Sermon

From Groaning to Glory

First Baptist Church of Henrietta - Sermons

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  1. Thank you, choir.

  2. That was an inspiring song, and we're grateful for the hard work you put into that.

  3. ! We have been in this series in Romans for a number of weeks, and I was thinking through

  4. whether to prepare an exclusive kind of one-off sermon, taking a break from our series,

  5. to talk about America and our 250th anniversary, or whether there was a way to find some of

  6. the themes that we're talking about at this time of year, and in this year specifically,

  7. within the pages of our text in Romans chapter 8.

    Romans 8 chapter mention

  8. And I believe, y'all don't let me know until after the service, but I believe I was able

  9. to do that.

  10. All right.

  11. All right.

  12. So, I want to, first of all, just kind of share some thoughts with you before we dive

  13. back into Romans chapter 8, where we talked before.

    Romans 8 chapter mention

  14. Of all the world's inventions, how many of you know America has been an inventing country?

  15. We have invented many great things.

  16. Of all the world's inventions, the dry erase board has to be the most remarkable.

  17. Remarkable.

  18. Yes.

  19. Thank you.

  20. It just got there.

  21. I was using super glue, and I accidentally glued my finger and my thumb together.

  22. It's okay now.

  23. What do you call a cow with no legs?

  24. Ground beef.

  25. Y'all know.

  26. What do you call a cow with two legs shorter than the others?

  27. Lean beef.

  28. Why do cows wear bells?

  29. Because their horns don't work.

  30. I could keep going, but I think I've milked the cow jokes long enough.

  31. I know, I know.

  32. They're utterly terrible.

  33. All right.

  34. And of course, one of the best dad jokes out there, when is a door, not a door, when it's

  35. a jar.

  36. There you go.

  37. How many of you, your child has said, dad, I'm hungry.

  38. You said, nice to meet you, hungry.

  39. I'm Sam.

  40. What are y'all doing?

  41. You're groaning, either audibly or inside.

  42. You're groaning right now, right?

  43. I'm wondering what on earth all these dad jokes have to do with America's 250th or Romans

  44. chapter eight.

  45. Well, I'm glad you asked that question because groaning is exactly the reaction that I was

  46. hoping to get you to this morning.

  47. Groaning means make it stop, right?

  48. Some of you are begging for it to stop right now.

  49. Well, as we celebrate America's 250th birthday this weekend, our nation, if we're honest, has

  50. been for quite some time doing a lot of real groaning.

  51. No matter your politics, we look at our nation, we look at our country and we feel the division,

  52. we feel the tension, we feel the brokenness.

  53. We love our nation, but we groan for it.

  54. And it just so happens that Paul picks up where we left off last week in Romans chapter eight

  55. by talking about groaning.

  56. So as we think past, we think that of the 250 years that have just passed in our nation's history,

  57. history.

  58. We see videos like that and we hear choir songs and we sing our national anthem.

  59. And I know there are people in the room whose birthplace was not America and we're grateful

  60. for your presence here.

  61. Some of you have become naturalized citizens and I'm sure you share from your own perspective

  62. some of the love that we as natural born American citizens have for our country.

  63. But as we study American history, we think back through the 250 years that have passed.

  64. There's much to be proud of.

  65. If we're honest, there's some that would cause us to hang our head in shame.

  66. And we look at our current moment in American society and it does cause heartbreak.

  67. It does cause groaning.

  68. So turn with me if you're in your Bibles, if you would, to Romans chapter eight.

  69. And let's look at verse 18.

  70. Paul talks about groaning for about 13 verses here.

  71. And I'll try not to make you to groan too much more as we explore the theme of from groaning

  72. to glory, from groaning to glory.

  73. This is also true of American history.

  74. You think of the birth pains that America went through finding its liberty from England, the

  75. United Kingdom, and going through the difficulties of becoming a nation, getting its feet under it.

  76. And then to the glory that came as America became the world's foremost superpower and oftentimes a force for good around this globe.

  77. And we see the glory that America has enjoyed.

  78. But we know the groaning that it took to get it there.

  79. And that mirrors what a lot of us experience as the people of God.

  80. So let's look at Romans chapter eight and verse 18.

  81. If you wouldn't mind joining me in standing if you're able to, we're just going to read the first few verses together.

  82. And then we'll work through the rest of the chapter.

  83. Yet what we suffer now, verse 18, is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

  84. From groaning to glory.

  85. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

  86. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse.

  87. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

  88. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

  89. And we believers also groan.

  90. Even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory.

  91. For we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.

  92. We too wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children.

  93. Including the new bodies he has promised us.

  94. God, we thank you for this passage that applies to so many parts of our life and our nation.

  95. God, I pray that you reveal your truth to us.

  96. May it be done by the power of your spirit.

  97. It's in Jesus' name we pray.

  98. Amen.

  99. You may be seated.

  100. Thank you for standing.

  101. In the first 17 verses we worked through last Sunday here in Romans 8.

  102. We talked about, we saw how the Holy Spirit is working inside of us to break the power of our past.

  103. To free us.

  104. To change our identity.

  105. And now, as Paul is picking it up here in verse 18, we see that God's rescue plan to do that in us is much bigger than just saving our individual souls.

  106. He is working to heal, to restore all of his creation.

  107. So, this leads us, as we study from groaning to glory in the pages of Romans 8, this leads us to the first thought I want you to take home with you today.

  108. While we are waiting, God is working.

  109. You could say it this way.

  110. While we are groaning, God is preparing us for glory.

  111. While we are waiting, God is always at work.

  112. For 250 years, the American experiment has been remarkable.

  113. It's been a remarkable experiment in human freedom, in liberty.

  114. But no human empire, no nation, going back to Greece and Rome and Babylon and any empire or nation that has risen above the rest in the history of this world,

  115. has ever been or will ever be the final destination.

  116. It is not the culmination.

  117. It's not the end.

  118. Every country, including our own, experiences the groaning of a broken world.

  119. We did it at the beginning of our nation and we still do it today.

  120. We see the groaning and the brokenness around us.

  121. So, don't judge God's ultimate plan by the temporary chaos you see when you turn on the news or you log on to social media

  122. or you just interact with those around you or even when you look in the mirror.

  123. God is working through all that.

  124. He has a plan that is bigger than any single nation.

  125. So, I want to highlight some doctrines that we find in the pages of Romans 8 as we work through this.

  126. And remarkably, in verses 18 through 30, I want to draw your attention to this idea of glorification.

  127. What is glorification?

  128. It is the new creation but a future glory that will come.

  129. God is working on us to reveal his glory in us.

  130. That is a wild concept to wrap our heads around.

  131. That God wants to use broken humans like you and me to reveal his glory.

  132. Oftentimes, God has used a people group or a nation to reveal his glory.

  133. We've seen him do that even through the United States of America.

  134. Look at verse 18 down through 22.

  135. We see this idea that your present suffering is real.

  136. God is not ignoring or denying or minimizing your present suffering that you're going through.

  137. So, whatever is going on in your life that you're suffering through right now, whether it's external problems or internal problems, whether it's something you can't control or a failing on your part, your suffering is real.

  138. But it's not the end.

  139. A future glory awaits.

  140. So, don't judge God's faithfulness by today's circumstances.

  141. Today's pain is not the final chapter.

  142. Verse 18, what did it say?

  143. What we suffer now is, what did it say?

  144. Nothing compared to the glory that later will come.

  145. That he will reveal later.

  146. Do you see the wording there?

  147. It said, what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

  148. You know what that implies?

  149. That the glory is real.

  150. The glory is already present.

  151. It hasn't all been revealed yet.

  152. Man, that encourages me.

  153. When I feel that there is no hope.

  154. When I feel that nothing is really going to get better.

  155. You know, we talked about last Sunday.

  156. You move somewhere.

  157. You change jobs.

  158. You try to get a fresh start in some way.

  159. Only to be reminded that it's still you in the new place.

  160. It's still you in the new job.

  161. And it's still you carrying the same you that caused problems in the last place.

  162. Or the last job.

  163. But through all that, God is saying he's working on you through the groaning to bring you to be aware.

  164. To reveal his glory within that situation.

  165. And within your life.

  166. And within the life of our nation.

  167. So your present suffering is real, but it's not the end.

  168. And then look down at verse 23.

  169. We believers also groan.

  170. Even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory.

  171. We know, yes, God's Spirit seals me.

  172. I'm promised to be with God forever in what we call heaven.

  173. He said, but then we long for our bodies to release.

  174. To be released from sin and suffering.

  175. We're longing for that day.

  176. Why isn't it here yet, God?

  177. God, Paul said it this way.

  178. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

  179. God, don't drag this thing out.

  180. It's getting rough down here.

  181. And then he says, we too wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children.

  182. So it's okay to feel like you're waiting.

  183. It's okay to feel like you're in an in-between time.

  184. And this has eschatological implications.

  185. That's eschatology.

  186. What is eschatology?

  187. The doctrine of the end times.

  188. The things that have not yet happened.

  189. The things that we leave to God in his hands.

  190. And we can read in the book of Revelation.

  191. We can look at Daniel's prophecy.

  192. We can look at many, Isaiah, Jeremiah, many of the Old Testament prophets.

  193. And then the writings of Paul and others.

  194. In 1 Thessalonians, we see eschatology pop up throughout the scriptures.

  195. When they're talking about things that haven't yet come.

  196. Things that haven't yet come to pass.

  197. This is eschatology.

  198. And that's what this is talking about.

  199. How does eschatology apply to our everyday life?

  200. It's the idea of trust.

  201. It's the idea of while I'm waiting, I know God is working.

  202. So it's okay for me to wait right now.

  203. Try telling your kid that.

  204. When he's waiting for dessert.

  205. And you say it's okay to wait.

  206. Or he's waiting for a treat or a reward or a surprise.

  207. Tell me what the surprise is.

  208. No, then it wouldn't be a surprise.

  209. Yeah, but I want to know right now.

  210. I don't want to wait.

  211. And we don't want to wait either.

  212. But God is teaching us that while we're waiting, he's working.

  213. The groaning brings the glory.

  214. It's all part of the process.

  215. Trust the process of our heavenly father.

  216. Faith doesn't mean having everything now.

  217. It means trusting God when you don't have everything.

  218. Trusting that he will provide everything you need.

  219. And someday he'll provide everything you could possibly want.

  220. When your soul is aligned with his.

  221. Problem is our souls are not aligned with his.

  222. Our souls are distracted.

  223. Our mind, our will, our emotions are influenced by this world around us.

  224. By the brokenness that still struggles with the spirit within us.

  225. And so we feel like we don't have everything we want.

  226. And we struggle with waiting.

  227. So your present suffering is real, but it's not the end.

  228. It's okay to feel like you're waiting.

  229. It can be a good thing.

  230. And then in verse 26, Romans 8 and verse 26.

  231. By the way, if you don't have a copy of the word of God, there should be one in front of you in the seat back.

  232. Or you can look on with somebody who does.

  233. The Bible app is on the phone.

  234. That can be a handy thing for you to pull up as well.

  235. But Romans chapter 8 and verse 26.

    Romans 8 chapter mention

  236. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

  237. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for.

  238. You ever realize that?

  239. Has that ever hit you?

  240. I don't exactly know what I should be praying for right now.

  241. Yes.

  242. But Paul is identifying with that as he writes to the church in Rome.

  243. But he says,

  244. Here's more groaning, right?

  245. More groaning that will result in God's glory.

  246. The Holy Spirit is praying for us.

  247. And the Father who knows our hearts, knows all hearts, he knows what that Holy Spirit is saying.

  248. He knows what those groanings mean.

  249. For the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.

  250. That's the secret.

  251. When you and I pray for things, sometimes it's in harmony with God's will.

  252. Harmony means it sounds right, you know?

  253. How many of you like to sing harmony?

  254. How many of you are able?

  255. Your ear hears harmony parts.

  256. There's some kind of halfway.

  257. Yeah.

  258. My dad was a pastor growing up.

  259. His secretary was, she was a natural harmony singer.

  260. And she would sit with our family.

  261. I would stand next to her so every time we sang during church, she would sing harmony parts.

  262. And I learned harmony that way just by standing next to her.

  263. So I would always then go and pick out harmony parts myself.

  264. Harmony means you're not singing the melody line that was written,

  265. the main line that you normally sing when you sing a song.

  266. But you're singing a part that is closely related to that.

  267. And it meshes well.

  268. It breathes well.

  269. It works well together.

  270. And so when you and I pray, we're not always praying in harmony with the Holy Spirit.

  271. But when our hearts are aligned with God, even if our requests aren't always aligned with God's will,

  272. the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf.

  273. He says, God, this is what we need.

  274. This is what they need.

  275. This is what they want.

  276. Their heart is toward you.

  277. And even if their request is not toward you, I'm praying for them.

  278. I'm pleading on their behalf in harmony with God's will.

  279. So the Spirit is making intercession for us.

  280. What is intercession?

  281. It is hardcore prayer.

  282. Okay?

  283. What is intercessory prayer?

  284. It means you are ridding yourself of any other distraction.

  285. You are focusing in on going before God and pleading for a cause.

  286. And the Holy Spirit is doing that for you and for me.

  287. For your kids.

  288. For your grandkids.

  289. For your coworker.

  290. For your neighbor that's on your heart.

  291. For the people that make you, keep you up at night.

  292. The people that make you lose sleep.

  293. Even when we don't intercede for them as often as we could, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us.

  294. That's a comfort for you and for me.

  295. So while we're waiting, the Holy Spirit's making intercession.

  296. While we're waiting, God is working.

  297. And then down in verse 28.

  298. As you're looking at verse 28, I want to share this verse with you.

  299. Jesus is able to save those who come to God through him completely and forever since he always lives to make intercession for them.

  300. Isn't it amazing that God makes intercession for us?

  301. We're going to see that again.

  302. That the Holy Spirit is not the only one doing the interceding.

  303. In just a minute, a little bit later in Romans 8, we're going to see how Jesus the Son is also making intercession for us.

  304. But it is such a comfort and a reminder to the believer that God is praying to himself for us.

  305. What an incredible thought.

  306. And then down in verse 28, if you're there.

  307. We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

  308. How many of you have heard that verse before?

  309. Romans 8, 28.

  310. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God.

  311. Yeah.

  312. That's a verse that we love to claim.

  313. Sometimes when things are going wrong, it's like, yep, but all things are going to work together for good.

  314. That's true.

  315. But we don't always see the good when it comes.

  316. Because the good is aligned with God's purpose and we don't always see that in the moment.

  317. Well, how did this turn out to be good?

  318. What good came from this?

  319. We can't see it in that moment.

  320. This is a waiting time.

  321. But we can trust that while we're groaning, glory is the future.

  322. Glory is promised.

  323. God is working.

  324. And this has to do with God's sovereignty.

  325. God's sovereignty.

  326. Hang on.

  327. I got ahead of myself.

  328. There we go.

  329. Down through verse 30.

  330. This is talking about how God is in control of all of it.

  331. He chose us.

  332. He knew his people in advance.

  333. And he chose us.

  334. And he called us.

  335. And he says to all that he called.

  336. He will work all things in our lives together for our good and for his glory.

  337. And what does it say in verse 30?

  338. Having chose them, he called them to come to him.

  339. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself.

  340. That's how we can wake up in the morning and say, I have right standing with God because God told me I did.

  341. I'm not out of favor with God because I messed up last night.

  342. I'm not favor.

  343. I'm not out of favor with God because I got drunk.

  344. I'm not out of favor with God because I looked at pornography.

  345. I'm not out of favor with God because I was angry and yelled at my kids.

  346. I'm not out of favor with God because of fill in the blank.

  347. I have favor with God because he gave that to me.

  348. I may have

  349. from time to time go off and make a choice

  350. that will lead to bad consequences

  351. it will be hurtful to myself, to others

  352. and I'll have to endure that

  353. until I align

  354. my will back with God's will

  355. but all the way

  356. through, while I'm

  357. waiting, while I'm groaning

  358. in this world of brokenness

  359. I have right standing with

  360. God, I have his favor

  361. because I'm his child

  362. and since he gave that

  363. to us in verse 30

  364. having given them right standing

  365. he gave them his

  366. what's that last word in verse 30

  367. what is it?

  368. his glory

  369. he gave them his glory

  370. let's put us in there

  371. he gave us his glory

  372. that is what is promised

  373. we sing the battle hymn of the republic

  374. not too long ago

  375. glory, glory, hallelujah

  376. glory, glory, hallelujah

  377. praise be to God

  378. because he gave us as his children

  379. not because we're Americans

  380. not because we're white or black

  381. or Hispanic or Asian

  382. or we're rich or poor

  383. or anything else

  384. not because of any social standing

  385. on this earth

  386. but because

  387. he gave us his grace

  388. to repent of our sins

  389. to turn to him

  390. and say God

  391. I place my faith in you

  392. and you alone

  393. so glory is promised

  394. and then number two

  395. and we only have two points

  396. so this is the last point

  397. ready?

  398. God's love

  399. never

  400. fails

  401. while we're waiting

  402. God is working

  403. and we can be sure

  404. that his work

  405. is always

  406. motivated

  407. and acted out

  408. through the lens

  409. of his love

  410. it always reflects

  411. his love for us

  412. and his love

  413. never

  414. fails

  415. 1 Corinthians chapter 13

    1 Corinthians 13 chapter mention

  416. is called

  417. the love chapter

  418. and one of the ends

  419. of that

  420. it uses a word

  421. that's charity

  422. it's a placeholder

  423. for love

  424. it means the same thing

  425. and so

  426. it says charity

  427. never fails

  428. love

  429. never

  430. fails

  431. have you noticed

  432. that real

  433. love

  434. never

  435. fails

  436. there is selfish

  437. love

  438. there is attraction

  439. there is sexual

  440. love

  441. there is

  442. self-serving

  443. love

  444. there is all kinds

  445. of love

  446. out there

  447. but real

  448. love

  449. that comes

  450. from the inventor

  451. of love

  452. the author

  453. of love

  454. which is God

  455. that love

  456. never fails

  457. it took Jesus

  458. to the cross

  459. but then what

  460. happened

  461. did he stay

  462. dead

  463. was that the

  464. end of his

  465. story

  466. come on church

  467. I'm asking you

  468. if Jesus

  469. stayed dead

  470. there you go

  471. y'all know

  472. the answer

  473. to this one

  474. this isn't hard

  475. no he came

  476. back to life

  477. it's why we

  478. celebrate Easter

  479. around here

  480. in a big way

  481. because Jesus

  482. is alive

  483. love

  484. love

  485. could not

  486. fail

  487. love

  488. will not

  489. fail

  490. you

  491. so look

  492. down in

  493. verse 31

  494. what shall

  495. we say

  496. about such

  497. wonderful

  498. things as

  499. these

  500. if God

  501. is for

  502. us

  503. who can

  504. ever

  505. be

  506. against

  507. us

  508. God's

  509. love

  510. will

  511. never

  512. fail

  513. you

  514. why

  515. because

  516. he's

  517. for

  518. you

  519. God

  520. is

  521. for

  522. you

  523. and

  524. you

  525. don't

  526. have

  527. to

  528. live

  529. in

  530. fear

  531. since

  532. he didn't

  533. spare

  534. even

  535. his own

  536. son

  537. but he

  538. gave him

  539. up

  540. for

  541. us

  542. all

  543. he

  544. is

  545. for

  546. us

  547. and he

  548. gave

  549. his

  550. son

  551. for

  552. us

  553. and

  554. then

  555. look

  556. this is

  557. talking

  558. about

  559. the

  560. atonement

  561. the

  562. atonement

  563. that

  564. Jesus

  565. made

  566. the

  567. atoning

  568. sacrifice

  569. where

  570. he

  571. recognized

  572. that

  573. we

  574. were

  575. slaves

  576. to

  577. sin

  578. we

  579. owed

  580. a

  581. debt

  582. of

  583. sin

  584. to

  585. darkness

  586. to

  587. death

  588. to

  589. hell

  590. and

  591. Jesus

  592. came

  593. and paid

  594. !

  595. debt

  596. had

  597. left

  598. a

  599. crimson

  600. stain

  601. but

  602. he

  603. washed

  604. it

  605. white

  606. as

  607. snow

  608. it's

  609. what

  610. Jesus

  611. did

  612. in

  613. the

  614. atonement

  615. when

  616. he

  617. atoned

  618. or

  619. paid

  620. the

  621. sacrifice

  622. the

  623. sacrificial

  624. debt

  625. for

  626. our

  627. sins

  628. 2nd

  629. Corinthians

  630. 521

  631. Paul

  632. wrote

  633. this

  634. and

  635. it

  636. has

  637. powerful

  638. implications

  639. for

  640. you

  641. and

  642. me

  643. God

  644. made

  645. Jesus

  646. who

  647. had

  648. no

  649. sin

  650. to

  651. be

  652. sin

  653. for

  654. us

  655. can

  656. we

  657. say

  658. that

  659. God

  660. made

  661. Jesus

  662. who

  663. had

  664. no

  665. sin

  666. to

  667. be

  668. for

  669. us

  670. so

  671. that

  672. in

  673. Jesus

  674. we

  675. might

  676. become

  677. or

  678. embody

  679. God's

  680. righteousness

  681. there's

  682. no way

  683. that

  684. you

  685. and

  686. I

  687. could

  688. be

  689. God's

  690. righteousness

  691. but

  692. through

  693. Jesus

  694. alone

  695. you

  696. and

  697. I

  698. are

  699. sinners

  700. we're

  701. always

  702. going

  703. to

  704. be

  705. attracted

  706. or

  707. drawn

  708. toward

  709. what

  710. is

  711. wrong

  712. toward

  713. what

  714. is

  715. unrighteous

  716. but

  717. since

  718. Jesus

  719. became

  720. our

  721. sacrifice

  722. for

  723. us

  724. he

  725. gave

  726. us

  727. right

  728. standing

  729. with

  730. God

  731. now

  732. he

  733. can

  734. change

  735. what

  736. we're

  737. drawn

  738. to

  739. he

  740. can

  741. change

  742. what

  743. we

  744. find

  745. ourselves

  746. getting

  747. involved

  748. in

  749. in

  750. this

  751. world

  752. like

  753. huh

  754. me

  755. what

  756. I

  757. volunteered

  758. to work

  759. in the

  760. nursery

  761. at church

  762. I'm not

  763. that kind

  764. of person

  765. I volunteered

  766. to sing

  767. in the

  768. choir

  769. where did

  770. that come

  771. from

  772. because

  773. God

  774. can

  775. change

  776. you

  777. we talked

  778. about that

  779. last Sunday

  780. God

  781. changing

  782. your

  783. nature

  784. that is

  785. part of

  786. becoming

  787. God's

  788. righteousness

  789. he

  790. changes

  791. you

  792. to

  793. become

  794. what

  795. you

  796. could

  797. be

  798. not

  799. what

  800. you

  801. have

  802. been

  803. and

  804. then

  805. in

  806. Psalm

  807. 56

  808. in

  809. verse

  810. 9

  811. the

  812. psalmist

  813. knew

  814. this

  815. David

  816. knew

  817. this

  818. when he

  819. wrote

  820. this

  821. so many

  822. years

  823. ago

  824. he

  825. said

  826. this

  827. I

  828. know

  829. I

  830. don't

  831. know

  832. everything

  833. there

  834. are

  835. things

  836. I

  837. doubt

  838. there

  839. are

  840. things

  841. I

  842. fear

  843. but

  844. he

  845. said

  846. this

  847. I

  848. know

  849. that

  850. God

  851. is

  852. what

  853. this

  854. I

  855. know

  856. that

  857. God

  858. is

  859. what

  860. !

  861. does

  862. it

  863. really

  864. matter

  865. who

  866. is

  867. against

  868. you

  869. I

  870. feel

  871. like

  872. this

  873. world

  874. is

  875. against

  876. me

  877. I

  878. feel

  879. like

  880. culture

  881. is

  882. against

  883. me

  884. does

  885. it

  886. really

  887. matter

  888. because

  889. God

  890. is

  891. for

  892. you

  893. that's

  894. what

  895. matters

  896. so

  897. your

  898. failures

  899. don't

  900. get

  901. the

  902. final

  903. word

  904. because

  905. God

  906. is

  907. for

  908. you

  909. verse

  910. 33

  911. who

  912. dares

  913. accuse

  914. us

  915. us

  916. whom

  917. God

  918. has

  919. chosen

  920. for

  921. his

  922. own

  923. no

  924. one

  925. because

  926. God

  927. himself

  928. has

  929. given

  930. us

  931. right

  932. standing

  933. with

  934. him

  935. so

  936. who

  937. can

  938. condemn

  939. us

  940. no

  941. one

  942. because

  943. Christ

  944. Jesus

  945. died

  946. for

  947. us

  948. and

  949. was

  950. raised

  951. to

  952. life

  953. for

  954. us

  955. and

  956. is

  957. sitting

  958. in

  959. the

  960. place

  961. of

  962. honor

  963. at

  964. God's

  965. right

  966. hand

  967. pleading

  968. for

  969. us

  970. so

  971. Jesus

  972. is also

  973. interceding

  974. for

  975. us

  976. he's

  977. also

  978. pleading

  979. for

  980. us

  981. he's

  982. also

  983. praying

  984. for

  985. us

  986. we ask

  987. each

  988. other

  989. to

  990. pray

  991. for

  992. each

  993. other

  994. when

  995. we

  996. have

  997. a

  998. need

  999. or

  1000. a

  1001. burden

  1002. right

  1003. we'll

  1004. say

  1005. would

  1006. you

  1007. pray

  1008. for

  1009. this

  1010. and

  1011. we hope

  1012. that

  1013. person

  1014. does

  1015. pray

  1016. for

  1017. it

  1018. but

  1019. you

  1020. know

  1021. what

  1022. we

  1023. can

  1024. be

  1025. confident

  1026. in

  1027. Jesus

  1028. is

  1029. praying

  1030. for

  1031. us

  1032. the

  1033. Holy

  1034. Spirit

  1035. is

  1036. praying

  1037. for

  1038. us

  1039. and

  1040. he

  1041. is

  1042. for

  1043. us

  1044. so

  1045. while

  1046. we're

  1047. waiting

  1048. while

  1049. we're

  1050. groaning

  1051. in the

  1052. middle

  1053. of

  1054. the

  1055. !

  1056. God

  1057. is

  1058. preparing

  1059. glory

  1060. his

  1061. love

  1062. will

  1063. never

  1064. fail

  1065. and

  1066. then

  1067. down

  1068. in

  1069. verse

  1070. 35

  1071. we're

  1072. almost

  1073. done

  1074. can

  1075. anything

  1076. ever

  1077. separate

  1078. us

  1079. from

  1080. God's

  1081. love

  1082. from

  1083. Christ's

  1084. love

  1085. does

  1086. it

  1087. mean

  1088. that

  1089. he

  1090. no

  1091. longer

  1092. loves

  1093. us

  1094. if

  1095. we

  1096. have

  1097. trouble

  1098. of

  1099. course

  1100. not

  1101. calamity

  1102. or

  1103. persecuted

  1104. we're

  1105. hungry

  1106. we're

  1107. poor

  1108. we're

  1109. destitute

  1110. we're

  1111. in

  1112. danger

  1113. we're

  1114. threatened

  1115. !

  1116. with

  1117. death

  1118. does

  1119. it

  1120. mean

  1121. that

  1122. God

  1123. doesn't

  1124. love

  1125. us

  1126. when

  1127. these

  1128. things

  1129. happen

  1130. to

  1131. us

  1132. of

  1133. course

  1134. not

  1135. as

  1136. the

  1137. scripture

  1138. says

  1139. in

  1140. the

  1141. old

  1142. testament

  1143. prophets

  1144. for

  1145. your

  1146. sake

  1147. for

  1148. God's

  1149. sake

  1150. we're

  1151. being

  1152. killed

  1153. every

  1154. day

  1155. we're

  1156. being

  1157. slaughtered

  1158. like

  1159. sheep

  1160. you

  1161. think

  1162. you're

  1163. the

  1164. first

  1165. Christians

  1166. to

  1167. suffer

  1168. in

  1169. the

  1170. name

  1171. of

  1172. God

  1173. you

  1174. think

  1175. you're

  1176. the

  1177. first

  1178. Christians

  1179. to

  1180. go

  1181. through

  1182. a

  1183. hard

  1184. time

  1185. of

  1186. course

  1187. not

  1188. no

  1189. verse

  1190. 37

  1191. despite

  1192. all

  1193. these

  1194. things

  1195. overwhelming

  1196. victory

  1197. is

  1198. fail

  1199. you

  1200. love

  1201. has

  1202. never

  1203. failed

  1204. love

  1205. only

  1206. brings

  1207. overwhelming

  1208. victory

  1209. and this

  1210. also says

  1211. that hard

  1212. times are

  1213. not a

  1214. sign

  1215. that God

  1216. has

  1217. abandoned

  1218. you

  1219. hard

  1220. times

  1221. are not

  1222. a sign

  1223. that God

  1224. has

  1225. is

  1226. throwing

  1227. the book

  1228. at you

  1229. and making

  1230. you pay

  1231. for all

  1232. the wrong

  1233. you've

  1234. done

  1235. that is

  1236. not who

  1237. he is

  1238. he closed

  1239. the book

  1240. he wiped

  1241. out your

  1242. record of

  1243. wrong

  1244. he washed

  1245. it in

  1246. his

  1247. blood

  1248. and he

  1249. gave

  1250. you

  1251. right

  1252. standing

  1253. with

  1254. him

  1255. first

  1256. Peter

  1257. 4

  1258. 13

  1259. rejoice

  1260. in the

  1261. degree

  1262. that you

  1263. can

  1264. share

  1265. in the

  1266. sufferings

  1267. of

  1268. Christ

  1269. so that

  1270. when his

  1271. glory

  1272. is revealed

  1273. in you

  1274. you may

  1275. also rejoice

  1276. and be

  1277. glad

  1278. instead of

  1279. saying

  1280. man I

  1281. guess I

  1282. just

  1283. haven't

  1284. been

  1285. perfect

  1286. so God

  1287. is

  1288. getting

  1289. me

  1290. with

  1291. all

  1292. this

  1293. trouble

  1294. that is

  1295. going

  1296. on

  1297. in

  1298. my

  1299. life

  1300. John

  1301. was

  1302. just

  1303. coming

  1304. back

  1305. from

  1306. vacation

  1307. and he

  1308. can tell

  1309. you

  1310. himself

  1311. about

  1312. everything

  1313. that they

  1314. went

  1315. through

  1316. on their

  1317. return

  1318. trip

  1319. home

  1320. with

  1321. their

  1322. truck

  1323. and trailer

  1324. and just

  1325. the

  1326. insanity

  1327. now God

  1328. showed up

  1329. and he

  1330. kept it

  1331. from being

  1332. too bad

  1333. that they

  1334. couldn't

  1335. recover

  1336. from it

  1337. right

  1338. but look

  1339. he didn't

  1340. come in

  1341. saying

  1342. man I

  1343. guess I

  1344. just

  1345. wasn't

  1346. faithful

  1347. enough

  1348. in

  1349. prayer

  1350. so God

  1351. was

  1352. getting

  1353. me

  1354. no

  1355. I'm

  1356. glad

  1357. that he

  1358. could

  1359. share

  1360. I'm

  1361. glad

  1362. that you

  1363. can

  1364. share

  1365. I'm

  1366. glad

  1367. that I

  1368. can

  1369. share

  1370. in the

  1371. sufferings

  1372. of

  1373. Christ

  1374. none

  1375. of

  1376. us

  1377. will

  1378. ever

  1379. suffer

  1380. to

  1381. the

  1382. degree

  1383. that

  1384. Jesus

  1385. did

  1386. when

  1387. all

  1388. the

  1389. weight

  1390. of

  1391. the

  1392. sin

  1393. and

  1394. the

  1395. brokenness

  1396. of

  1397. this

  1398. world

  1399. was

  1400. placed

  1401. on

  1402. him

  1403. and

  1404. he

  1405. sacrificed

  1406. his

  1407. very

  1408. life

  1409. on

  1410. this

  1411. earth

  1412. on

  1413. the

  1414. cross

  1415. for

  1416. you

  1417. and

  1418. for

  1419. me

  1420. but

  1421. when

  1422. we

  1423. can

  1424. share

  1425. a

  1426. little

  1427. bit

  1428. of

  1429. the

  1430. suffering

  1431. then

  1432. we

  1433. know

  1434. that

  1435. glory

  1436. is

  1437. coming

  1438. I

  1439. know

  1440. that

  1441. God

  1442. is

  1443. going

  1444. to

  1445. show

  1446. up

  1447. big

  1448. in

  1449. that

  1450. family's

  1451. life

  1452. he

  1453. has

  1454. and

  1455. he'll

  1456. continue

  1457. to

  1458. I

  1459. know

  1460. that

  1461. he'll

  1462. show

  1463. up

  1464. big

  1465. in

  1466. yours

  1467. and

  1468. I've

  1469. seen

  1470. him

  1471. show

  1472. up

  1473. big

  1474. in

  1475. mine

  1476. and

  1477. I

  1478. believe

  1479. that

  1480. the

  1481. best

  1482. is

  1483. yet

  1484. to

  1485. come

  1486. do

  1487. you

  1488. believe

  1489. the

  1490. best

  1491. from

  1492. our

  1493. heavenly

  1494. father

  1495. is

  1496. yet

  1497. to

  1498. come

  1499. do

  1500. you

  1501. believe

  1502. there's

  1503. glory

  1504. waiting

  1505. then

  1506. you

  1507. can

  1508. endure

  1509. this

  1510. groaning

  1511. because

  1512. the

  1513. glory

  1514. is

  1515. coming

  1516. nothing

  1517. can

  1518. at the

  1519. last

  1520. two

  1521. verses

  1522. here

  1523. I

  1524. am

  1525. convinced

  1526. that

  1527. nothing

  1528. can

  1529. ever

  1530. separate

  1531. us

  1532. from

  1533. God's

  1534. love

  1535. this

  1536. has

  1537. to

  1538. do

  1539. with

  1540. God's

  1541. covenant

  1542. look

  1543. we went

  1544. through

  1545. the

  1546. atonement

  1547. we talked

  1548. about

  1549. Christ

  1550. interceding

  1551. and praying

  1552. for us

  1553. talked

  1554. about

  1555. how

  1556. Christ

  1557. is

  1558. enough

  1559. through

  1560. the

  1561. problems

  1562. through

  1563. the

  1564. suffering

  1565. that

  1566. we

  1567. have

  1568. to

  1569. endure

  1570. and

  1571. then

  1572. we

  1573. get

  1574. to

  1575. God's

  1576. covenant

  1577. promise

  1578. in

  1579. verse

  1580. 38

  1581. nothing

  1582. can

  1583. ever

  1584. separate

  1585. us

  1586. from

  1587. God's

  1588. love

  1589. death

  1590. life

  1591. angels

  1592. demons

  1593. our

  1594. fears

  1595. for

  1596. today

  1597. our

  1598. worries

  1599. about

  1600. tomorrow

  1601. not

  1602. even

  1603. the

  1604. powers

  1605. of

  1606. hell

  1607. can

  1608. separate

  1609. us

  1610. from

  1611. God's

  1612. love

  1613. no

  1614. power

  1615. in the

  1616. sky

  1617. above

  1618. or in

  1619. the

  1620. earth

  1621. below

  1622. nothing

  1623. in

  1624. all

  1625. creation

  1626. will

  1627. ever

  1628. be able

  1629. to

  1630. separate

  1631. us

  1632. from

  1633. the

  1634. love

  1635. of

  1636. God

  1637. that

  1638. is

  1639. revealed

  1640. in

  1641. Christ

  1642. Jesus

  1643. our

  1644. Lord

  1645. this

  1646. is

  1647. the

  1648. unbreakable

  1649. covenant

  1650. of

  1651. God's

  1652. love

  1653. your

  1654. love

  1655. is

  1656. flawed

  1657. my

  1658. love

  1659. is

  1660. imperfect

  1661. I

  1662. love

  1663. you

  1664. but

  1665. my

  1666. love

  1667. might

  1668. fail

  1669. you

  1670. I

  1671. believe

  1672. looking

  1673. across

  1674. here

  1675. most

  1676. of

  1677. you

  1678. love

  1679. me

  1680. some

  1681. of

  1682. you

  1683. I'm

  1684. not

  1685. sure

  1686. I'm

  1687. kidding

  1688. but

  1689. your

  1690. love

  1691. might

  1692. fail

  1693. me

  1694. at

  1695. some

  1696. point

  1697. but

  1698. nothing

  1699. can

  1700. ever

  1701. separate

  1702. you

  1703. from

  1704. God's

  1705. love

  1706. and

  1707. nothing

  1708. can

  1709. ever

  1710. separate

  1711. me

  1712. from

  1713. God's

  1714. love

  1715. that

  1716. is

  1717. the

  1718. covenant

  1719. that

  1720. we

  1721. can

  1722. rest

  1723. in

  1724. we

  1725. can

  1726. go

  1727. to

  1728. sleep

  1729. at

  1730. night

  1731. knowing

  1732. God

  1733. made

  1734. a

  1735. covenant

  1736. with

  1737. me

  1738. because

  1739. of

  1740. his

  1741. son

  1742. Jesus

  1743. Christ

  1744. and

  1745. if

  1746. my

  1747. faith

  1748. is

  1749. in

  1750. him

  1751. then

  1752. I'm

  1753. safe

  1754. if

  1755. my

  1756. faith

  1757. is

  1758. in

  1759. myself

  1760. I'm

  1761. not

  1762. safe

  1763. if

  1764. my

  1765. faith

  1766. is

  1767. in

  1768. the

  1769. church

  1770. I'm

  1771. not

  1772. safe

  1773. if

  1774. my

  1775. faith

  1776. is

  1777. in

  1778. my

  1779. past

  1780. or

  1781. my

  1782. present

  1783. or

  1784. my

  1785. future

  1786. my

  1787. kids

  1788. if

  1789. my

  1790. faith

  1791. covenant

  1792. and

  1793. I

  1794. am

  1795. safe

  1796. there's

  1797. glory

  1798. coming

  1799. so

  1800. we've

  1801. gone

  1802. through

  1803. Romans

    Romans 8 chapter mention

  1804. chapter

  1805. 8

  1806. verses

  1807. 1

  1808. through

  1809. 39

  1810. between

  1811. last

  1812. week

  1813. and

  1814. this

  1815. week

  1816. and

  1817. we

  1818. saw

  1819. well

  1820. I can't

  1821. skip over

  1822. this verse

  1823. alright

  1824. real quick

  1825. if we

  1826. are

  1827. unfaithful

  1828. he

  1829. remains

  1830. faithful

  1831. for

  1832. he

  1833. cannot

  1834. deny

  1835. who

  1836. he

  1837. is

  1838. this

  1839. is

  1840. a

  1841. point

  1842. that

  1843. directly

  1844. applies

  1845. to

  1846. what

  1847. we

  1848. were

  1849. just

  1850. talking

  1851. about

  1852. so

  1853. before

  1854. we

  1855. recap

  1856. the

  1857. chapter

  1858. and

  1859. we

  1860. close

  1861. I

  1862. want

  1863. to

  1864. draw

  1865. your

  1866. attention

  1867. to

  1868. this

  1869. how

  1870. many

  1871. of

  1872. you

  1873. believe

  1874. that

  1875. you've

  1876. always

  1877. been

  1878. faithful

  1879. to

  1880. God

  1881. through

  1882. your

  1883. whole

  1884. life

  1885. and

  1886. you've

  1887. never

  1888. been

  1889. unfaithful

  1890. to

  1891. him

  1892. I

  1893. was

  1894. really

  1895. hoping

  1896. nobody

  1897. would

  1898. raise

  1899. their

  1900. hand

  1901. so

  1902. good

  1903. job

  1904. good

  1905. job

  1906. so

  1907. I'm

  1908. not

  1909. going

  1910. to

  1911. make

  1912. you

  1913. raise

  1914. your

  1915. hand

  1916. to

  1917. highlight

  1918. your

  1919. unfaithfulness

  1920. to

  1921. God

  1922. but

  1923. you

  1924. all

  1925. recognize

  1926. even

  1927. when

  1928. you

  1929. were

  1930. unfaithful

  1931. to

  1932. him

  1933. I

  1934. got

  1935. both

  1936. hands

  1937. up

  1938. yeah

  1939. if

  1940. we

  1941. are

  1942. unfaithful

  1943. look

  1944. that's

  1945. in

  1946. the

  1947. Bible

  1948. Paul

  1949. was

  1950. writing

  1951. to

  1952. Timothy

  1953. and

  1954. he

  1955. said

  1956. I

  1957. have

  1958. learned

  1959. this

  1960. even

  1961. when

  1962. I

  1963. am

  1964. unfaithful

  1965. to

  1966. God

  1967. he

  1968. remains

  1969. faithful

  1970. because

  1971. he

  1972. cannot

  1973. die

  1974. who

  1975. he

  1976. is

  1977. deny

  1978. who

  1979. he

  1980. is

  1981. why

  1982. because

  1983. we're

  1984. in

  1985. that

  1986. covenant

  1987. we

  1988. are

  1989. in

  1990. him

  1991. we

  1992. are

  1993. in

  1994. Christ

  1995. so

  1996. we

  1997. can

  1998. separate

  1999. us

  2000. from

  2001. God's

  2002. love

  2003. this

  2004. is

  2005. why

  2006. this

  2007. is

  2008. one

  2009. of

  2010. the

  2011. most

  2012. important

  2013. chapters

  2014. that

  2015. Paul

  2016. ever

  2017. wrote

  2018. in

  2019. any

  2020. of

  2021. his

  2022. letters

  2023. to

  2024. the

  2025. early

  2026. churches

  2027. because

  2028. this

  2029. tells

  2030. us

  2031. our

  2032. standing

  2033. in

  2034. God

  2035. it

  2036. gives

  2037. us

  2038. our

  2039. identity

  2040. we

  2041. are

  2042. God's

  2043. family

  2044. it

  2045. gives

  2046. us

  2047. our

  2048. purpose

  2049. an

  2050. explanation

  2051. for

  2052. this

  2053. life

  2054. nothing

  2055. God

  2056. is

  2057. working

  2058. nothing

  2059. is

  2060. meaningless

  2061. nothing

  2062. is a

  2063. waste

  2064. of

  2065. time

  2066. God

  2067. is

  2068. working

  2069. even

  2070. in

  2071. the

  2072. meantime

  2073. while

  2074. we're

  2075. waiting

  2076. and

  2077. then

  2078. finally

  2079. it

  2080. gives

  2081. you

  2082. an

  2083. answer

  2084. for

  2085. all

  2086. the

  2087. fears

  2088. that

  2089. pop

  2090. into

  2091. your

  2092. head

  2093. all

  2094. the

  2095. thoughts

  2096. that

  2097. threaten

  2098. to

  2099. undermine

  2100. your

  2101. emotional

  2102. well-being

  2103. your

  2104. mental

  2105. health

  2106. God

  2107. gives

  2108. you

  2109. an

  2110. answer

  2111. for

  2112. that

  2113. nothing

  2114. can

  2115. separate

  2116. you

  2117. from

  2118. his

  2119. love

  2120. you

  2121. are

  2122. loved

  2123. you

  2124. are

  2125. important

  2126. for

  2127. 250

  2128. years

  2129. people

  2130. have

  2131. called

  2132. America

  2133. a work

  2134. in

  2135. progress

  2136. and

  2137. we

  2138. have

  2139. been

  2140. we've

  2141. been

  2142. a

  2143. nation

  2144. striving

  2145. for a

  2146. more

  2147. perfect

  2148. union

  2149. but we

  2150. haven't

  2151. achieved

  2152. perfection

  2153. yet

  2154. we

  2155. are

  2156. moving

  2157. in a

  2158. common

  2159. direction

  2160. as

  2161. people

  2162. as

  2163. a

  2164. nation

  2165. toward

  2166. liberty

  2167. toward

  2168. good

  2169. and

  2170. equality

  2171. for

  2172. all

  2173. the

  2174. exact

  2175. same

  2176. thing

  2177. is

  2178. true

  2179. of

  2180. your

  2181. spiritual

  2182. life

  2183. you

  2184. are

  2185. a

  2186. work

  2187. in

  2188. progress

  2189. you

  2190. are

  2191. moving

  2192. in

  2193. a

  2194. direction

  2195. toward

  2196. Jesus

  2197. God

  2198. doesn't

  2199. demand

  2200. that

  2201. your

  2202. life

  2203. be

  2204. flawless

  2205. or

  2206. perfect

  2207. he

  2208. just

  2209. wants

  2210. your

  2211. eyes

  2212. fixed

  2213. on

  2214. him

  2215. looking

  2216. unto

  2217. Jesus

  2218. the

  2219. author

  2220. of

  2221. Hebrews

  2222. wrote

  2223. so

  2224. on

  2225. this

  2226. historic

  2227. weekend

  2228. of

  2229. America's

  2230. 250th

  2231. birthday

  2232. we

  2233. can

  2234. thank

  2235. God

  2236. for

  2237. the

  2238. blessings

  2239. he

  2240. shown

  2241. us

  2242. for

  2243. the

  2244. blessings

  2245. he

  2246. bestowed

  2247. upon

  2248. our

  2249. nation

  2250. we

  2251. can

  2252. celebrate

  2253. Christian

  2254. patriotism

  2255. but not

  2256. Christian

  2257. nationalism

  2258. there's a

  2259. difference

  2260. there

  2261. Charles

  2262. de Gaulle

  2263. one of the

  2264. greatest

  2265. French

  2266. heroes

  2267. that ever

  2268. lived

  2269. put it

  2270. this way

  2271. patriotism

  2272. is when

  2273. love of

  2274. your own

  2275. people

  2276. comes

  2277. first

  2278. it's

  2279. not a

  2280. thing

  2281. wrong

  2282. with

  2283. that

  2284. nationalism

  2285. is when

  2286. hate

  2287. for people

  2288. other than

  2289. your own

  2290. comes

  2291. first

  2292. there's a

  2293. difference

  2294. there

  2295. patriotism

  2296. is affection

  2297. and love

  2298. and devotion

  2299. for the

  2300. nation

  2301. of your

  2302. birth

  2303. it's

  2304. praying

  2305. for it

  2306. it's

  2307. working

  2308. to make

  2309. it

  2310. the

  2311. best

  2312. possible

  2313. nation

  2314. and

  2315. people

  2316. that

  2317. it

  2318. could

  2319. be

  2320. nationalism

  2321. is when

  2322. you

  2323. sense

  2324. superiority

  2325. to all

  2326. other

  2327. nations

  2328. and you

  2329. naturally

  2330. have

  2331. resistance

  2332. or think

  2333. less of

  2334. or even

  2335. hatred

  2336. toward

  2337. those

  2338. who

  2339. are

  2340. not

  2341. of

  2342. your

  2343. nation

  2344. may

  2345. God

  2346. give us

  2347. Christian

  2348. patriots

  2349. not

  2350. Christian

  2351. nationalists

  2352. that's

  2353. the

  2354. difference

  2355. for the

  2356. child

  2357. of God

  2358. we are

  2359. not

  2360. only

  2361. citizens

  2362. of the

  2363. United

  2364. States

  2365. of America

  2366. we are

  2367. citizens

  2368. of the

  2369. kingdom

  2370. of heaven

  2371. of the

  2372. kingdom

  2373. of God

  2374. itself

  2375. so you

  2376. and I

  2377. can anchor

  2378. our souls

  2379. in something

  2380. bigger

  2381. something

  2382. eternal

  2383. something

  2384. everlasting

  2385. something

  2386. permanent

  2387. governments

  2388. will change

  2389. cultures

  2390. change

  2391. countries

  2392. change

  2393. but here

  2394. in Romans

  2395. 8

  2396. Paul gives

  2397. us two

  2398. truths

  2399. that we

  2400. can anchor

  2401. our lives

  2402. on

  2403. and this

  2404. is what

  2405. I'll leave

  2406. you with

  2407. number

  2408. one

  2409. God

  2410. is

  2411. for

  2412. you

  2413. and

  2414. number

  2415. two

  2416. God

  2417. will

  2418. never

  2419. let

  2420. you

  2421. go

  2422. the

  2423. Christian

  2424. life

  2425. is not

  2426. built

  2427. on the

  2428. promise

  2429. of an

  2430. easy

  2431. road

  2432. or a

  2433. perfect

  2434. superior

  2435. nation

  2436. the

  2437. Christian

  2438. life

  2439. is

  2440. built

  2441. on

  2442. those

  2443. two

  2444. truths

  2445. God's

  2446. unshakable

  2447. promise

  2448. his

  2449. covenant

  2450. with

  2451. you

  2452. the

  2453. faithful

  2454. love

  2455. revealed

  2456. in

  2457. Jesus

  2458. Christ

  2459. can

  2460. we

  2461. say

  2462. that

  2463. together

  2464. and

  2465. we'll

  2466. pray

  2467. number

  2468. one

  2469. ready

  2470. God

  2471. is

  2472. for

  2473. you

  2474. number

  2475. two

  2476. he

  2477. God

  2478. we

  2479. thank

  2480. you

  2481. for

  2482. those

  2483. truths

  2484. we

  2485. thank

  2486. you

  2487. how

  2488. you

  2489. have

  2490. shown

  2491. them

  2492. to

  2493. your

  2494. people

  2495. even

  2496. in

  2497. the

  2498. United

  2499. States

  2500. of

  2501. America

  2502. God

  2503. your

  2504. people

  2505. were

  2506. always

  2507. the

  2508. children

  2509. of

  2510. Israel

  2511. and

  2512. then

  2513. after

  2514. your

  2515. death

  2516. and

  2517. resurrection

  2518. you

  2519. opened

  2520. that up

  2521. to

  2522. the

  2523. Gentiles

  2524. and

  2525. you

  2526. said

  2527. all

  2528. of

  2529. you

  2530. are

  2531. welcome

  2532. to

  2533. be

  2534. my

  2535. people

  2536. you

  2537. didn't

  2538. replace

  2539. Israel

  2540. with

  2541. America

  2542. you

  2543. didn't

  2544. replace

  2545. Israel

  2546. even

  2547. with

  2548. the

  2549. church

  2550. you

  2551. expanded

  2552. your

  2553. people

  2554. to

  2555. be

  2556. peoples

  2557. of

  2558. every

  2559. nation

  2560. and

  2561. someday

  2562. every

  2563. knee

  2564. will

  2565. bow

  2566. from

  2567. people

  2568. all

  2569. across

  2570. this

  2571. world

  2572. and

  2573. every

  2574. tongue

  2575. will

  2576. say

  2577. or

  2578. confess

  2579. that

  2580. Jesus

  2581. Christ

  2582. is

  2583. Lord

  2584. so we

  2585. thank

  2586. you

  2587. for

  2588. the

  2589. promise

  2590. that

  2591. you

  2592. are

  2593. for

  2594. your

  2595. people

  2596. and

  2597. you

  2598. are

  2599. for

  2600. our

  2601. nation

  2602. as

  2603. we

  2604. follow

  2605. you

  2606. we

  2607. thank

  2608. you

  2609. that

  2610. the

  2611. promise

  2612. that

  2613. you

  2614. will

  2615. never

  2616. let

  2617. us

  2618. go

  2619. applies

  2620. to

  2621. us

  2622. and

  2623. it

  2624. applies

  2625. to

  2626. our

  2627. nation

  2628. as

  2629. we

  2630. follow

  2631. you

  2632. I

  2633. pray

  2634. for

  2635. our

  2636. nation

  2637. I

  2638. pray

  2639. for

  2640. Texas

  2641. I

  2642. pray

  2643. for

  2644. Henrietta

  2645. I

  2646. pray

  2647. for

  2648. our

  2649. church

  2650. pray

  2651. for

  2652. my

  2653. family

  2654. we

  2655. remember

  2656. that

  2657. God

  2658. is

  2659. for

  2660. us

  2661. God

  2662. will

  2663. never

  2664. let

  2665. us

  2666. go

  2667. while

  2668. the

  2669. music

  2670. plays

  2671. before

  2672. we

  2673. close

  2674. with

  2675. a

  2676. final

  2677. song

  2678. I

  2679. want

  2680. to ask

  2681. you

  2682. this

  2683. question

  2684. whether

  2685. you're

  2686. a

  2687. guest

  2688. this

  2689. morning

  2690. or

  2691. you're

  2692. a

  2693. regular

  2694. attender

  2695. or

  2696. a

  2697. long

  2698. time

  2699. member

  2700. I

  2701. want

  2702. to

  2703. ask

  2704. you

  2705. the

  2706. same

  2707. question

  2708. how

  2709. many

  2710. of

  2711. you

  2712. know

  2713. that

  2714. you

  2715. are

  2716. in

  2717. Christ

  2718. that

  2719. you

  2720. placed

  2721. your

  2722. faith

  2723. in

  2724. him

  2725. and

  2726. him

  2727. alone

  2728. for

  2729. the

  2730. forgiveness

  2731. of

  2732. your

  2733. sins

  2734. to

  2735. become

  2736. his

  2737. child

  2738. would

  2739. you

  2740. testify

  2741. to

  2742. that

  2743. say

  2744. yes

  2745. I

  2746. know

  2747. that

  2748. I

  2749. am

  2750. in

  2751. Christ

  2752. would

  2753. you

  2754. testify

  2755. to

  2756. that

  2757. say

  2758. yes

  2759. that's

  2760. me

  2761. thank

  2762. you

  2763. put

  2764. your

  2765. hands

  2766. down

  2767. how

  2768. many

  2769. of

  2770. you

  2771. would

  2772. say

  2773. I

  2774. couldn't

  2775. raise

  2776. my

  2777. hand

  2778. a

  2779. moment

  2780. ago

  2781. but

  2782. I

  2783. would

  2784. like

  2785. to

  2786. talk

  2787. to

  2788. someone

  2789. about

  2790. finding

  2791. out

  2792. how

  2793. to

  2794. be

  2795. in

  2796. Christ

  2797. how

  2798. to

  2799. be

  2800. part

  2801. of

  2802. that

  2803. family

  2804. would

  2805. you

  2806. slip

  2807. your

  2808. hand

  2809. up

  2810. now

  2811. and

  2812. I'll

  2813. pray

  2814. for

  2815. you

  2816. as

  2817. well

  2818. say

  2819. I

  2820. want

  2821. to

  2822. know

  2823. more

  2824. about

  2825. becoming

  2826. a

  2827. child

  2828. of

  2829. God

  2830. is

  2831. working

  2832. and

  2833. his

  2834. love

  2835. will

  2836. never

  2837. fail

  2838. me

  2839. would

  2840. you

  2841. slip

  2842. your

  2843. hand

  2844. up

  2845. now

  2846. whatever

  2847. you're

  2848. going

  2849. through

  2850. I'll

  2851. pray

  2852. for

  2853. you

  2854. thank

  2855. you

  2856. thank

  2857. you

  2858. thank

  2859. you

  2860. thank

  2861. you

  2862. there's

  2863. hands

  2864. all over

  2865. the

  2866. room

  2867. God

  2868. knows

  2869. exactly

  2870. what's

  2871. going

  2872. on

  2873. in

  2874. your

  2875. heart

  2876. in

  2877. your

  2878. life

  2879. what

  2880. the

  2881. burden

  2882. is

  2883. whether

  2884. it's

  2885. you

  2886. whether

  2887. it's

  2888. someone

  2889. else

  2890. and

  2891. you're

  2892. burden

  2893. for

  2894. them

  2895. or

  2896. whatever

  2897. is

  2898. going

  2899. on

  2900. God

  2901. God

  2902. we

  2903. can

  2904. certainly

  2905. set

  2906. that

  2907. up

  2908. for

  2909. you

  2910. brother

  2911. Greg

  2912. is

  2913. going

  2914. to

  2915. come

  2916. and

  2917. lead

  2918. us

  2919. in

  2920. a

  2921. final

  2922. song

  2923. kind

  2924. of

  2925. share

  2926. a

  2927. song

  2928. with

  2929. us

  2930. before

  2931. we

  2932. go

  2933. but

  2934. we

  2935. thank

  2936. you

  2937. for

  2938. celebrating

  2939. not only

  2940. our

  2941. risen

  2942. Savior

  2943. and

  2944. in

  2945. this

  2946. worship

  2947. service

  2948. but

  2949. also

  2950. America's

  2951. 250th

  2952. birthday

  2953. on this

  2954. very

  2955. special

  2956. weekend

  2957. it