Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Listen to Paul's words as he describes what creation is experiencing while awaiting it's redemption. He is saying it is "groaning" as if it is in labor. We, with the Spirit in us, also groan as we await our adoption. This is the tension that we have to live in. It is the tightrope that we must walk in this life. The temptation is to go off and isolate ourselves in order to moan and groan in private until our Savior arrives. The other option is to join the world in full force and drown out the moaning by all the stuff here. We must not choose either of these options, but rather choose to live here with His light shining through us even though we groan. When I sit down with my unchurched friends or my lost churched friends and get real about the pain of this life and the difficulties I have faced, that does not send them packing, it draws them. Life is not pain free. Life is not without loss. What we need is hope. This hope of which Paul refers to is not hope in hope. The hope we need is rooted and grounded in the truth that we are children of God. God is coming back for us and in this we can have our hope. We have hope right here and now that the life we live for Christ is not going to be tossed out at the end of the game. We have hope of transformation and even the transformation of the society we live in. The two great awakenings brought with them tremendous societal transformation. Perhaps, and this is the kicker, we must wait patiently!! Wow, anything but that word. Waiting is bad enough, but to wait patiently is to say we cannot wait with an "attitude."
Here is a little exercise you can try today. Every hour, on the hour, purposely connect or reconnect with God.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Romans 8:18-21 (NIV)
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
When we as humans receive our ultimate liberation, then all will be set free. When we sin it never just affects us, there are always others involved. Adam and Eve sinned and the whole creation was rocked!! Paul uses some unusual language to help us understand how intertwined our lives are with creation. Did you notice? "The creation itself waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed." Paul gives life to this called creation. I do not advocate a new age type "energy" however, Paul is using human attributes to describe what is going on in this place called earth. God made this place and the Lord loves it all, and is redeeming all of it. Yes, God loves us more and gave His Son to reconcile us to Himself. The benefit though is to all creation. When we sin it affects others, on the positive side when we do deeds of righteousness that also affects others. We must wait along with creation in eager anticipation for Christ's coming to gather us unto Himself and rescue the whole place.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
When we as humans receive our ultimate liberation, then all will be set free. When we sin it never just affects us, there are always others involved. Adam and Eve sinned and the whole creation was rocked!! Paul uses some unusual language to help us understand how intertwined our lives are with creation. Did you notice? "The creation itself waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed." Paul gives life to this called creation. I do not advocate a new age type "energy" however, Paul is using human attributes to describe what is going on in this place called earth. God made this place and the Lord loves it all, and is redeeming all of it. Yes, God loves us more and gave His Son to reconcile us to Himself. The benefit though is to all creation. When we sin it affects others, on the positive side when we do deeds of righteousness that also affects others. We must wait along with creation in eager anticipation for Christ's coming to gather us unto Himself and rescue the whole place.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Romans 8:15-17 (NIV)
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
We have exchanged the spirit of fear and bondage for the Spirit of freedom and sonship!! Paul wrote Timothy and said, " For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2nd Timothy 1:7 Our true freedom comes from our being reconciled to our Maker and Savior, God Almighty. We call this God, Father! It is unbelievable that we are encouraged to dive deep into our Lord and to be on such familiar terms with this God that we are to cry out "Papa!" We are called God's children. We were once children of darkness and served that kingdom, but because of the grace of God we are now children of light. Know this, that it is God who brings us the inheritance thing and not ourselves or each other. God gives us all things just as He gives all things freely to His Son Jesus Christ. Yes, God treats us just like His Son Jesus Christ. This is phenomenal stuff and we should stop and give thanks to God. Amen? AMEN!
God carries your picture in his wallet.
Tony Campolo
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
We have exchanged the spirit of fear and bondage for the Spirit of freedom and sonship!! Paul wrote Timothy and said, " For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2nd Timothy 1:7 Our true freedom comes from our being reconciled to our Maker and Savior, God Almighty. We call this God, Father! It is unbelievable that we are encouraged to dive deep into our Lord and to be on such familiar terms with this God that we are to cry out "Papa!" We are called God's children. We were once children of darkness and served that kingdom, but because of the grace of God we are now children of light. Know this, that it is God who brings us the inheritance thing and not ourselves or each other. God gives us all things just as He gives all things freely to His Son Jesus Christ. Yes, God treats us just like His Son Jesus Christ. This is phenomenal stuff and we should stop and give thanks to God. Amen? AMEN!
God carries your picture in his wallet.
Tony Campolo
Monday, May 17, 2010
Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
I would encourage you to read the book by John Stott on Romans. Romans chapter 8 is a filled with tremendous truths about our walk with the God. It is one of the premiere chapters on our walk in the Spirit.
If I am counting correctly, Paul uses the word 'mind' in these 4 verses, no less than 5 times. Paul is wanting us to mind our P's and Q's. Our mindset is so important in anything we do. When we go to work our mindset can be one of disdain or we can take our work as a challenge and ask God to help us make it a ministry. If a believer still has the mindset that their life is their own then the results for that believers life will be radically different than those of a believer who has the mindset of surrender to the Lord and His Spirit. This mindset principle works in sports, family, marriage, and and yes the church's life. Our mind as a believer is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. What does a person look like that has their mind controlled by the living Spirit of God? How does a person whose mind is controlled by the Holy Spirit behave in life? There is only one way to please God and that is to be controlled by God's Holy Spirit.
The Spirit’s control will replace sin’s control. His power is greater than the power of all your sin.
Erwin W. Lutzer (1941– )
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
I would encourage you to read the book by John Stott on Romans. Romans chapter 8 is a filled with tremendous truths about our walk with the God. It is one of the premiere chapters on our walk in the Spirit.
If I am counting correctly, Paul uses the word 'mind' in these 4 verses, no less than 5 times. Paul is wanting us to mind our P's and Q's. Our mindset is so important in anything we do. When we go to work our mindset can be one of disdain or we can take our work as a challenge and ask God to help us make it a ministry. If a believer still has the mindset that their life is their own then the results for that believers life will be radically different than those of a believer who has the mindset of surrender to the Lord and His Spirit. This mindset principle works in sports, family, marriage, and and yes the church's life. Our mind as a believer is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. What does a person look like that has their mind controlled by the living Spirit of God? How does a person whose mind is controlled by the Holy Spirit behave in life? There is only one way to please God and that is to be controlled by God's Holy Spirit.
The Spirit’s control will replace sin’s control. His power is greater than the power of all your sin.
Erwin W. Lutzer (1941– )
Friday, May 14, 2010
Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
1 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.
Where do you go if you want to understand the work of God's Spirit in a believers life? Many would say John chapters 14 and 16. Still others would say it has to be Ephesians 5: 18-20. Many would point to Galatians chapter 5:16 -26 as the definitive statement on the work of God's Spirit. All these are, in many ways, the correct answer, however the chapter on the work of God's Spirit in a believers life is in Romans 8, and so often it is left out of the equation. The word 'spirit' appears 21 times and 19 of those has to do with the Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 8 is one of the foremost chapters on God's Spirit in the entire Scriptures. Please read this chapter very carefully. We live in the age of God's grace shown to us in Christ Jesus, through the power of His Spirit. For review it would be good to remember that chapters did not appear in the original manuscripts. We have been talking about the struggle of sin in a believers life in Romans chapter 7. Paul asked the question, "who can deliver us from this body of sin?" and the answer was Jesus Christ. Now Paul begins to explain the reason why Jesus can deliver us. It is the power of His Spirit that sets us free from the law of sin and death. It is in the here and now that we all have hope that life can be different and by that I mean we can really become like Jesus Christ. Our resources do not work. We have to depend on God's work in us through his Spirit. The condition, as you can see in verse 4, is that we live according to the Spirit. Are you living a Spirit filled life? Well? In many cases that is the only question that matters for a believer. Ponder this question and maybe go over some of the other great chapters and verses on the Holy Spirit's work in the believers life. Have a great week in the Lord Jesus through the power of His Spirit.
Every time we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we mean that we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.
J. B. Phillips (1906–1982)
1 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.
Where do you go if you want to understand the work of God's Spirit in a believers life? Many would say John chapters 14 and 16. Still others would say it has to be Ephesians 5: 18-20. Many would point to Galatians chapter 5:16 -26 as the definitive statement on the work of God's Spirit. All these are, in many ways, the correct answer, however the chapter on the work of God's Spirit in a believers life is in Romans 8, and so often it is left out of the equation. The word 'spirit' appears 21 times and 19 of those has to do with the Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 8 is one of the foremost chapters on God's Spirit in the entire Scriptures. Please read this chapter very carefully. We live in the age of God's grace shown to us in Christ Jesus, through the power of His Spirit. For review it would be good to remember that chapters did not appear in the original manuscripts. We have been talking about the struggle of sin in a believers life in Romans chapter 7. Paul asked the question, "who can deliver us from this body of sin?" and the answer was Jesus Christ. Now Paul begins to explain the reason why Jesus can deliver us. It is the power of His Spirit that sets us free from the law of sin and death. It is in the here and now that we all have hope that life can be different and by that I mean we can really become like Jesus Christ. Our resources do not work. We have to depend on God's work in us through his Spirit. The condition, as you can see in verse 4, is that we live according to the Spirit. Are you living a Spirit filled life? Well? In many cases that is the only question that matters for a believer. Ponder this question and maybe go over some of the other great chapters and verses on the Holy Spirit's work in the believers life. Have a great week in the Lord Jesus through the power of His Spirit.
Every time we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we mean that we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.
J. B. Phillips (1906–1982)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Romans 7:21-25 (NIV)
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
These verses are very revealing for those interested in the context of the subject Paul is addressing. In verse 22 Paul says, " For in my inner being I delight in God's law." It is a verse like this that I believe that lets us know that Paul is writing these verses in the context of his being a Christian. The word "law" is important in these verses for it is not being used as in the 10 commandments, but in that as a principle is at work in Paul's spirit. Paul also acknowledges that another principle is at work in his body and that law is pulling him toward sin and slavery. The question of all questions is when he asks, "...Who will rescue me from this body of death?" The question is not what can, but who can save me from this body of death. He answers the question in verse 25 where gushes forth with, "Thanks be to Go--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul goes on to explain the victory that is ours right now. The hope we have in Jesus Christ is not only for our future, but also for the here and now. In chapter 8 Paul begins his conclusion on the matter of life in the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
1 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.
Read these verses carefully and very prayerfully. Ask God to show you all the richness of the truth that is laid out before us.
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
These verses are very revealing for those interested in the context of the subject Paul is addressing. In verse 22 Paul says, " For in my inner being I delight in God's law." It is a verse like this that I believe that lets us know that Paul is writing these verses in the context of his being a Christian. The word "law" is important in these verses for it is not being used as in the 10 commandments, but in that as a principle is at work in Paul's spirit. Paul also acknowledges that another principle is at work in his body and that law is pulling him toward sin and slavery. The question of all questions is when he asks, "...Who will rescue me from this body of death?" The question is not what can, but who can save me from this body of death. He answers the question in verse 25 where gushes forth with, "Thanks be to Go--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul goes on to explain the victory that is ours right now. The hope we have in Jesus Christ is not only for our future, but also for the here and now. In chapter 8 Paul begins his conclusion on the matter of life in the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
1 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.
Read these verses carefully and very prayerfully. Ask God to show you all the richness of the truth that is laid out before us.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Romans 7:14-20
I hope this finds you and your family well. I hope you are looking forward to a great weekend in Christ and working in His fields.
Romans 7:14-20 (NIV)
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Paul has said a mouthful here in just seven verses! This is the Paul that wrote chapter six and told us we are free from sin by the grace of God. Now he comes back and talks about the wrestling match that he has experienced with sin. When you read this, yes read it again, is this the picture of what a Christian faces all their life or is a picture of a Christian who has not discovered the life in the Spirit? Well, what is it? Go to Romans 7 and look at the first four verses and then answer the question. It is my interpretation that Romans 7 is about a person who is trying to live the life of Christ on their own resources. I do not believe that this is a picture of a person without Christ trying to live up to the law because even Paul says 'none is righteous no not one, that none even seek after God'. Either way, it is not about the Christians life until we get to heaven. I do believe some people think when reading chapter 7, "Well, their you go, even Paul tried to do good and still got it wrong so what am I to do?" They forget about chapters 6 and 8. We talk about taking verses out of context and forget that we can take whole chapters out of context. We are free in Christ!!
Christianity promises to make men free; it never promises to make them independent.
William Ralph Inge (1860–1954)
Romans 7:14-20 (NIV)
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Paul has said a mouthful here in just seven verses! This is the Paul that wrote chapter six and told us we are free from sin by the grace of God. Now he comes back and talks about the wrestling match that he has experienced with sin. When you read this, yes read it again, is this the picture of what a Christian faces all their life or is a picture of a Christian who has not discovered the life in the Spirit? Well, what is it? Go to Romans 7 and look at the first four verses and then answer the question. It is my interpretation that Romans 7 is about a person who is trying to live the life of Christ on their own resources. I do not believe that this is a picture of a person without Christ trying to live up to the law because even Paul says 'none is righteous no not one, that none even seek after God'. Either way, it is not about the Christians life until we get to heaven. I do believe some people think when reading chapter 7, "Well, their you go, even Paul tried to do good and still got it wrong so what am I to do?" They forget about chapters 6 and 8. We talk about taking verses out of context and forget that we can take whole chapters out of context. We are free in Christ!!
Christianity promises to make men free; it never promises to make them independent.
William Ralph Inge (1860–1954)
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