WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:05.000 When I was in elementary school, the best part of my day was recess. 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:07.919 And I'm sure that's true for a lot of you. 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:14.900 Every day, it seems, all the boys in my class, we either played football or baseball. 00:00:15.900 --> 00:00:18.100 Softball, actually, because they wouldn't let us play baseball. 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:20.839 Every day began the same way. 00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:23.500 Two boys would pick teams. 00:00:23.980 --> 00:00:26.400 They would alternate choosing one boy. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:27.920 You know how that works. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:32.660 When I picked a team, I always picked David or Greg. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:34.420 They were the best athletes. 00:00:35.660 --> 00:00:37.540 The goal is to win, right? 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:40.320 So you pick the best athletes to be on your team. 00:00:40.980 --> 00:00:46.719 If someone else chose a team, I always wanted to be on the team with either David or Greg. 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:50.840 We didn't get to do it together, all three, but one or the other. 00:00:50.840 --> 00:01:02.859 You know from your experience, just about everything we do, there are certain people we want to have on our side. 00:01:02.859 --> 00:01:14.159 If you have to do a project at school this week, in a certain class, as soon as it's announced there's a project, I want you to work in groups. 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:18.960 Somebody comes to your mind that you want to work with. 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:21.480 You want to be in your group or on your side. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:26.000 You want that smart kid who's going to do all the work for you. 00:01:26.100 --> 00:01:27.540 I know everybody knows how it works. 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:29.820 It work even. 00:01:29.880 --> 00:01:30.620 It's your job. 00:01:31.020 --> 00:01:37.439 If you've got to work with someone, that person's name's already popped into your mind. 00:01:38.800 --> 00:01:40.140 Everything in life. 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:45.460 We want to make sure that we're on the right side. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:49.980 We want to make sure that the right person is on our side. 00:01:50.980 --> 00:02:01.340 Well, when it comes to just living life in this world and being ready to live in eternity, who do you want on your side? 00:02:01.340 --> 00:02:14.060 If you're a Christian, you obviously want our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus to be on your side. 00:02:14.980 --> 00:02:25.259 And what I want to ask you right now is, are you confident that God the Father and the Lord Jesus are already on your side? 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:28.500 Do you have any fears? 00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:30.500 Do you have any doubts? 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:33.740 Do you have any doubts about whether or not they are? 00:02:35.340 --> 00:02:37.620 I want you to turn with me this morning to Romans 8. 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:41.300 And if you're a Christian, hopefully this will clear up any doubts. 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:47.140 This will cause any fears to go away. 00:02:48.199 --> 00:02:49.219 Romans chapter 8. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:59.860 We find one of the strongest statements in all the Bible that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are on our side. 00:03:01.340 --> 00:03:07.300 We have just completed a study of Romans 8 on Wednesday nights. 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:20.080 When we came to the last section, 8 verses 31 through 39, I thought then, I want to come back to this, at least a part of this, when we observe the Lord's Supper. 00:03:20.219 --> 00:03:21.219 It was already planned. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:25.219 Because this is a powerful statement. 00:03:25.219 --> 00:03:27.219 Excuse me. 00:03:27.219 --> 00:03:29.520 Of God's love. 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:32.060 God's favor. 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:35.379 And I want you to read with me. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:37.300 Romans chapter 8. 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:40.879 This morning, just verses 31 through 34. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:47.460 What then shall we say to these things? 00:03:47.460 --> 00:03:51.759 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:03:52.560 --> 00:04:04.539 He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:08.620 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:11.280 It is God who justifies. 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:13.580 Who is to condemn? 00:04:14.640 --> 00:04:16.420 Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:18.399 More than that, who was raised. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:20.560 Who is at the right hand of God. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:25.980 Who, indeed, is interceding for us. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:27.399 Thank you very much. 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:37.899 I think some of those guys singing up here are wearing perfume or something because I hadn't had any trouble until the first service. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.500 I started preaching and right at the very beginning. 00:04:41.620 --> 00:04:47.060 So, I'm not saying anything, but I have some suspicions this morning. 00:04:47.060 --> 00:04:57.579 I hope you see in these verses, there is a strong emphasis that God is for us. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:04:59.819 In fact, we're his elect. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:07.220 God chose us to be on his side, to be his children. 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:17.280 If you read verses 29 and 30, you'll see a strong emphasis in God doing that in us, for us. 00:05:18.140 --> 00:05:22.520 Right now, I want us to focus on God is for us. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:27.419 And he promises, he demonstrates it, as we'll see in a moment. 00:05:28.159 --> 00:05:35.599 He will never allow anyone or anything to separate us from him and his love. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:37.199 Let's look at it. 00:05:37.259 --> 00:05:39.039 Number one, God is for us. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:47.620 Before we look at that on the screen, but the way Paul goes through this, he answers, he actually asks questions. 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:53.579 That he doesn't expect anyone to answer because the answer is obvious, rhetorical questions. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:59.100 And so, he asks questions that, as Christians, we know the answer. 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:03.300 What I want to do is I want to focus on his answers. 00:06:04.220 --> 00:06:06.340 Number one, God is for us. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:10.439 Therefore, no one or nothing can prevail against us. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:12.160 Look at verse 31 again. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:15.840 What then shall we say to these things? 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:19.619 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:24.319 Now, we need to just be clear. 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:31.500 Paul is not saying, he's not even implying that no one can be against us because we know that's not true. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:34.299 People are against us. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:38.019 Many people are against God and against God's people. 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:44.179 You may know some people that have already come to mind that you know they have an end for you. 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:50.480 So, God, this passage is not saying, since God is for us, no one can be against us. 00:06:50.740 --> 00:06:52.480 What it is saying is, though, listen. 00:06:53.340 --> 00:07:01.060 If Almighty God is for us, it doesn't matter who else might be against us. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:06.420 Because if God is on our side, the win is guaranteed. 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:11.400 God's already at work in our lives, even in the midst of difficulty. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:16.680 One of the most well-known passages in all the Bible, but especially in Romans 8, is verse 28. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:17.520 Look at it. 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:18.439 I'll put it on the screen. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:25.960 And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:32.159 Paul is telling us more than the fact that God is working for us. 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:35.979 He's making the point that God's always on our side. 00:07:36.599 --> 00:07:39.359 God is always working in the life of his people. 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:43.599 If you are trusting in Christ, he is your Lord and Savior. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:49.779 God is always at work in your life, even in terrible, in the midst of terrible things, evil things. 00:07:49.779 --> 00:07:59.979 But he's working according to his good plan, what we could consider his ultimate good purpose for you and in the universe. 00:08:01.099 --> 00:08:05.059 The story of Joseph is an excellent example of this. 00:08:05.539 --> 00:08:08.639 Most of you know the story, so I'm going to give you just some of the highlights. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.500 Joseph grew up in a godly home. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:15.699 He was taught about God and things of God. 00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:18.839 But he had sorry brothers. 00:08:19.779 --> 00:08:21.699 I mean, they had evil in their heart. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:22.759 They hated him. 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:24.059 They were jealous of him. 00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:29.739 And they so despised him that they sold him into slavery. 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:37.399 Sold him to slave traders who took him from their home to a different country, to Egypt. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:39.779 He was there. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.519 A foreign land. 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:42.539 Foreign culture. 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:43.819 Didn't know the language. 00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:45.620 A slave. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:49.879 But he didn't rebel against God. 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:52.060 He continued to trust God. 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:53.919 God's hand was on him. 00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:57.759 The man that he worked for prospered. 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:03.019 But then he was falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit and imprisoned. 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:11.899 From the time he was 17 years old until he was 30 years old, Joseph was away from home, away from family. 00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:16.559 He was suffering as a slave or as a prisoner. 00:09:17.959 --> 00:09:20.340 But God's hand was always on him. 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:21.879 God was working. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:23.579 It was evil what happened to him. 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:34.039 God was always working in the midst of that evil though for what Joseph would live to see was God's good purpose. 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:43.719 When he was 30 years old, God providentially worked in such a way that he was elevated to the place of being second in command over all Egypt. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:52.299 And in that position, Joseph was able to save literally his family from starvation. 00:09:53.179 --> 00:09:56.519 And from that family came the nation of Israel. 00:09:57.579 --> 00:09:59.899 And from the nation of Israel came our Savior. 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:09.899 God worked in a great way in the midst of that difficulty, that evil in Joseph's life for what was ultimately his good purpose. 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:17.480 And what I want you to understand is if you're a child of God, if you are right now, 00:10:18.079 --> 00:10:24.199 you may have someone or something pressing against you at this very moment. 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:31.800 But I want you to have confidence that God's mighty hand is on you. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:36.259 And his hand has the power. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:50.600 And his heart has the love to work in your life and bring about what is his good and your ultimately good purpose. 00:10:51.140 --> 00:10:53.240 Now you may think to yourself, well how can I be sure of that? 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:54.779 It's one thing just to say it. 00:10:56.060 --> 00:10:56.960 How can I be sure? 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:58.480 Look next in verse 32. 00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:05.100 God gave his son for us and will also graciously give us whatever we need. 00:11:06.580 --> 00:11:07.700 Look in verse 32. 00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:09.740 Look at the actual verse. 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:14.700 He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:21.159 how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:23.639 Now I want you to note what he's saying here. 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:29.419 God gave his own son for us. 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:41.059 He sent his son into the world to die on a cross and be our substitute and pay the penalty for our sins. 00:11:41.059 --> 00:11:43.739 That's what God did. 00:11:43.739 --> 00:11:50.959 Now do you really think that God, after doing that, after giving his best, 00:11:51.099 --> 00:11:56.699 do you think that God would do anything less than what is best for you? 00:11:56.700 --> 00:12:08.060 You know, Jesus brought up a, made this point, brought up a good question in the context of teaching that we ought to as Christians trust God and pray. 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:13.040 We ought to really believe that God wants what's best for us and we ought to be people of prayer. 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:13.980 I want you to look at it. 00:12:14.020 --> 00:12:15.080 It's in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:16.420 It's in Matthew chapter 7. 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:21.159 He's already told them that I ought to be praying. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:21.579 He says, 00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:26.779 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 00:12:27.099 --> 00:12:29.659 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 00:12:29.979 --> 00:12:31.240 That made people laugh. 00:12:31.599 --> 00:12:32.319 That's ridiculous. 00:12:32.599 --> 00:12:33.899 No one would do that. 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:35.599 Then verse 11. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:49.200 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him? 00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:55.960 God delights in giving good gifts to his children. 00:12:57.240 --> 00:13:03.000 If you ever doubt that, God gave his most precious gift in giving his son. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:06.100 But let's just pause here for a moment. 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:07.559 It says, 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:12.059 How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:19.039 How much do you ask God for good gifts in prayer? 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:23.059 What is your prayer life like? 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.059 What does it involve? 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:29.600 Do you really and truly look to God as your gracious heavenly Father? 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:35.420 Do you humbly bow before him, worship him, praise him, seeking his will? 00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:40.860 And at the same time, making your needs known. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:44.560 Asking him to work in your life in certain ways. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:53.820 In the book of James, James makes a statement that sometimes we have not because we ask not or we don't ask the right way. 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:59.440 Paul wants us to see here that God is for us. 00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:04.480 He has already given us his most costly gift, his son. 00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:09.940 Therefore, we can trust him to give us anything else he needs, that we need. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:15.480 He will not give us less when he's already given us his best. 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:19.840 Let's look at one more reason why we need to be confident that God is on our side. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:24.879 Number three, God has justified us and Jesus Christ is praying for us. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.040 Here's the questions. 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:29.920 Verse 33, who can bring any charge against God's elect? 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:31.580 It is God who justifies. 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:38.899 He says God has justified us, it means he has declared us like a judge in a courtroom. 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:44.080 He has declared us to be right with him through faith in Jesus. 00:14:45.400 --> 00:14:48.820 And what Paul wants us to see here is nobody can change that. 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:58.920 If you're a Christian, God has declared you to be right with him through faith in Jesus and what he did when he died on the cross. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:05.280 No one can ever change your standing before God. 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:11.620 No one can actually make you guilty before God. 00:15:13.040 --> 00:15:14.120 But let's be honest. 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:18.320 Don't you feel guilty at times? 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:28.860 Sometimes our conscience throws up old sins and causes us to think. 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:33.340 You can't be right with God after what you've done. 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.780 It may be five years ago. 00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:39.200 It may be something that happened before you became a Christian. 00:15:39.520 --> 00:15:44.780 It may be something that happened that you truly poured out your heart to God in confession and repentance. 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:46.480 You know you were forgiven at that time. 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:49.079 But something happens. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:52.959 Maybe somebody makes a comment. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.620 Maybe you see something happen. 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.519 You read something. 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:05.879 And you think, how could God forgive me after I've done something like that? 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:10.480 Or maybe somebody throws it up to you. 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:14.200 Maybe someone that you're close to. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.919 Maybe somebody that you know doesn't like you. 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:21.700 But they want to throw up something from your past. 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:24.259 Something that you've been forgiven for. 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.980 And you get to dwelling on it. 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:29.480 And you feel guilty. 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:41.379 I want you to understand that if you are united to Jesus by faith, God has declared you not guilty. 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:46.340 Jesus paid the penalty for that sin that somebody's throwing up to you. 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:53.220 When he died on the cross, that which you remember that you did, that your conscience is bothering you about, 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:57.960 that which you confessed, repented of, Jesus paid the penalty for that. 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:02.899 He took the punishment that it did deserve, that you deserved. 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:06.980 Jesus has lived a righteous, perfect life for you. 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.720 God's credited that to your account. 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:13.319 Look up how this chapter begins, Romans 8, 1. 00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:16.059 It assures us that if we're trusting Jesus, look at it. 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:20.660 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:17:23.360 --> 00:17:30.680 You are not guilty by virtue of your faith in Jesus and the fact that he has paid the penalty for your sins. 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.740 Now, let me pause here for a moment. 00:17:33.620 --> 00:17:36.000 This does not mean that we as Christians never sin. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:42.339 And it certainly doesn't mean that our present sins don't matter. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:43.859 They do matter. 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:53.059 Right now, if you are in the midst of rebelling against God in any particular area of your life, 00:17:54.000 --> 00:18:02.259 if there's sin in your life right now that you just refuse to admit, confess, and turn from, 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:04.259 you ought to feel guilty. 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:11.640 Because your fellowship with God has been broken by your rebellion against him, 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:14.180 by your willful disobedience. 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:21.680 That's why it's important for us to confess our sins throughout our lives as Christians. 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:28.320 As God's children, with faith and trust in Jesus, the penalty for our sins has been paid. 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:33.480 But our ongoing fellowship, closeness with God, 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:38.839 it can certainly be interrupted when we turn away from God, 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:44.819 when we ignore him or just flat out disobey him. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:49.180 That's why Jesus taught us in his model prayer, 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:53.660 pray, forgive us our trespasses or debts. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:59.480 John, in his first letter, he tells us if we confess our sins, 00:18:59.580 --> 00:19:03.740 he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:07.660 John says that because we as Christians sin, and it's a serious thing. 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:11.380 But when we confess our sins, he does forgive us. 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:12.360 He cleanses us. 00:19:12.560 --> 00:19:14.220 He wipes the slate clean. 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:17.759 We are not guilty because Jesus took our punishment. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:22.840 Do you have trouble overcoming guilt? 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:25.820 From past sin? 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.279 Look at verse 33. 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.900 He says, who is to condemn? 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:33.240 Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:35.120 More than that, who was raised. 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:39.779 Who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:43.580 Jesus has not only paid the penalty for our sins, 00:19:43.580 --> 00:19:46.960 he is at the right hand of the Father now speaking up for you. 00:19:48.540 --> 00:19:50.880 The idea is that Jesus is in heaven. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.320 He's paid the penalty for our sins. 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:57.580 He has risen triumphantly over sin, death, and the devil. 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:03.340 His presence before the Lord, beside the Lord in heaven, 00:20:04.300 --> 00:20:12.160 that is a constant intercession for us that we are forgiven. 00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.380 We are right with God. 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:16.760 Our sin is no longer to be held against us. 00:20:16.760 --> 00:20:21.120 If you are trusting Jesus as your Savior and Lord, 00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:26.020 you've been forgiven so you can believe God's word every day, 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:27.340 it will not change. 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:31.580 You need to trust Jesus Christ every day. 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.920 He will not change. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:37.060 God is for you. 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:43.680 If you're a Christian, one with Christ in faith, God is for you. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:50.000 And nothing in this world or beyond can separate you from his love. 00:20:51.820 --> 00:20:56.720 I want to tell a story that greatly, just perfectly illustrates this. 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.799 It's true. 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:05.600 On August the 16th, 1987, Northwest Airlines flight number 225 crashed 00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:11.100 just after taking off outside the Detroit airport. 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:14.579 One hundred and fifty-five people were killed. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:19.259 One person survived. 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.240 She was four years old. 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:23.140 Her name, Cecilia. 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:28.040 News accounts say that when Cecilia was found, 00:21:28.780 --> 00:21:30.180 they didn't believe she'd been on the plane. 00:21:31.300 --> 00:21:34.200 They thought no one could survive this crash. 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:40.560 She must have been in one of the cars on the road that the plane crashed on. 00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:44.980 But then they checked the passenger list, 00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:47.360 and sure enough, her name was on it. 00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:50.100 She was on the plane. 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:51.259 She survived. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:58.559 And so, as the crash investigators began to work, 00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:01.640 trying to piece together the details of the crash, 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:06.359 and talked to this little four-year-old girl, Cecilia, 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:13.259 the mystery of her survival was cleared up. 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:17.539 It was cleared up by the story of what her mother did. 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:27.720 Listen, the reason the experts say that Cecilia survived is that as the plane was falling to the ground, 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:31.700 her mother unbuckled her own seatbelt, 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:36.839 got down on her knees in front of this little girl, 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:42.099 and wrapped her arms around her as tight as she possibly could, 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:48.599 and refused to let go as they approached death. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:53.859 That mother's thought, as that plane was crashing, 00:22:54.859 --> 00:23:01.480 nothing is going to be able to separate Cecilia from my love. 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.860 True story. 00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:02.900 True story. 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:10.279 This is the kind of love our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus have for us. 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:14.660 You can read it through all of chapter 8 of Romans. 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:22.579 The Lord's Supper now is an excellent symbol of that love, 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:25.360 that God is for us. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:29.079 When you take the bread, that symbolizes the broken body. 00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:35.039 When you take that cup, that symbolizes the shed blood of God's most precious gift, 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:41.919 His Son Jesus, that He sent into this world to save us. 00:23:42.939 --> 00:23:46.259 I want to read a few verses of Scripture that will be on the screen. 00:23:47.719 --> 00:23:50.359 As we prepare to observe the Lord's Supper right now, 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:54.659 it's important for us to understand this is a very serious matter. 00:23:54.660 --> 00:24:01.860 Would you look with me, Romans, or excuse me, 1 Corinthians 11, verse 27. 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:07.420 Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:10.580 will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 00:24:11.060 --> 00:24:15.180 Let a person examine himself then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 00:24:15.540 --> 00:24:18.340 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:20.980 eats and drinks judgment on himself. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:24.380 This is the Lord's Supper that we're observing this morning. 00:24:25.040 --> 00:24:29.980 And so if Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you are invited to participate. 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:32.480 You do not have to be a member of our church. 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:36.580 But the Scripture is very clear that we just read, you see it on the screen. 00:24:37.580 --> 00:24:39.200 This is not to be taken lightly. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:48.160 It's only for committed Christians who are serious about living in a right relationship with the Lord and with one another. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:51.620 So we need to examine ourselves before we begin. 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:55.620 If you're not a Christian, please do not partake. 00:24:57.620 --> 00:25:00.740 If there is sin in your life, and what I'm talking about is, 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:04.759 you know how you're living in disobedience to God, 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:07.680 and you're just unwilling to do anything about it. 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.460 You won't stop it. 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.860 You won't confess and repent of it. 00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:12.819 Don't observe the Lord's Supper. 00:25:14.699 --> 00:25:17.659 But if you are trusting Christ and Him alone for your salvation, 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:20.179 for your right standing with God, 00:25:21.179 --> 00:25:23.719 and while none of us are perfectly following Christ, 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:26.859 if you know there's nothing in your life that you're in rebellion about, 00:25:27.439 --> 00:25:28.659 then you partake. 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:34.840 The Lord Jesus makes us worthy through His death for our sins, 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:38.740 through His righteous life that is now counted as ours through faith in Him. 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:42.220 So with this in mind, I want to have a prayer. 00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:45.740 Then our musicians are going to play a short piece. 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:49.100 And as we pray and they are playing, 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:51.580 let's continue in an attitude of prayer 00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:54.040 and prepare ourselves to observe the Lord's Supper. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:26:00.599 Father, thank you for choosing us to be on your side. 00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:06.279 Thank you, Father, for such promises in your word 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:11.480 that through faith in Jesus, we are forgiven. 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:15.099 We're no longer guilty. 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:19.879 Help us, Lord, as we observe the Lord's Supper this morning, 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:23.300 to let it just sink in. 00:26:24.300 --> 00:26:26.020 How great is your love 00:26:26.020 --> 00:26:29.260 that you sent Jesus to die. 00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:32.060 Lord Jesus, help us to let it sink in. 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:33.480 How great is your love 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:35.320 that you gave up your life 00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:39.660 to die for our sin. 00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:44.480 Lord, if there are people in this room who are not Christians, 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:48.720 cause them to realize 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:51.599 how serious their guilt is 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:55.480 from living life their way instead of your way. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:00.660 Lord, so work in them to give them the desire 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:04.440 to admit their sin, to turn from it, 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:06.920 to trust Jesus as their Savior 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:08.519 and call upon Him to save them now. 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.779 For every Christian in this room, 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:15.420 help us to so prepare ourselves 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:19.000 that this is truly a time of worship, 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.940 expressing gratitude, 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:24.019 and joining together as a church family 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.839 to proclaim the gospel. 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.819 And just in an attitude of prayer, 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.779 let's listen to the Lord 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:31.559 and prepare to observe the Lord's Supper. 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:31.700 Amen.