1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:02,800 Like you're in the city or something, which is cool. 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,160 All right. Hey, welcome back to service. 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:08,920 And if you're watching online, welcome to you all. 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,880 So grateful that you're here. Whether it is 1110 on Sunday 5 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:17,080 morning with us here live or sometime in the days to come, we 6 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:19,480 want to invite you to come be with us live in person. 7 00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:23,280 Our services are at 9:00 and 10:30 on Sunday mornings, and we 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:27,080 meet at 115 E Main St. and the old movie theater here in 9 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,520 Gaylord. Our church is found to be home 10 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:34,040 for about the last 10 or so years, so come and find us in 11 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:35,840 person. We'd love to see you worshiping 12 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,560 with us sometime soon. All right, Notes again are 13 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:40,920 available on the back table. I think there's still some. 14 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,240 Still should be some back there. And then also, if you have a 15 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,240 Bible, please take it and turn to Romans chapter 8. 16 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,440 And Romans is in the New Testament after Matthew, Mark, 17 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:55,000 Luke, John, and Acts. So Romans is after Acts and 18 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,240 before the letters to the Corinthians and we're going to 19 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,760 be in chapter 8. So Romans chapter 8. 20 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:07,000 So that's probably probably about 90 something plus into 21 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,840 your Bible. OK, Romans chapter 8. 22 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,560 I'm going to start in verse one and two, and then I'm going to 23 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:14,800 skip to the last part of the chapter and I'll read some 24 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,080 reading the first verses and the last verses. 25 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,920 So it's kind of like I'm getting giving you the book ends this 26 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,320 morning. OK, so the apostle Paul writing 27 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:28,040 to the to the Christians in Rome and he says there is therefore 28 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:33,840 now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 29 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,200 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ 30 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,360 Jesus from the law of sin and death. 31 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:45,120 He says no condemnation. And then let's go to verse 38 at 32 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:49,440 the end of the chapter. And it says, for I am sure that 33 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,160 neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things 34 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:58,040 present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, 35 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,640 nor anything else in all creation will be able to 36 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:06,880 separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 37 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,240 This morning I want to talk to you about Romans 8. 38 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:15,080 Romans 8, I'm calling it one of the most rich chapters in all of 39 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,200 the Bible. Romans 8, one of the most rich 40 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:18,800 chapters in all of the Scripture. 41 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,320 Let me pray for us. I got thank you for the letters 42 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:27,000 of Paul in the New Testament and thank you particularly for the 43 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,560 book of Romans. And as we look at the treasures 44 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,520 that are in chapter 8 specifically, we pray that 45 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:39,960 you'll stir our hearts to greater awareness and love and 46 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,000 trust of you and help these principles that Paul like 47 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,240 compacts into this one chapter. Help us to connect them well and 48 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,640 leave here shortly with a greater understanding of these 49 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:55,120 principles in Jesus name. And everyone said together, Amen 50 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,360 and Amen. The 8th chapter of Romans. 51 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,240 I must say, even in my high school years, I graduated high 52 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,960 school in 1987. OK, So what is that coming up on 53 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:10,840 40 years, I think next year. So even when I was a high school 54 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,600 student growing up in Northeast Texas, my favorite book in all 55 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,560 of the Bible, favorite, most favorite chapter, it was and is 56 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,240 Romans chapter 8. And I tend to mark Bibles up 57 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,520 and, and tear them up sometimes. So if I go back to Bibles I had 58 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:30,120 years ago, you'll see that I have Romans 8 just marked up and 59 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,160 highlighted. And, and I must say that I 60 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,560 probably memorized more verses in chapter 8 than any other 61 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,840 place in the Bible. I've been inspired by this 62 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,080 chapter for a long time. But I'm not the only one. 63 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:45,520 Many scholars and theologians that they find that Romans 8 is 64 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,800 like the best of Paul. OK, now the 8th chapter of 65 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,120 Romans is written by Paul. All of Romans is written by 66 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:58,000 Paul. And we think 5656 or 57 AD when 67 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,600 he was at the city of Corinth. OK, so he's there when Corinth 68 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:06,360 and he writes this letter to, again, believers in Rome who are 69 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,400 following Jesus. They're Gentiles and he writes 70 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,280 to them. And many think that that Romans 71 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,600 in general is like his opus. It's his best, right? 72 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,600 It's his greatest hits You think about like maybe a favorite book 73 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,640 of yours or a favorite recording recording artist. 74 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:24,880 I, I love James Taylor. I'm a big James Taylor fan. 75 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,400 What was I think James Taylor's opus was like 1994. 76 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:33,880 He did a double CD, live live CD event that I just loved. 77 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,280 I think it's just, you know, it was, it was that time. 78 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:38,840 So the best songs, the best time in the best band. 79 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:43,640 And maybe you have some favorite movies or recordings or 80 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,480 conscious that you've been to. Well, this is this is Paul's 81 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,840 best. And not only is it his best 82 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,840 Romans, but Romans 8, I think is the best of the best, right? 83 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,240 It's the best of his opus. So I'm going to lean in this 84 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,040 morning because you might find it surprising how many verses 85 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:01,880 are worth memorizing in this chapter. 86 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:07,160 And maybe you when I, when I get to these verses, a lot of them 87 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,160 you're going to go, Oh, yeah, I do know that verse this morning. 88 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:14,520 We gather and pray on the platform each Sunday around 8:00 89 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:16,040 and the band starts getting here. 90 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:21,080 Singers and those serving in in audio and tech and the Cafe and 91 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,360 other areas, they start strolling in around 7:30. 92 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,720 And often we'll pray at 8:00. And often I'll ask in the 93 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,400 beginning of the prayer time if people know a couple things 94 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:32,600 about the message I'm going to teach out. 95 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,440 So this morning I asked, you know, how many of you are 96 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,360 familiar with Romans chapter 8? And do you remember any verses? 97 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,080 And only one of the team did have a verse that they 98 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:42,960 remembered. So but if I'd have, but if I'd 99 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,120 have said the verses, they would have went, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, 100 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,720 I do know that one. They just missed that it's all 101 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,640 together in Romans chapter 8. So as I go through this, you're 102 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,720 going to be surprised at how many are, are just right here 103 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,680 together. But our volunteers this morning 104 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,040 on our team, it didn't come to their mind. 105 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,720 OK, so I love that because it means I'm teaching something 106 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,720 that's going to be new to many of you. 107 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:09,480 OK, so the way that Paul starts chapter 8 and he didn't write it 108 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,880 initially and think it would be called chapter 8, but he 109 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,240 certainly has. He starts a movement and he ends 110 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,680 a movement, right? And he's using similar language. 111 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,120 So he's breaking it up even though the chapters and verses 112 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,880 we're not there yet. So he starts chapter 8 by saying 113 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,480 there's no condemnation. And I'm going to unpack that in 114 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,720 a moment, but no condemnation. And then it's secondly at the 115 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,240 end he says no separation from from the love of God. 116 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,800 So it's similar language, no condemnation and no separation. 117 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:41,960 Those are the bookends and in between is great truth. 118 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:46,120 OK, so now let's go back-to-back to verse one. 119 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:50,520 OK, where we started, there's therefore now no condemnation is 120 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,720 how he states it. Anytime you see the word. 121 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,160 Therefore, it's always important to understand what is before the 122 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:02,440 therefore, because Paul makes a big point in Chapter 7 and then 123 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,320 he, he, he says what? I'm going to tell you what he 124 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,360 said here in a moment, but then he says, OK, because of this, 125 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,200 because of this truth that I just unpacked, says Paul. 126 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,440 Now this is true. So therefore now there is no 127 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,080 condemnation of what is before. Therefore, well, it's let's go 128 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,600 back in Chapter 7 and I'll read you what Paul says. 129 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:28,400 And this is honest humility and it's kind of surprising, but 130 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,760 it's what's building up to there being no condemnation. 131 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,680 OK, So what is he stating before? 132 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:38,320 He states firmly that there is therefore now no condemnation. 133 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,600 Well, watch, it might surprise you what he says in verse 15 of 134 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,680 Chapter 7. He says for I do not understand 135 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:51,200 my own actions, for I do not do what I want, but I do the very 136 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,560 thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, 137 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,280 I agree with the law that is good. 138 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:00,600 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within 139 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,000 me. Paul is aware that even though 140 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,120 he is saved and he is a Christian and not just a 141 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,960 Christian, but he's a giant Christian leader, he is aware 142 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,680 that there is still a battle going on inside of him with his 143 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:16,440 sinful nature. And he's saying that it's that 144 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,600 sin in me that that chooses these things that are contrary 145 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,400 to his own convictions. It's surprising that he's being 146 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:27,720 this great leader would say this for I know that's for I know in 147 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,520 verse 18 that nothing good dwells in me that is in my 148 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,200 flesh, right? So he's, he's not saying nothing 149 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,039 dwells in him, period. But he's like that part of me. 150 00:08:35,039 --> 00:08:37,360 That is my fleshly nature, the sinful nature of me. 151 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,280 There's nothing good in it, right? 152 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,360 So what is he trying to do? Well, you're going to see the 153 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,600 answers in chapter 8. But he's building this, this 154 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:50,760 struggle that is very real in him and in verse 18 for then to 155 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,160 continue before I have the desire to do what is right, but 156 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:57,200 not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, 157 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,280 but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 158 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:05,040 He says, now, if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who 159 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,160 do it, but sin that dwells within me. 160 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,760 So it's a, it sounds like a dilemma. 161 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,120 It sounds like he's stuck. OK, So how is he going to get 162 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:18,160 out of this stuck place where he doesn't feel like he's in 163 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,720 control of his own choices? Are the likes right? 164 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,320 He's aware of the sinful nature. OK, now again, he's this great 165 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,760 leader writes so much of the New Testament and he's being 166 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:32,840 dishonest and humble and it's going to now lead up to the 167 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,360 solution. What is the solution to this 168 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,600 inner turmoil and battle that he has? 169 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,880 Well, the the answer is what we would call sanctification or 170 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:46,480 growing in Christ when you become a Christian, Paul points 171 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,920 out earlier in Chapter 7 that he didn't know that coveting was 172 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,000 sinful until he saw it in the law. 173 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,120 Then once he sees it's like, Oh yeah, before he became a 174 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,320 Christian, he didn't know it. And when we become followers of 175 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,280 Jesus, there are many things that you might not even be aware 176 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,360 that are sinful, but you come to Christ and you're like, oh, the 177 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,720 Lord can start convicting, not condemning. 178 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,200 There's there's therefore no condemnation, but Paul is going 179 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,640 to get around to how to become more sanctified and what to 180 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:17,400 focus on and where to grow in our lives. 181 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,960 OK, so we're saved, but we're in a process of being sanctified 182 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:24,240 and the process is challenging and conviction becomes really 183 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,120 important in keeping our hearts open to the conviction of the 184 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,520 Holy Spirit is where you want to be. 185 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:32,520 But we are free from condemnation. 186 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,680 Those who are in Christ. OK, so if we get back to chapter 187 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:40,000 8, verse one, Paul's not saying that everyone is free of 188 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,720 condemnation. Instead, Scripture is pretty 189 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:47,160 clear that unless we've come to knowledge of relationship with 190 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,640 Jesus except his lordship, then yeah, then there there is 191 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,400 condemnation still. OK, but when you're in Christ 192 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:56,920 and you received his forgiveness, then you become 193 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,720 free of condemnation because you receive the forgiveness that 194 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,200 comes from Jesus through the cross. 195 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:05,840 So it's not that everyone is free of condemnation. 196 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,760 Paul's saying those who are in Christ Jesus, this is his theme 197 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:14,360 over and over again in his writings, being in Christ, this 198 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:16,600 is his encouragement. And when we're in Christ, we can 199 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:21,680 be free from condemnation. OK, now where Romans 7 stated 200 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:24,680 that the struggle is real, chapter 8 leads to again, how do 201 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:28,920 we get unstuck? OK, well here's some details, 202 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,040 Romans 8. Now I'm going to be in verses 6 203 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,280 through 9. This is what he encourages. 204 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,800 This is the solution to the dilemma that he's in. 205 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,680 In Chapter 7. He says for to set the mind on 206 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:44,280 the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the spirit is life 207 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,920 and peace. So if you focus on your flesh 208 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,360 and feed your flesh, then yes, it leads to death. 209 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,000 But if you feed your spirit, that part of you that is 210 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,920 eternal, if you feed it, then you'll find yourself in life and 211 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:02,840 peace, right? So if you, if you ended with 212 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,920 Chapter 7, it would be like if Romans ended the Chapter 7, it'd 213 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,160 be pretty heavy and hopeless. He sounds somewhat hopeless, but 214 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,080 he's not. He's saying do not, do not get 215 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,480 stuck in the flesh, but instead set your mind on the Spirit of 216 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:19,400 God. For the mind that is set on the 217 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:23,120 flesh is hostile to God for it does not submit to God's law and 218 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:24,400 deed. It cannot. 219 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,760 But those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 220 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,560 If you're in the flesh, you, however, are not in the flesh, 221 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:35,160 but in the Spirit. And look at, look again. 222 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,840 He's, He is encouraging them. You're not in the flesh, you're 223 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,320 in the Spirit. And if in fact the Spirit of God 224 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,840 dwells in you, anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ 225 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:47,320 does not belong to him. When are you free from 226 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,880 condemnation and free from the system that He talks about, the 227 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,520 stuckness that he's talking about in Chapter 7, you're free 228 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:58,720 from it when you focus on the Spirit of God and you instead 229 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,840 starve, if you will, that fleshly sin nature that we're 230 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,360 all dealing with. OK, so then what is the 231 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,600 progression from there? OK, well, if I want to have 232 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,400 confidence that I'm growing in the Spirit, how do I do that? 233 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:14,400 When he talks about in verses 14 through 17 where he says for all 234 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:18,800 who are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God. 235 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,600 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back 236 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:26,280 into fear, but you've received the spirit of adoption as sons 237 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:30,160 by whom we cry ABBA father. Now here he goes from not only 238 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,760 is there no condemnation and we're to focus on the spirit 239 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,680 part of us, but now he's he's giving us the posture that we 240 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:38,920 can walk in. We're not slaves, we're not bond 241 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,560 servants. We here he's encouraging us to 242 00:13:41,560 --> 00:13:44,520 say, listen, you, you're you're children of God. 243 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,160 Other places he is going to use the the the posture of like, 244 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,880 yes, we are, we are enslaved to Christ, but it's different 245 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,400 contexts here. He's promoting the idea that 246 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:58,280 again, we're adopted in we're children and we can go to father 247 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,840 God calling him ABBA and ABBA means like daddy or dad. 248 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:08,160 He's encouraging us to be this familiar and close to God. 249 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,720 This is the life that is a result of not being in 250 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,280 condemnation. OK, so we get to go to the 251 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,760 Father and cry. ABBA, the Spirit himself bears 252 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,120 witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 253 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,920 And if children then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs 254 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:28,800 with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may 255 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:35,320 also be glorified with Him. He goes from being sounding like 256 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,040 the fetus light in Chapter 7, then proclaiming there's their 257 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,320 formal condemnation. And now he's encouraging you're 258 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,920 not just children adopted, but you actually you're like an 259 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,680 heir. You have an inheritance in the 260 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,920 Kingdom of God because of your salvation and your ongoing 261 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:54,640 sanctification that you get to experience in Jesus. 262 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:59,280 So the flow from Chapter 7, humble and honest and now again 263 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,800 adopted heirs with Christ. But now he introduces the idea. 264 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,760 Wow, OK, we're we're children of God adopted in but now he 265 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:08,200 introduces the idea of suffering. 266 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:10,640 Wow. How does suffering come into 267 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,000 play? Well, our suffering that we will 268 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,840 endure is going to be for the glory and honor of God and Paul 269 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:19,480 and the other apostles in the early church. 270 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,680 We're very much in the midst of suffering. 271 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,000 Paul is going to be put to death by the emperor. 272 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,680 We think he was beheaded, and yet he has this posture of being 273 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,440 a child of God and an heir. And he's going to say some other 274 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,640 things here too. And it might surprise you that 275 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,640 he says these things in the context of suffering. 276 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,200 OK, what is this posture towards suffering? 277 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,120 Verse 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time 278 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:49,320 are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to 279 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:54,000 us. Like Jesus, Paul knows that you 280 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,400 can endure these sufferings that you're in the midst of now 281 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,760 because because the glory that is set before you is going to be 282 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,480 so grand and so wonderful. And that's what he's deciding to 283 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,960 focus on, not on his suffering, but on what is to come. 284 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:12,320 And what's so funny is Paul would have never been a promoter 285 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,920 of like the prosperity gospel. Do you know about the prosperity 286 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,280 gospel that's out there? Now, the idea is that if you 287 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,040 come to Jesus, you give your life to Jesus, then some think 288 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:21,800 that everything about your life is going to be free of 289 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:23,720 suffering. You're going to just prosper. 290 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:29,640 And then certainly I think that God has, wants us to prevail and 291 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:31,680 I think he wants us to be victorious. 292 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,840 But when we measure that by total health and wealth and free 293 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,760 of challenges in, in, in all areas of life, so then we miss 294 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:42,840 it because the reality is suffering happens in life, it 295 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,400 just does. Now, I've been to Jerusalem. 296 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,080 I was there 15 years ago. And when I was there, I remember 297 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:53,000 people will make pilgrimages to Jerusalem and particularly at 298 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,640 the Church of the Resurrection, which is a Catholic site. 299 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,040 When I was there, people were like crawling and they were 300 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:00,440 bleeding. Their hands were bleeding, their 301 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,680 knees were bleeding. And they were crawling like to 302 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:04,599 the door of the Church of the Resurrection. 303 00:17:04,839 --> 00:17:07,119 And it was like they were paying penance and they were suffering. 304 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,319 And they even would sometimes like put like, like a crown of 305 00:17:10,319 --> 00:17:13,119 thorns and stuff. I saw this first hand, OK. 306 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,440 And I remember thinking, man, you don't really have to chase 307 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,920 down suffering. It just comes. 308 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:22,800 But some people, it's like they want to go find it. 309 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,800 Don't go to try find it. It's out there, it'll come to 310 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:28,600 you. But when it comes to you, you 311 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,520 have to decide what is going to be your posture. 312 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:32,520 Well, that's when you say, OK, I'm, I'm, there's no 313 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,600 condemnation. God's not, I'm not being 314 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,680 condemned by God. That's why this is happening. 315 00:17:37,120 --> 00:17:41,120 I'm a child of God. I'm adopted in, I'm an heir with 316 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,320 Jesus. And what's coming is so grand 317 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:48,080 that these sufferings now in the present time will be worth it 318 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,240 all. But it's, it's your focus and 319 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,600 your posture. And so again, the apostle Paul, 320 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:58,280 he knows what to focus on so we have perspective like Jesus. 321 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:02,520 Then he continues verse 27. What else is so packed in the 322 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,320 Romans 8 that's so wonderful? And he who searches hearts knows 323 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,080 what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit 324 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:11,560 intercedes for the Saints according to the will of God. 325 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,560 So he who searches hearts, of course, is God the Father is 326 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:16,640 Spirit. And we know that for those who 327 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,360 love God, this is the first you're probably familiar with. 328 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:21,920 We know. And when he says, we know it's 329 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,680 like extra that he has a way a couple times he'll say, I'm sure 330 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:27,160 of this, therefore this I'm sure of this. 331 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,840 And he's when we he, when he says, and we know he's giving an 332 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:35,240 extra truth, right, That for those who love God, all things 333 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:39,480 work together for good. For those who are called 334 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,960 according to his purpose, for those whom he foreknew, he also 335 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:47,000 predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son in order 336 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,840 that he might be the first born among the many brothers. 337 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,800 This is probably a passage that you have heard misquoted. 338 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,760 Some people wrongly quote this verse to say all things work 339 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,320 together for good. Everything just turns out good. 340 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:01,440 Everything works together for good. 341 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,560 That's not even remotely what Paul is saying here. 342 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,560 There are a couple of prerequisites he says, for we 343 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:11,160 know that for those who love God, all things work together 344 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:14,400 for the good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 345 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:18,280 So there are two here, the issues that need to line up and 346 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,000 there's for people who love God and for people who are called 347 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,760 according to his purposes, things work for good. 348 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,840 God supernaturally can take terrible tragedy in your life. 349 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,000 And when you had the posture of saying the suffering that I'm 350 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,920 enduring now will be worth it. I'm a child of God, adopted in 351 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,480 airs, not under combination all those things. 352 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,320 Again, you just learn how to just think and speak this. 353 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,760 Then it's not just positive confession, but it's it's 354 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,200 learning truth. OK. 355 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,280 So when you get to that place, then you're able to say, yes, 356 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,440 all things work together for the good of those who love God and 357 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,440 are called according to his purposes, and that you want that 358 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,560 to be you. But you have to be really 359 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:02,360 careful when you stay truth like this because it's not intended 360 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:07,000 to be fed or given like like a little aspirin or a pill, right? 361 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:09,400 Sometimes Christians, if they're not careful, they can they can 362 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,480 come across this way. So someone's in the midst of 363 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,280 great sorrow. After first service, I spoke 364 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,760 with Frank and he was telling me about some things that his 365 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:21,200 family's going through and some sickness and other things. 366 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,840 And he mentioned this point that I'm at right here and how much 367 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,080 it meant to them in the service. Is that when someone's in the 368 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:32,960 middle, middle of great difficulty, sorrow, the last 369 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,520 thing I want to do is like give them the Scripture is like, hey, 370 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:37,360 this will fix you. All things work together for 371 00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:39,080 good. All things work together for 372 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:40,480 good. And Christians will often do 373 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,600 that. They'll just throw out a passage 374 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:45,320 as if it's going to help and it doesn't help. 375 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:50,720 It hurts because when you take great grand truth and you 376 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:55,240 capsulize it and then you give it to someone like this will fix 377 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:58,840 you, then you will often hurt them instead. 378 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,480 So this, this truth though, so great. 379 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,680 All things work together for the good of those who love God and 380 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:04,920 are called according to His purpose. 381 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,120 It's a great truth, but don't throw it out to someone who is 382 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:10,400 in great despair. Maybe the best thing you could 383 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:14,560 do was someone in that situation is just go sit with them and 384 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:16,880 just be with them. You don't have to have a 385 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:18,520 solution. You don't have to have the 386 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,560 answers. Sometimes you just being with 387 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,960 them is the best option and the most loving thing to do so. 388 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,960 But you probably know Christians again who've thrown out these 389 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:32,000 verses, you know, Jeremiah 2911 for I know the plans I have for 390 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,560 you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you. 391 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:37,240 OK, So you could take Bible promises like that. 392 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,720 There was, and you can again, capsulize them and just throw 393 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,760 them out. And it's just painful to people. 394 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:44,720 So I encourage you to be sensitive about that. 395 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,880 Don't hand out verses in a way that makes them hurtful. 396 00:21:48,120 --> 00:21:52,400 But that's not to negate that this is a huge truth that we 397 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,320 should lean into, founding in Romans 8. 398 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:59,840 Then he continues in verse 31. What then shall we say to these 399 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,240 things? Another very famous passage 400 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,720 here. If God is for us, who can be 401 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,880 against us? If God be for us, who can be 402 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,120 against us? He who did not spare His own 403 00:22:11,120 --> 00:22:15,040 Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him 404 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:20,800 graciously give us all things? Having this posture, If God is 405 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,080 for me, who can be against me? OK, but this is the truth also 406 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:26,560 that needs to be understood because if if you take this 407 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,840 passage and you have an adversary, someone that who is a 408 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,720 difficult person in your life and you think God is for you and 409 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,200 he's not for them, then you'll miss it, right? 410 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:39,120 Because really what Paul in other places defines who our 411 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:40,840 enemy is that we're fighting against. 412 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:43,800 And it's not that difficult person, that extra grace needed 413 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,320 person that you might have a hard time with in your family or 414 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,640 your workplace often. Maybe you need to look inside 415 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:54,360 and see God. Where can I wrestle and better 416 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:55,520 myself? Watch? 417 00:22:55,800 --> 00:23:00,560 Paul in Ephesians 6 defines who the enemy is, that God is for 418 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:03,400 us, but not for the enemy who is found here. 419 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,280 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His 420 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:08,200 might. Put on the whole armor of God 421 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,560 that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the 422 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,520 devil. For we do not wrestle against 423 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,760 flesh and blood. It's not that difficult person 424 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,840 that you're wrestling with, but against the rulers, against the 425 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,000 authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, 426 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:25,120 against the spiritual forces of evil and the heavenly places. 427 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,720 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be 428 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:34,000 able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand 429 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,640 firm. You need to be aware that we're 430 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,000 in a spiritual battle. And again, the enemy is not that 431 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:40,600 difficult person. Yes, sometimes it'll be 432 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,920 conflict, but you need to look further and say, OK, sometimes, 433 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:46,240 and it's not that they have a devil. 434 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,480 You can't say that sometimes, you know, we have to look 435 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,840 inside, but it's just knowing that if ultimately, if God is 436 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,960 for us, who can be against us because we're going to defeat 437 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,720 those spiritual principalities that Paul talks about in the 438 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,400 Ephesians 6. But that needs to be your focus. 439 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,160 Now he mentions in here that the, the, you know, against this 440 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:09,040 present darkness. Do any of you remember the books 441 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,960 in the 80s by Frank Peretti called this Present Darkness and 442 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:13,440 Piercing the Darkness? Anybody remember those? 443 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,960 I remember them, right? And I, I, it was about angels 444 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,680 and demons and spiritual warfare and it was fiction, but it was, 445 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:22,120 you know, super cool. I remember reading like they 446 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:24,080 were thick books, but like in a day and 1/2, right? 447 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:28,120 Because I was just like, so into it and it was marvelous, right? 448 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,800 But I, I, I had to make sure that I didn't succumb to the 449 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:35,560 temptation to become obsessed with spiritual warfare because I 450 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:37,800 saw some people become that where they were just like all 451 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,120 about it, right? To a point where they were just 452 00:24:40,120 --> 00:24:42,680 strange and weird. So I don't think that's the 453 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,840 point that we want to get to. But you want to be aware that 454 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:47,760 you're in a spiritual battle, but you don't want to become 455 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:49,320 obsessed with it. And those pretty books were 456 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:50,800 great. It's nothing against him, they 457 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,480 were really great. It's just that in my own life, I 458 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:57,120 had to be careful not to become obsessed with spiritual warfare 459 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,400 after reading them. So my encouragement to you is 460 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,680 that know that you're in a battle, but don't become 461 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,040 obsessed with it. OK. 462 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,400 And then what's interesting is Paul says this. 463 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:08,840 If God is for me, who could be against me? 464 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,880 And yet again, the the apostles were martyred. 465 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:14,320 Paul is going to be beheaded by the emperor. 466 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,400 And yet he's his posture is if God is for me, who could be 467 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,120 against me even though he is going to die for his faith. 468 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,320 It's not false believing. It's just that he has a bigger 469 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,400 picture of what's happening in the world. 470 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:30,600 He continues verse 34, he gets back to the idea of 471 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,480 condemnation. He says in verse 34, who is to 472 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:37,360 condemn Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that who was 473 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:40,760 raised, who is at the right hand of the of God, who indeed is 474 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:45,080 interceding for us. He starts with condemnation, 475 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,520 verse one and he comes back around to it just to send it's a 476 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,560 rhetorical question again, who is to condemn us? 477 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:54,680 Nobody because we are in Christ. He's died for us. 478 00:25:56,360 --> 00:25:58,920 Then we see that Jesus is not condemning and said he's 479 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:00,960 interceding for us. Now is he not condemning? 480 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:06,080 He's encouraging, cheering a son interceding for us at the throne 481 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,640 of God. And then finally we're getting 482 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,600 towards the end of the chapter. These are really my favorite 483 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,480 verses. I think so far as we get towards 484 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:18,680 38 and 39 verse 35. Who shall separate us from the 485 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,200 love of Christ who can condemn us? 486 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,040 Nobody who can separate us from the love of Christ and watch 487 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,120 what he says. It's it's so like poetically 488 00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:30,880 written shall tribulation or distress or persecution or 489 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:36,640 famine or nakedness or danger or sword for it is written for your 490 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:38,080 sake. We are being killed all the day 491 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:39,600 long. We regarded the sheep to be 492 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:41,480 slaughtered. Knowing all these things. 493 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:45,520 We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 494 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:47,960 This is where the saying more than conquerors comes from and 495 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:50,920 he's presenting the idea what can separate us from the love of 496 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:51,960 Christ? Nothing. 497 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:55,760 And he gives all of these examples even though he's again 498 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,360 quoting is like, even though we might seem like lambs going to 499 00:26:58,360 --> 00:27:01,640 the slaughter, we're not being separated by the love of God. 500 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,040 In fact, even one of the peers where lambs going to slaughter, 501 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:08,840 we are more than conquerors. That is his posture that we get 502 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,160 to lean into now more than the conquerors in the face of great 503 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,760 tribulation and reality of pending death for their sake of 504 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:16,880 the gospel. They were they just had it. 505 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:21,120 They had the right mindset. And then here's my favorite of 506 00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:25,160 all of Romans 8. This is the the pinnacle to me, 507 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:30,400 verse 38 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor 508 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,440 angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 509 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:37,560 powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else, and all of 510 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:41,200 creation will be able to separate us from the love of God 511 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:45,520 in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is one that I memorized in 512 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,480 high school and all these years later, I still go back to it 513 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:53,120 over and over and over again. Nothing can separate us from the 514 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:55,560 love of God. And when you know this and you 515 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:59,960 walk in it, it shapes the way that you follow and serve Jesus. 516 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,840 So just kind of reviewing these are and I would love it if you 517 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,760 take the hand out, put it in your Bible and just kind of 518 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:08,600 maybe look through these this week and maybe you could 519 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:13,200 paraphrase or kind of recite just roughly the flow of chapter 520 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:15,400 8 and how it comes out of Chapter 7. 521 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:18,640 OK, so it starts with there's no condemnation for those who are 522 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,160 in Christ Jesus and we're navigating through 523 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:23,280 sanctification. We're dealing with our flesh. 524 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,520 He points it out in Chapter 7, comes back to it in chapter 8. 525 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:29,960 So yes, we are not condemned, but we are having to deal with 526 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:33,440 our sin nature and we're setting our minds on the Spirit, 527 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:36,440 bringing in life and peace. When we focus on the Spirit, we 528 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:37,920 get life and peace and not death. 529 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,680 And then remember, we've been adopted as sons and daughters of 530 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,680 ABBA Father, and we're joint heirs with Jesus. 531 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,200 And the sufferings of this world are temporary. 532 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,480 And what is to come is going to be so great for those who love 533 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,440 God and were called according to His purposes. 534 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:55,560 Live and remember that God is working all things together for 535 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:57,640 good. And if God is for us, who can be 536 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:01,040 against us and who shall separate us from the love of 537 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,320 God? We can be sure that nothing, 538 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:06,720 nothing, nothing will ever be able to separate us from His 539 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,320 love, and quoting these truths from chapter 8 could strengthen 540 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:14,800 your love and commitment to God in a great way. 541 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:21,720 I encourage you in it. Let me pray for us, God, Thank 542 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:26,000 you for wow, just Paul's gift to us through the power of your 543 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:28,360 Holy Spirit. Romans in general, but Romans 8 544 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:33,160 especially for me, after all these years, it's still so 545 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:39,720 inspiring and foundational to who you are in my life and what 546 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:43,160 postures I should have in my relationship and walk with you, 547 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:45,200 Jesus. So I pray that there's a church 548 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:48,440 that the the language of Romans 8 would become part of our 549 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:52,280 vernacular, part of the way that we speak about you and lean into 550 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,360 you. So blessed, blessed, blessed. 551 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:58,560 We pray the days to come as we kind of just even the more 552 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:03,600 focused on these passages and make them part of who we are in 553 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,080 Jesus name. And before we go this morning, 554 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:08,240 just quickly this morning, I want to give an opportunity. 555 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,280 If you're here this morning and you've never made the decision 556 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:13,440 to become a Christian, what does it take to become a Christian? 557 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,360 Well, the Bible says you believe in your heart and confess with 558 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:19,600 your mouth that Jesus is Lord and then you shall be saved. 559 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,840 And that's what it takes. Then after, yes, we grow in the 560 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,160 ways of God. We grow in our theology and our 561 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:28,200 study of God. But initially it's just that 562 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,600 it's a free gift. Salvation comes through the 563 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,120 sacrifice that Jesus made for us and the cross. 564 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:39,040 And so this morning, if you'd like to make that step to become 565 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,000 a Christian, we would. It's a great day to do it and I 566 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,040 would love to pray with you. And then we have a Bible for 567 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:45,000 you. If you'd like a Bible and we 568 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,120 have a little book talking about your new life in Christ, you can 569 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,080 e-mail me or catch me after service. 570 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,680 And I would love to encourage and be part of celebrating your 571 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:58,080 decision to become a follower of Jesus and eternity. 572 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,200 Yes. Now the idea is that you'll have 573 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,960 eternity with God, but you don't have to wait to have eternal 574 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:04,960 life. You get it now, like purpose and 575 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,120 meaning, Zoe type life we call it. 576 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:10,400 And you can start living and walking in that today. 577 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:13,160 So let me pray, encourage you to echo this prayer with me. 578 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:16,360 You could pray. Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus 579 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:20,720 name and I'm coming because I want to confess my faith in you. 580 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,680 I believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord and I confess with my 581 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:26,240 mouth. And as I do so, Jesus, I invite 582 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,480 you to come be the Lord of my life and then grow me in your 583 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,000 ways. I want, I want to chase after 584 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:35,080 you and serve you all the days of my life and then on to 585 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,040 eternity. Put eternity into the now. 586 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:43,000 Thank you for your forgiveness and love and salvation to me and 587 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:44,960 bring me to a church, whether it's this church or another 588 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:49,320 church that will help encourage and stir us all to greater faith 589 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:51,320 in you. In Jesus name and everyone said 590 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,920 Amen and Amen. Let's all stand together again. 591 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,720 If you received the Lord this morning that I would love to be 592 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:02,080 able to pray with you, give you a Bible and encourage you any 593 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,000 other way I can. Hey, someone mentioned something 594 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:06,720 in the first service and I thought, wow, that's a great 595 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:09,960 idea is that we always close the service with a blessing, right? 596 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:14,240 And so someone asked me, they said, maybe if you want this is 597 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,040 dumb thing you don't have to do, but I thought, wow, that's kind 598 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:17,880 of curious. This person said that when they 599 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,200 just kind of do this at the end of the service, just this 600 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,840 posture just leads them to like being more open to receiving the 601 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:25,680 blessing. So if you want to do that, I 602 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:28,120 encourage you and that, but if not, you're not comfortable. 603 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,840 That's cool too. But if you'll take a moment, I'm 604 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:34,040 now going to say a blessing over you before we send you back out 605 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:38,640 into the world. And now may the Lord bless you 606 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:42,680 and keep you, and may He make his face to shine upon you. 607 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:46,240 And may the joy of the Lord that is unspeakable and full of 608 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:49,920 glory, may it abound to you. And may the peace of God that 609 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:53,080 passes all understanding, may it surprise you in the midst of all 610 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:54,640 of the challenges that life brings. 611 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:57,440 And then may the mercies of the Lord, in other words, the 612 00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,840 forgiveness of God, that's new every morning. 613 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:02,880 May it be especially new to you now and your mornings to come. 614 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:05,960 And now may the Lord Jesus Christ guard your heart and your 615 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:10,280 mind, your salt and your light. Go now and be salt and light 616 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,400 unto the world. But one other quick thing, Dale, 617 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:14,680 will you come in for just a second? 618 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:17,400 This is Dale. And Dale is having his 80th 619 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:20,000 birthday today. And Dale is so faithful to serve 620 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,440 here. He's an usher and serves like 621 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:25,840 fixing things all over. So can we sing happy birthday to 622 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:27,320 him real quick. All right. 623 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:33,600 Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. 624 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:42,000 Happy birthday, dear Dale. Happy birthday to you. 625 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:48,880 All right, have a great week and we'll see you again sometime 626 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:49,200 soon.