Spiritual Confidence
Spiritual, Not Religous • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Anxiety & Depression is not only Jacob’s Story; but my story as well.
For those of us who live this side of heaven; the brokenness and darkness of this world makes us wonder at times; if hope is worthwhile.
And in the midst of this; God says this through Paul in Romans 8.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
The idea proposed by Paul is that:
The idea proposed by Paul is that:
NO ONE CAN BE AGAINST US; nothing, at least not any opposition worth concern.
NO ONE CAN BE AGAINST US; nothing, at least not any opposition worth concern.
BECAUSE GOD IS FOR US.
BECAUSE GOD IS FOR US.
But things are against us:
People
circumstances
death - everyone of us faces
spiritual warefare - demonic realm
So the tension in the text arises because we struggle to believe that God is for us!
I remember asking a Christian girl out for the first time; only to be turned down. Dang God, I’m tryna find a godly spouse.
I remember writing a Christian poem - spoken word - only to receive criticism.
I remember deciding I wanted to glorify God in football - only to be cut from the team.
How could God be for me if:
How could God be for me if:
My kids or grandkids left the faith
my prognosis got worse
i have to retake the class
My loved one just died
I began to ask, and wonder: IS GOD TRULY FOR ME?
IF GOD IS:
IF GOD IS:
all powerful
sovereign
divine
Why is my life filled with such opposition?
Why is my life filled with such opposition?
If God is greater than my trials and greater than my circumstances, why does life feel less like sailing and more like I’m a sailboat in the middle of the ocean with waves crashing down on me?
If God is greater than my trials and greater than my circumstances, why does life feel less like sailing and more like I’m a sailboat in the middle of the ocean with waves crashing down on me?
Problem: We allow circumstances to destabilize our certainty in Christ’s Character.
Problem: We allow circumstances to destabilize our certainty in Christ’s Character.
This uncertainty inevitably leads to doubt, & anxiety.
Anxiety: is characterized by intense feelings of worry, or fear - often based on a future event that hasn’t or might not happen.
Anxiety: is characterized by intense feelings of worry, or fear - often based on a future event that hasn’t or might not happen.
The solution; is not just to have more faith. Or to try harder to follow Jesus.
No, what needs to change is a deep foundational shift; in which our uncertainty is replaced with certainty, not in our present reality, but in a future one.
Hope: is an eager expectation or anticipation of what is certain to come.
Hope: is an eager expectation or anticipation of what is certain to come.
Anxiety: is a concerned expectation or anticipation of what is uncertain to come.
Anxiety: is a concerned expectation or anticipation of what is uncertain to come.
Hope, by it’s very nature is not based on the present. That’s in part, what makes it so glorious.
Hope, by it’s very nature is not based on the present. That’s in part, what makes it so glorious.
Paul tells us this in Romans 8.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Hope is based not in what we currently have but in what we have in store for us.
This is the key distinctive of the Christian faith, is that we have hope!
Hope not in ourselves, not in our circumstances; but a hope despite ourselves, despite our circumstances, we hope in CHRIST and what is to come.
Hope not in ourselves, not in our circumstances; but a hope despite ourselves, despite our circumstances, we hope in CHRIST and what is to come.
What’s fascinating about the HOPE that we have as believers is the placement of it: IN SUFFERING.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
The juxtaposition of Romans 8 is that Paul promises us of what is to come and that promise intersects with the present suffering.
The juxtaposition of Romans 8 is that Paul promises us of what is to come and that promise intersects with the present suffering.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
So, is God truly for you? Is He for me?
So, is God truly for you? Is He for me?
Yes. But Paul’s claim is even greater than that.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
God is for US.
God is for US.
Why did Paul say US?
First of all, who is us: those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus - Christians.
Why US?
In Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation, he says this:
“People don’t get depressed when they face threats collectively; they get depressed when they feel isolated, lonely, or useless.”
God’s promise to us is that He is not only for you, but for us!
The promise is that as followers of Jesus; we are not only connected to a life with purpose and meaning but a life connected to other followers of Jesus.
So when circumstances & emotions have you doubting if God is for you, look to the Cross.
So when circumstances & emotions have you doubting if God is for you, look to the Cross.
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Are there things this side of heaven that are against us? Yes.
Are there things this side of heaven that are against us? Yes.
The world. Matthew 5:11 “11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
The demonic realm. Ephesians 6:12 “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Sin. Romans 7:19 “19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”
Death. Romans 8:10 “10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”
But the good news is that none of these are powerful enough to keep us from Christ!
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are more than conquerors does not mean we are struggle or adversity free.
We are more than conquerors does not mean we are struggle or adversity free.
No, it means that we have and will overcome!
No, it means that we have and will overcome!
But not because of us, not because we have to try harder but because we need to trust deeper.
But not because of us, not because we have to try harder but because we need to trust deeper.
Trusting not in ourselves, but in CHRIST.
Trusting not in ourselves, but in CHRIST.
We overcome - because of Christ’s love
We overcome - because of Christ’s love
Did you know that Jesus loves you?
Don’t use your circumstances to evaluate whether God loves you or not. Look at the cross.
Landing: not about rowing, or trying harder to overcome, but about choosing to believe. When we choose to believe that God loves us and is for us; it doesn’t eliminate our suffering. Rather, it gives us hope.
Landing: not about rowing, or trying harder to overcome, but about choosing to believe. When we choose to believe that God loves us and is for us; it doesn’t eliminate our suffering. Rather, it gives us hope.
Possible Action Steps (Just ideas as of now):
I said Yes
Plug: NOT BEYOND REACH Endeavor. - Opportunity to learn how to share the hope of the gospel with those in your life
Live with confidence - knowing Christ doesn’t just change our actions it changes our posture. It changes our attitude and not just what we do; but how we go about living for Him. (this one i’d have to build out more in the sermon itself)
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How close are you with Jesus?
Do you ever feel like God is far off?
What is it that sperates us from Jesus?
Sin?
Circumstances?
Nothing can seperate us from Christ.
If you’ve already put your faith in Jesus, then It’s not a question of proximity but of depth.
Have you ever wondered if God is for you?
Story that makes you question:
Depression
Grandma?
Is God really for me?
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
God is for US (Meditate on: why is it significant that God is not just for us individually but for us corporately? does that weaken the claim?)
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For US
YES HE is FOR US - LOOK AT the CROSS - LOOK AT JESUS
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
When others are against us - GOD IS FOR US
Drama:
we feel people are against us 8:31-34.
We feel circumstances are against us. 8:35
Sometimes; we think God is against us.
But nothing could be further from the truth. God is for us.
But here is the question: are we for God?
Our sin puts us in opposition with God; it pits us against God.
If you couldn’t die; what would your life look like?
What would your life look like if you knew you couldn’t lose?
What would life look like if we knew that we were more than a conqueror? Would life look successful? Is some ways, no. Finances, Heatlth, etc, but in other ways; absolutetly.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
The nature of hope is based not on what is present; but in the ABSENCE of something - what is COMING
Escatelogical
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
THOSE, those, those.
Why does victory taste so good? Because it’s a foreshadow of what we have in Christ
What seperates us from God?
Sin. But not even sin can separate us from Christ
Circumstance can’t separate us
Key Verse
Key Verse
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
