Romans

Groaning and Sighing ~ A Romans 8 Moment

/ The Pastor

Have you ever had one of those moments when you felt drawn to God and then you start praying…

God….

…and then nothing?

Have you been there before? Am I preaching to the choir? I’ve been there. It’s a strange feeling because I know what I want to pray for but the words won’t come out because something inside of me says,

That’s not it.

And so I sit there with a dumbfounded expression on my face (luckily those moments generally happen when I’m alone so no one can see my dumbfounded look).

So as I sit there searching for words and almost every time my mind and heart goes to Romans 8:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [Romans 8:26-28 ESV]

Weakness? Sounds about right.
Groaning? Yup
Love God? Absolutely

And so this pastor is convicted.

I need to relent and release my selfish desires and mingle my spirit with the Spirit. For I know what I want to pray for but I don’t really know what I ought to pray for now.

Sin
Frustration
Anger
Sadness
Jealousy
Disappointment

Always seem to get in the way of good prayer time with God. So sometimes we just need to shut our mouths and brains off and let the Spirit speak with our spirit.

Would you pray with me…

[groan, sigh, groan, sigh…] Amen

The Pastor -|—

Now what? (Psalm 119:14-16)

/ The Pastor

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. [Psalm 119:14-16]

Last night I made my appeal to God for forgiveness; something we all need to do on a daily basis and then some. I appealed to God’s mercy through faith in Jesus Christ and then threw myself at his feet. And then in the words of Romans 5:10-11 I heard that I am reconciled to God through faith in Jesus.

Praise be to God, but now what?

After we have made our confession; after we have appealed to God’s mercy through faith in Jesus; after we have thrown ourselves at God’s feet, what next? Of course we will hear a word of forgiveness, but after THAT; after the absolution of our sins? We certainly shouldn’t go away unchanged or unfazed. There must be something next.

And there is…

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
Take delight in learning God’s ways.
Take delight in knowing what God desires.
Take delight in following God in all things.

Take delight in God’s law, for in God’s law we see a holy wisdom that is far above anything of human understanding. God’s ways and thoughts are indeed above our ways and thoughts, so desire God more than all the riches ever known in the world and will ever be known.

I will meditate on your precepts
Don’t just read and study God’s law, but meditate on them. Think about them. Ponder them. Reflect on them. May they not be a passing thought. May reading God’s law never be cursory. May God’s law sink in and take up residence in your heart.

and fix my eyes on your ways.
And as you are walking with God; as you are meditating on God’s ways; fix your eyes on the object of your desire. When I take my wife out to eat, I am not staring and gawking at other women. That would be rude and unfaithful. My desire is for my wife and so I fix my eyes and attention on her. In the same way and much more, fix your eyes on God and His ways. Don’t be unfaithful.

I will delight in your statutes;
Delighting in God’s statues will only come through diligent study and appreciation of who God is through faith Jesus Christ. If your faith and trust is not in God through Jesus, then you are never going to truly delight in God’s ways. It’s only through understanding what God has done for you that you can appreciate what God is up to and wants for you and desires for you and commands you to do.

I will not forget your word.
Make your meditation of God and His ways a daily habit that you will not forget. Even one day off can cause our simple and weak minds to go astray. You may think you are smart and have a good memory, but when it comes to God we have the attention span of a flea. Mediate often and seek God continually.

But what if I fail?

You will fail.
You will fall short.
You will turn away from God.

Just don’t accept this sin condition of yours but rather keep running to God, for God’s mercy is great. His faithfulness is endless. His love is all encompassing. His grace is amazing.

Keep running to God and appealing to his mercy through faith in Jesus Christ, and start all over again; desiring to truly learn and desire God’s ways more than anything. Don’t take advantage of God’s faithfulness but desire God’s faithfulness with all your heart and being.

May God be praised in your learning and meditation of His holy Law.

The Pastor -|—

The Appeal (Psalm 51:1-12)

/ The Pastor

I appeal to Your mercy, oh God, through Jesus Christ…

[1] Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

I am a sinner, oh God, I am a sinner but I appeal to your mercy through Jesus Christ: Forgive me.

[2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! [3] For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

I deserve the full force of your wrath for I have sinned against Your holy law and commands but I appeal to Your mercy through Jesus Christ: Wash me clean.

[5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

I am a sinner through and through, even from my birth.

[6] Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Through You and You alone can I know the way of true Life. Teach me, oh God, that I may know true wisdom. Teach me that I may stay on the narrow path and not stray from You.

[7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. [8] Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Restore me, cleanse me, wipe my slate clean. Oh God, grant me a second chance.

[9] Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

I appeal to Your mercy through Jesus Christ: Forgive me.

[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. [11] Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Place a new heart in me, oh Sovereign God as I appeal to Your mercy through Jesus Christ: Forgive me and grant me a joyful heart once again.

This is my confession; this is my appeal; this is my plea to you, oh God. I echo these words from the psalmist and seek to be placed back into a right relationship with you. So I lay it before you and wait…

[10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. [11] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:10-11 ESV)

Through faith in Jesus Christ I am forgiven?

PRAISE BE TO GOD!
ALLELUIA!
AMEN!

The Pastor -|—

Sighs, groaning and praying

/ The Pastor

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” [Acts 7:55-56]

Stephen knew he was in trouble. He knew his life was in danger. Stephen knew that he was not getting out of this crowd alive. But he was unfazed. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he sees the reason for his faith. And I can about imagine the peace he felt, even as the people dragged him out of the city to stone him.

The reason I was drawn to this text this morning was because of a prayer request I received yesterday from a friend. He sent a group text to a few of us; asking how we should be praying for those Christians that ISIS recently captured. This has been weighing on him and wanted to know how to pray. So I sent the above text and wondered if we should be praying that those Christians see what Stephen saw and thus be strengthened and encouraged. Someone else then chimed in and suggested that we pray that the faith of those persecuted Christians have an impact on their captors.

But is there more?

I’m not sure what those Christians truly need since I can’t begin to imagine what it is like for them. I can’t imagine what I would pray for if I were in that situation or how my faith would hold up. But I like that text from Acts so I am going to pray for those Christians using that text and then pray that their faith impacts their captors and then fall in Romans 8:26…

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

…and then turn it over to God.

I don’t and can’t know what they truly need, but God does. So let’s allow the Holy Spirit to take our groanings and sighs and cries and carry them to the Lord. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for us. Let’s give it up to God and say, “May your will be done”

Let’s pray…

[Sigh]

Amen

The Pastor -|—

Joy, Peace and Hope

/ The Pastor

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. [Romans 15:13]

This is the reason I publish posts on this blog.
This is what motivates me to preach week in and week out.
This is what is on my mind and heart when I prepare a lesson plan or Bible study.
This is why I can get feisty, at times, on Facebook and Twitter.

And…

This should be what guides all our interactions with people day in and day out.

You see…

People are desperately looking for joy and peace and therefore will place their hope in almost anything in order to find said joy and peace.

[Maybe this describes you. In a way it describes all people.]

Often times that hope is greatly misplaced. It might be through diving yourself into an activity or living vicariously through your children; carting them around to every and any athletic competition. This joy and peace seeking may be through a relationship that is anything but God-glorifying. Maybe joy and peace for you are found through financial means or through physical pleasure. But none of these hope place keepers will fulfill what a person is looking for. It will ALWAYS leave you lacking and simply (and dangerously) lead you down a path of destruction; away from THE God of hope.

So when I see this it saddens my heart.

But if the God of Hope has filled you with HIS joy and peace in believing that Jesus Christ has died and risen for you, that your sins may be forgiven, then that hope should drive you to reach out to others.

And be feisty, if necessary (and in a God-loving way of course)

If you have not been filled with this joy and peace (and even if you have been), then hear (I mean, read this):
You are a sinner without hope.
Without Jesus you WILL die and stay dead.
But…
Jesus Christ died FOR YOU.
Jesus Christ rose FOR YOU.
And through faith in him your sins (all your sins) are forgiven.
Therefore…
you will not stay dead but live with him forever.

That is, of course, if you have placed your faith in Jesus.

So…

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing this Good News, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Stop you futile search of joy and peace in this world and seek the God of hope through Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Pastor -|—

Wear Jesus

/ The Pastor

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. [Romans 13:13-14]

I was told one time that a person’s true character or what they truly believe is revealed when no one is looking. That doesn’t mean that people can’t see who you really are or what you believe in public but how you act or speak in private reveals a lot about you.

And if you have never stopped to consider this before then think about these questions and answer them honestly:
~ Do you treat others better than you treat your family at home?
~ Do you lose your temper more with your family in private than you do at work or with friends?
~ Do you complain about the garbage on TV but then go home and watch that garbage?
~ Do you watch things on TV or your computer screen that you would never watch if someone was around?
~ Do you guard your language better in public than at home?
~ Are you diligent about prayer when others are watching but let it slide at home?
~ In public, does your marriage look like the model marriage but at home you are quarreling and fighting all the time?

How did you come out on those questions?
Were you honest with yourself?
Do you wear Jesus ~ ALL the time?

The apostle Paul says to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. This does not mean that Jesus is just something you “put on” when you go out in public; like putting on a new hat or something, but rather faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus is something you believe and live 24/7. And when we are “wearing Jesus” 24/7 then the desires of the flesh are going to be cooled off (they won’t be destroyed until that day when we are taken up to be with Jesus forever).

Jesus is not just a fashion statement. Jesus is not just something you use to get ahead in certain circles. Jesus is not just someone to speak about in public because it may garner a headline. Jesus is Lord and that means Lord of EVERY moment.

So examine your faith and then live what you truly believe. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior then not only show people “out there” but show your family as well. I think they deserve that. If your public and home lives are different, then lift that up in prayer and ask God to change your heart.

Wear Jesus and glorify God; publicly and privately.

May God bless your words and actions that He may receive the glory; always and forever. Amen

The Pastor -|—

The reason to glorify God

/ The Pastor

[Now that I have had a pot of coffee and am functioning somewhat normally, I am ready for that “thoughtful” word. Hopefully I won’t be as random as I was this morning :-)]

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. [Romans 11:36]

Think about that benediction for a moment…

From God all things/people exist.
Through God all things/people are allowed to exist and thus sustained.
And therefore all things/people belong to God and will return to God.

I think about this and have great joy in my heart; that my life is from God and is sustained by God and that I belong to God. This is comforting especially considering the fact that we live in a messed up world. We live in a world were there is war and terrorism and cancer and abuse and death and hatred and sin and the depressing list goes on. We live in a world that is uncertain and a world that will not last.

But I do not belong to the world
I belong to God through Jesus Christ.

Through God I came into being.
Through God I am sustained.
To God I will return.

What an joyous thought.
What a hopeful outlook.
What a victorious picture.

And therefore all glory and honor and worship be to God our Father through Jesus Christ. If you need to reason to glorify God, then think about where you came from, who sustains you and where you will return through faith in Jesus. That thought alone should cause much rejoicing in the face of Satan’s reign of death.

Oh the look on Satan’s face when he sees that his rule is finally over.
Oh the joy of living in God’s kingdom.
Oh the hope
Oh the peace

Praise be to God and Amen!

The (fully awake) Pastor -|—

The Law is good

/ The Pastor

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. [Romans 3:31]

Yesterday we explored the awesome grace of God as we briefly surveyed the 10 Commandments and found that we definitely stand condemned, but by the mercy of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, we have salvation.

Praise be to God!

The question before us now (and one that the apostle Paul answers) is this:
Now what?

If we are saved by grace apart from the Law, does that mean that faith in Jesus nullifies the Law. 

Basically, the implication here is that since we are saved by grace through faith, why worry about the Law. Why obey the 10 Commandments when God will forgive anyways? Why bother learning these Laws? The apostle Paul, in response to these questions, would slap you you up across the head and say ” You idiot” (but say it with all love of course) it’s because we are saved apart from following the Law that we are free to obey the Law with all joy in order to show love to our neighbor and to God.

You don’t abandon the Law because you are saved, but rather follow the Law because you are saved. Just read Psalm 119 and you will discover the joy the author has in learning and following God’s Law. He’s not seeking salvation but rather wants to learn more and glorify God.

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (vs 24)

The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes. (vs 64)

Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. (vs 66)

And there are many more such verses. The Law of God convicts us of our sin and therefore our need for a Savior (Jesus Christ). But the Law also shows us how to love God and neighbor. As Tom Brokaw once said, They are not called the 10 suggestions. They are Commandments. This is a holy tension; this grace and Law thing, but one that makes sense through faith.

If your faith is truly found in Jesus Christ, then said faith will find joy in obeying God for God is worthy. When one foolishly tosses the Law away because they are saved it makes me wonder if they are really saved at all.

So give praise to God for salvation through Jesus Christ and then seek to learn God’s righteous decrees more and more. Seek to know Him better through His Commands. Seek to honor God more through your obedience.

May God be praised and obeyed; served and worshiped; honored and glorified; always and forever. Amen.

May God bless your day 🙂

The Pastor -|—

Morning devotions (a little late) ~ Awesome grace

/ The Pastor

[It’s Friday and therefore my day gets thrown off a little bit (in a good way). Being this is my day off, our family sleeps in and takes our time getting ready in the morning. But now the kids are sleeping and I get some quite time. Praise be to God.]

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans 5:20-21]

Let’s take a moment, shall we, to ponder the Law. More specifically, let’s examine the 10 Commandments.

The Commandments state that:
~ We shall put nothing before God or fear anything/anyone more than God.
~ We are to refrain from misusing God’s name but rather use it in praise, worship and thanksgiving.
~ We are to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy; separate/different than other days.
~ We are to honor our father and mother; for they have been called by God for a holy task.
~ We are not to kill in any way, shape or form.
~ We are to hold and speak of sex and marriage in all purity and honor; and husbands and wives are to remain faithful to each other and to God.
~ We are to refrain from stealing in any way and help our neighbor defend what is his.
~ We are to speak of people in the best possible way.
~ We are not to covet what God has blessed others with.

This is a tall order to say the least. And if you are honest with yourself, you have to admit that you are guilty of violating every single Commandment. I could go into detail how but that would have to be a series of other blog posts. The short of it is that we are sinful and disobey God every single day; single hour; every single second. According to Romans 3, all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.

And for me (and hopefully for you) the more I meditate on the Law and my shortcomings, the more amazing God’s grace in Jesus Christ is. I mean, we sin; all the time; over and over; repeating the same sins; and God still forgives. We turn our backs on God’s holy Law and God still forgives. We worship other gods and God still forgives.

The Good News is that when we run to him in faith in what Jesus did on the cross, then forgiveness is ours; every – single – time.

WOW, THAT’S AMAZING!!!

That should blow you away.
That should humble you.
That should drop you to your knees in worship.
That should lead you to thank God every single day.

God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ is incredible, especially when we think that without Jesus, we would be expected to follow the Law without fail in order to earn salvation. But instead Jesus took our sins to the cross and crucified them that we may have the hope of the resurrection to eternal life.

So ponder the Law. Think about your sinfulness. Confess your sins and know the amazing grace of God; giving thanks and praise to him always and forever.

May this awesome news of grace and forgiveness drive you to your need for a Savior and may you know a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Have a blessed day living in the glow of God’s glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

The Pastor -|—

Morning devotions ~ Flesh vs Spirit

/ The Pastor

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. [Romans 8:6-8]

The prosperity gospel…

[Oh no, here goes the Pastor again :-)]

…tries to convince people that peace is found in this life; through the flesh. It says that in order to “have your best life now” all you need to do is get your flesh in order. Meaning ~ thinking right, believing right, dreaming right, saying the right things and doing the right things. All of this, they claim, will curry God’s favor and therefore you will live “your best life now“. In essence, the prosperity gospel is trying to sell peace when it is actually bringing the wrath of God.

Those trying to sell this crap (excuse my language but this is what it is) have their minds set on the flesh and not on the Spirit and therefore they themselves are really not at peace. But when you are in the midst of what you believe is “your best life now” you don’t know you’re really not at peace. The flesh has a way of shielding one’s eyes from the truth.

So what is true peace if it is not found in this life? That answer seems pretty simple: By keeping your mind set on the Spirit which is faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
~ A mind set on the flesh thinks only of this life; but a mind set on the Spirit thinks of the promised life to come through Jesus.
~ A mind set on the flesh can only achieve a temporary peace; but a mind set on the Spirit receives true, everlasting peace from the only true peace-giver: Jesus Christ
~ A mind set on the flesh can only achieve a fleeting happiness, that comes and goes and comes and goes; but a mind set on the Spirit has a joy that is not fleeting.
~ A mind set on the flesh CAN NOT please God; but a mind set on the Spirit has salvation.
~ A mind set on the flesh lives in death; but a mind set on the Spirit lives in Life.

And you probably get the point. When you have true faith in God through Jesus Christ then you submit to God’s Law and follow him in complete joy, for God is worthy. Your focus is on pleasing God, not the flesh. The prosperity gospel does not get this and therefore will never preach this. The true Gospel is understanding we can do nothing to achieve peace in this life but rather its submitting to God who is the only peace giver. It’s placing your faith in Jesus and believing your best life is yet to come, not now.

So set your mind on the Spirit and be at peace.

May God grant you a peace that totally blows your mind so that you may see and experience true peace in Him. Amen.

The Pastor -|—