760 The Christian has hope #2 God has given us the intercessory 35 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,360 work of the Holy Spirit. In Romans chapter 8, there are 36 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,720 times when we need an intercessor, We need help. 37 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,760 And in Romans chapter 8, the Holy Spirit helps us in our 38 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,440 weaknesses when we at sometimes are at the end of our rope and 39 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,360 we don't know what we ought to pray for. 40 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,920 We know about the signs of the groanings that are inside of us. 41 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,480 That's from the human spirit and we can't form the words. 42 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:25,120 We need an intercessor. We groan unutterable groanings. 43 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,920 The Holy Spirit takes those groanings to the Father. 44 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,840 The very next verse says the Father understands why? 45 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,960 Because he knows the mind of the Holy Spirit. 46 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:40,280 Who does what? Who makes intercession for us? 47 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,360 Unbelievable. Blessing and then blessing #3 We 48 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,080 talked about this last time. Because of all that, we have 49 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,320 knowledge that all things work together for good to them, that 50 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,160 love God to those that are called according to His purpose. 51 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,440 And as we mentioned last time, this is not talking about all 52 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,640 the individual things that happen in life circumstantially. 53 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,040 It doesn't mean that every circumstance, though, negative 54 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,800 or bad or terrible or whatever, is going to end up turning out 55 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,240 good, because sometimes things don't turn out good. 56 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:20,840 What this is talking about, this is an absolute promise that all 57 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,360 things are going to work together for our eternal good 58 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,960 and our spiritual good. God's going to make that happen. 59 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:35,280 OK, that brings us to lesson #4 or the fourth thing of these 60 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,200 great blessings. And that's today's lesson. 61 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:42,840 And that is God is on our side. And the apostle Paul says, if 62 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,960 God is for us, who can be against us? 63 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:48,200 Now you might remember the last thing I said. 64 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,240 I said, Tanner said to me, how many times that phrase? 65 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,120 You know, how many times that phrase don't be a phrase in the 66 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:56,040 Bible? I said, no, I really know. 67 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,840 He said, it's 365 times. And I looked it up and it was 68 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,960 right. So we ended our last lesson on 69 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,960 making the point. So there's 365 days in the year, 70 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,840 365 times in the Bible. You can find a passage or an 71 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,680 instance where God says do not be afraid. 72 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,399 And I don't believe that is an accident at all. 73 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,000 But I want to elaborate and go a little further in our 74 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,080 introduction here. Why would God make such a big 75 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:33,560 deal in the Bible so many times? Why would he say don't be 76 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,040 afraid? You know why? 77 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:41,120 Because fear is real. You know anybody that says I'm 78 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,080 not afraid of anything, you know, I'm not trying to be 79 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:44,680 disrespectful. Really, two things. 80 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:53,880 One, you're lying. Or two, you're touched a little 81 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:55,720 and maybe you're all right. Just give you a bowl of soup. 82 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,920 Everybody's afraid of something. I don't care how tough you think 83 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:05,600 you are or strong you think you are. 84 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,080 Everybody has fear. In fact, let me just say this. 85 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,080 There would be no such thing as courage if there were No Fear. 86 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:20,600 Fear is your response, or courage is your response to 87 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:22,880 fear. That's the difference between a 88 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,920 courageous person and a coward is your response to fear. 89 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,880 In other words, fear is a feeling and everybody has it. 90 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:36,600 Courage is a reaction. So why does God continually in 91 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,800 the Bible say, though, even though fear is real and it's a 92 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,720 real thing, don't be afraid here it is because he will never 93 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,400 leave us nor forsake us. That's why. 94 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:56,480 Let me notice one example. It's my favorite one example and 95 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,960 we got to move on. When Moses, who was a servant of 96 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:04,800 the Lord, died, the Lord said to Joshua, my servant Moses is now 97 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,840 dead. And as I was with Moses, he said 98 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:11,320 to Joshua, I will also be with you. 99 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,920 He said, therefore go over this land, you and all the people, to 100 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,440 the land which I am giving to them, the children of Israel 101 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,440 arise, he said. And then he said this in Joshua 102 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:27,480 chapter 1, beginning in verse 5. No man shall be able to stand 103 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,240 before you all the days of your life. 104 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,280 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 105 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:34,920 I will not leave you nor forsake you. 106 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,080 Be strong and of good courage. And to this people you shall 107 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,600 divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their 108 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,200 fathers to get them. Only be strong and very 109 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:48,040 courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law 110 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,120 which Moses my servant commanded you. 111 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,240 Do not turn from it to the right hand, nor to the left, that you 112 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,880 may prosper wherever you go. This book of the law shall not 113 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:01,840 depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and 114 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:05,600 night, that you may observe to do according to all that is 115 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,760 within it, for then you will make your way prosperous, and 116 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,760 you will have good success. Then notice. 117 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:17,520 Have I not commanded you? Do you see that it's a command? 118 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:21,800 Have I not commanded you? What? 119 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:28,960 Be strong and of good courage and do not be afraid, do not be 120 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,080 dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 121 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,560 You know, at the end of the book of Romans, the apostle Paul says 122 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:40,400 we are more than conquerors of him that loved us through him 123 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,280 that loved us more than conquerors. 124 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,640 Why are we more than conquerors? We're more than conquerors not 125 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,480 because of our own personal strength, because true inner 126 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,160 strength can only come from God. You might call it faith and 127 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:55,880 courage. I call it God and guts. 128 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,080 It's the way that it is. It comes from God. 129 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,600 That's so very important in our life, though, because life is 130 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:10,000 about handling losses. You know, in life we lose more 131 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,480 than we win. We have contractors in this 132 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,120 audience, and I guarantee you, those of us that are 133 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:20,040 contractors, when you bid work, you lose more than you get. 134 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,120 And if you can somehow get half of the ones you bid, man, you're 135 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,360 so excited. You know why? 136 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,080 Because that's life. And in our world of 137 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:35,960 construction, you're going to get less than what you bid. 138 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,000 So in other words, the losses will exceed the victories. 139 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:47,600 Kind of like life, though. Trevor Brazil, rodeo cowboy. 140 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:53,840 He won 26 world titles. Now, you may not understand what 141 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:55,840 that means, but for a rodeo person, that's huge. 142 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,200 That's 26 gold buckles. Some people go their entire life 143 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,680 in search of one. That rodeo professionally never 144 00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:03,360 get one. Most people don't. 145 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:09,760 OK, he won 26 gold buckles and he was asked after it was all 146 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,600 said and done and he retired, they asked him. 147 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:16,240 They said, what was the secret To persevere and keep grinding 148 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,480 forward in your pursuit of 26 world titles? 149 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,680 You know what he said to remember every day that I'm in a 150 00:09:22,680 --> 00:09:25,080 sport that I will lose more than I will win and not be 151 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,120 discouraged and pick myself up and persevere and move on down 152 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,280 the road and keep on going regardless of the outcome. 153 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,440 That's the greatest bit of advice I can give because it's 154 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,320 going to come with a whole lot more losses than victories. 155 00:09:36,560 --> 00:09:39,480 He said this, but without the losses, the victories would have 156 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:43,520 no meaning. And when it comes to life, we 157 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,600 have to realize that God is on our side. 158 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,800 And when God is on our side, it changes our perspective. 159 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,520 And I got to tell you, perspective is everything. 160 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,320 Attitude is everything. Like somebody so rightly said 161 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:00,040 one time, your attitude is the aroma of your heart. 162 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,720 And sometimes you got to lay aside you're stinking thinking. 163 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:10,600 Attitude's everything. Perspective is everything. 164 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,680 Now I got to tell you, I quote my father. 165 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:19,120 My father died way too young. And if I could have had one, one 166 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:26,640 deep burning desire that I could have had in the rearing of my 167 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:31,880 own children is that they could have known my father like I knew 168 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,000 my father, but he passed away way too young. 169 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,920 I loved my father's perspective and I quote from him all the 170 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,560 time. But I got to tell you, when I 171 00:10:43,560 --> 00:10:48,760 was a teenager, my father was unbelievably annoying. 172 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,320 My father's perspective was unbelievably annoying. 173 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,760 My father would walk down the hall and here we are at 594 Rice 174 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,240 Rd. hardwood floors. You can hear somebody coming a 175 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,240 mile away. And when you're a teenager, 176 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:07,720 you're trying to sleep all you can for as long as you can. 177 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,520 I'm sound asleep. And here comes my dad singing as 178 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,600 loud as he possibly could. Oh, what a beautiful morning. 179 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,040 This is every day by the way. Now my father was one of those 180 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,600 if he couldn't hit the note, instead of softening the tone 181 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,760 the the the volume and reaching the note, he just shouted even 182 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,640 louder, even more annoying. And I knew when that song got 183 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:29,840 fired up every day. It was just a matter of seconds 184 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,320 before he was coming to my door, opening up the door. 185 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,720 I was cringing waiting for her and he said get up son. 186 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:37,920 Today's a beautiful day in wish to excel. 187 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,800 Now I get it. Sometimes when we're young our 188 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,280 parents annoy us. I would imagine that maybe once 189 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:53,520 or twice I annoyed my kids. Maybe perspective though his 190 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:58,240 perspective made me feel better at the most difficult times in 191 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,760 my life. He would say things to me like, 192 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:05,800 son, the only time you fail is the last time you try. 193 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:11,120 He also used to say, you know, look at it differently, son, you 194 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,640 didn't fail, you just took a strategic move to the rear. 195 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,920 You got to look at it differently and press on. 196 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,880 The point is life is about fighting back from adversity. 197 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:26,760 Life is about getting knocked down, having regardless of what 198 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:31,760 happens, getting back up, regardless of the outcome. 199 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,160 Please get that. I've often believed in the 200 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,360 concept that that outcome determines effort. 201 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,960 It does. But if you want to succeed in 202 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,200 life, you have to realize that your effort cannot be 203 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:51,320 proportionate to the outcome. In 1991, the Buffalo Bills went 204 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:55,160 to their first Super Bowl following the 1990 season. 205 00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:59,080 Those of you that are older like me might remember that that was 206 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,720 during the Gulf War Desert Storm. 207 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,720 Whitney Houston sang the national anthem, Our country was 208 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:06,360 coming together. People were raving flags. 209 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,560 It was a big deal and the New York Giants played the Buffalo 210 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:12,320 Bills in the Super Bowl. Buffalo had the ball at the end. 211 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:13,720 They drove all the way down the field. 212 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:15,640 They have a chip shot field goal to win it and guess what 213 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:18,040 happened? Missed wide right. 214 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:26,000 Team was devastated afterwards. Mark Levy, the coach of the 215 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,160 Buffalo Bills, got his team together and he quoted a 216 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:33,040 Scottish poem about a naval battle in 1511 between Admiral 217 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:38,920 Sir Andrew Barton against English ships, a man that showed 218 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,760 immense resilience with the refusal to surrender despite 219 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,280 heavy odds. And he said these words. 220 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:47,240 Fight on my men, Sir Andrew said a little. 221 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:51,160 I'm hurt and not yet slain. I'll just lie down and bleed a 222 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,880 while and then I'll rise and fight again. 223 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,840 You know what happened? They fought back. 224 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:00,720 There was the Super Bowl the next year. 225 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,000 You know what happened? They lost again. 226 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,200 They rallied the troops the third time. 227 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:07,640 Third time's the charm, right? They're going to win. 228 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,040 The third time, they go and they get blown out by the Dallas 229 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:14,880 Cowboys, 52 to 17. One more time. 230 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:20,040 They rally again, they prepare. They get to the Super Bowl. 231 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,760 Fourth straight year, crowds cheering. 232 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:24,120 This is our year. You know what happened? 233 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,680 I lost again. What's the entire point? 234 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:34,800 The point is, that's a microcosm of life battling back from 235 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,280 adversity without letting outcome determine effort. 236 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,520 You know what? When I was young and dumb, I 237 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:41,520 thought it was my own personal strength that got me through 238 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,600 times like that. But when it comes to the 239 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,080 difficult times in life, it is only the Lord's strength that 240 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:48,840 gets us through. And from a spiritual 241 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,280 perspective, that is abundantly true. 242 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,880 Notice 2nd Thessalonians 3 and verse 3. 243 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:58,920 Notice, Please get this, the Lord is faithful. 244 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,400 Now I got to tell you, sometimes the word faithful refers to one 245 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:09,280 who is truly obedient, like you might say, a faithful Christian. 246 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:11,720 Now what's that? A faithful Christian is somebody 247 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,400 faithful to the Lord, somebody that's faithful, obedient to 248 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,200 Jesus Christ. We get that. 249 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,440 But in this context, this word faithful doesn't mean that it 250 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,920 doesn't mean truly obedient. It means that God can be trusted 251 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:30,160 and will make good on His promises. 252 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,960 I got to tell you, you may have doubts in your life, I get it. 253 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,040 And you may have people that you don't have any confidence with, 254 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,800 I get it. And you may have people in your 255 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,880 life that have let you down, and I get it. 256 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,640 And there may be people that you cannot trust because trust is 257 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,120 earned. And I get it. 258 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,840 But in all the times and in all the concepts and in all the 259 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,680 times in your life that you doubt, don't ever doubt God. 260 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,480 Why? Because God never lies. 261 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:05,880 He can always be trusted. He will always make good on His 262 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:10,000 promises. Specifically in this regard. 263 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,000 What's 1 of the great promises He's going to do, He's going to 264 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,160 keep. He's going to establish you. 265 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:16,680 You know what the word establish means? 266 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:23,520 I love this to strengthen, make firm and confirm one's mind. 267 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:36,400 You don't have to be weak if you realize and you trust that God 268 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:43,920 has promised I will strengthen you sometimes in your prayers. 269 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:45,520 Let me just suggest something if I may. 270 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,040 If you have something in your life that you don't think is you 271 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:53,800 don't think is fair or you're going through something that's 272 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,600 difficult. And what we tend to do is we 273 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:01,800 pray that God will remove it. I get it, Me too. 274 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,240 And we pray that God will give us relief. 275 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:08,839 And that's usually the first thing that pops in our head. 276 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:15,720 How about let's do this? Dear God, please give me the 277 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:21,040 strength to overcome, to endure, to persevere. 278 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,720 Give me the strength. I believe in all my heart. 279 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,000 When you tell God these words, when you say to God, I'm 280 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,160 vulnerable. When you say to God, I'm nothing 281 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,960 without you. And when you tell God I can't do 282 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,320 this without you, that's when the Lord shows up. 283 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:38,680 You're stopped to consider. And I don't want to go down a 284 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,280 rabbit hole. Not one of them not doing that. 285 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:46,720 But I'm just going to say, every time the disciples failed, even 286 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:51,840 back before the crucifixion, they were all relying on their 287 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:57,880 own strength. Every time when they trusted in 288 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:02,280 the Lord and the Lord's promise and they remembered that and 289 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,160 they were fulfilled or filled with the strength that God said 290 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:10,160 I will give you, they were fine. Even when the outcome wasn't 291 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:16,840 fine, even when they crucified Peter upside down, even when 292 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:26,040 they beheaded Paul, even when, even when, even when one thing 293 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,600 God's going to do is going to keep us firm #2 I love this. 294 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,240 He's going to guard you from the evil one. 295 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,480 That's the new King James. The old King James says guard 296 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,720 you from evil. In a general sense. 297 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,080 Really, it's talking about something very specific. 298 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:43,760 And this is really going to make sense at the end of our lesson. 299 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,000 Who's the one that God's going to guard US against? 300 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:51,360 Who's the one that's the evil? 1 James 47 Therefore, submit to 301 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:54,040 God resists the devil, and he will flee from you. 302 00:18:54,120 --> 00:18:57,880 That is a promise. So the promise is this. 303 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,600 God can be trusted. He's going to strengthen us, 304 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,720 He's going to establish us, He's going to keep us. 305 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:08,680 He's going to do all that, and He's also going to guard us from 306 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:10,440 the devil. What do we got to do though? 307 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,280 We got to do our part. Here's what we got to do. 308 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,880 We have to submit to God #1 #2 you got to resist the devil. 309 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,160 And I'm going to tell you, when it comes to temptation, 310 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,880 temptations are real. And the way that you resist the 311 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,920 devil is don't put yourself in compromising situations. 312 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,640 If there's people in your life that are dragging you down the 313 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,840 wrong path, stop hanging out with those people that are 314 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:37,160 dragging you down the wrong path. 315 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:39,720 Hang out with some better people. 316 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:45,360 If you frequent places that are causing you to stumble and fall, 317 00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:48,560 then stop frequenting those places that'll that'll cause you 318 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,400 to stumble and fall. That's what resisting the devil 319 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:53,000 is. You have to submit to God and 320 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,120 then resist the devil and he will flee from you. 321 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:58,840 OK, with those words now it leads us right into Romans 322 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,680 chapter 8. Actually, let's back up one more 323 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,280 verse, First Corinthians 10/13 about temptation. 324 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:09,160 This is an unbelievable promise. No temptation has overtaken you 325 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:13,280 except what is common to man. God is faithful. 326 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,440 There he is again, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond 327 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,720 what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way 328 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:21,880 of escape that you may be able to bear it. 329 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,840 I'm going to tell you something. If you are struggling with 330 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,920 something, whatever it is, and by the way, everybody struggles 331 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:30,120 with something. If you will go to your heavenly 332 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:32,280 Father in prayer, you're submitting yourself to God. 333 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,600 You're resisting the devil. I'm telling you, the temptation 334 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:42,000 will go away. It's coming back. 335 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,440 But you can keep the devil on the run, just like Jesus did 336 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,760 when he was tempted for those 40 days. 337 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,720 All right, now notice this phrase right here. 338 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,800 Then Paul says, what shall we say to these things? 339 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:57,640 Now here we go again about context. 340 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:03,080 The words, these things in context refer to the same things 341 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,960 that go back to verse 28. Remember in verse 28, and we 342 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:10,640 know that all things work together for good to those who 343 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,800 love God, to those that are called according to His purpose. 344 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:18,120 OK, so those things in verse 28 are the same things he's 345 00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:23,400 referring to in verse 31. Those things go all the way back 346 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,520 to verse 18. One commentator put it this way. 347 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:31,720 From all that has been said, what comfort may we derive from 348 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,400 it? We are persecuted and despised, 349 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,200 it is true, but as God has called us to love Him, and all 350 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,360 things work together for good to them that love Him, and if we 351 00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:44,600 continue to possess that faith that works by love, it will 352 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:48,440 bring us both body and soul to His eternal glory. 353 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:53,000 Seeing therefore, that all these things are So, what comfort in 354 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,600 our tribulation shall we derive from them? 355 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:04,800 Now notice the next phrase He says. 356 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:06,320 What shall we say about these things? 357 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:08,960 All the things that he just said? 358 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:17,800 Then he says, if God is for us, who can be against us? 359 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,440 Do you know what the phrase actually, literally means? 360 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:27,120 If God is for us, it means God is on my side. 361 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,560 Now, the actual phrase is rendered my side. 362 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,160 And I want you to not just pass over that, please. 363 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:40,480 I want you to know that in your life that's personal. 364 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:44,720 And when you go through your day, when you go through your 365 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:50,400 life and things are difficult, Please remember God is on my 366 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:57,480 side in the circumstance that is before me, that is bad against 367 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,560 me. God is on my side. 368 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,600 I'm telling you, my dad used to say, me and God, that's the 369 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,080 majority. We got this. 370 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:12,240 God is on my side. The world may turn their back on 371 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:13,200 you. God never will. 372 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,080 Paul's language here echoes many biblical sources, one of which 373 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:22,480 is found in Psalm 118 and verse 6 where the psalmist David says 374 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,760 the Lord is on my side. It's the same thing. 375 00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:31,400 He's on my side. That phrase my side is in both 376 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,520 places. One commentator said it this 377 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,440 way. This was actually Reese and 378 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,880 quoted in the contending for the faith commentary. 379 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:44,320 He said this since God is for us means he is on the Christian 380 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:45,880 side. He is our friend. 381 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,920 When he planned out in eternity, carries out in time had men's 382 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:52,960 ultimate good in mind. Whether it's pronouncing the 383 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,320 removing of a curse or sending his Son to pay the price for our 384 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:59,600 sins, or given the indwelling of the Spirit to help live the 385 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,760 Christian life, or over ruling even the circumstances that seem 386 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:08,120 to militate against us. All these plainly show that God 387 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:13,000 in his person and His Providence is for US. 388 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:17,840 And for that David says, because of that I will not fear. 389 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:23,160 Because of that I will not fear. Now, folks, please get this. 390 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:29,240 That's a choice because fear is going to come to every one of 391 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,400 us. You got to make a choice because 392 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:37,160 the Lord is on my side, David said because of that I will not 393 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:38,760 fear. That's a choice. 394 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,560 Now, it doesn't mean we don't have adversaries, and it doesn't 395 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:46,680 mean we don't have enemies and people that are against us, 396 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:51,280 because that's just not true. We do have those things and we 397 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,400 could not stand against them alone. 398 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:57,680 In fact, Paul says in this very chapter, some of those things 399 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,480 that are against us. So let's just get real. 400 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,360 Here are some things that are against us. 401 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:08,280 Romans 835 and 36. Who shall separate us from the 402 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:11,720 love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, 403 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,000 or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, 404 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,240 as it is written, for your sake? We are killed all, all day long. 405 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,120 We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 406 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,840 Then in verses 38 and 39. For I am persuaded that neither 407 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:31,320 death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor 408 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,880 things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor 409 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:38,600 any other creative thing, shall be able to separate us from the 410 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:42,920 love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 411 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:47,160 The point is this. We're not alone because God is 412 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:51,200 on our side, and God is greater and stronger than all those 413 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,360 things that we just noticed combined. 414 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:59,360 No match for God. And in the next two verses, God 415 00:25:59,360 --> 00:26:02,920 gently but firmly rebukes any who would even consider the 416 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:07,360 notion that the forces of evil might overthrow God's purpose 417 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,640 and plan for the faithful. That brings us to the next verse 418 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:15,600 in verse 32. He who did not spare his own 419 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:21,720 Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him 420 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:26,880 also freely give us all things? Notice this phrase right here. 421 00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:31,280 He begins with the greatest thing that He has ever done for 422 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:36,120 man. He begins with that, You know, 423 00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:38,560 have you ever noticed? I mean, not only is the Bible 424 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:41,680 God's holy inspired word, it's all those things. 425 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:43,800 It's all the things that we wonderful things that we talk 426 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:45,600 about. It guides us, it rules us and 427 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,160 all that. It's also brilliant. 428 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:54,560 It's also incredibly brilliant. He begins with the greatest 429 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:55,840 thing. He's making a point here. 430 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:57,720 He's giving encouraging blessings. 431 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,160 Don't give up, don't let go. It's all going to work out 432 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:02,920 because why? God's on your side. 433 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:08,960 And He begins with the very first thing, which is the 434 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:13,200 greatest thing God's ever done for us, and that is, He did not 435 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:19,920 spare his own son, but the phrase his own son. 436 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:27,080 It's the same phraseology as John 316, the most noted passage 437 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:31,120 perhaps in all the Bible. For God so loved the world that 438 00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:34,840 he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him 439 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,080 should not perish, but have everlasting life. 440 00:27:37,120 --> 00:27:42,080 Now it's true. God is our Father, we are his 441 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:43,440 children. Yes, that's true. 442 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:47,520 Bringing many sons to glory. Like the song that we sing? 443 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:51,120 Absolutely. So why is it that there's a 444 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:56,440 distinction between his own Son, his only begotten son? 445 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,760 Does that have anything to do with his relationship with us? 446 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:02,720 Well, it doesn't have anything to do with this relationship 447 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:06,080 with us, meaning it doesn't do away with the fact that we cry 448 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:09,240 ABBA Father Galatians chapter 4, meaning he's not only our 449 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:12,520 Heavenly Father, but he's our own personal father too. 450 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:18,040 The Aramaic term of endearment. All that's true. 451 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:23,080 So why is there a distinction between that phraseology? 452 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:28,920 His own Son and his only begotten Son reset it this way, 453 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,520 and this shows the greatest aspect of His gift for us. 454 00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:38,560 The phrase's own Son means there's no other who stands in 455 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:41,920 the same relation to the Father as Jesus does. 456 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:46,360 It intimates that the Son was and is of one nature with the 457 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:48,840 Father. In other words, it shows how 458 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:54,600 great the price actually was. He could have sent me. 459 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:56,080 And what kind of a price is that? 460 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:01,240 Could have sent any one of us. And what kind of a price is 461 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:10,080 that? He sent the one that was on the 462 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:19,320 same nature with himself, one of the Godhead that was perfect. 463 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,320 That's the first thing willing to pay that price. 464 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:30,440 Then he says this but delivered him up for us all. 465 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:32,880 Now I got to make a point about those two words us all. 466 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:39,800 It is true. Jesus came to die for every 467 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,520 person in the world. That's true. 468 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:47,960 OK, we all agree with that. And you know, sometimes we even 469 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,360 say if there's a really bad person in the world, and I knew 470 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:52,720 no, that there are bad people in the world. 471 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,320 What I don't believe in, I don't believe in the concept that the 472 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:57,520 world's all gone bad. And I don't believe in that at 473 00:29:57,520 --> 00:29:58,560 all. It's just not true. 474 00:29:59,920 --> 00:30:01,560 There's a lot of good in the world and there's a lot of 475 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:03,400 wonderful people in the world. That's true. 476 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,960 But that being said, there are some people that are not good. 477 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:13,600 And it's also true that when Jesus went to the cross, he went 478 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:16,360 to the cross to die for them too. 479 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:28,840 However, the blessings in Romans chapter 8 are not for everybody, 480 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:35,440 us all. Those two words right there is 481 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:40,600 referring to those that receive the benefits of the cry of the 482 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,440 death of Jesus. So Jesus died for everybody. 483 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:46,360 But stay with me here. He died for everybody. 484 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,560 Those that have the benefit of his death are those that are 485 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,120 obedient Christians, those that make the choice to come to 486 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:56,000 Jesus. Those are the ones that are 487 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,760 considered in the promise of us all. 488 00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:04,760 Those are the ones that are considered with that benefit. 489 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,880 Give you some Bible on that in Philippians chapter 2 and verse 490 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:10,680 12. This from the Amplified Bible. 491 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:15,000 I love how this reads. Notice so then, my dear ones, 492 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,320 just as you have always obeyed my instructions with enthusiasm, 493 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:22,320 not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, 494 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:24,080 continue to work out your salvation. 495 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:27,280 That is, cultivate it. Bring it to full effect. 496 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:32,640 Actively pursue spiritual maturity with all inspiring fear 497 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:36,800 and trembling, using serious caution and critical self 498 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:40,480 evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or 499 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:46,440 discredit the name of Christ. Man, I love that these are the 500 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:50,800 ones that have the benefits of the death of Jesus Christ. 501 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:58,040 Oh, by the way, can a bad person have the benefits of the death 502 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:00,160 of Jesus? Yeah, as soon as they stop their 503 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:04,280 path and follow Jesus. As soon as they decide I'm going 504 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,480 to follow Jesus. It's all about the Lord, folks. 505 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:12,000 That's it. The point is, if God was willing 506 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:18,040 to do all that for us, he didn't spare his own Son, He delivered 507 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:22,400 him up for us all, then how shall he not with him also 508 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:27,760 freely give us all things? Whiteside says this Certainly if 509 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:31,040 God gave us the greatest, the most precious gift, the gift of 510 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:35,400 his Son, he will not withhold any of the lesser things that 511 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:40,680 might be good for us and are not all things that he gives us with 512 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,880 Christ, the all things that work together for good. 513 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:51,040 What do we say? Things that are for our eternal 514 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:56,000 good and spiritual benefit? Gospel Advocate Commentary If 515 00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:00,320 God so loved us that he did not spare his own Son, but delivered 516 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:04,160 him up to supper for us, willing not with him freely give us all 517 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,920 things needed to gain the salvation Jesus died to gain for 518 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:11,200 us. In as much as God has done the 519 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:14,560 greater giving, the most precious being in his sight, 520 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:21,440 that's Jesus, He will with him give all less costly gifts that 521 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:24,800 are needed to perfect our salvation. 522 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:29,200 I don't know about you, but I look at that and I think, man, I 523 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:37,600 can't lose. I'm going to ask a question, I'm 524 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:41,400 going to put it on the screen, and I want you to really see 525 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:44,040 what I'm putting on there and listen to my question here, OK? 526 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:48,400 Don't misunderstand me, but I think it's very important. 527 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:55,600 All that stuff being said, if God has so freely made such 528 00:33:55,600 --> 00:34:02,480 provisions for man's salvation, can we actually believe that he 529 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:07,480 will permit a single soul willing to accept the gospel and 530 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:16,400 be saved to die without the knowledge of it, not bind it? 531 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:28,760 I have said for years, I believe with all my heart, if somebody 532 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:32,120 in fitting with what Jesus says, ask and you shall receive, seek 533 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,679 and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you that if 534 00:34:35,679 --> 00:34:37,719 somebody's looking for the Lord, they're going to find the Lord. 535 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:42,520 Oh, I believe that. I also believe that that's the 536 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:45,520 reason the world still stands is because there's people that are 537 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:51,239 still willing to come to Jesus and there's still good people 538 00:34:51,360 --> 00:35:00,680 that want Jesus and need time. So all that being said, you 539 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:07,200 really think that God's going to allow time to go away if there's 540 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:11,920 somebody that is willing to come to Jesus, but they never get to 541 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:15,040 hear it. So let's get aside, let's throw 542 00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:17,320 aside the argument. What about that person on the 543 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:19,280 other side of the world? I'm not worried about that. 544 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:23,200 You know the, you know what the Lord said, go preach the gospel, 545 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:26,600 go preach the word. Just go preach the word. 546 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,800 That's what he said. I'm going to let the Lord handle 547 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:30,280 all that. Does that mean that the Lord's 548 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:32,440 going to put me in their life, you in their life somewhere in 549 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:33,640 the life? I don't know and I don't care. 550 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:35,080 I just believe he's going to get it done. 551 00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:37,440 And if there's somebody that's out there willing, it's going to 552 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:38,880 happen. I believe that. 553 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:42,440 Now give me some Bible. Why do I believe that? 554 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:45,760 Second, Peter 39, The Lord is not slack concerning His 555 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:49,920 promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering 556 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,920 toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all 557 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:58,520 should come to repentance. Second Peter 315, And consider 558 00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:02,960 that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation. 559 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:12,000 You know, the Bible says that God is no or shows no 560 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:15,440 partiality. In fact, the King James says, 561 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:17,960 and I'm going to get to that passage in a minute, the King 562 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:22,080 James Version renders that God is no respecter of persons. 563 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:25,000 But let's look at the actual passage and the context of the 564 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:31,480 passage because sometimes we use that phrase as a negative, like 565 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:34,040 something bad is going to happen to somebody. 566 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:36,360 God has no respecter of persons just because whatever. 567 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,280 Well, let's look at the context of the passage and maybe have a 568 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:43,920 little different perspective about God showing no partiality. 569 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:48,360 In Acts chapter 10, the Holy Spirit declared through Peter 570 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:51,760 these words Acts chapter 10 beginning in verse 35. 571 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:56,240 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, in truth, I perceive that 572 00:36:56,240 --> 00:37:03,240 God shows no partiality. Then he says that in every 573 00:37:03,240 --> 00:37:07,080 nation whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted 574 00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:12,160 by him. The Gospel Advocate Commentary 575 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:17,080 summed it up like this. He Peter, declared on this 576 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:21,520 occasion that God sent the gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile, 577 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:25,480 because he saw that he was desirous of knowing and doing 578 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:29,480 the will of God, if God shows no partiality. 579 00:37:29,640 --> 00:37:34,120 And he called Abraham while he was an idolater, Paul while he 580 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:38,720 was a persecutor, Cornelius and Lydia in the midst of idolatry. 581 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:42,360 Why? Because he saw that they were 582 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:47,080 anxious to know and do the truth and had courage and perseverance 583 00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:51,720 to be true to the end. We may rest assured that he is 584 00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:55,520 never permitted, nor will ever permit a single soul with the 585 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:59,160 same willingness and ability to know and continue in the truth 586 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,360 to perish without the knowledge of the same. 587 00:38:07,710 --> 00:38:09,510 That's why I believe the world still stands. 588 00:38:11,590 --> 00:38:17,230 Talking to a friend of mine on the phone the other day and I 589 00:38:17,230 --> 00:38:23,920 said, you know, when it comes to perspective about the Lord's 590 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:28,160 return, we all long for the Lord's return. 591 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:32,120 We just sang a song about heaven. 592 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:38,360 Unbelievable. The gates open wide, we come 593 00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:46,840 inside, we're home at last. Oh, someday I want to go home, 594 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:54,360 but not yet. Hear me now. 595 00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:56,520 I haven't gone off the reservation. 596 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,880 I got work to do. Paul says for me to live is 597 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:04,840 Christ, to die is gain. I've got work for the cause of 598 00:39:04,840 --> 00:39:06,120 Christ to do. I'm not ready. 599 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:08,240 I'm ready. It's the Lord decides to blow me 600 00:39:08,240 --> 00:39:09,040 out here. Yeah, that's right. 601 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:17,320 But I got work to do #2 #2 I want the world to continue to 602 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:17,920 stand. You know why? 603 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:21,280 Because I see people every day that are on a journey toward the 604 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:24,520 Lord and I want them to have time. 605 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:31,400 I think that's the only reason the world still stands today. 606 00:39:33,080 --> 00:39:36,440 Because if you look in the Old Testament, every time God had 607 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:40,240 enough because there was no one left, that was it. 608 00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:44,400 Judgment came every time. I got to tell you something, 609 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:46,760 folks, and this isn't, I'm going to say something I think is 610 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:52,240 really encouraging, but what I've seen with my sleeves rolled 611 00:39:52,240 --> 00:39:57,480 up, talking to people every day, there's a trend happening in 612 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:06,440 this town that is for the great. People are trying to get to God. 613 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:08,120 People are trying to get to the Lord. 614 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:10,120 People are trying to study. People are getting together and 615 00:40:10,120 --> 00:40:13,200 studying the Bible. People are trying to find Jesus 616 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:15,640 and know what he wants them to do in their life. 617 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:21,160 You know something? It might be better than it's 618 00:40:21,160 --> 00:40:24,840 ever been in this area for the years I've been around. 619 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:30,600 So don't have the mindset. No, it ain't all that. 620 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:35,240 Roll your sleeves up. Tell people about the Lord, 621 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:39,000 because I'm telling you there's a trend happening and the world 622 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,800 still stands because of them. One final verse. 623 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:46,440 Then in verse 33, he sums it up. Who shall bring a charge against 624 00:40:46,440 --> 00:40:49,240 the God's elect? It is God who justifies. 625 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:51,800 Look at the image here. The image is a courtroom. 626 00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:55,960 Here's the courtroom. Now I know at the end of time, 627 00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:58,640 and Jesus, who is our Savior now, will be the judge. 628 00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:01,480 That's what it says, and it's rightful because he's the one 629 00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:02,520 with the nail prints in his hands. 630 00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:05,800 OK, I get it. But these blessings are 631 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:10,480 something that's happening right now while you're living, not the 632 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:14,160 end of time. The image here is a courtroom, 633 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:16,840 and the judge on the bench is God. 634 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:24,160 The defendant is God's elect or faithful Christians. 635 00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:29,680 The prosecutor is the devil and this is the best part and the 636 00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:43,560 defense attorneys, Jesus. Now one commentator just said it 637 00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:45,240 all that this way I'll just put it on the screen. 638 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:48,000 The judge on the bench is God who is forced. 639 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:52,040 That's verse 31. The lawyer is Jesus, God's own 640 00:41:52,040 --> 00:41:55,560 son, who died for us, thus paying the penalty of our sins. 641 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:59,400 The prosecutor is the devil who accuses the brethren before God 642 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:02,760 day and night, but actually he's the one that's banished from 643 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:05,200 heaven because of his rejection of God's authority. 644 00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:10,280 In such a scenario, as in all situations, the devil stands no 645 00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:13,600 chance before God to bring down the elect of God. 646 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:18,160 God justified them by forgiving them of their past sins upon 647 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:22,360 their faithful obedience to the God gospel, and He continues to 648 00:42:22,360 --> 00:42:26,240 justify them for their occasional sins committed as 649 00:42:26,240 --> 00:42:29,760 Christians because of their repentance, confession, and 650 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:35,440 prayers to God for forgiveness. Acts 822 through 24 and 1st John 651 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:41,360 chapter 1 and verse nine. OK, but as we're wrapping up, I 652 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:45,280 have to make a point of clarification about the 2 words 653 00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:49,760 God's elect. I'm not going to go into divine 654 00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:51,960 election and do all that. I'm not going into all of that. 655 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:56,400 I'm just going to say this, OK? This does not mean that God pre 656 00:42:56,400 --> 00:43:01,160 selected a specific individual before time begin. 657 00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:02,840 That's going to have these benefits. 658 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:08,640 When you look at the context of Romans 8, God's elect is the 659 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:15,640 summation, or it is the basic summary in 2 words of everything 660 00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:18,440 that Paul has ever described, the people that are going to 661 00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:20,480 have these benefits, and they are as follows. 662 00:43:20,840 --> 00:43:22,840 He called them already the sons of God. 663 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:24,920 He called them already the children of God. 664 00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:27,120 He called them already those that love God. 665 00:43:27,240 --> 00:43:31,520 He called them those who are called according to his purpose. 666 00:43:31,720 --> 00:43:40,240 So who's that? All faithful Christians, Don't 667 00:43:40,240 --> 00:43:45,760 you see, all these blessings we're talking about are for all 668 00:43:45,960 --> 00:43:47,880 faithful Christians. Faithful to who? 669 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:51,640 The Lord? Just keep following the Lord. 670 00:43:54,240 --> 00:44:00,480 All faithful Christians, when we remain faithful to God, the 671 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:03,040 devil's accusations have no merit. 672 00:44:03,560 --> 00:44:07,240 Why? Because it's God who justifies 673 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:10,000 justified. By the way, one translation 674 00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:13,800 actually renders it like this. It means to have acquitted you 675 00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:17,040 go through the court of law and you and you've been tried and 676 00:44:17,040 --> 00:44:23,240 the judge says not guilty. In reality, the phrase actually 677 00:44:23,240 --> 00:44:27,160 means he declares us blameless. Why? 678 00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:30,360 Because we're worthy? No, because we're forgiven. 679 00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:36,280 You never underestimate the power of being forgiven. 680 00:44:36,280 --> 00:44:40,120 And let me just say this too. If you have things from your 681 00:44:40,120 --> 00:44:43,360 past that are holding you back because you can't get past 682 00:44:43,360 --> 00:44:47,320 things you've done before, let me just say, if God forgave you, 683 00:44:47,800 --> 00:44:51,640 let it go. And let me just tell you 684 00:44:51,640 --> 00:44:59,280 something else too, Christian. I mean, this, some of the 685 00:44:59,280 --> 00:45:03,800 greatest examples of those of Christian influence that I have 686 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:08,440 ever known in my life to people that are struggling in the world 687 00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:13,000 that don't know Jesus are not the people that go through life 688 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:17,520 with having nothing that they've been derailed by or nothing that 689 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:19,400 they've struggled with. They've just kind of lived in a 690 00:45:19,400 --> 00:45:20,960 glass house with no issues, right? 691 00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:24,320 No, it ain't that guy. It's the one where the world 692 00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:27,440 kicked him around a little bit. It's the one where they made 693 00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:29,600 some bad choices, but you know what, they fought back. 694 00:45:30,680 --> 00:45:32,800 It's the one where they kind of said, you know what, I don't 695 00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:36,640 want this life anymore. I want Jesus, I want the Lord. 696 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:39,920 When people do that, you want to talk about having an influence, 697 00:45:40,240 --> 00:45:43,520 unbelievable influence. Don't ever underestimate the 698 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:51,720 power of forgiveness. So in closing today, remember 699 00:45:51,720 --> 00:45:54,440 we've got 5 unbelievable blessings in Romans 8 that 700 00:45:54,440 --> 00:45:57,040 sustain us through life. 5 incredible things. 701 00:45:58,200 --> 00:45:59,960 Number one, we've talked about in our introduction. 702 00:45:59,960 --> 00:46:04,360 We got hope #2 the intercessory work of the Holy Spirit #3 all 703 00:46:04,360 --> 00:46:08,360 things work together for our eternal good and spiritual good. 704 00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:13,640 And we studied today. We got this because God is on 705 00:46:13,640 --> 00:46:17,200 our side. And Paul says, if God is for us, 706 00:46:17,920 --> 00:46:21,920 who can be against us? And that brings us to #5 and 707 00:46:21,920 --> 00:46:27,200 that's next time when it next in two weeks or whatever it is my 708 00:46:27,200 --> 00:46:35,000 next time. Jesus, as our advocate is at the 709 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:39,640 right hand of God, interceding for us. 710 00:46:40,680 --> 00:46:44,360 Now think about it. You got God right here. 711 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:47,600 He's involved. He's part of the Godhead, right? 712 00:46:48,320 --> 00:46:53,200 The Almighty God doing his part. You got the Holy Spirit, another 713 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:54,800 part of the Godhead, doing his part. 714 00:46:55,600 --> 00:47:00,520 Next time we're talking about Jesus at the right hand of God 715 00:47:00,680 --> 00:47:05,240 as our advocate making intercession for us. 716 00:47:05,760 --> 00:47:08,360 And by the way, after we do that, we got one more lesson to 717 00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:12,640 do before I leave Romans 8. I'm going to do it and we're 718 00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:16,120 going to talk about this phrase right here because of all that. 719 00:47:17,400 --> 00:47:20,880 And we truly are more than conquerors through Him who loved 720 00:47:20,880 --> 00:47:22,080 us. And what does all that mean? 721 00:47:22,160 --> 00:47:26,640 OK, so let me just say finally, don't ever quit. 722 00:47:29,040 --> 00:47:31,160 Don't ever turn your back on the only one that can help. 723 00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:40,240 Do you realize that every time you have fear, every time a 724 00:47:40,240 --> 00:47:43,960 famous coach one time says fatigue makes cowards of us all? 725 00:47:43,960 --> 00:47:47,720 I get it, when you get weary, the first thing you want to do 726 00:47:48,160 --> 00:47:50,760 is have the mindset that maybe I want to tap out and I want to 727 00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:53,120 quit. It's normal. 728 00:47:54,440 --> 00:47:59,320 What I'm saying is don't. Why? 729 00:48:00,120 --> 00:48:02,120 Because God's for us, God's with us. 730 00:48:02,160 --> 00:48:04,280 God will strengthen us. God's not leaving us, right? 731 00:48:04,280 --> 00:48:08,400 All that stuff. And it may get difficult, just 732 00:48:08,400 --> 00:48:10,640 like in John chapter 6. Do you remember that story real 733 00:48:10,640 --> 00:48:13,920 quick? There were many that couldn't 734 00:48:13,920 --> 00:48:20,040 handle what Jesus preached. He said unless you eat my flesh 735 00:48:20,040 --> 00:48:21,880 and drink my blood, you can't have eternal life. 736 00:48:21,880 --> 00:48:24,520 And they didn't know what that meant. 737 00:48:24,520 --> 00:48:27,000 And it says it was too much for them to handle. 738 00:48:27,080 --> 00:48:29,640 And many of the disciples failed. 739 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:33,200 Many of the disciples turned their back and and decided I'm 740 00:48:33,200 --> 00:48:34,560 not going to follow Jesus anymore, right. 741 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:38,160 I want you to picture this please. 742 00:48:39,800 --> 00:48:48,160 Then there's Jesus and he turns to his 12 and he says, will you 743 00:48:48,160 --> 00:48:53,400 also go away? I can almost hear the sadness in 744 00:48:53,400 --> 00:48:56,200 his tone. What about you? 745 00:48:57,920 --> 00:49:04,040 Will you also go away? And Peter said, Lord, to whom 746 00:49:04,040 --> 00:49:08,920 shall we go? For you have the words of 747 00:49:08,920 --> 00:49:12,000 eternal life. I'm finished. 748 00:49:12,560 --> 00:49:14,320 Thank you for your kind listening this morning. 749 00:49:15,480 --> 00:49:19,440 Next we're talking about the work that Jesus does for us in 750 00:49:19,440 --> 00:49:23,920 our life. We never close the time that we 751 00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:26,080 teach from the Word of God without extending an invitation 752 00:49:26,080 --> 00:49:28,320 to someone that might be subject to the gospel call. 753 00:49:29,160 --> 00:49:31,200 The steps to become a child of God are very simple. 754 00:49:31,200 --> 00:49:33,280 You got to hear the Word of God in Romans 10/17. 755 00:49:34,120 --> 00:49:37,040 So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 756 00:49:38,120 --> 00:49:40,120 After you hear the word of God, you got a choice. 757 00:49:40,280 --> 00:49:41,480 You got to believe in all your heart. 758 00:49:41,480 --> 00:49:43,840 Hebrews 11 and 6. Without faith it's impossible to 759 00:49:43,840 --> 00:49:46,920 please Him either. He who comes to God must believe 760 00:49:46,920 --> 00:49:49,800 that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently 761 00:49:49,960 --> 00:49:51,400 seek Him. Then what? 762 00:49:51,880 --> 00:49:54,880 You got to change your life? You got to repent of your sins. 763 00:49:54,880 --> 00:49:57,640 Acts 17 and 30. Truly these times of ignorance 764 00:49:57,640 --> 00:50:01,480 God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. 765 00:50:01,760 --> 00:50:03,920 Then what? You got to be willing to confess 766 00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:06,960 Jesus as the Son of God. Acts 837. 767 00:50:07,120 --> 00:50:09,400 Then Philip said, If you believe with all your heart you may. 768 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:13,520 And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the 769 00:50:13,520 --> 00:50:16,200 Son of God. Then for a fit candidate to go 770 00:50:16,200 --> 00:50:20,680 to the point of salvation and be baptized for the remission of 771 00:50:20,680 --> 00:50:24,360 sins, Mark 16/16. He who believes and is baptized 772 00:50:24,600 --> 00:50:28,120 will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. 773 00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:30,920 Is it necessary for salvation first? 774 00:50:30,920 --> 00:50:35,840 Peter 321 The light figure where to even baptism doth also now 775 00:50:35,840 --> 00:50:39,080 save us, not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the 776 00:50:39,080 --> 00:50:42,320 answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection 777 00:50:42,320 --> 00:50:44,600 of Jesus Christ. If you've never taken those 778 00:50:44,600 --> 00:50:47,600 steps to become a child of God, we would love to assist you in 779 00:50:47,600 --> 00:50:49,320 that. Maybe you've just been away from 780 00:50:49,320 --> 00:50:50,960 the Lord. You've taken those steps, but 781 00:50:50,960 --> 00:50:52,720 you've drifted. You, you need to get right with 782 00:50:52,720 --> 00:50:55,080 God. Then do it today. 783 00:50:55,120 --> 00:50:57,480 Repent, confess those things. We'll pray with you and for you, 784 00:50:57,480 --> 00:50:59,760 and God will forgive and restore like it never happened. 785 00:51:00,160 --> 00:51:01,720 If you've been away from Jesus, come back. 786 00:51:01,720 --> 00:51:04,640 You want to be baptized, the mission of sins. 787 00:51:04,680 --> 00:51:06,280 It's open to you too. While we stand. 788 00:51:06,280 --> 00:51:06,720 While we stand.