We've Got it Made
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Acknowledgments
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Attention Grabber
it’s very irritating when someone who “has it made” complains
or when they don’t take advantage of the fact that they “have it made”
in 2004, an NBA Basketball player turned down a three year, $21 million dollar contract. And while it was fair for him to believe that he should get more money based on the NBA marketplace, public opinion turned against him when he stated that he must refused the offer because he said, “I have a family to feed”
every non-rich person thought, “I could feed my family on $21 mil” . . . so the public dismissed and ridiculed him, no one felt sorry for him because most were thinking, “$21 million, he’s got it made!”
No one feels sorry for the child of a billionaire cause he’s got it made
the single lady will dismiss the worries of a married woman, “what is she worried about, she has a whole husband to look after her . . she’s got it made”
The older person will tell the younger person, “you have so many advantages that I did not have when I grew up! . . . you’ve got it made . . . take advantage of it!
Truth is only one group has it made . . . not rich people, not married people, not young people, not people from a particular race . . . there is just one group that truly has it made
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
let me deal with the “if” first. This is a statement to Christians. (explain “accepted Jesus as both Savior and Lord”)
what shall we then say to these things?
What things? It’s talking about the preceding verses, and they speak about how . . .
The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we pray, groans for us, pleading with the Father
God causes all things to work together for our good
God has called us (approached us/sought us out)
God justified us (made us righteous through Jesus Christ)
and God glorifies us (empower us to do do great things)
Since we Christians have all of THESE THINGS working in our favor . . . what shall we then say?
we should ask a rhetorical question . . .
if God be for us, who can be against us?
in other words, Christians are the people who have it made!
we are that one group that has it made
We are that child of the billionaire, in fact our father owns the earth and those who dwell in it
We are the one in a whole relationship with someone, who will never leave us nor forsake us
We are the ones with advantages that the people in the old testament never had
we’ve got it made
Then in the next few verses, Paul goes on to remind us of how we’ve got it made
God gave his own son for us, so there is nothing he won’t give us if we need it . . . we’ve got it made
and that Christ sits at the right and of the Father and intercedes for US . . . we’ve got it made
and then he list all of the things that CAN’T stop us . . . tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, destitution, danger, death, life, angels, evil spirits, things happening right now, thing that will happen in the future, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, or any creature . . . nothing can separate us form God’s love, which takes us back to the original question, “if God be for us, who can be against us?”
if something bad happens . . . God will find a way to make something good come out of it
if something sad happens . . . God will comfort us
if we face a mountain. . . God will move it or give us the strength to climb
if we must suffer for a time . . . . the Bible teaches us that when compared to eternity, suffering on this earth is “just for a little while”
and when Christians die, we are assured of heaven, a place that Jesus called, paradise.
We’ve got it made!
we win, we overcome, we survive, we come out on top, we have the victory, we triumph, we prevail, we succeed, the same chapter says that we are more than conquerors
let me put it this way . . . heaven is the floor, if every Christian was ranked on their fruitfulness or usefulness, and you were ranked dead last . . . you still get heaven, paradise
you’ll miss out on some blessings
you will miss out on some personal fulfillment/achievements
you will miss out on some eternal rewards
but you still GET heaven, and then resurrection,
it’s like saying, I missed out on being a billionaire, and so I am only a millionaire . . .still got it made!
And when you know you’ve got it made, you don’t have to fear what others fear
you don’t have to worry about what others worry about
your can put your focus on bigger and better things
It’s like receiving a football scholarship to one of these big colleges. You don’t have to worry about what the regular students worries about
tuition
books (get them all, not just bare bones)
get the full meal plan and all the extras
don’t have to fight for a spot in a class during registration
tutors already in place
special guidance counselors who will seek you out.
free gear and clothes and shoes
free travel, fancy hotels, gift bags
at the very least, the guy on football scholarship will gain a once in a lifetime experience . . . he has it made
Now he will have to work harder than the average student, he will have a stricter schedule than the average student (meetings, training, practice) . . . but he has it made during his 4/5 years (give you extra time), because he has the full backing of the university
So since he has it made, far above the average student, he might as well see how far he can take this thing
not just be on the team, but try to work his way up and start - get some playing time
try to get some of that NIL (Name, IMage, and Likness) money
win some championship rings
get prepared for a shot at the NFL
and he might as well try to get that degree too
since he is there with all of these benefits
the same for us Christians, it will be hard, we will have a stricter schedule than most (Sundays, Bible Study, prayer time, church work days, serving people outside the four walls, extra services) . . . but we have it made (necessities in this life and eternity with God after this life)
so we might as well see how far we can take this thing
instead of being a sitting on the bench Christian, why not try to start, God put me in
try to get some NIL blessings (Nothing’s Impossible Life)
strive for championships - achieve some big things for God
get prepared for a higher level of service in the NFL (Next Faith Level)
let me get that spiritual degree - spiritual growth
since we’ve got it made, we should try to do more than just make it
We’ve . . . Got it . . . made, so let’s live a full Christian life
no doubting, just devotion
no worries, just worship
no fear, just faith
you have the full backing of heaven on yours side!