Faith in the Promise Maker, Not Just the Promise

Good morning. I pray you all had a wonderful week full of prayer and Bible study and discipleship

I am happy to say starting tomorrow night all of our groups will be back up and running

Men’s Group and Women’s group starts back up tomorrow night

Men at 6:30 and Women at 6 pm...women see Stephanie for more details

Men will begin a study in Titus led by Kurt Bowman

Last week we started back our Wednesday nights both Adults and Jr Sr High. Adults are in I Peter and Tony Collins started the youth Bible Study back up for students in 6-12 grades

Praise the Lord

Also a quick reminder that we are having our monthly congregational board meeting right after services today

Let’s Pray

This morning we will finish the thought that Paul started back in Romans 2:17.

Faith over works

saved through faith not works or keeping the law

It has been a wonderful journey thus far in Romans

I pray a journey filled with conviction and edification and growth....moving from milk to meat....growing in Christian maturity in Christ Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit applying scripture and truth to your life

This morning we are going to look at this scripture in 3 sections as we seek to discern through the Holy Spirit what God has for us this morning

Romans 4:9-17

______________

Romans 4:9–17 “Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”

God through Paul again defeating the idea

the belief

that there were Jews and then everyone else in God’s eyes

The belief that circumcision set you apart

The belief that faith and obedience to the law....works...was what saved you

God’s promise to Abraham was made in faith not circumcision

How do we know........Abraham had faith when he was Abram.....his faith was in God long before the covenant

long before circumcision

Circumcision was a sign of faith

circumcision was a sign of the covenant with God

Faith was required BEFORE circumcision

Today baptism has replaced circumcision as the physical sign of faith and covenant with God

Baptism is the outward expression of an inward change

Baptism is a physical act displaying a new spiritual reality

We talked a lot about baptism last week and you can see that on our website or app under media

Today circumcision is spiritual not physical

Most baby boys are circumcised at the hospital not for salvation but for health reasons

Circumcision today has nothing to do with physical...it is not even done with physical hands

Colossians 2:11

______________

Colossians 2:11 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:”

Pretty cool stuff

when you are saved

when the Holy Spirit leads you to repentance that leads to salvation

when you place your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior

When His blood is applied to your sin debt

When that happens Jesus Himself circumcises your heart

Another reason you are not who you were before salvation

Jesus circumcises your heart putting off the body of sins

you are dead to your old self

you are dead to your old flesh

you are dead to your old ways

you are dead to your past and your past no longer defines you

I want to ask you a question

What is your faith in.......the promise or the one who makes the promise?

your belief is in the person behind the promise

you know what i am talking about

someone makes you a promise, that is great but is that promise good

there are some who have repeatedly broken promises to you so you do not really count on that promise to be kept

then there are those who have never failed to keep their promise to you so when they make you a promise you know that it will be kept

the promise is only as good as the one who is behind the promise

one of the problems with religion is it is based upon the promises not the promisor

so when something fails......which it will....someone doesn’t keep a promise

someone doesn’t meet expectations

you thought being saved meant you had no trials or tribulations or persecutions and those things happen so you feel God failed you

when you only stand on human promises.....religious promises.....religious traditions.....you will be let down and many when they are let down believe it was God but their faith was in the promise not the one making the promise

your faith must be in Jesus Himself

Genesis 15:6

______________

Genesis 15:6 “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Abraham believed in the Lord

Not His promise but the Lord Himself

You must have faith in Jesus Himself

God is faithful

God will never leave you

God will never forsake you

That is who your faith is in

When you place your faith in works and look to the law and promises to save you

first you will be let down and fail

second your faith is void

Romans 4:14-17

______________

Romans 4:14–17 “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”

we are seeing this played out all around us

I pray for all those involved in Minnesota

the shooting that happened between law enforcement and Ms. Good was very unfortunate

My heart breaks for the officer who pulled the trigger

my heart breaks for his family who will have to endure all that will come as a result of his actions.....

my heart breaks for Ms. Good as I assume she is in hell this morning.......not based upon her being at a protest but upon her actions and lifestyle that has come to light since her passing

my heart breaks for her children and family that have to endure all that will come as a result of her actions.....

regardless of who was upholding the law and who was breaking the law

this situation shows that the power of the law is only in condemnation

it didn’t save either one of them....physically or spiritually

The law is the knowledge of sin as we saw in Romans 3:20.

Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

The law can only condemn

the law can never save

Works can only condemn

works can never save

why is this important?

well the past several weeks we have looked at many reasons why this is important but one we haven't looked at yet is found in

I Corinthians 15:55-56

______________

1 Corinthians 15:55–56 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”

I used 50-58 yesterday in our Men’s breakfast devotion and I encourage you to look at the whole scripture as well

Death has sting in the law

the grave has victory in the law

why

because in the law death and the grave are final

Christians through Christ are set free from the law therefore death has no sting and the grave has no victory

why

because in Christ death and the grave are very temporary

John 10:10 tells us that satan comes only to steal and kill and destroy

when one dies apart from Jesus

a sinner

lost

death has a great sting and satan and the grave have a great victory

When one dies in Jesus...saved...Christian...death is a celebration

why

they are home

they are with Jesus

the grave has no victory because it is temporary

Jesus will return and call those out of the grave to receive their new Spiritual perfect bodies

Christians are sad when one dies because we will miss them here on earth but we celebrate with them because they are home!!!!

Romans 4:18-22

______________

Romans 4:18–22 “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

Look at what Abraham believed

He believed in God

He believed in the Lord

so when God told him at 100 years old he was going to have Isaac.......he believed

Folks this looked impossible

Physically impossible

Abraham was 100 years old

Sarah was 90

Genesis 18:11

______________

Genesis 18:11 “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.”

Sarah was in menopause....no more period...biological sign that conception is biologically impossible

that was the condition in which the promise of a son was made

However because Abraham’s faith was in the Lord....he fully believed God could make it happen

Sarah’s womb was dead but God opened it up for Isaac to be conceived

Do you see it?

Faith in anything other than the Lord Himself will fail

You and I face mountains

you and I face things the world says are impossible

That will continue to get worse as society moves further away from God

Isaiah 5:20

______________

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Again we see this played out all around the world and even here in Nevada mo

people celebrate the death of those who stand for Jesus and riot over the death of those living in sin

people call for justice to be served against those who stand for Jesus but against those who commit fraud and extortion and many other crimes they defend and celebrate

our world calls evil good and good evil so that will lead to many different things we must endure as Christians in this time

You may have to have faith in God looking down the barrel of a gun

you may have to have faith in God as you are being arrested for speaking His Truth

You may have to have faith in God as the doctor tells you there is nothing more that can be done

you may have to have faith in God as you watch your loved one deteriorate as they move towards going home to heaven

you may have to have faith in God when you follow His call in your life and it looks like failure

You may have to have faith in God as you navigate human relationships and all the ups and downs......good and bad.....joy and pain.....success and failures that come with each relationship

Romans 8:28

______________

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

your faith isn't in the outcome

your faith is in Him

even if it looks bleak

even if the world says you are crazy

even if the world says you failed....you have lost

God is still good and He will work it out for good.....for His purpose

Our world....even many within the USA hate Jesus therefore they hate you as well

you must have faith in the Lord!!!!

Romans 4:23-25

______________

Romans 4:23–25 “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

God gave you the Bible for your good and to help you believe in Him

It isn’t a book

it is God showing you how trustworthy and faithful He is

Don’t go to the Bible looking for solutions

go to the Bible looking for Jesus

Isaiah 53:4-5

______________

Isaiah 53:4–5 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.”

Here is what your faith must be in

Jesus

His character

His deep love for you that was on full display by all the abuse and injury He willingly suffered for you to be saved

Church this might hurt some feelings

Church this might offend some of you but I love you and want you to know Truth

Get over yourself

Everyday some..including me...spend so much time worrying about griefs and sorrows that have already been borne and carried

Get your eyes off of you and onto Jesus!!!!!

quit believing and having faith in you and your situation and circumstances and believe and have faith in Jesus!!!!!

things will be hard

things will be painful

our family and many others in Nevada are struggling with sickness......as you know Mel’s grandma is in Moore Few...Nanny has covid and the nursing home is essentially locked down due to the amount of covid in it right now

to visit hasmat suits are required......painful

hurtful

could produce much anxiety and worry and even depression but we believe in GOD who heals

GOD who protects

GOD who works all things out.....even this for our good and HIS glory.....maybe that is promoting Nanny home or maybe that is getting us all through this and healing her or whatever it is our faith is in Jesus not the situation

why

because

He was wounded for YOUR transgressions

He was beaten for YOUR iniquities

YOU have peace because He bore your chastisement

You are healed by HIS stripe

by HIS wounds

BELIEVE IN HIM!!!!!

That is TRUTH

that is who your faith must be in

Come one somebody testify this morning

JESUS IS KING

JESUS IS LORD

if you don’t believe that you better get with JESUS this morning

Praise you JESUS

Praise you King Jesus

All glory to you this morning

The altar is open and King Jesus is waiting and He loves you so very dearly

invitation How He Loves