Live Free!

Past Election: God's Faithfulness

What About Israel? Adapted from a study by Warren Wiresbe Romans 9:1-13 I. A Faithless People (vv. 1-5) A. Pauls burden 1.His heart for Israel 2.His hurt for Israel B. Israels benefits 1.The production of the written Word 2.The promise of the Living Word II. A Faithful God (vv. 6-13) A. Not because of who they were B. Not because of what they did C. But, because of Gods purposes More to Consider As we have seen, the Apostle Paul prayed for the salvation of Israel, and this should be a continual prayer of the Church today. The psalmist also declares, pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper that love you (Psalm 122:6). Ultimately, we know peace will only come to Jerusalem when the Messiah returns. Until then we pray for the peace that the gospel brings into the Land of Israel by transforming hearts and minds. However, there are additional practical ways we can pray for Israel. We can pray for safety and security of those in the Land, we can pray for the leaders and government of Israel, particularly with regard to those who actively hinder the spread of the gospel in Israel. The Church should intercede that media coverage about Israel would be true; far too often, nefarious lies are told that cast Israel in a bad light. We should also pray for the governments of our own countries to be fair in their dealing with Israel. These are just a few ways we can bless Israel through intercessory prayer. Thomas Fretwell, Why Israel: Understanding Gods Plan for Israel the Nations. But in spite of their blessings, Israel failed. When the Messiah appeared, Israel rejected Him and crucified Him. No one knew this better than Paul, because in his early days he had persecuted the church. Does Israels failure mean that Gods Word has failed? (The Greek word translated taken none effect pictures a ship going off its course.) The answer is, No! God is faithful no matter what men may do with His Word. Here Paul explains the basis for Israels election. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 543. The apostle Paul tells us, For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! (Romans 9:3-5). The truth is that the world hates the Jews because the world hates God. The Jews were Gods firstborn, His chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2). Through the Jewish patriarchs, the prophets, and the temple, God used the Jews to bring forth His Word, the Law, and morality to a world of sin. He sent forth His son, Jesus the Christ, in a Jewish body to redeem the world of sin. Satan, the prince of the earth (John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2), has poisoned the minds of men with his hatred of the Jews. See Revelation 12 for an allegorical depiction of Satans (the dragons) hatred of the Jewish nation (the woman). Gotquestions.org

God is For Us!

Romans 8:31-39 Absolved from the Penalty of Sin Christ Died for Us (vv. 31-32) God has freely given His Son God will freely give us His inheritance (8:16-17) Justified from the Prosecution of Sin Christ Stands by Us (vv. 33-34) The Judge The Judged The Justifier The Justified Victorious over the Power of Sin Christ Loves Us (vv. 35-39) The security of His love over adversity The safety of His love over adversaries The celebration of His love over all! More to Consider As a young man in Europe, I did considerable mountain climbing in the Swiss Alps and in the more dangerous and difficult French Alps. Roped together with other young men, I scaled many a peak; my snapshot book records moments of difficulty and peril that make me wish to restrain others who might venture into similar places. The first time I went out with a young Frenchman, son of a pastor, and a young Swiss bank clerk. They gave me sound advice: "You have two hands and two feet, and that makes four. Always be sure that three out of the four are firmly on the rock. It is the only rule of safety." Donald Grey Barnhouse I had just gone through a series of medical tests. Fearful of the results, I went swimming at the local YMCA to pass the time. There I noticed a father carrying his son over to the deep end. Still holding his child, he plunged into the deep water. A few seconds later they surfaced--the son laughing and brushing water from his eyes, the father guiding him safely to the pool's edge. This picture of a father and child spoke powerfully to me. I realized that just like that boy, we are protected by our heavenly Father--and when we can be confident we're in his arms. Martha Whitmore Hickman, "Heart to Heart," Today's Christian Woman. There is an old ploughman in the country I sometimes talk with, and he often says, though in uncouth words, some precious things. He said to me one day, "The other day, sir, the Devil was tempting me and I tried to answer him; but I found he was an old lawyer and understood the law a great deal better than I did, so I gave over and would not argue with him any more; so I said to him, 'What do you trouble me for?' 'Why,' said he, 'about your soul.' 'Oh!' said I, 'that is no business of mine; I have given my soul over into the hand of Christ; I have transferred everything to him; if you want an answer to your doubts and queries, you must apply to my Advocate."' Charles H. Spurgeon

Sanctification, It’s a Family Thing

Romans 8:12-17 Our Obligation to God the Spirit (vv. 12-13)A. We owe nothing to the flesh = DeathB. We owe it all to God = Life Our Adoption by God the Father (vv. 14-15)A. All humans are Gods creationB. All saved become Gods children Our Position with God the Son (vv. 16-17)A. We have Gods assurance of our adoptionB. We are Gods heirs through our adoptionC. We will share Gods glory in our adaption More to Consider An American with an English gentleman was viewing the Niagara whirlpool rapids, when he said to his friend: "Come, and I'll show you the greatest unused power in the world." And taking him to the foot of Niagara Falls, "There," he said, "is the greatest unused power in the world!" "Ah, no, my brother, not so!" was the reply. "The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit of the living God." A. J. Gordon A committee of ministers in a certain city was discussing the possibility of having D. L. Moody to serve as the evangelist during a city-wide evangelistic campaign. Finally, one young minister who did not want to invite Moody stood up and said: "Why Moody? Does he have a monopoly of the Holy Spirit?" There was silence. Then an old, godly minister spoke up: "No, he does not have a monopoly of the Holy Spirit; but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly of D.L. Moody." Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times Waiting to board a plane, on which he had a reservation, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., overheard the piteous plea of a private at the ticket window: "I'm going overseas in three days. I want to see my Ma before I go. I can go home and back only if I travel by plane! It was explained to him that every seat on the plane was taken. Just then, Brigadier General Roosevelt stepped forward and said, "I'll surrender my seat to him!" "But," protested a fellow officer to the general, "this is a matter of rank!" "That's right," quickly replied General Roosevelt, "he's a son, I'm only a general!" God conferred the highest honor upon us when he called us sons! Walter B. Knight

Live Free!

Romans 8:1-11 Spiritual Acquittal (vv.1-4) Our liberation Our Liberator Our liberty Spiritual Acclimation (vv. 5-8) Acclimated in the flesh = Death Acclimated in the Spirit = Life Spiritual Accompaniment (vv. 9-11) Our Companion in our new life (John 16:7, Acts 1:8, Eph. 1:13) Our capability to live our new life More To Consider The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Him.  J. Stowell, Fan The Flame, Moody, 1986, p. 32. Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that I shall never be like that. But they won through step by step by little bits of wills little denials of self little inward victories by faithfulness in very little things. They became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the accomplishment, but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph no spiritual maturity. That is the work of the moment. Amy Carmichael quoted in: Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 130. The question naturally arises, must a believer spend his whole life on earth frustrated by ongoing defeats to indwelling sin? (7:21–25) Is there no power provided to achieve victory? The answer to the first question is no and to the second, yes. In chapter 8, Paul described the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God who is the source of divine power for sanctification and the secret for spiritual victory in daily living. But first Paul reminded his readers that therefore—since deliverance is “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (7:25)—no condemnation (katakrima, “punishment”) awaits those who are in Christ Jesus, as a result of their faith and identification with Him (cf. 6:13; John 5:24). John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 469. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

Performing vs. Transforming

Romans 7 A New Relationship (vv. 1-6) Law - Religion = have to - performance Christ - Relationship = want to- transformance A New Reality (vv. 7-12) The law requires perfection I am still not perfect A New Rivalry (vv. 13-25) Personal contradiction Internal conflict Eventual conclusion More to Consider A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties himself in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when he is weakest; richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passeth knowledge. True spirituality manifests itself in certain dominant desires. First is the desire to be holy rather than happy. A man may be considered spiritual when he wants to see the honor of God advanced through his life even if it means that he himself must suffer temporary dishonor or loss. The spiritual man wants to carry his cross. Again, a Christian is spiritual when he sees everything from God's viewpoint. Another desire of the spiritual man is to die right rather than to live wrong. The desire to see others advance at his expense. The spiritual man habitually makes eternity-judgments instead of time-judgments. A.W Tozer I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, "By the grace of God I am what I am. John Newton.