May 7, 2017

We are continuing a sermon series on knowing god and looking at core passages about the character of God or the way in which God works in this world and in our lives with a goal of of knowing him better drawing us closer to him until we're continuing that series with a very Premier passage Romans 8, it's even a passage that we looked at earlier this year, but I think it's got such a core themes that they bear repeating. So we'll begin with these verses in Romans 8 and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who been called according to his purpose for those God foreknew. He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. That we all sometimes have questions for God and I want to start by sharing some questions that children gave when they were given an opportunity to ask God questions a little girl named Lucy said dear God. Are you really invisible or is that just a trick? Norma said dear God did you mean for a giraffe to look like that or was that an accident? Man said dear God who draws the lines the lines around the countries. Neil said dear God I went to a wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay? Louis said dear God. I like the Lord's Prayer. Best of all, did you have to write it a lot or did you get it right the first time? Joanne said I would like to know why all the things you said are in red. Darla said did you really mean do unto others as they do unto you because if you did then I'm going to fix my brother.

Peter said God, will you please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this year? And Anita said Is it true my father won't get to heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house.

Well, we all sometimes have questions for God and maybe our questions are a little larger than those. We really want to know what God is up to especially in our lives and Romans 8 2829 really offers some help and understanding that answer that question. Again Romans 8:28, and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who been called according to his purpose. Let's make some observations about this passage all things happen to Christians. Do you realize that's the Assumption built into Romans 8 that in all things God works for the good of those who love him which means Christians are subject to all things happening to us just like others loving and serving. God does not exempt us from difficult circumstances. Sometimes I think we can falsely slip into the belief that if I love and serve God then bad things won't happen to me or at least fewer bad things will happen to me if I love and serve God but Paul writes these verses with the Assumption in mind that all things big things small things huge things bad things good things all things happen to us. Just like everyone else. So that's that's a foundational truth. We kind of got to get in our mind because I think one of the reasons we struggle with challenges or difficult circumstances is because we right off the bat have this sense that wait a minute. This isn't fair. I should not be going through this. I'm a Christian. I follow God I go to church we got that kind of assumption there for these bad things. You shouldn't be happening to me. They should be happening to my neighbors who don't go to church every Sunday. Why can't they have a flat tire? You know, why can't the tree fall on their roof? You know somehow we think o the bad things I should never have challenges because I'm following God made a little bit of reflection if you just look at the Life of Christ. Following God the Father Faithfully does not equal a life exempt of hardship or challenge or difficulty. So if I startled and learn some of the assumptions that Paul has a knife that all things happen to Christians that loving and serving God does not exempt us from difficult circumstances. Look at what he says in verse 35 He says who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? They just a few verses later. He's offered him with that same assumption that Christians will go through trials like everyone else. We will potentially face famine or nakedness or sword or danger and those things won't be able to separate us from the love of Christ.

We continue looking an observation 3 and 4 could really be kind of in a side but I want to include them cuz they serve his background as we continue deeper into these verses 1. There's not a Pollyanna find the silver lining lesson here. The reality of pain and evil is recognized and God still works it for the good think of Jesus in John chapter 11, when he confronts Lazarus death because sometimes again if we're not careful the way we might slip into thinking if I'm a Christian bad things won't happen to me. We might slip into thinking that Christianity is all about while looking on the bright side, no bad things happen, but we've got to look for the Silver Lining and it's not Jesus squarely acknowledges the bad that exists. He doesn't show up at Lazarus craving and kind of laughs at everybody's grief and said well, let me show you the Silver Lining he shows up and he weeps and in the original Greek there. He's angry full of anger as he approaches the grave. You don't think of Dylan Thomas poem Rage against the dying of the light when he was thinking of his own father died and how much he hated deaf. Jesus came to that. Tune hating what was going on that this was a world that was broken. That doesn't come when it should not that painted come when it should not until there is at this Pollyanna Silver Lining kind of attitude when it comes to difficulty or suffering or circumstances in our life its face head-on yet in the midst of the true bad Jesus works it God works it for the good. Be squirrely faces Lazarus death he weeps and is angry over it. But then he Resurrection. Until God acknowledges the reality of evil and bad in this world and still works it for good. So the message Romans 8 2829 is never well, you've got to find a way to see the Silver Lining and just say what those bad things aren't really bad. When you see him in the right perspective all things happen to Christians including things that are bad.

It God can and does work those things toward our good and that's what we continue to look at more more deeply. Salvation. God is working all things for the good for his good purpose of the things are not doing the working or falling into place because of a rigged Universe. Sometimes we I think we kind of again had this default thinking that kind of assumed well all things work out of the guy that just kind of means Things fall into place and universes kind of rig that way and maybe a bad thing. I've been out really bad stuff happen to me. It's all kind of rig to my advantage of the Christian. That's not what this versus think Paul is saying that those bad things happen, but God himself. Steps and intervenes and can work with those bad things. The way Lazarus is in the Tomb and Jesus shows up and Resurrection. He can work those things toward his good purpose. So things are not doing the working falling into place because of the Rings Universe the default state of things is broken a football talk about in Romans, 8:22 22 that this universe this world is corrupted by send the same way. The human heart is corrupted by sin. So the default setting in this universe the same way the default setting in the human heart is broken us or send. Left to ourselves. We don't gravitate towards unselfishness.

That sound about right? If you get some unexpected cash or you get some unexpected free time or some sort of blessing falls into your life is your first thought or who am I going to give this to?

Our first thought is who I can get that thing. I've always been wanted or I can spend that time this way that I've always wanted. Our default setting is self and left unchecked that selfishness is the Brokenness in this world. And this world is broken and corrupt God is the source of anything that is unbroken mended good except for James 1:17 talks about that every good and perfect gift everything. That's good. Everything is perfect comes down from the Father in Heaven above and whom there is no variation or Shadow or Darkness God is the author of those if you have someone Who will hold your hand during a difficult time? Thank God for that. If you have a roof over your head, thank God for that. If you've been eating your meals this week, thank God for that. If you have children who find it a joy to see you or grandchildren who run to you then thank God for that. If you have something as simple as a favorite show or favorite book that you watch to read this week, and you thought that was satisfying. Thank God for that every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from heaven above all that is good comes from God in the midst of this broken world now back on track to the main theme of this passage. So God is not working to smooth out all of our circumstances. He is working to shape. Our insides are very cells into the image of his son Jesus. That's what's going on. When we say, what is God up to how's he working in? This world? We have to first kind of jettison the instinct to think that what God is up to is he he's fixing my circumstances. He's making them better if I'm a Christian if I follow God then I will get the job that I want. I will get into the school that I so desperately want to get into I will marry the person that I want to marry. I will never have the doctor come to me and give me the long face for my health. If I'm a Christian then God will give me all these blessed circumstances. It's very easy to think that way because Our culture kind of assumed that and Whispers that kind of consistently, but again if you just back up and look at the Life of Christ, you say wait a minute. There's got to be something larger going on then just got orchestrating the circumstances of our life through his sovereignty in order for us to be blessed because we don't see that pattern in Christ life. He was the most faithful one the perfect one the pure one. So God is not working in Romans 8:29 for those God foreknew. He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, but he might be the firstborn. among many brothers and sisters This is huge. Think about this your biggest problem. My biggest problem is not circumstances, but character.

Think about how radical of a shift that is in our thinking scripture Challenger challenging us to think very differently than we normally think how often is our default thinking in terms of circumstances. If only we had a little more money if only Health wasn't an issue for my mother or my father or my child. If only my business would succeed in this way or that way. If only I had married that other person that always thought about Mary if only my kids would behave better if only We constantly kind of think it turns up if my circumstances could be tweaked or changed then life would be good. But God knowing more than you and I loving more deeply than you and I can even imagine. You just skipped right over that you just as well know we're not going to sit and we can fix it orchestrate all your circumstances because your problem is it your circumstances? Your problem is your character. Don't wait kind of honestly know that. Have you ever gotten something you always wanted and then realized it wasn't quite as satisfying as you thought it was going to be. You moved into that beautiful new house and I'll be doggone if you still didn't have marriage problems.

You just arguing in this beautiful bedroom that you've wanted for years and years and years and you finally got the beautiful bedroom with the great big lights with tons of natural light coming at you got the four-poster beds. You got everything is just beautiful and I'll be doggone if you're not laying in the bed thinking she drives me nuts.

Or I wonder if I could if I'm strong enough to hold this pillow, you know your having. your circumstances can change and guess what your head your circumstances changed with your problems didn't right We've learned that lesson over and over a million times in our own life. And so our biggest problem is not our circumstances, but our character are there lessons you have learned character you've developed through difficult times that you would not trade for the absence of those hard times.

Did you ever go through a difficult time in your marriage? Maybe a month maybe a year. Maybe two years. And you came out on the other side with a deeper love for one another because you worked through hard times. And if you could trade the absence of those hard times for the absence of that character that you developed or that lesson you learned. You wouldn't do it in a million years. You ever help a child or friend or a loved one through a difficult time if you sat by a hospital bed for four months. Maybe you work with a child that you just you know, you worked through a difficult time, but you got to that other side and there's this sense of Victory. There's this sense of a cop accomplishment. There's this bonding of the relationship you look back and you share that and you'll you'll you'll forever be closer because of that and if someone said, hey we can get rid of that difficulty, but you'd also lose what the fruit that came from that you wouldn't trade it with you. Again, sweet we know this truth that the most important thing that's going on in our lives is our character. Do you understand some of this as a parent and a friend do you give those you love a yes answer to every desire they have is it loving to prevent someone from ever experiencing circumstances? They don't desire we've all seen parents who mistakenly had made the decision because they had all the resources they could ever imagine of protecting a child from ever. experiencing consequences ever seen a child race like that. Everything they wanted they got never had to work for it. Never heard a no from Mom or Dad's never heard a weight. from Mom or Dad No, not 100% of the time but often, what does that produce in the life of that child?

An inability to be an adult.

I remain a child forever. They keep tabloids in business in our culture. I hope all those TV shows that consulate want to show you what one more celebrity child or one more trust fund child has done or said or did I saw this week? Someone broken? billionaire son broke into a home. Arrested

perhaps cuz they never really understood the concept of boundaries or Consequences.

It's not loving is it? Not loving at all. So would it be loving of God to say to us since I'm all-powerful and I have all the resources and I love you and you love me and you're my child that I will just say yes to every request you have every desire you want and if there's ever a difficult circumstances that comes your way that you'd rather not experience. I will just preserve and protect an exempt you from that circumstance. Would that be loving it be horrible? The deformed creatures that would suddenly populate this Earth if that's the way the world work. It's always this right act of love that God focus is on our character and not necessarily our circumstances in this verse can speak to God's ever-present love for us. It's not simply knowledge it snowing us and loving us if that biblical knowledge. He foreknew knew us from the beginning new S-Pen the foundation and loved us from the beginning. It's that prodigal son's father that we talked a prodigal son's Father's love that we talked about a couple of weeks ago. As soon as the sun is inside. He didn't even get the start his speech of repentance the father Springs from the porch runs to the Sun and jumps on and starts kissing his neck. If you look at the chronology that passage he starts kissing his text before he says anything. It's that love that always existed Ephesians 1 talk about it to from before the foundations of the Earth. Paul says God had always planned. He did predestined that he was going to shape eyebrows in an image of a son that he was going to love us so much that he focus on our character above our circumstances. He was going to love us so much that he would shape us into the image of his son if that all existing love now. Think about this. It's important to be reminded God's time frame therefore begins in a fusions one and ends in Philippians 2. When God's working in our life to work all things for the good it began according to Paul before the foundations of this world before the foundations even existed. Had already began thinking about you. He's already predestined predetermine. I'm going to shape them into the character in the image of my son Jesus. So it began way back then before the world even had foundations created and it doesn't end until Philippians 2 when Paul says one day Christ will return and every knee will bow every tongue will confess

I don't know about you, but I turned it I tend to think in terms of weeks. That sort of timeframe. Something doesn't go the way I want. I feel I know you need to show me in the next 12 days why that was a good thing. You need to show me. Why was good that I didn't get that or did get this we need to be reminded us of God's time frame that it's that the biggest picture possible that he's working in to work all things for the good and our last observation in this verse 7 predestined speaks to the security of our destiny to be like Christ not the choice to follow him often. This verse is misunderstood and and people think in terms of predestined mean some were predestined to choose Christ in somewhere not and without going down that path too far. I don't think that's what this person is talking about. And so just if you don't agree just just set that aside for now and say, well, what do you think this verse is talking about? I think it's speaking about God predestined e or having a predestination for our character to be like Christ what I smoke about just a few moments ago Ephesians, 1 uses the same language that he did predestined that those who choose him would be shaped in the image of Christ. What he's predetermined is our Destiny or character to be christ-like. Now all about the gospels you get Jesus saying if anyone will follow me. Let him choose let him deny himself. Let him pick up his cross. There's this constant preaching of the Gospel this appeal for people to hear and repent and believe the choose this day whom you're going to serve in the Old Testament until I believe it refers to our destiny to be like Christ. Now the applications for this are huge to you can tell this is more of a teaching sermon than a preaching sermon and all of these notes will be online if you want to go back and look at these scriptures and look them up and starting a little more. So if you're not taking them quick enough you can you can still get these slides online, but I think there's applications to this verse also, One think about the chapter of Romans 8 as a whole it starts by saying your salvation is secure because of Christ Romans 8:1. There's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus right off the bat Paul is setting the exoti when we might feel or the false understanding that says, I've got to behave a certain level of goodness in order to get saved. He's just sitting all that aside and saying no no. No, there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Think about the implications of that.

How much combination is there for those who are in Christ Jesus?

No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus our Salvation is secure.

Our sins are covered. Because of Christ Jesus when God looks at us he sees Christ righteousness. Nothing to condemn. Nothing, but righteousness, sometimes we spend a lot of energy trying to make this happen our self and Paul says let's just start by saying there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This has been achieved and it's secured. And so then you want to say what am I supposed to do with all my time? I mean the way I've been looking at the world is I'm going to spend all my time trying to secure my salvation. I got to go to church. I got to do good deeds. I got to be a certain type of person. I got a battle send. I got a I got a bottle send at least to a certain level 6 s don't I I mean don't I have to be 51% successful to get into heaven. I mean, right. I mean if dad uses bowling words in the house, is he still going to go to heaven? I mean we went we think that way I bet all of us secretly think I've got to at least get a 51% victory over my sin how many secretly believe that

bunch of liars

I think it's so hard to let go of that desire that man-made religion that says it's a journey of me making my way to God. That's man-made religion. It's all about me making my way to got finish gracious. He has said to me Robby 51% will do if you can just succeed more often than you fail then you're in.

That's the devil's gospel because in that gospel, I'm in charge. It's a saddle secret way for me to still be in charge the still seeing like we said before like Frank Sinatra. I Did It My Way?

I want to obligate God tuomey salvation. Write 51% baby. I got 51% I found that in the fine print of the contract. So you owe me. I'm still God in that scenario. I'm still controlling my life. I'm still controlling my salvation.

We get the evening, even if that was true. Let me just taste there's nobody on Earth can get 51% You know the old analogous like sang. I think I can jump farther across the ocean can then you can sure one of us might get three feet one of us might get 10 feet more than the next person. But backup camera angle up and look at the edge of the shore that we're trying to jump from here to England. It's irrelevant in it.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are dependent on him. It's been that way from the beginning there for instead of a man-made religion where men and women try to make their way to God at Christmas. We celebrate what That God came to us not part of the way. Jesus didn't hover in the air as a little Holy Infant, you know about 15 feet in the air that you need. You can jump high enough to touch the bottom of my feet. You're going to get to heaven I could jump just a little higher. He came all the way all the way to us. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So if we're not trying to earn our Salvation if we placed our trust in Christ, what are we supposed to be doing? What are we supposed to be busy with Ephesians? 4 is the passage in the New Testament that says here's what the church should be all about. And it's all about God's joy his desire to see us grow up into Christ likeness. He doesn't want to raise children who are still children when we're adults who been saved from every circumstance who don't know how to walk through any difficulty. He wants to have this joy of seeing his children become adults. You can relate to that can't you don't you don't you take joy in your children becoming confident in learning things and doing things in developing character? And a million times more God's heart is full of joy when he sees us grow up into christlikeness in a fusion for Paul says God gifted through the Holy Spirit gifts to the church for this purpose that the church could grow up into christlikeness into the fullness of Christ Colossians. 1:28. 29 says the same thing Paul says, this is what I do. This is the ministry that church I preach Christ so that I can present everyone on the face of the Earth to God the Father mature in Christ Jesus. This is what all my energy is about. Paul says in Colossians 1 28 and 29 Dodge desire is to help us grow into christlikeness. That's what he's doing. That's that's how he's working in our life. He's working in our character and we get sidetracked and we think melt he's supposed to work in my circumstances. He's working in our character. He's working his glory into us making us real making us Eternal really talk about Holiness and Isaiah 6 a week or so ago about God's holiness. Is this weight this gravity? It's something that's real and substantial went when things Shake everything else Falls away, but that which is real and solid stays and remains and then Paul in Corinthians and I get in Romans 8 talks about how God is working his Holiness into us things of this world, even the suffering that we go through now even things that are unexplained or circumstances that don't work out the way we wish they would work out those things are temporary and they fall away and what God is working in US is his holding us. He's making us like his son Cry he's making us real he's making us eternal.

Think about that.

So that the second coming Flippy's to is this Grand celebration for all those who have trusted God? And the destiny he has for us to be like Christ. to begin eternity in heaven with God as fully Eternal beings

it's being to learn to focus on the unshakable. Kingdom is Hebrews 11 and 12 calls it focus on the things of God have invested our heart and things have gone. I've just got a little glimpse of what it's like for God to work in our life and shape us that way his grace covers that Gap. But that's what he's doing in our life. Look at these verses 2nd Corinthians 4 Paul says therefore we do not lose heart though outwardly. We are wasting away yet Everly we are being renewed day by day. Is there anybody here? That's not wasting away. if I hear not aging hey, buddy. That we live in a culture that fights it right. We got creams and shots and injections and ointments and scalpels and lasers and all kinds of stuff. But guess what every 12 months were all getting a year older and there's no one who's exempt from that.

Our lives here. The things of this world are temporary and Paul says we don't lose heart though outwardly. We are wasting away yet inwardly. The character of Christ being shaped inside of us. God's holy spirit inside you and I as a temple to Holy Spirit as Paul says elsewhere in Corinthians inwardly. We're being renewed day by day for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. It's all in the midst of saying how is it that God works all things for the good. We don't fix our eyes on the temporary. Neatly and say how does that mean that God's going to get me a new vehicle? How does that mean that God is going to fix my circumstances instead we say how is it that God is working on my character. How is it that I can cooperate with him in the midst of any circumstances whether they're awesomely wonderful circumstances because sometimes what we perceive as awesomely wonderful circumstances can end up being horrible things. Right we talked about this earlier. Sometimes you get exactly what you want and then 6 months or 6 years later you look back and say all. I mean I knock myself out to get that I forced that to happen in my life. And now I realize it wasn't good was it? When good ever make a relationship work that you know is not godly. But he's so good luck. I mean, she's such a babe. I mean, can I force this to happen? Ever take a job that maybe you knew at the moment. This is really not but I mean benefits Dental Optical big salary company car. A few years later you realize I pushed something through. It looked wonderful at the time, but it was not. The challenge is to understand when God is working all things for the good. He defines as good as us becoming like Christ in our character. That's good. That's what he means by working all things for the good pulse as an 8 verse 18 of Romans 8. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us. That glory is that we're going to become like Christ.

So in tune with God the father so able to bring God's will about in this world that he could think and walk up to someone with a crippled hand and he can straighten it out. I think that's a little better than free. Wi-Fi, don't you?

You see how low we ain't no God if you could just change my circumstances. If you could I could just get free Wi-Fi if I could just get into the school. I wanted for just get this and he saying why are you waiting for these petty little things? My desire is to shape you into the image of my son. perfect Holiness and love

I think that's a little better don't you than some of the things that were tempted to aim for at times Jesus did not suffer so you would not suffer. But so that when you suffer you'll become like him.

Too often. We think in terms of God's purpose. Is to relieve me of anything in this life that I don't want to go through.

When we think of those times you realize that we've simply made the creator of the universe are assistant.

Instead of realizing his Grandeur and his Holiness as Isaiah did and Isaiah 6 and falling before him and saying send me anywhere anyplace. Anyway, I'll be your servant your Holiness is so great. So amazing so marvellous at the only thing that makes sense is for me to submit my entire life to you. Is that we going to have our life?

Mapped out and plan will grow up. Go to college get married have some kids get a nice house live a comfortable life and God, I'll just sprinkle you in whenever I need some blessings there. You just help bridge the gaps that I have in my plan. He becomes our assistant, but the reality is part of what happened on the cross was not just securing our Salvation through Christ righteousness imparted to us. But it was creating this Dynamic. We're we're not saved from suffering instead. God is working in our life in such a way. That when we suffer it can be used to make us more like Christ. Salvation thing is taking care of that Sakura. There's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Now. This will you quit worrying about that? Let me roll up my sleeves and trust me. Don't be upset if circumstances instead trust me to work in and on your character. I'm about to worship team to come forward and will end. Does final thought God is at work on our character? And if we look carefully we can often see this. When we think about everything that we've shared when we think about Romans 8 28 and 29 and we look at things in our life. We can spot many many times. Hey, you know what? This is an opportunity for God to work on my character. It's not about the circumstances being change in status about me saying God, how do I how do I walk through this difficult at work? How do I how do I spend time around this coworker? But I've been begging you to transfer me God to another department instead. Maybe maybe God is saying I'm going to use you to change them maybe wants us to remain and what seems like a difficult circumstances cuz he's going to use our character. He's going to use Christ in us to change that other person. We can see this at times when we will be back up and said wait a minute. It's God's ultimate goal is to be like Christ then then these circumstances that I'm struggling with and what ways could God use these and what ways could I cooperate with him for the goal that he's made known that he's revealed that he wants me to be like his son. But there are times at which it's hard to see that maybe even impossible to see that. I mean, I think if I had stood at the foot of the cross only knowing what those new at that time.

I would have walked away and said what a heartbreak. or failure seem like a nice guy. Tried to trust God but himself even on the cross said why have you forsaken me father? Romans killed him it's over.

I would have walked away without faith. Only knowing what they knew standing in that moment. Now we stand with larger perspective and realize that what looked like the darkest moment in history and was indeed bad. Christ suffered and died that God in his sovereignty took what look like the darkest moment in history and turned it in to the most beautiful moment in history turn to that Darkness into light. Took what Christ suffered on the cross and used it to redeem the world.

That lesson alone might sure up in our own thinking and hearts and minds and guts those moments when we look at circumstances in our life and we can't for the life of us. I cannot see how it is that God is going to use this to help me be like Christ. I cannot see how these circumstances shouldn't be lifted for me right away. I can't it doesn't make any it's not fair. It's not right. In those moments when we can't see the way in which God is working. On our character then we trust his character. We trust that even in those moments when we can't see and understand everything or the Y. That one day we will. That his reasons are good because his heart is good his characters good. I could even take something.

So difficult to understand at this point in our life, he could take it and use it in such a way. That is for His glory that is for our becoming like Christ.

I think

the level at which we need. God often escapes us there so much in our life that we kind of get worked out. We kind of have plans. We think I'm just going to do this and if you'll just breathe those gaps that I can't make on my own. But the truth is we need him every hour every moment. We need him when we read scripture to gain understanding to say wait a minute. I've not been thinking about this right? I need to fundamentally think differently about my life and how God's working and how I can be used as his servant as opposed to him being a little sprinkle on my life to make it what I want. We need him when when we slip into the idea of thinking. Oh, I'm not saved unless I do this or I jumped through that hoop. And so we let our relationship with them be this yoyo and we don't get to a level of maturity. We need him to remind us about Romans 8:1 says we need to remind us that our Salvation is secure that he's destined. It went when we accept Christ as our Lord and savior, then our destiny was predestined to be like Christ to be the righteous people that he desires us to be that's secured. In Romans 8 and inverse 30 talks about these talks about him past tense that we've been glorified as far as God's concern. It's a done deal. There's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It's complete. And if we need God to remind us of that so we don't just spinning our Wheels trying to accomplish something that's already been accomplished and instead we open up our hearts and Minds to getting about the business of saying okay. God used to cure all that. How do I serve you? How do I let you work in my heart in my life that I would become like your son? But I could trust you with a faith that Jesus modeled as he trusted you that I could be used. The love and care for others that I could be your servant.

like your son

we need him. every moment every hour open our minds to open our hearts to remind us of his love and grace and forgiveness to challenge us. Think biblically about life and challenges. So use this song just to say that to God to say God. I need you. I need you. Just sing that song to him.

You know, I'm glad that my little daughter Sky who else year before is very independent and often times when I want to help her tireshoo. She'll say I do it I do it and she just you know, she wants to do it and Altima I am glad for that. What a horrible dad. I'd be if I wished for her to be dependent upon me all of her life so that I could just keep meeting her needs. I'm glad that she's growing in that Independence. But I also like it went on occasion. She can't get it. And I say your daddy to help. Yes that help then I untie the tangle or do something to help. I'll get along. God it is happy for us to grow more and more in Christ likeness. That's his heart's desire for us. But he's also happy when we say to him. I need your help. I need you. That throws his heart just as much if you've never made that decision to acknowledge your complete and ultimate need of Christ as your lord and savior. You can do that during this song. I'll be in the back. You can come to me and pray with me or ask questions anything you need. I'll be in the back during this song. They'll be folks both in the front in the back for prayer needs. If you simply have a prayer request you'd like prayed for but use this song as an opportunity. This time is up here to sing to God your need for him. And if you have a decision to make come to one of us, please. Please stand this week.