WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:03.839 I'm so thankful that God is pleased with our hallelujahs, even when they're hard to sing. 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:06.500 I can get up there a little bit high. 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:12.259 Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to Romans chapter 8 with me this morning. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:14.700 It's very good to be here today. 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:24.480 I intend this morning to finish out chapter 8, which may be a bit of a task before us to do all nine of these verses. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:29.879 But I think you'll find it'll be of great benefit to our souls to do so this morning. 00:00:29.879 --> 00:00:37.859 Kind of by way of reminder, and it's quite possibly an oversimplification, but where we have been so far in Romans, 00:00:38.239 --> 00:00:45.600 Paul has given us a very clear gospel presentation, stated our desperate need of a Savior, that all of us have sinned. 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:47.179 We've all fallen short of the glory of God. 00:00:48.019 --> 00:00:55.299 There's nothing that we can do on our own to gain satisfaction in his sight up through 321. 00:00:55.299 --> 00:01:00.640 And then he tells us that the only way we can be made right with God is to place our faith in Jesus Christ, 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:04.340 who was the perfect sacrifice on our behalf. 00:01:05.039 --> 00:01:09.200 Then he goes on to tell us about the blessed benefits of the gospel. 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:16.920 And in chapter 8, he talks about the Spirit that's been given to us, granted to those of us who believe in Christ. 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:23.019 And we saw the ministries of the Spirit, our regeneration, our sanctification or perfection, 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:30.920 and then the security that we have unto final, full perfection, eternal perfection or glorification. 00:01:31.620 --> 00:01:33.960 And we know that that's the journey we're on as Christians. 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:40.579 And even as we suffer, we have this great hope, the hope of eternal future glory, 00:01:40.579 --> 00:01:45.659 that we can bear up then underneath the suffering that might come our way. 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:49.459 Read with me, beginning in verse 31. 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.719 What then shall we say to these things? 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:56.739 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:00.060 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:03.759 how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:06.379 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:08.139 It is God who justifies. 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:09.300 Who is to condemn? 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:11.560 Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:13.060 More than that, who was raised. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:14.600 Who is at the right hand of God. 00:02:14.880 --> 00:02:16.620 Who indeed is interceding for us. 00:02:17.200 --> 00:02:18.840 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:02:18.980 --> 00:02:23.540 Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:27.180 As it is written, for your sake were you being killed all the day long. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:29.160 We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 00:02:29.760 --> 00:02:33.980 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:02:33.980 --> 00:02:37.820 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:42.239 nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, 00:02:42.459 --> 00:02:48.340 nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:54.900 Now, before we pray together over this text this morning and the preaching and the hearing of it, 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:59.640 I kind of want to set a stage for you as to what I would like to accomplish. 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:08.080 And I hope that our prayer together as we study this will be the same as that prayed by Paul on behalf of the Ephesians. 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:12.320 And if you'll turn with me, keep your finger here, turn with me to Ephesians chapter 3. 00:03:12.660 --> 00:03:16.939 I want to read you a couple of verses, and then we'll get going back in Romans. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:19.820 Ephesians chapter 3. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:21.800 Let's read verses 14 through 19 together. 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:27.060 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:33.020 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 00:03:33.760 --> 00:03:36.280 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:42.320 that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints 00:03:42.320 --> 00:03:45.480 what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:48.139 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.879 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:55.399 So now his prayer for the church of Ephesus, 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:58.539 and I believe he would pray the same thing for us, 00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:03.379 is that by the Spirit we would be strengthened to understand, 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:07.780 to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:13.339 And what he means by that is that we don't just have a mental assent to it. 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:16.079 We don't read the end of chapter 8 and say, 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:19.019 I believe that nothing can separate me from the love of God, 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:22.220 but that we experience that to be true in our lives. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:27.199 That we actually feel the great glorious truth of the gospel, 00:04:27.340 --> 00:04:30.439 that nothing can separate those who love God, 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:31.939 and who have been called according to his purpose, 00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:34.519 from the love of God in Christ. 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:36.720 That's his prayer for us here. 00:04:37.079 --> 00:04:40.120 And those of us who know him, who love him, 00:04:40.139 --> 00:04:41.439 and who have been called according to his purpose, 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:45.420 are rooted and grounded in that love. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.019 And these two words are so cool. 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:50.300 Roots, obviously, the roots of a tree, 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:55.800 our very being is reaching down into the love of God in Christ, 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:59.899 and we're foundationally built on the same. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:03.040 And the implication from this prayer, 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:05.180 and from 8, 31 through 39, 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.720 is that no matter how deep those roots grow, 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:10.380 no matter how wide the building we build is, 00:05:10.420 --> 00:05:11.980 as we grow as Christians, 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:15.340 we'll never run out of the love of Christ to grow into, 00:05:15.580 --> 00:05:19.180 and we'll never run out of a foundation of his love to build upon. 00:05:20.320 --> 00:05:24.480 That's what we should get out of 8, 31 through 39. 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:25.260 So let's pray together. 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:31.599 Father God, I thank you for those in this room who are called your own, 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:34.839 who have been adopted as sons by the power of your spirit. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:37.599 And I pray, Father, that this day, 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:42.259 you will have us know beyond just a knowledge. 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:47.659 We'll know experientially how great your love for us is in Christ. 00:05:49.339 --> 00:05:51.719 Thank you, Father, for my calling to preach your word, 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:56.600 and I pray that you'll find me faithful this morning to do it from total dependency on you, 00:05:57.400 --> 00:06:01.000 and that that will generate in everyone here a dependency on you. 00:06:01.780 --> 00:06:04.760 We love you, and we thank you for all the great blessings you pour out on us. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:06.640 We pray that you'll bless us now. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:09.120 In Christ's name, amen. 00:06:09.760 --> 00:06:11.200 So back to chapter 8. 00:06:11.520 --> 00:06:12.540 We'll get you back there. 00:06:13.820 --> 00:06:15.940 And the one point of this morning, 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:16.700 I've said it already, 00:06:16.760 --> 00:06:19.120 but the one point that I want you to walk away with 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:22.560 is that nothing can separate those who love God 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:24.579 and are called according to his purpose 00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:26.899 from the love of God in Christ. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:30.079 But first, I have to ask two questions. 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:34.259 We see in verse 28 of Romans 8, 00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:36.819 and we know that for those who love God, 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:38.639 all things work together for good. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:40.579 For those who are called according to his purpose. 00:06:40.660 --> 00:06:42.740 So I have to ask you two questions before we go on. 00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:45.759 Number one, do you love God? 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:48.860 None of us love God perfectly. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:50.680 That's not ultimately the question. 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:52.819 I'm not asking you, do you love God perfectly? 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:54.699 Certainly, as Christians, 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:58.620 our affections for God wax and they wane. 00:06:59.099 --> 00:07:00.839 None of us love him perfectly. 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:03.719 What we're really asking here is, 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:05.459 do you treasure him? 00:07:05.539 --> 00:07:07.319 Do you treasure him above all else? 00:07:07.719 --> 00:07:09.620 Ultimately, when it's all said and done, 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:13.800 do you love God more than everything else in this world? 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:15.680 Do you love God? 00:07:16.520 --> 00:07:20.960 And number two, are you called according to his purpose? 00:07:21.840 --> 00:07:24.819 I'm going to read to you a picture illustration 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:26.060 that John Piper wrote. 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:30.600 But before that, let me read to you 1 Corinthians 1, 23 and 24. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:31.639 It says, 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:33.360 We preach Christ crucified, 00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:36.480 a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:39.699 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, 00:07:40.259 --> 00:07:43.639 Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:45.500 So to those who don't believe, 00:07:45.979 --> 00:07:47.519 who are not called according to his purpose, 00:07:47.979 --> 00:07:49.219 Christ is foolishness. 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:51.500 But to those who do, who are called, 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.959 the power of God and the wisdom of God. 00:07:54.019 --> 00:07:56.419 So let me read this little illustration to you. 00:07:57.740 --> 00:07:58.680 Picture it this way. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:00.860 Before you were called by God, 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:03.879 you were in real sense asleep in your bed. 00:08:04.539 --> 00:08:06.259 Into your bedroom came Jesus Christ. 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:08.719 He stood there in the glory of his Calvary love 00:08:08.719 --> 00:08:09.879 and his resurrection power. 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:11.159 But you were asleep. 00:08:11.760 --> 00:08:12.740 In fact, you were dreaming. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.300 And in the dream, which is your ordinary life, 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:16.420 you saw Jesus. 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:18.800 Only in the dream, he looked foolish. 00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:19.960 He wasn't attractive. 00:08:20.400 --> 00:08:22.820 You wondered why others made such a big deal out of him. 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:25.220 In the dream, your television was more exciting. 00:08:25.520 --> 00:08:26.680 Your boyfriend was more real. 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:28.360 Your job, more satisfying. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:31.140 Then God's spirit, the Holy Spirit, 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.040 came into the bedroom where Jesus was standing 00:08:33.040 --> 00:08:35.500 in the glory of his Calvary love and resurrection power. 00:08:35.500 --> 00:08:37.779 And the spirit hovered over your dreaming head 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:40.679 and called in a voice just loud enough, 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:41.679 Wake up. 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:43.279 And it shook you. 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:44.820 And you opened your eyes. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.340 And there before you stood the real Jesus Christ. 00:08:47.539 --> 00:08:49.519 And his glory was unmistakable. 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:52.399 And you knew that all your life you'd been dreaming, 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:54.840 that all your thoughts about his being foolish 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:56.360 and unreal and unattractive 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:59.360 were mere fantasies and empty images of sleeping minds. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:01.860 But now the veil of slumber was lifted 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:04.580 and the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:06.019 was irresistibly true. 00:09:06.659 --> 00:09:10.080 Christ crucified was now for you what it really is, 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:12.600 the power of God and the wisdom of God. 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:15.240 That is what it means to be called. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:18.919 I hope that all of us in this room today 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:20.960 can answer these two questions. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:21.899 Do you love God? 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:23.560 And are you called according to his purpose 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:25.779 with an emphatic yes? 00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:31.059 If you can't, the promises here are not for you. 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:36.639 All of this great stuff, secure future glory, 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:40.059 that nothing can separate you from the love of God 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:42.039 is not for you because you are already 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:43.740 separated from the love of God. 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:46.459 And there's no better time than now 00:09:46.459 --> 00:09:49.139 to place your faith in Christ and believe in him. 00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:51.179 You don't have to wait for me to make 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:52.879 some special invitation to that end. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.600 Just believe that Christ is the Son of God 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:59.100 and that he is the only way to restoration with him. 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:01.259 Make that happen this morning, 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:03.139 that these promises may be yours. 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:08.460 So he asks a question, beginning in verse 31. 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:13.060 What then shall we say to these things? 00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:14.759 What is he referring to? 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:18.860 He's referring back a couple of verses to 28 through 30. 00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:19.879 So let's read those together. 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:22.100 He says, and we know that those who love God, 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:24.759 all things work together for good. 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:26.460 It's one of those things. 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:28.720 For those who were called according to his purpose. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:30.580 For those whom he foreknew, 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:33.100 he also predestined to be conformed to the image of a son 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:35.960 in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.120 And those whom he predestined, he also called. 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:40.179 And those whom he called, he also justified. 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:43.840 And those whom he justified, he also glorified. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:49.080 And the point Paul is making is that our eternal final glory is fully secure 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:53.320 because God planned the ends from the beginning. 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:58.300 The eternal ends have been established from the eternal beginning. 00:10:58.299 --> 00:11:01.299 God is fully sovereign. 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:04.000 And he will accomplish what he set out to accomplish. 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:06.719 That is the point Paul is making here. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.599 We get to get into all the implications of that in the coming chapters. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:14.159 But right now, all he's saying to us as Christians is that as you suffer, 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:16.779 know that you can hope because you have a sovereign God. 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:21.019 That is good news for us. 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:25.299 So, what then shall we say to these things? 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:28.839 If God is for us, then who can be against us? 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:31.120 I don't know that I even need to explain that to you. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:36.819 If God is on our side, then there is nothing in this world that can be against us. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:38.360 Because God is sovereign. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:39.819 He controls everything. 00:11:39.939 --> 00:11:41.459 It is all under his dominion. 00:11:42.419 --> 00:11:46.139 This world turns under the providence of his power. 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:49.559 By his word, this world is sustained. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:54.559 And if he is for us, none of those things can possibly be against us. 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:59.779 And God gave up his own son on our behalf. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:04.379 And if he did that for us, how will he not then graciously give us all things? 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.039 Verse 32. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:08.340 And he's referring back here then to verse 28. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.220 Where it says, what? 00:12:10.439 --> 00:12:13.460 That all things work together for good. 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:16.220 For our future glory. 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:18.200 All things work together for good. 00:12:18.420 --> 00:12:22.560 So, how is it that God will withhold anything good from us? 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:25.320 You know what that means for you? 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:32.040 That anything you experience in this life as a believer, as one who follows Christ. 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:36.400 Anything you experience is a gift from God for your good. 00:12:37.300 --> 00:12:39.379 Even the things we don't feel are good. 00:12:39.920 --> 00:12:42.320 The experiences that we don't particularly like. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:47.760 All of those things have been given to us graciously for our good. 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:53.720 Psalm 84 11 says, for the Lord God is a sun and shield. 00:12:53.920 --> 00:12:55.600 The Lord bestows favor and honor. 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:59.940 No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 00:13:00.660 --> 00:13:06.220 And for those of us who have placed our faith in Christ, we walk uprightly before God because of Christ. 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:13.500 And if that is true of you, then everything that happens is good for you. 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:16.779 For your final and future glory. 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:26.899 So again, I say, nothing can separate those who love God and are called according to his purpose from the love of God in Christ. 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.360 Verse 33. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:33.120 It says, who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.419 It is God who justifies. 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:37.560 God does the justification. 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:40.500 Who is to condemn? 00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:43.500 Now recall verse 1, chapter 8. 00:13:44.179 --> 00:13:48.759 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:50.879 Because God is for us. 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:52.879 Who can be against us? 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:56.220 We ourselves can't be against us. 00:13:57.180 --> 00:13:58.759 The implication here. 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:05.319 Our own sin does not condemn us any longer because Christ bore it on our behalf. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:11.639 And he makes that case by continuing to say, Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.399 We know that. 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:18.639 Christ, the perfect sacrifice, the spotless lamb, the sacrifice that was necessary for us. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:23.200 More than that, though, more than him dying, more than that, he was raised. 00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:25.080 And he's at the right hand of God. 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:27.840 He's interceding for us. 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:33.580 So Christ took on our sin, died on our behalf, but he was raised again. 00:14:33.660 --> 00:14:35.399 He had victory over death. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:41.220 And he is now seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession, praying on our behalf, 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:44.820 continually and constantly for us. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.600 Ephesians, chapter 2, verses 4 through 7, reads, 00:14:48.600 --> 00:15:06.340 Paul here speaks of Christ sitting at the right hand as the same thing as us sitting at the right hand. 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:19.160 Paul here speaks of Christ sitting at the right hand as the same thing as us sitting at his right hand, 00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:23.399 because Christ himself stands there as our representative. 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:27.539 1 Corinthians 15, 17, Paul said, 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:33.519 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 00:15:33.959 --> 00:15:38.500 So he backs up this whole idea of no condemnation. 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:39.299 Who is to condemn? 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:43.399 If Christ has died for you, there is no condemnation for you. 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:46.319 It's impossible that you can be condemned. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:53.160 Verse 35, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:15:54.600 --> 00:16:05.500 Shall tribulation or any pressure or trouble or illness or distress or any difficulty or crisis 00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:17.639 or persecution or any opposition or ridicule or famine or any suffering or scarcity or nakedness or any assault or shame 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:25.080 or danger or any peril or threat or sword or any injury or violence or death? 00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:30.559 Notice the words I added, to give you no room to wiggle. 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:34.279 If you are beloved, if you're one of God's own, 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:39.039 there is no thing that will separate you from the love of Christ. 00:16:39.339 --> 00:16:44.720 No circumstance, no person, no illness, not yourself. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:49.079 Nothing will separate you from the love of Christ. 00:16:50.839 --> 00:16:54.100 Verse 36, as it is written, 00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:57.100 For your sake we are being killed all the day long. 00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:59.279 We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:03.419 Paul here quotes Psalm 44, 22. 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.259 To say to us, to remind us once again, 00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:08.180 that our suffering is sure. 00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:09.879 We will suffer. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:11.339 We have suffered. 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:13.920 We're in the midst of suffering now. 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.299 Suffering being anything in this life that's uncomfortable 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:21.579 as we move towards that final, perfect, glorified state. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.660 Remember in verse 17 he says, 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:27.960 And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs of Christ, 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:32.279 provided we suffer with him in order that we may be glorified with him. 00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:35.940 We get as heirs the glorification of Christ, 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:38.320 that final thing that we all eagerly long for 00:17:38.320 --> 00:17:40.700 and that the creation groans for and we groan for 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:42.200 and the spirit groans on our behalf. 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:45.700 We also get the suffering of Christ. 00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:47.580 We inherit it as well, 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.980 that we might be finally made perfect. 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:53.360 Psalm 44, if you'll actually turn there, 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.720 you'll appreciate this. 00:17:56.680 --> 00:18:00.660 A reader of the book of Romans at this time 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:03.840 would have known the rest of the psalm. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:05.899 As Paul quoted to them, 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:10.679 he knew that verse 22 would take their minds to the end of this psalm. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:13.679 And I admit that I didn't know the rest of the psalm. 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.779 I had to look it up and read it. 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:19.559 I would presume that most of you don't know the rest of the psalm. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.220 So let's look at it together. 00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:23.000 Beginning in verse 22. 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:26.959 Again, yet for your sake we are killed all the day long. 00:18:27.439 --> 00:18:29.419 We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:31.939 Hear what the psalmist says after this. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:32.839 Awake. 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:34.439 Why are you sleeping, O Lord? 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.599 Rouse yourself. 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.439 Do not reject us forever. 00:18:37.939 --> 00:18:39.299 Why do you hide your face? 00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:42.439 Why do you forget our affliction and depression? 00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:45.139 For our soul is bowed down to the dust. 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:47.500 Our belly clings to the ground. 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.559 He's desperate. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.139 Feels as if he's totally been abandoned. 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:55.220 My God, have you ever felt that way? 00:18:56.179 --> 00:18:57.439 You ever been in the middle of a circumstance 00:18:57.439 --> 00:18:58.379 and you just thought, 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.179 God's left me alone. 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:03.880 There's no way something this bad happens to a son of God. 00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:07.180 God has just totally forgotten about me. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.180 Verse 26. 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.100 He writes, 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:10.799 Rise up. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.220 Come to our help. 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:16.700 Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love. 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:19.980 Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love. 00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:22.240 I don't think the psalmist even knew what he was writing 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.799 when he penned this. 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:26.480 Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:30.140 This is a cry as he's suffering, 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.940 as he's going through this tribulation. 00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:34.600 It's a cry out for what we now have, 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:36.880 the redemption of our souls. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:39.640 How beautiful is that? 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.840 Paul didn't quote the whole thing, 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.920 but he knew that people would know 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:46.620 exactly what the psalmist was crying out for 00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:49.060 as he makes us sure 00:19:49.060 --> 00:19:52.080 that we will in fact suffer in this world. 00:19:53.520 --> 00:19:55.640 What does Paul then say in verse 37? 00:19:55.780 --> 00:19:55.860 So, 00:19:56.260 --> 00:19:57.600 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:19:58.040 --> 00:19:59.080 Shall any of these things, 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.340 all the things we lifted off, 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:02.740 tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:05.240 nakedness, danger, sword? 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:07.279 Lord, verse 37, 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:08.339 he says, 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.099 No. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.759 In all these things, 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.279 we are more than conquerors 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:16.319 through him who loved us. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.299 All of these things 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:21.640 have been subjected under us. 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:27.000 My mind went to Habakkuk chapter 3, 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:29.039 the very end of the book. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:32.980 The book of Habakkuk is a unique minor prophet 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.779 because it's a record of 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:36.720 of Habakkuk's prayer life. 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:38.899 You see Habakkuk crying out to God 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:40.759 and God's responses to him. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:43.379 Fairly unique in its literary style. 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.700 At the very end, 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:45.960 chapter 3, 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.920 beginning in verse 17, 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:52.559 this is Habakkuk's rested state 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.079 as he's cried out to God. 00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:54.700 He says, 00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:56.619 Though the fig tree should not blossom, 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.440 nor fruit be on the vines, 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.579 the produce of the olive fail, 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:02.139 and the fields yield no food, 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:04.340 the flock be cut off from the fold, 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:06.580 and there be no herd in the stalls. 00:21:07.080 --> 00:21:08.840 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:21:09.060 --> 00:21:11.880 I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:14.340 God the Lord is my strength. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:16.440 He makes my feet like the deer's. 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:18.920 He makes me tread on my high places. 00:21:19.620 --> 00:21:20.800 So Habakkuk says, 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:22.740 even if everything in this world 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.840 is working against me, 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:27.879 everything is bad from my perspective, 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:30.039 I will rejoice. 00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:32.959 I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 00:21:33.439 --> 00:21:33.779 Why? 00:21:34.179 --> 00:21:36.879 Because of his unfailing love in Christ. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.000 And then he says, 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.279 He'll make my feet like the deer's. 00:21:40.439 --> 00:21:42.539 He makes me tread on my high places. 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:44.459 And this was a common Hebrew term 00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:47.099 when there was a victor over a battle. 00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:50.699 The way the victor, the king, the general 00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:52.699 would proclaim his victory 00:21:52.699 --> 00:21:56.319 is he would run on the ridge over the valley. 00:21:57.179 --> 00:21:58.559 Seems a bizarre thing for me. 00:21:58.899 --> 00:22:00.519 After a battle, you're probably exhausted. 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.599 But he would get up on the ridge, 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:03.240 and he would run over the battle 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:05.879 and declare his victory in doing that. 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.539 And that's exactly what he's saying here. 00:22:08.379 --> 00:22:10.859 We will be more than conquerors. 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.719 We will run in victory 00:22:12.719 --> 00:22:15.439 over all the circumstances of this world 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.600 because of Christ. 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.799 Because we are his. 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.080 Because we experience, 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:25.200 we experience beyond just simple knowledge, 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:29.240 we experience his steadfast love for us. 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:32.180 Verse 38, he says, 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:35.240 For I am sure. 00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:39.559 Are you sure of these things? 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:42.539 Can you say without a doubt, 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.759 as Paul does here, 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:46.940 I am completely confident 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:49.180 is what the Greek term means. 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:51.759 I am without a doubt, 00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.680 positive, 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:56.119 that neither death nor life, 00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.799 nor angels nor rulers, 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.180 nor things present, 00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:00.200 nor things to come, 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:00.759 nor powers, 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.400 nor height nor depth, 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.519 nor anything else in all creation 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:06.039 will be able to separate us 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.000 from the love of God 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:09.359 in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:11.259 He leaves no room, 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:13.059 no doubt, 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.839 nothing in this world, 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.119 including you, 00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.640 will separate you 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.720 from the love of God 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:21.440 in Christ Jesus. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.319 So, 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:25.700 why ultimately does Paul 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:27.019 spend so much time 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.980 and space, 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.519 really, 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:30.819 quite a few verses there, 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.579 making this point? 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:35.359 Why does he want to drive 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:37.900 this into our minds? 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:39.460 Firstly, 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:41.800 for our good. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.840 Isn't that the ultimate 00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.640 and final aim 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:46.160 we see in verse 28? 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.700 Not good from our perspective, 00:23:48.800 --> 00:23:49.500 but he's speaking of 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:51.200 the final good, 00:23:51.320 --> 00:23:52.300 the ultimate good, 00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:53.800 our glorification, 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.660 our perfection. 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.120 All these things 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:57.180 are working together 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.920 for that. 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.740 If we can keep that in mind 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.519 as we suffer 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.400 in this world, 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:04.840 as bad things happen to us, 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:05.960 we can say of these bad things, 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.900 we don't have to enjoy them, 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.500 but we can say, 00:24:07.820 --> 00:24:08.720 ultimately and finally, 00:24:08.840 --> 00:24:10.500 this is for good. 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:13.519 Secondly, 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:16.940 for God's glory. 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.400 Verse 36, 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:20.120 he quotes Psalm 44, 22, 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.680 for your sake, 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.680 we're being slaughtered. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.380 For your sake. 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.380 So ultimately, 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.860 all things in the world 00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:30.500 serve our good 00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.720 and God's glory. 00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:32.460 Have you ever heard 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.140 somebody pray that? 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:34.640 Remember a prayer that says, 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.340 God, we just pray that 00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:36.300 our meeting today 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.319 will be for our good 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.399 and for your glory. 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.759 It's a very biblical prayer. 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.779 For our good 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:43.899 and for God's glory. 00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:46.119 I want to give you 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:47.500 a little analogy 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:49.119 that I experienced this week. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.399 Sam, 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:52.279 I got home from work on, 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.879 well, it doesn't matter. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.599 I think it was Wednesday. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.779 And Sam had bought 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.039 Cade, 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.859 just a little toy. 00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.440 And I'm pretty sure 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.180 if I remember right, 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:01.059 on the package, 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:02.639 it said $2. 00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:04.200 And knowing my wife, 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.659 she probably got 00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.339 a better deal on it 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:05.619 than that. 00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:08.279 She got it for a quarter. 00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:08.839 There you go. 00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:11.419 And I'm pretty sure 00:25:11.419 --> 00:25:12.619 it was an Easter clear out 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.500 because it's a little train 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.119 and it says 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.839 on it, 00:25:14.899 --> 00:25:15.519 Bunny Express. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.740 she made Cade wait 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:20.299 until I got home 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.500 to play with it. 00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:22.359 And she had told him 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:23.119 early in the day 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:24.179 that he had to wait 00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:24.779 until I got home. 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:25.740 And the first thing 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.160 he did, 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:28.279 I came in our front door 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.899 and I saw him 00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:29.480 in the living room 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.039 and he did like 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.740 a little hop step 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.480 happy thing 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.220 and he took off 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.460 what he was doing 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.279 and he brought this to me. 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.599 I'm very excited about it. 00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.339 It came with a little bit 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:36.779 of track 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.680 and a little caboose. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.720 The track made 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.700 about a nine inch circle. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.319 Really cheap. 00:25:42.399 --> 00:25:42.920 No big deal 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.519 kind of a thing. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.379 And so, 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.039 I opened it up 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.680 and we set it up 00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.180 on the floor 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.940 and Cade 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:50.079 didn't touch it 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:51.940 as an almost two year old 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.339 I would think 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.240 would want to wreak havoc 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.519 with it. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:54.039 Didn't touch it. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.720 We wanted to see 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.139 how it was going 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:55.619 to be put together 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.039 and how it was going 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.299 to work. 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:57.579 And I laid on the floor 00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:57.839 with him 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.359 and he laid 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.319 on his stomach 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.399 with his chin 00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:01.019 on his hands 00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:03.019 for 30 minutes 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:04.500 watching this whole thing 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.059 turn it on. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.119 Watching it go 00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:09.180 around and around 00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.759 and around 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.240 and around. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.859 It doesn't do 00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.339 anything exciting. 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:11.740 It doesn't like 00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.899 back up or switch directions. 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.680 It just went around 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.279 and around and around. 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.579 And let's see 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:15.960 if we can get a 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.740 Cade man. 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.759 K.K. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.240 What's this? 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.359 What is it? 00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:23.619 You can talk. 00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.079 What is it? 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.359 Okay. 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:27.119 It's not going to say it. 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.779 It's a choo-choo. 00:26:29.439 --> 00:26:30.919 And he was so 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:32.119 captivated. 00:26:32.219 --> 00:26:33.739 He was so enthralled 00:26:33.739 --> 00:26:34.799 with this little train. 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.500 For those of you 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.019 who don't hang out 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.519 with two year olds 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:37.979 very much, 00:26:38.239 --> 00:26:39.119 30 minutes is a really 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:40.119 long time for one thing 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:40.799 to keep their attention. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.359 A really, really long time. 00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.979 And he was so excited. 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.199 I think most of the time 00:26:45.199 --> 00:26:45.799 he didn't even notice 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.419 that I was there. 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.279 A couple of times 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.979 I got up and went 00:26:47.979 --> 00:26:48.419 and did something 00:26:48.419 --> 00:26:49.139 and came back. 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.840 The whole time 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.220 he said he went 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.940 he'd go choo-choo. 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:51.820 Choo-choo. 00:26:52.020 --> 00:26:52.360 Choo-choo. 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.060 Choo-choo. 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:53.780 And then when I was 00:26:53.780 --> 00:26:54.380 laying there with him 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.020 he'd look at me 00:26:55.020 --> 00:26:55.920 and go choo-choo. 00:26:56.280 --> 00:26:56.660 And back in the train 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.060 choo-choo. 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:59.020 For 30 minutes. 00:27:00.080 --> 00:27:00.880 Then we did some 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.380 other fun stuff 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.140 beyond that. 00:27:02.280 --> 00:27:04.080 But I was totally 00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:05.759 enthralled by this. 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:08.800 We love Christ 00:27:08.800 --> 00:27:09.820 because he first 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:11.120 loved us. 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:13.879 we have experienced 00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:15.539 the redeeming grace 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:17.500 of the almighty God 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.699 in Christ. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.339 Our souls have been 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.519 regenerated by the spirit. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.799 That should be 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:23.799 incredible to us. 00:27:24.439 --> 00:27:25.299 And we should never 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:25.919 grow tired. 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.519 Never grow tired 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:29.539 of gazing upon 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.659 these types of truths. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:33.779 And we should want 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.859 to tell anyone 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.739 who comes along 00:27:35.739 --> 00:27:36.559 and wants to check it 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.219 out with us 00:27:37.219 --> 00:27:38.259 lay on the floor 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:39.039 and look at the train. 00:27:39.159 --> 00:27:39.939 Anybody who wants 00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:40.519 to see that 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.339 we should be 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:43.279 more than happy 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.059 to show them. 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.759 So for our good 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.099 Cade was so happy 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.859 with this little train. 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.859 So happy. 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.119 We should be that way 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.799 because Christ loves us 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.660 like this. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:55.319 And we should exalt him. 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:56.420 We should lift him up 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.240 anytime somebody 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.859 comes along 00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.859 and wants to know 00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.940 what are you looking at? 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.480 Why is that even 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.279 cool to you? 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:04.099 A Gentile 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:05.539 who sees Christ 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.160 as foolish 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.740 we ought to 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:08.339 show them 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:09.259 the wisdom 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:10.220 of God. 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.139 in Christ. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:12.740 For our good 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.200 and for God's glory. 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.639 So what do you do 00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:17.980 when you don't 00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:20.319 feel these truths? 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:20.759 When you 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.799 are walking 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.559 through a circumstance 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:24.859 that just doesn't 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:26.119 seem possible 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:27.440 that it's for 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.500 ultimate and final good? 00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:29.639 You know this. 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:32.019 You quote this scripture. 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:33.119 You go to Romans chapter 8. 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:33.879 You read it again 00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:34.639 and you read it again. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.860 What do you do? 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.500 How do you 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.360 bear up? 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.080 How do you 00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:39.520 experience the love 00:28:39.520 --> 00:28:39.860 of God 00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.640 that's beyond 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:42.080 the simple knowledge 00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:43.000 of it? 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:46.460 We need to stop 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.040 listening 00:28:47.040 --> 00:28:48.920 to our fickle 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.300 emotions. 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:51.360 We too often 00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:52.700 let our emotions 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.920 speak to us. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.759 And we need to 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.480 begin preaching 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.320 to ourselves 00:28:57.320 --> 00:28:58.080 and to each other 00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:59.360 the great glorious 00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:00.140 truths of the gospel. 00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:02.460 We need to begin 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.560 telling ourselves 00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:04.820 what is true 00:29:04.820 --> 00:29:06.560 based off 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:07.140 the scriptures. 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.420 Quit listening 00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:10.080 to our emotions. 00:29:10.300 --> 00:29:11.360 You have to recognize 00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:12.540 that your emotions 00:29:12.540 --> 00:29:13.740 are fickle. 00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:16.540 Your circumstances 00:29:16.540 --> 00:29:17.700 will change your emotions 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.860 constantly. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.660 You will say 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.940 God this is not 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.740 a good thing. 00:29:23.080 --> 00:29:24.759 I don't enjoy this. 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:26.120 I want to feel 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:26.759 differently 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.660 than I do. 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:29.540 You can allow 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.139 your emotions 00:29:30.139 --> 00:29:30.839 to control 00:29:30.839 --> 00:29:32.839 your overall 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.279 demeanor 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.220 when in fact 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.779 we ought to be 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.859 preaching to ourselves 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:37.720 the great glorious 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.619 truths of the gospel. 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.579 And you never 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.279 arrive there 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:40.740 beloved. 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.899 You never get to a point 00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:42.779 where you just get to 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.960 bring these things up. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.500 It doesn't matter 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.779 how much scripture 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.299 you memorize. 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.119 It doesn't matter 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:48.319 how much you've grown 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:48.799 as a Christian. 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.980 You will always 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.859 falter 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:52.680 so you constantly 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.700 have to teach yourself 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.079 the truth. 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.460 Preach it to yourself. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.379 Get up in the morning 00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.799 and remind yourself 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.960 of the love 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:00.379 God for you 00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:01.220 in Christ 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.419 because nothing 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.460 can separate 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.500 those who love God 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.359 and are called 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:06.399 according to His purpose 00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.879 from the love of God 00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:09.279 in Christ. 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.579 Let's pray together.