Could it really be me?

Romans 7:7-9

Introduction:

Ryan Started the Fire

Main Theme: The Ministry of the Law and mans problem with it

Paul’s message in these verses show us the ministry of the Law that is still relevant today. (Our vision)

I would say that it is important that we must come to place where we do not loose our the why of this Church. I know we can easily loose the why- we can become discouraged, we can become people of doubt, but rather we are to be people of faith. Faith that God has called you and I to be here at this time and in the future. He has called this church to a mission. It begins with Love- we love God because He loves us- this is far beyond a cliche, everyone in hear can and should tell how they know God loves them when they were underserving of such love. It is out of this we love God, its our only response- Worship, we worship Him as we live by faith. It was evident for me when we came here that God was doing a work through an amazing group of people who love God, we wanted to be apart of that. This has not stopped. MayI encourage you to join with me in growing deeper in loving God. I took some time this week and hope you do as well to find one or two ways the God is leading you to grow deeper with Him. For example with me it is with how much time I am spending with Him in prayer.

It is through that Love that we love one another- How do we love one another- well it begins with teaching the Word- and serving each other- without thinking we will get anything in return- we are a group of unprofitable servants- This is where Pastor’s get misguided- the people are not here for me, nor should you be, may the Lord lead you- He will guide you to serve (love) I know we are all busy, but lets take the time to go beyond the front door (before and after) get connected. We are at a great time (I have asked the Lord to bring the leaders and volunteers for the ministry he wants to see) He is answering- He is forming who we are. - let us be faithful- beyond our weekly gathering.

Also let us be men and women of forgiveness

Make disciples- these are the ones that we know best and they know us best- we get misguided that discipleship is always a seasoned Christian who has arrived pouring into a baby Christian who has yet come to arrive- it isn't about arriving is about being obedient together! - if God can only take us from lesson to lesson than we are misguided to think we can be the one that takes a person from lesson to lesson- we just get to be obedient together.

Discipleship- is a phone call, is a meeting, is doing life together. Truly all of this is why God has called you and I here. We are not mere just waiting- we are ready, yet not alone.

Todays Message of the the MInistry of the Law- plays into our why- there must be a Biblical why behind what we do not one of this world- We look to what God is doing and desiring to be a church that is obedient we have our vision. Today I hope you see that the God has done through the Law and Christ stirs us all to live righteously in great expectation of what is truly possible through a pleasing life of faith.

Or Not… I love how we may leave here thinking all will be the way it is if we don’t respond in faith we find ourselves so astonishing… that there must be a way to live instead of full surrender… there isn’t if there was I believe God has shown himself good that He would have revealed it.

It reveals what is hidden (VS 7)

X RAY OR A MIRROR

The Law shows no partiality it reveals that all are sinful

The Lord in His mighty ways have called us beyond people in the stands- you actually get to participate! Faith in what He has said.

James 1:22–25 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

It is great to meet people who are aware of their sin- (humility) the know what they have done and their need for a savior! (grace)

There are those who are not so pleasent to meet, those who find themselves moral on the outside (pride) but neglect what is truly going on the inside. (Evil craving)

ἐπιθυμία -ας, ἡ; (epithymia), epi-thu-me-yah n. desire; lust; craving. evil craving — an inordinate, self-indulgent craving (that displaces proper affections for God).

Covetousness- Sin that no one sees! But leads to all the more danger.

The last commandment- for those who have said I am no murderer, I am no thief, you have found some level of justified morality- but then God deals with us on our inner self- that it is our covetousness that Paul explains leads to to become covetousness in every way. Inward attitude that leads to those outward actions!

For us absolutely

For others of course

Mark 10:17–27 (NASB 95)

17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

It would almost seem that there is no hope what do we do or have a mission. Yet our mission doesn't not stream from what we can do it is from knowing the following.

I am reminded that God does not need a defense

He is a mighty warrior able to do all things!

We do not have to prove man is sinful

When asked, but don’t make this your mission, God does it far greater than you and I

He has given the Law to minister to us- to show us a honest description of not only the outward but the inward.

2. It Ignites Rebellion (VS 8-9)

1 Corinthians 15:56 “56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;”

The weakness isn't the law it is us- We should have a proper understanding of the goodness of God’s word all of it

Simply put once we become aware of what we are not to do we want to do it.

Story- A waterfront hotel in Florida was concerned that people might try to fish from the balconies so they put up signs saying, “NO FISHING FROM THE BALCONY.” They had constant problems with people fishing from the balconies, with lines and sinker weights breaking windows and bothering people in rooms below. They finally solved the problem by simply taking down the signs — and no one thought to fish from the balconies. Because of our fallen nature, the law can actually work like an invitation to sin.

The carnal mind does not subject itself to God’s law

Romans 8:7 “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,”

An opportunity- Starting Point -base of operations-

Like my Dog is attracted to chase squirrels- we are attracted to rebel-

This is this constant fight- prayer, reading, fellowship.

Do not touch that hot stove

Spouse, Children, Friends, the person you do not know- do not do that- oh they will do it, be gracious, remember they aren't rebelling so much against you but against God- don’t take it personal!

I know it is easy for us to do so- then we begin to put this plan together to make out kids perfect

Ill go further do not look at that, do not be with that individual alone, don’t talk about them behind their back.

Do not live by legalism love by grace.

We are not as Paul David Tripp so eloquently puts it (Grace Graduates)

Can you think of a time in your life you didn't need God’s grace?

You, Me- we need it, we so easily are attracted to Rebel- That is why we are called to a life of faith a life of surrendering our rebellion.

Legalism only breads more sin- (kiss dating goodbye)

This has never worked has never produced fruit, fruit is not produced through legalism

Prohibition- only made it more desirable

May I caution us all this morning with something that I believe continually can become a problem in this church.

I would even say it can be the reason we lost our vision of reaching out to others and invite them to church.

Creating some new standard to live by that God did not attend- be oh so careful- all of us. Surrender takes surrendering to a standard that we create!

God’s law is good look what Sin has done- taking something so good an warp it we are wrestling with it today- warped it to think that it is the bad thing instead of our sin.

Galatians 5:15 “15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”

Why this warning we know that the churches in Galatia were very legalistic

I want to caution also those who use this word legalistic very loosely- there has come a time when it seems that when we are standing on the truth of God’s word and those come to change what God has deemed true and for those of us who would kindly approach this with grace are called legalistic. Take all things to God- He will tell you the truth. Those others God will graciously rebuke them.

Verse 9 speaks os those who live in ignorance

“He is not alive with the life that the New Testament writers so often speak about. He is alive in the sense that he has never been put to death as a result of confrontation with the law.” (Morris)

You know I look to this as a child- there we did live in ignorance but there is no escaping our sinful nature.

I like this thought that Lenski puts forth

“He was quite secure amid all his sin and sinfulness. He lived in the sense that the deathblow had not yet killed him. He sat secure in the house of his ignorance like a man living on a volcano and thought that all was well.” (Lenski)

God doesn't leave us in this state- again His grace!

Unfortunately Paul is honest when we come to the point of honest understanding, we are prone to rebel more.

Again a reason for our Savior and to live by faith.

Come thou Fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing Thy grace Streams of mercy, never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise

… Teach me some melodious sonnet Sung by flaming tongues above Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it Mount of God's redeeming love

… Here I raise my Ebenezer Here by Thy great help I've come And I hope by Thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home

… Jesus sought me when a stranger Wandering from the fold of God He to rescue me from danger Bought me with His precious blood

… Oh to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be Let Thy goodness like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to Thee

… Prone to wander, Lord I feel it Prone to leave the God I love

… Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above

… Here's my heart Lord, though it's weakened Hold me in Your precious arms

What I want us to take home.

All things are possible with God

Yes we are sinful. great remedy to our sin- faith and patience (perserverance)

He has made a way- will we have faith

Don’t live like a grace graduate

Yes you are a rebel

We are in the need of God’s grace till we are present with Him

We extend grace and do not create a new standard of living for others.

Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”