If: No IF's, Ands, or Buts courage
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INTRO
I. Where We’ve Been
A. If only’s keep us from accomplishing our “what if’s”.
a. If only’s being the regrets that keep us bound & living in past mistakes
b. & “what if’s being the God ideas that God wants us to accomplish in partnership w/him
B. As if’s are the promises that we have to live as if they are true
a. As if’s bridge the gap between our if only’s and what if’s because we recognize that we are forgiven & made new by Jesus’ work on the cross paying the debt o our sin & resurrecting us in2 new life by his resurrection & giving the spirit.
II. Where We’re Going
A. This week is a new if
a. “No Ifs ands or buts about it”
B. Illust. entrance songs
a. In Professional fights and things, the boxers often have an entrance song
b. If u had an entrance song, what would it be?
c. If God picked ur intro song, what would it be?
1. “We are the champions”
C. Here’s how I know that:
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
a. When u look at the mirror, do u think, “wow, now there’s a conqueror” ?
1. why not?
2. Is Ro 8:37 true?
i. If we don’t feel like conquerors how is it that Paul can say o us “we are more than conquerors”?
-“Through him who loved us”
D. When u think of God, what comes to mind?
a. A. W. Tozer said,
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
1. That is 2say, what we believe about God effects how we act & respond. It even effects how we view the world.
i. If u c a Daddy w/his arms wide open & a smile on ur face, how might that effect what u do?
ii. If u c a Daddy who’s yelling constantly; distant how might that effect what u do?
III. Scripture Reading
A. Listen to Paul’s words in Ro 8:31-39 &...
a. while u listen, write down some words regarding God’s attributes
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.
b. What are the attributes?
1. Loving
2. gracious,
3. interceder
B. What are some things that came to mind when u heard these words?
BODY
I. God loves u…He’s for u
A. what’s the evidence?
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.
a. The evidence of God’s loving favor is giving Jesus over to death & resurrection & ascension
1. If God did the hardest thing…a Father giving up his child to die…why wouldn’t he follow through & graciously give u all things?
2. The Gospel should give us confidence in God’s gracious generosity & loving favor.
i. We should be confident that he will give us all things
B. What’s the all things?
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
a. Inheritance as heirs
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
b. empowering 4 living Godly — “Act Justly, Love mercy, Walk humbly w/God”
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
c. the completed work of Christ-likeness
1. Oh, & By the way, when he’s giving us “All things” he’s doing so with a smile
i. Paul says, “Graciously gives us all things”
C. God’s for us w/no charges, condemnation, or divorce!
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?
a. Paul describes 3 positions o Christ:
1. died on the cross
2. raised from the dead
3. seated at the right hand of the Father (eph)
i. Where is Jesus now?
-Do u pray as if Jesus is still on the cross / as if He is seated @the right hand of the Father?
*Why does it matter?
b. God is not accusing us (vs 33), not Condemning us (vs 34), not pushing us away (vs 35)…
1. God is for u!
2. He likes u & wants to be w/u for all eternity!
c. Jesus is seated [in charge] at God’s right hand
1. & look, the only 1 who has the authority to condemn u died for u!
2. if he’s in the position o authority what’s Jesus doing instead o condemning u? — interceding for us
i. He’s speaking 2 the father on our behalf w/our best in mind.
D. Here’s 2 cool things:
a. the picture o Jesus interceding isn’t like: a guy who’s for u trying to talk God outa squishing u like a bug when we mess up.
1. it’s actually Jesus working w/a loving father who both have ur best in mind
b. we have 2 intercessors!
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
1. The whole counsel o God is working 2gether for ur best!!!
i. The wholeness of God is for u w/no ifs, ands, or buts about it
-If God is for u…Is some1 against u?— YES!!
II. There’s an enemy against u, but it’s not God
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
&
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
A. Our adversary is trying 2 separate us from the love o Christ!!
a. & look at his weapons:
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.”
1. The enemy is attacking w/
i. tribulation=oppressive state o physical, mental, social, economic adversity (i.e. bad circumstances)
ii. distress= oppressive, constricting pressure
iii. persecution= hunting down cause o what & who u believe in
iv. famine & nakedness= 2 cutoff supply lines
v. danger / sword= physical attacks
B. The Point
a. The point o the question isn’t if there’s some1 trying to separate us, but that the 1 who is trying won’t succeed!
1. Paul’s asking: Is our current state o life being sheep lead to the slaughter by bad circumstances, pressures, persecution, cutoff supply lines, & attacks?
i. vs 37 has the answer:
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
-Paul’s point is Isa point in
17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
-Paul says in...
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.
ii. It’s even cooler than that
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
2. bad circumstances, pressures, persecution, cutoff supply lines, & attacks work 2gether for our good so we’re not just conquerors…we’re more than conquerors!!
III. Perspective is everything
A. often times we look @ bad circumstances, pressures, persecution, cutoff supply lines, & attacks as a measuring test for God’s love & favor.
a. we think that if we’re experiencing these things God doesn’t love us
B. Paul is trying to get the Ro (& us) 2 c that bad circumstances, pressures, persecution, cutoff supply lines, & attacks is the enemy trying to steel, kill, & destroy us…separating us from the love o Christ & sabotage our abundant life.
a. I want to submit to u that the abundant life that Jesus described in Jn 10:10 is...
1. a life walking in the abundant favor of God to accomplish the good works prepared before us.
IV. So, what’s ur if, and, or but about God’s loving favor in ur life?
A. If u knew (I mean convinced) that u couldn’t lose @something, what would stop u from doing it?
a. Now, I’m not (& neither is Paul) saying that God is giving u a blank Check 2 do whatever u want.
B. I am saying that God will graciously give u a blank check 2 accomplish all He wants.
a. He wants to give u all u need 2 accomplish those God Ideas.
1. remember those?? The ideas that u have that u never could have come up w/?
2. the “what if’s” that God has prepared before hand for us to walk in
3. Remember:
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
C. God is for u & since he’s called u to it, he’ll equip u for it, & see u through it.
a. Step out in great courage w/no if’s ands, or buts about it.
b. consider this song:
1. Oceans:
The Next study: Foundations/New Members Class