TO EMBRACE OR NOT TO EMBRACE? THAT IS THE QUESTION!

TO EMBRACE OR NOT TO EMBRACE?  THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Scripture                                     Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5b

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to embrace and a time to refrain.  We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth  —Virginia Satir, family therapist

Do you know when to embrace someone, and when to refrain from embracing them?

A time to embrace. Embrace to show support. Embrace to show love. Embrace a child to help healing from a scraped knee. Embrace romantically. Embrace Change.

What does it mean to embrace?

To clasp in the arms, to hug

To surround or enclose

To receive eagerly

To welcome

To adopt an idea…a faith.

Remember when you were a small child, and you and your parents visited your grandparents on the farm. Each summer they had that big "family reunion". Grandma would grab hold of you and squeeze you so hard. Her embrace was firm and her arms surrounded you. Then she'd pinch your tummy and say you had to put some meat on those bones!

And then there was Aunt Martha. She wasn't the embracing kind. Instead, she'd reach out and pinch both of your cheeks. Uncle Bob had his own brand of embracing. Actually it was much more of a headlock.

The day you left home, for college, for the military, or to strike out on your own - was it a memorable day? With hugs? And warm embraces? Or a day less memorable? Alone. With quiet? Or anger? Or just another day, without embracing?

Are moments of embracing pleasant, happy, memories? Does a smile come to your lips, or your heart, when you think back on them? Or look forward to them?

If there is a time to embrace, what about a time to refrain from embracing?

The image is one of contrast: being together with other people, and being alone. Sometimes refraining from an embrace could be a situation where it isn't appropriate or practical. Sitting in a classroom, or the office, would usually result in people staring at you it you hugged someone. Embracing while driving a car is just a bad idea, it's impractical.

What about "to refrain from embracing" does it mean to be alone? Is it ever good to be alone?

Yes. Solitude can be a time to reflect. To regroup. To work through processes in your mind. To meditate on the awesome power and love of God. To pray. Solitude can add necessary balance to the rest of your life.

Jesus understood this need for a time, to refrain from embracing. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."   ~ Mark 1:35

It is good to seek out and find times to embrace, and times to refrain from embracing.

COMMUNION

Participating in the commemoration of the last Supper is a perfect example of having a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.  It is not a stretch to think that the disciples embraced one another when they gathered for that Passover meal.  Remember, they didn’t know it was “the last supper.”  Then Jesus fully embraces who he is and who he wants his disciples to become.  Figuratively and literally he embraces them by getting a towel and a basin of water and washes their feet.

 Peter does not want to embrace what Jesus is doing, and then he wants to embrace it too much.

John 13:6-10        Jesus came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"  Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."   "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."  Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."   "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"   Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.

          A large part of Jesus’ teaching at the last supper comes in John 15 “I am vine and you are the branches.”  John 15:4  Embrace me, and I will embrace you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must embrace the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you embrace me.                       Story of Welch’s Grape Juice

          Like the young man who was accepted for the African missionary field and reported to New York for “passage,” but found on further examination that his wife could not stand the climate. He was heartbroken, but he prayerfully returned to his home and determined to make all the money he could to be used in spreading the Kingdom of God over the world. His father, a dentist, had started to make, on the side, an unfermented wine for the communion service. The young man took the business over and developed it until is assumed vast proportions – his name was “Welch,” whose family still manufactures “grape-juice.” He has given literally millions of dollars to the work of missions.  Though he had to refrain from the mission field because of his wife’s condition, he also embraced God’s call in another way that probably did more good than his original plan.

          In the Garden of Gethsemane the disciples refrained when they should have embraced – they slept instead of prayed.  Jesus was fully embracing what was about to happen.

          The final embrace on the night of the last supper: Matt 26:48-50   Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."  Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.  Even Jesus embraced Judas.

What does this mean as we come to the table?  It means that we should refrain from sin and embrace the fruit of the spirit.

Gal 5:19-23

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

          As you come to the table today, what one thing do you want to refrain from embracing?  What one thing do you want to embrace?  Don’t try embracing or refraining with the whole enchilada.  One thing to refrain and one thing to embrace!

The Lonely Hill

The cross stood on a lonely hill, And Jesus was lonely, too,

The day they nailed Him to the cross,        To die for me and you.

The sins of every one of us lay heavy on His heart,

Yet He was not afraid to die for He had done His part.

Around Him all was loneliness, For few would stand Him by.

Ah, let it not be all in vain He suffered so to die.

If you will listen when He comes And knocks upon your door,

Then let Him in, so that He won’t Be lonely any more.

The cross is right before you now Not far from your side,

Memento of that blessed day When He was crucified.

Come to the lonely hill again, close enough to see his face

All loneliness will disappear when the two of you embrace.

Jesus Wept...and Laughed

JESUS WEPT…AND LAUGHED

Scripture                                       Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Weeping is an act of mourning; a mechanism to get the pain out.

Dancing is another way to laugh; engaging the whole body.

ABRAHAM WEPT

Genesis 23:1-2     Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2 She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.  (Think of a loved one who passed away for whom you wept over their absence in your life)

Matthew 5:4                  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

John 11:35           Jesus wept.  (the story of Lazarus)

TRANSITION FROM WEEPING TO LAUGHING

Luke 6:21             Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Psalm 30:11                   READ FROM BIBLE You turned my wailing into dancing.

DAVID DANCED

2 Sam 6:12-16      Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

LAUGHTER

Nervous laughter not so good

Genesis 18:10-15 Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"  Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."  Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh."  But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."

Joyful laughter good

Genesis 21:2, 5-9 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham when he was 100 years old, at the very time God had promised him. Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me, Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."  The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast.

B.C. Stands for Baptist Church

Mrs. Clifton Hord of Baird, Texas relates a rather strange reply to a request for a campground reservation. Mrs. Hord says that it actually happened to one of her friends, but we’ll let you be the judge. Here’s her story:

“My friend is a rather old-fashioned lady, always quite delicate and elegant, especially in her language. She and her husband were planning a week’s vacation in Florida, so she wrote to a particular campground and asked for a reservation.

“She wanted to make sure the campground was fully equipped, but didn’t quite know how to ask about the toilet facilities. She just couldn’t bring herself to write the word

 “toilet” in her letter. After much deliberation, she finally came up with the old-fashion term “bathroom commode”. But when she wrote that down, she still thought she was being to forward. So she started all over again, rewrote the entire letter, and referred to the bathroom commode merely as B.C. “Does the campground have its own B.C?” is what she actually wrote.

“Well the campground owner wasn’t old-fashion at all, and when he got the letter, he just couldn’t figure out what the woman was talking about.

After worrying about it for a while, he showed the letter to several campers, but they couldn’t imagine what the lady meant. So the campground owner, finally coming to the conclusion that the lady must be asking about the location of the local Baptist Church, sat down and wrote the following reply:

 “Dear Madam: I regret very much the delay in answering your letter, but I now take the pleasure of informing you that a B.C. is located nine miles north of the campground, and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great number of people take their lunches along and make a day of it. They usually arrive early and stay late.

“The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded that we had to stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that right now

there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats. They’re going to hold it in the basement of the B.C.

“I would like to say it pains me very much not to be able to go more regularly, but it is surely no lack of desire on my part. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort, particularly in the cold weather.

“If you do decide to come down to our campground, perhaps I could go with you the first time you go, sit with you and introduce you to all the other folks. Remember, this is a friendly community.”

Hillbilly Mother to Hillbilly Son

Dear Son:

          I’m writing this slow cause I know you can’t read fast. We don’t live where we did when you left. Your Dad read in the paper where most accidents happen within twenty miles of home so we moved. I won’t be able to send you the new address as the last family that lived here took the numbers with them for their next house so they wouldn’t have to change their address.

          This place has a washing machine. The first day I put in four shirts. Pulled the chain and haven’t seen ‘em since.

          It only rained twice this week – three days the first time and four days the second time.

          The coat you wanted me to send you, your Aunt Sue said it would be a little heavy to send in the mail with them heavy buttons on, so we cut ‘em off and put them in the pockets.

          We got a bill from the funeral home, said if we didn’t make the last payment on Grandma’s funeral, up she comes.

          About you Father . . . he has a lovely new job. He has over 500 men under him. He’s cuttin’ grass at the cemetery. About you sister – she had a baby this morning. I haven’t found out whether it’s a boy or a girl, so I don’t know if you are an aunt or an uncle.

          Your Uncle John fell in the whisky vat. Some men tried to pull him out, but he fought them off playfully. We had him cremated. He burned for three days. Three of your

friends went off the bridge in a pickup. One was driving, the other two were in the back. The driver got out, he rolled down the window and swam to safety, but the other two drowned – they couldn’t get the tailgate down.

          Noting much new has happened.

                                                Love Mom

P.S. I was going to send you some money, but the envelope was already sealed.

John 16:19-22      Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Stealing time with Jesus!

Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This text says, “It’s About Time!”  How so?  It talks about to spheres of time: 1) Our span of time on earth = our life time.   2) Our ever present future time in heaven = our eternity with God.  Interesting how it talks about what we do with the time in one affecting our time in the other.  TO THE POINT - “Do not store up treasures here!  Store up treasures in heaven!”

A planned method of spiritual growth is what we all need, but when that isn’t happening you need to become the thief – begin to find ways to steal time with Jesus.  If you are a working mother with three kids at home, or a single guy that goes to school and works two jobs and can’t seem to make a plan work – begin to seek out every occasion for stealing a moment with Jesus and therefore invest instead of spending those wasted moments.

While driving to work or school – it is ok to pray (eyes open).  Or walking between classes or for 5 minutes after the kids are in bed turn the audio bible on your phone and listen to God’s word.  Instead of eating alone everyday – once a week eat with a fellow Christian.  Before the moths ruin the clothes you never wear take 15 minutes to get them and run them to the salvation army or good will.  It isn’t rocket science – it is theft - find ways to steal moments with Jesus by doing the five things in Acts 2 (Bible study, Fellowship, Worship, Prayer, and Service).  When you are able, make a greater spiritual growth plan and carry it out, when that isn’t happening invest every moment you can find in your relationship with Jesus – it will not only change your life now – but will give you something to look forward to in heaven.

Matthew 6:21     For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

As you find new ways to apply this message, please share them on this blog or in a way that might help others make the same great investment you have found – in that way, we can all share the good news – Jesus!  That is an investment of time worth making.

From the Heart, Pastor Jeff

They Like Jesus, but not the church!

          There is a book by the title "They like Jesus, but not the church." The basic premise is that people in emerging generations do like and have a respect for Jesus, but are not fond of the church. At least I should say that they do not like what they perceive the church to be. Some thoughts about the church are based on experience, some on reality and much on myth and media representations of the church. What they mean by not liking "the church" could change from person to person. To them, perception is reality. However they conceive of the church to be (that thing they don't like) that is what it is - to them.

I was talking to a friend the other day about this topic and he shared his faith journey that fell perfectly in line with the title of the book. He was initially attracted to Jesus but not the church. I imagine some of you reading this blog had (have) a similar experience.  I would be interested in hearing your story. Feel free to share it by leaving a comment on this blog.

Why is this important to us? Because Jesus is represented by the church in the world. We are failing to give Jesus a good representation if many people feel that they like Jesus but not the church. It suggests how we ought to be as the church, how we ought to talk about the church, how we ought to serve to make the church all Jesus wants it to be. "WWJCD?" Instead of just asking what would Jesus do? we need to be asking what would Jesus' Church do? We cannot change the perception of the church throughout history or throughout the world, but we can change the perception of the church in the Magic Valley beginning with the church represented by the people who meet at 9th and Shoshone.

The church with heart must continually help people to fall in love with Jesus by seeing how much they love God, love one another, and love all people. Then they will say, "I like Jesus and his church too." Consider the following scripture passage and how important the church is to Jesus:

Matthew 16:13-19

     When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

From the Heart,

Pastor Jeff

CHARACTER QUALITY # 50 Optimistic

          I believe this is one of the 50 most important blogs I have written in the past year.  I believe some Christians are glass half empty type people and don’t want to hear this message.  I believe every Christian needs to hear this message.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,   2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,   4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

          If that does not produce in you and me optimism – then we are like a prisoner in a dungeon with shackles, a blindfold and no light, food or water.  This text fits well with my life verse that provides me great optimism: John 8:32 You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

William Carrey is the Father of modern Missions who  went through every tragedy imaginable yet had great optimism for God’s work.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines optimism as having "hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a favorable or hopeful view." The word is originally derived from the Latin optimum, meaning "best." Being optimistic, in the typical sense of the word, ultimately means one expects the best possible outcome from any given situation.

I believe God wants the very best for us.  I believe God is working for the very best for us.  I believe God can make a diamond out of coal.  Rom 8:26-29    In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but

the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 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.

          How can anyone who believes these things be anything but optimistic.  Jesus is the way the truth and the life – he is our source of optimism.  He is why I don’t have to bemoan circumstances (sometimes I fail) but I shouldn’t and most of the time I don’t because He who is in me is Greater than her who is in the world.

          Expect Great things form God.  Attempt Great things for God.”

          What are expecting form God?  What are attempting for God?  Decide and be optimistic that God with you will see it come to pass.

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 49 Consistent

Who in scripture is an example of consistency?

Enoch – He walked with God and was not.

          Methuselah lived 969 years his grandfather Jared lived 962 years.  Methuselah’s father only lived 365 years yet he lived the longest.  Gen 5:21-24 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Why would God do that?  Because Enoch must have lived a very consistent life following after the ways of God.

Job – all calamity came upon him, he stayed consistent in his resolve that God is faithful.

Having been consistent before God:  Job 42:10-11  After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.

Daniel – would consistently pray to God

Would not bow to the King.  But the lions bowed down to Daniel.

Shardrach, Meshach, Abednego – Faithful to the NEAR end

Daniel 3:16-18   Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Joseph – he never wavered from his beliefs and morals.

He accepted his condition whether in prison or seated at the right hand of the King.  He did not change his beliefs or personality or mood based on circumstance.  God blessed him for that.

Peter was the antithesis of consistency.

He walked on water – he fell into the water.  He used his sword in the garden to protect Jesus, he lied about knowing Jesus in the courtyard.

2/3                                                                                                                            09-11-18

Paul was not well loved until he got older and mellowed.

As to emotions, he too was the antithesis of consistency – as too evangelism there was no turning to the right or the left.  Acts 20:24 I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.  BUT, if he was in a bad mood, everyone knew it.

Do you know Christians who come into a room and drain the energy right out of the light sockets?  But they are not always that way…sometimes they are really up and enjoyable.  They have a mini bi-polar personality with their emotions.

          Do you know people who are consistent – that no matter how good or bad things are for them, you can still count on them to do a job and do it with a sense of peace and even keel as to their emotions?  How much better that is.  All Christians should work at having consistent emotions – that doesn’t mean never hurting or laughing or feeling discouraged.  It simply means, having a grounded sense about your faith in Christ that keeps you from living your emotions out in a way that it affects others around you.

          My pastor – Rev. Hitch was this kind of man – I saw him on bad days and he rarely let that affect others.  I said rarely – he was human – we all have a breaking point – but for many that breaking point comes weekly or daily instead of yearly or more.

Hebrews 5:11-14

          We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Today’s Text……………Acts 2:36-47

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."   When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"  Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call."  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

          Acts 2:42    They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Christian character is developed by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives through the study of God's Word. We study the Bible to learn about the kind of character God desires in His people.

Christian character is developed by allowing iron to sharpen iron – to have fellowship with brothers and sisters who will prod you on to a greater, more consistent life in Christ.

Christian character is developed by allowing worship to usher you into the throne room of God with great consistency – not just when you get in trouble.

Christian character is developed by having prayer as consistent a part of your life as breathing.  Eph 6:18  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

“Be Consistent in four things. No, five!”

STUDY, FELLOWSHIP, WORSHIP, PRAYER --- SERVICE

43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  (They Served and people came to Christ)

Consistency is a key ingredient to being obedient to God, defeating sin in our lives, and putting on Christ-like qualities.

"No one can win a race with intermittent effort. Christ likeness cannot be reached with that kind of effort either—it is an ongoing pursuit. So Paul says, "Let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained" (Phil. 3:16). The Greek verb translated "keep living" refers to walking in line. Just as a runner must stay in his lane and keep up the same effort until he reaches the finish, you must stay in line spiritually and keep moving forward toward the goal of Christ likeness."                              - John MacArthur

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 48 Belief

Scripture:                                              

Romans 8:28-39

 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. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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, 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 is he that condemns? 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered 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 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.

Romans 8:28-39

 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.  How do we know God works all things for the good?  Doesn’t seem like it.  CONDITION: we love him and are called according to his purpose.  What does that mean?

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  Who was predestined?  Those God foreknew – knew before they came into being.  Who would that be? Everyone. Everyone is predetermined to be called, justified, glorified – but not everyone accepts that calling, justification, glorification.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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, 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 is he that condemns? 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered 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 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.

Do you believe when bad/evil things happen in your life?  That is the true test of faith.  Everyone can believe in a God when things are going well.  But introduce a life threatening illness, a spouse who packed their bags and left without warning, your job position eliminated after 22 years, a fire that consumes your house, having loved ones in the Twin Towers on 9-11-2001.  Do you still believe in God then?

          If you do, what is it you believe about God?  In those moments do you see God as your protector, as a loving father?  Or as a judge and wrath filled God?

THE NICENE CREED:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.  We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.  On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.  He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

Prayer

Would you pray for someone now – who needs healing, financial help, relationship restoration, salvation, spiritual strength or any other need?  Would you pray believing God for the answer?  What do you believe about God?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper