To God be the Glory! (Captioned)
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LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF
THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT
RECORDED FOR US BY THE APOSTLE
PAUL IN HIS LETTER TO THE
ROMANS WHERE WE READ FROM
CHAPTER 8 BEGINNING WITH ...
... CHAPTER 11, BEGINNING WITH
VERSE 33:
OH, THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES OF
THE WISDOM
AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD! HOW
UNSEARCHABLE
HIS JUDGMENTS, AND HIS PATHS
BEYOND TRACING OUT! "WHO HAS
KNOWN THE MIND
OF THE LORD? OR WHO HAS
BEEN HIS COUNSELOR?"
"WHO HAS EVER GIVEN TO GOD,
THAT GOD SHOULD REPAY THEM?"
FOR FROM HIM AND THROUGH HIM
AND FOR HIM
ARE ALL THINGS. TO HIM
BE THE GLORY FOREVER! AMEN.
THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD.
GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY
THE WORDS
OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION
OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS
BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT,
OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE
AND COMFORT. AMEN.
[TEXT TAKEN FROM
THE HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
BY BIBLICA, INC.]
DEAR FOLLOWERS
OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS
CHRIST:
SOMETIMES WHEN IT COMES TO A
PERSON'S
INDIVIDUAL ... PERSONAL LIFE:
THE TALENTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN
TO THEM
AND THE ABILITY THAT GOD
ALLOWS THEM
TO USE IN THEIR LIFE.
I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE
CAN'T WIN.
BECAUSE WE ALL EXAMINE THOSE
PEOPLE,
WHO EXCEL IN CERTAIN AREAS
IN LIFE. WHETHER IT BE
SCIENTIFICALLY, OR
ATHLETICALLY, OR
IN THEIR ABILITY TO ACT AND
ENTERTAIN PEOPLE.
OR THEIR VOICES IN SINGING.
WE HAVE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW,
PROGRAMS ... ENOUGH AWARD
SHOWS
WHERE WE CAN GIVE LAUD AND
HONOR
TO THEM FOR THEIR ABILITIES IN
THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED IN THEIR LIFE.
BUT IT ALWAYS IS INTERESTING
TO ME, TO HEAR
CHRISTIANS TALK ABOUT THOSE
WHO RECEIVE
AWARDS.
FIRST WE CRITICIZE THEM
BECAUSE IT SEEMS
THAT IN CERTAIN PEOPLE'S LIVES
IT'S JUST ALL ABOUT THEM.
THAT ALL THEY WANNA TALK ABOUT
IS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
AND WHAT THEY HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED. THEN ON THE
OTHER HAND, WHEN WE HAVE ONE
OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO IN THE
SPOTLIGHT, SAYS: FIRST AND
FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO THANK
GOD. CHRISTIANS LIKE TO JUMP
DOWN THEIR THROAT
TO SAY: OH, THAT'S JUST FOR
SHOW.
THOSE ARE JUST EMPTY WORDS.
HOW EASY IT IS FOR US
SOMETIMES TO
BECOME VERY JUDGMENTAL. AND
THINK THAT WE KNOW
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE
THINKING.
WE KNOW WHY OTHER PEOPLE ARE
SAYING WHAT THEY'RE
SAYING. WE KNOW ABOUT
EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD
SO THAT WE CAN MAKE COMMENTS
THAT ARE VERY CRITICAL OF
OTHERS.
AND
I THINK SOMETIMES THAT EVEN
SEEPS INTO
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
BECAUSE
SOMETIMES WE GET RATHER
EGOTISTICAL WITH GOD.
BECAUSE WE KNOW, THAT IN GOD'S
GREAT UNIVERSE
WITH EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS TO
TAKE CARE OF,
THAT I AM THE ONE WHO SHOULD
BE MOST IMPORTANT.
THAT MY NEEDS,
ARE THE NEEDS THAT HE SHOULD
BE ADDRESSING.
AND SOMEHOW IN ALL OF HIS
GREAT WISDOM,
HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE, HIS
INFINITE STRENGTH,
HIS OMNI-PRESENCE, HIS ABILITY
TO DO ANYTHING, THAT HE
CHOOSES
JUST TO IGNORE ME.
OR AT LEAST NOT TO GIVE ME
WHAT I CERTAINLY
DESERVE.
AND WE BECOME VERY CRITICAL.
AND WE SHARE THAT
CRITICISM WITH EVERYONE AROUND
US.
WE LOOK AT OUR LIFE AND ALL WE
CAN SEE ARE THE THINGS
THAT WE DON'T HAVE, THE THINGS
THAT ARE GOING WRONG.
THE WAYS THAT GOD HAS NOT
BLESSED US.
AND THEN WE COME TO THESE
WORDS THIS MORNING
FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL ...
WHOSE LIFE WAS BY NO MEANS
EASY. THE CALL
THAT GOD HAD EXTENDED TO HIM
TO PREACH
TO THE GENTILES BROUGHT WITH
IT HATRED,
BROUGHT WITH IT BEATINGS,
BROUGHT WITH IT
VIOLENCE. BROUGHT WITH IT
TRAVELING
WITHOUT A PERMANENT HOME.
RELYING ON THE
KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
AND FELLOW BELIEVERS AT TIMES
FOR HIS OWN LIFE. AND YET
WHEN PAUL
WRITES TO THE CHURCH IN ROME,
AND REFLECTS ON
ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE ... ALL
OF THE THINGS
THAT GOD HAS TAKEN CARE OF ...
THERE IS NOTHING THAT HE CAN
CONCLUDE OTHER THAN
TO GOD BE ALL GLORY!
FOR HIS UNSEARCHABLE JUDGMENTS
AND WISDOM.
AND FOR HIS LIMITLESS GRACE.
BUT WHO OF US
CAN GO TO GOD TO COUNSEL HIM
AS IF WE KNOW BETTER THAN GOD?
THAT OUR WAY OF THINKING IS
SOMEHOW GREATER THAN THE
LORD'S.
THAT SOMEHOW HE LACKS SOME BIT
OF INFORMATION
THAT WOULD REALLY TURN HIM
OVER AND SWAY HIM
TO OUR WAY OF THINKING TO DO
WHAT WE WANT.
THAT IF WE JUST GO TO HIM LONG
ENOUGH AND HARD ENOUGH
AND JUST KEEP HARPING AT HIM,
ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S GONNA GET
THAT I'M THE ONE WHO'S RIGHT.
HOW CAN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND
THE WAY GOD THINKS;
THE WORKINGS OF THE MIND OF
GOD!
WE KNOW AND TRUST
THAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE GREATER
THAN MY THOUGHTS. THAT HE
KNOWS
WHAT HE'S DOING AND IN MY LIFE
HE WILL
ACCOMPLISH THE GLORIES THAT HE
HAS PROMISED
FOR US. THE GLORY THAT HE
HAS PROMISED
FOR ME. WHO OF US WOULD EVER
HAVE COME UP
WITH THE PLAN THAT GOD DID
WHEN ADAM AND EVE, PLACED INTO
THIS WORLD
OF PERFECTION AND HOLINESS,
BROUGHT SIN AND DESTRUCTION?
BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY CRITICAL
BY NATURE. WE'D HAVE COME IN
GUNS BLAZING TO JUST ANNIHILATE
THEM.
BECAUSE THEY HAD DONE THE VERY
OPPOSITE
OF WHAT WE HAD ASKED THEM. WE
WOULD
COME WITH HATRED. WE WOULD
COME WITH ANGER AND
INDIGNATION AND WE WOULD MAKE
SURE THAT WE TAUGHT THEM
A LESSON.
BUT GOD CAME WITH LOVE.
GOD CAME WITH
COMPASSION ... NOT IGNORING
WHAT THEY DID, NOT SAYING:
OH, IT'S OKAY. HE CAME AND
SAID:
YOU HAVE SINNED. BUT I AM
GOING TO SUPPLY A SAVIOR.
I AM GOING TO SEND ONE OF YOUR
OWN DESCENDANTS
TO BE THE MESSIAH. THE ONE
THAT I HAVE
PLANNED TO CARRY OUT MY
SALVATION
FOR PEOPLE TO SAVE YOU FROM
THE GRASP OF SATAN. TO SAVE
YOU
FROM THAT PUNISHMENT OF SIN
WITH ETERNAL DAMNATION. AND
TO BRING YOU LIFE
AND FORGIVENESS. I AM
THE ONE WHO SHOWS MY LOVE TO
YOU
SO COMPLETELY IN THAT.
AND ADAM AND EVE TRUSTED IN
THAT,
THEY BELIEVED THAT PROMISE OF
GOD.
GOD COMES TO US WITH THAT
SAME REMINDER BECAUSE WE HAVE
THAT
SAME INHERITED SIN. THAT SIN
THAT WE CANNOT
GET RID OF. AND HE COMES TO
US IN THE WORD
AND SAYS: I LOVE YOU AS WELL!
I WANT YOU TO BE MY CHILD.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND TO
EXPERIENCE THE JOYS THAT COME
WITH HAVING YOUR SOUL
PURCHASED
AND WON BY THE BLOOD OF
CHRIST.
COME TO ME. BELIEVE IN ME.
TRUST IN ME.
HE WANTS THAT FOR US. HE HAS
CALLED US
TO THAT. AND BY THE GRACE OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT,
BY THE WORKING OF GOD
HIMSELF,
WE TRUST AND BELIEVE IN THAT.
AS MUCH AS PETER TRUSTED
AND BELIEVED AND MADE THAT
BEAUTIFUL CONFESSION
THAT JESUS 'IS' THE MESSIAH:
THE SON OF GOD. THE ONE WHO
'IS'
OUR SAVIOR. THE ONE WHO HAS
BROUGHT US
INTO THE CHURCH. THE ONE WHO
HAS
FORGIVEN OUR SINS.
WHAT JOY FILLS OUR HEARTS.
WHAT A
REMINDER WE HAVE THAT WE CAN'T
EVEN BEGIN TO THINK
LIKE GOD. AND WHEN WE TRY TO,
WE FALL HUMBLY
BEFORE HIM IN CONFESSION ...
AND REPENT.
REPENT OF THINKING THAT WE
HAVE NOT
COME TO GOD WITH GLORY AND
HONOR AND WORSHIP AND PRAISE.
BUT WITH COMPLAINING AND
WHINING
AND NAGGING OVER THE EVIL THAT
FILLS OUR LIFE. HOW QUICKLY
WE CAN COME UP WITH
FIFTY REASONS THAT ARE WRONG
WITH
OUR LIFE.
BUT TO FIND SEVEN DAYS
FULL OF THANKS AND PRAISE
BECOMES
A DAUNTING TASK.
HAVE WE CLOSED OUR EYES
TO THE BLESSINGS OF GOD?
HAVE WE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED IN
OUR LIFE
ALL THAT HE HAS DONE?
THERE CERTAINLY ARE TIMES THAT
WE TAKE HIS LOVE FOR GRANTED.
THERE CERTAINLY ARE MOMENTS
THAT WE THINK
WE KNOW BETTER. AND IT'S IN
THOSE TIMES
THAT WE COME BACK TO GOD AND
WE SIT AT HIS FEET.
THAT WE BE STILL AND KNOW HIM.
HEAR HIS WORD. HEAR WHAT HE
HAS TO SAY TO US. AND
TREASURE
THOSE MOMENTS. WE CAN'T BEGIN
TO UNDERSTAND HOW GOD IS GOING
TO USE
THE THINGS OF OUR LIFE BUT WE
KNOW AND WE TRUST
THAT THEY WILL WORK OUT FOR
OUR GOOD ...
FOR OUR GOOD ... OUR
ETERNAL GOOD.
AND WE LONG FOR THOSE
BLESSINGS.
WE LONG TO SEE THEM IN OUR
LIVES. JUST AS THE LORD
CAME TO JOSHUA AND HE SAID:
YOU HAVE TWELVE PEOPLE
TAKE STONES OUT OF THAT JORDAN
RIVER
AND YOU SET THEM UP IN THE
CAMP. WHY?
SO THAT LATER ON, WHEN PEOPLE
COME TO YOU,
WHEN YOUR CHILDREN COME TO
YOU AND SAY:
WHAT DO THESE STONES MEAN?
YOU CAN TELL THEM ABOUT THE
GLORY OF GOD.
YOU CAN TELL THEM WHAT GOD
DID IN STOPPING THE WATER.
YOU CAN SHARE WITH THEM THE
LOVE OF GOD.
AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT COME
INTO OUR LIFE
EVERY DAY THAT GOD SAYS:
REMEMBER!
MAYBE YOU HAVE A CROSS
TO CARRY FOR A WHILE AND IT'S
GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
SOMETHING. AND IN YOUR LIFE,
YOU CAN USE THAT TO SHOW AND
TELL
OF THE LOVE OF GOD.
WHY DO YOU STILL TRUST IN GOD
SOMEONE MIGHT SAY ...
YOUR LIFE ISN'T PERFECT. YOUR
LIFE ISN'T EASY.
AND WE RESPOND WITH: BECAUSE
THE LORD HAS
LOVED ME. HE HAS SAVED ME.
AND EVERY DAY I BRING HIM
GLORY
BECAUSE I DON'T ALWAYS
UNDERSTAND
BUT I DON'T HAVE TO.
BECAUSE I HAVE FAITH THAT
TRUSTS
IN GOD THAT HE WILL
WORK MY GOOD.
AND YOU KNOW HOW I CAN SHOW
THAT TO YOU?
BECAUSE HIS GRACE FOR ME
IS LIMITLESS.
THERE'S NOT
ONE SIN
THAT GOD HAS NOT FORGIVEN
IN MY LIFE.
NO MATTER HOW LITTLE. NO
MATTER
HOW LARGE. NO MATTER WHO IT
WAS AGAINST,
NO MATTER WHO IT RECEIVED THAT
SIN.
GOD HAS FORGIVEN IT.
NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES
I HAVE GONE BACK AND
REPEATED THAT SIN,
GOD'S LOVE FOR ME IS
LIMITLESS.
I DON'T
DESERVE THAT LOVE.
I DON'T DESERVE THAT GRACE. I
AM
NOT WORTHY OF HALF OF THE LOVE
THAT GOD HAS SHOWERED UPON ME.
I KNOW THAT
BECAUSE I KNOW MY HEART.
I KNOW MY THOUGHTS.
I KNOW HOW CRITICAL I CAN BE
OF OTHER PEOPLE.
I KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING EVEN
THOUGH I MAY LOOK
THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
IT AMAZES ME EVERY DAY
THAT GOD HAS FORGIVEN
ME ALL
OF MY SINS.
NOT LEFT OUT ONE.
NOT LEFT OUT HALF.
DIDN'T SAY: I FORGIVE YOU
THAT SIN
WHEN YOU GET BETTER. I
FORGIVE YOU THAT SIN WHEN YOU
STOP DOING IT.
BUT I COME TO HIM IN
REPENTANCE,
AND HE SAYS TO ME: YOUR SINS
HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
WHAT A REASON TO RUN
TO GOD WITH THANKS AND PRAISE.
THAT HE DOESN'T WITHHOLD THAT
GRACE AS A PUNISHMENT.
THAT HE DOESN'T WITHHOLD HIS
LOVE. BUT HE CONTINUALLY
AND DAILY FORGIVES ME MY
SINS. BUT THAT IS
THE PROMISE THAT I HAVE. THAT
IS MY REASON FOR LIVING.
IT'S MY REASON FOR REJOICING.
IT'S MY REASON FOR SAYING THAT
ALL I AM AND ALL
THAT I HAVE AND ALL THAT I WAS
AND
ALL THAT I EVER WILL BE, IS
GIVEN TO GOD
IN THANKS AND PRAISE. TO HIM
BE THE GLORY
FOREVER.
FOREVER.
BECAUSE MY GOD IS NOT JUST A
GOD OF THIS WORLD
WHO'S HERE TO MAKE MY TIME ON
THIS EARTH
THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
BECAUSE I KNOW THE BEST IS YET
TO COME.
THE PERFECTION IS WAITING FOR
ME.
THE GLORIFIED BODY. THE
ETERNAL LIFE IS
GOING TO BE MINE AND IT WILL
BE MINE
FOREVER. AND I WILL CONTINUE
IN THAT LIMITLESS GRACE OF GOD
IN HIS PRESENCE
SERVING HIM AND GIVING GLORY.
AND HE WILL NOT
REMOVE ME FROM THAT PLACE
BECAUSE THAT IS MY
INHERITANCE.
THE INHERITANCE OF THE
CHILDREN OF GOD.
THE MANSIONS OF HEAVEN.
FILLED WITH MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS IN CHRIST.
WHO ALSO BELIEVE. WHO ALSO
TRUST IN GOD.
WHAT WONDER AND GLORY AWAITS
ALL OF US!
WHEN WE WILL JOIN TOGETHER
IN THAT PRAISE THAT WE GIVE
HERE.
WITH THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN
COMING TO GOD AND SINGING
GLORY AND PRAISE
AND HONOR AND THANKS AND
BLESSING
BE TO GOD FOREVER.
BUT TODAY WE HAVE BEEN
REMINDED AGAIN
OF THE WONDERFUL LORD THAT IS
OURS.
OPEN YOUR EYES.
LOOK AT YOUR LIFE.
SEE THAT HE HAS BLESSED YOU.
CONTINUES TO BLESS YOU.
DON'T TRY TO FIGURE EVERYTHING
OUT:
JUST TRUST IN HIM.
PUT IT IN HIS HANDS
AND GIVE HIM THE GLORY.
AMEN.
LET US RISE. NOW MAY THE
PEACE OF GOD WHICH GOES BEYOND
ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING,
KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR
MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR
LIVES IN CHRIST JESUS.