Reliance: A Good Friday SPECIAL

[00:00:00] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin.

[00:00:23] He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

[00:00:53] So, then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

[00:01:13] But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

[00:01:40] For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and join heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. For I considered that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

[00:02:09] For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope. Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

[00:02:35] Not only that, but we also, who have the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise, the spirit also helps in our weaknesses.

[00:03:01] For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the spirit is, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

[00:03:32] Moreover, whom he predestined, these he also called. Whom he called, these he also justified. And whom he justified, these he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

[00:04:01] Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

[00:04:28] For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank you, Jesus, for your mercy. Thank you for your word. Thank you for being with us. Thank you for your promises. Thank you for the cross.

[00:04:59] Thank you for laying down your life out of love for us, that we would receive your righteousness. Thank you for bearing the penalty of our sins and taking it upon yourself. Thank you for your obedience. Thank you for interceding for us. Thank you for showing us the way. Thank you for being our Lord and our Savior. Help us, Lord.

[00:05:29] Help us to follow you. Help us to pursue you. Help us to represent you. Help us to be revealed as the sons of God, as we show forth your love and your strength and your power. Lord, Holy Spirit, guide us. Whatever we need to do, Lord, let it be done. Let your will be accomplished in our lives. Wherever we need to go, whoever we need to be, whatever we need to say,

[00:05:59] whatever we need to let go of, whatever we need to pick up, Lord, let it be done for you and for your kingdom and for your glory. You are worthy of it all, Jesus. You are worthy of it all. Be magnified in our hearts, in our lives, in our homes. Be magnified everywhere. You are high and lifted up. All authority has been given unto you. Redeem this time, Lord,

[00:06:26] as we seek your face and declare your righteousness to this generation. Help me, Lord, to point to your word and to point to you. In Jesus' name, amen. We could certainly sit here and talk for hours about Romans 8, but in reading those verses, so many of which are iconic, the things you see on plaques and plastered all over,

[00:06:55] is it possible that right now we could just spend a minute asking the Holy Spirit to help us and to quicken our spirits with those words from Romans 8? Would you go through these with me? Would you pause the recording if you don't have a Bible or a Bible app or a website open in front of you?

[00:07:25] And would you pull up Romans 8? Would you pull it up? Now that we're all here together, would you follow me in this prayer? Lord, show me what you want me to see from this chapter of Scripture. There is so much, Lord, and any one morsel of it would nourish me for the rest of my life to properly understand it, to properly live it out, to properly experience it.

[00:07:53] So show me what I need to see. Show me what I need to see in this chapter and help me to spend time with it. Help me to receive from you what you have for me. In Jesus' name, amen. Take a couple minutes and ask the Holy Spirit to continue to guide you. Pause the recording for as long as you like. Turn it off if you want.

[00:08:22] It's more important to spend time with the Lord than it is to spend time with me. If you'd like, you can follow along with where the Holy Spirit is leading me in these passages. But I would really encourage you to work through it on your own. There's so much here. There's something here for you. The Holy Spirit wants to bring something to you out of these scriptures. Something of encouragement.

[00:08:51] I am recording this on Good Friday. And so I'm going to go towards the passages starting in verse 31. And I'm going to read those again. And I'm going to encourage myself in the Lord with them. And receive from Him the strength that I need.

[00:09:18] So, if the Holy Spirit is leading you to a different part of it, go about your own way. Receive from the Lord what you need to receive. I will spend my time talking through these passages for just a few minutes. I pray that you would get something out of that as well in terms of what the Lord wants to do to encourage me. Let's read this again from Romans 8, starting in verse 31. The very last portion

[00:09:46] of this amazing chapter of scripture. What then shall we say to these things? It's the conclusion of the matter. If God is for us, who can be against us? We say that. Do we really believe it? Do we act with the confidence that is proper as a response to this statement? If God is for us, what does it mean for God to be for you and not against you?

[00:10:15] What does it mean for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, to bear the brunt of the wrath of God and to bear the weight of the punishment of our sins, of your sin, of my sin? What does it mean for Jesus, the eternal Son, to be separated and isolated

[00:10:44] from God the Father where he cries out, my Lord, my Lord, why have you forsaken me? And what does it mean for us to be redeemed, for us to be restored into right relationship, for us to come into the fellowship with the Lord that we are created for? We are all attempting that. We're all endeavoring to do so. Sometimes we don't do a good job.

[00:11:15] Sometimes we run in the opposite direction. But God is for us. Have you trusted in Jesus? Have you placed your faith in him as your Savior, as the Redeemer? Have you acknowledged that it is he who holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave? That eternal life is gifted

[00:11:44] to those who entrust themselves to him, who declare that we have no righteousness of our own, but looking to the cross, declaring that Jesus is the righteous one, the Savior, the Messiah. Brothers and sisters, do we understand what it means that God is for us? It doesn't mean that we won't deal with challenges, troubles, persecutions, tribulations, difficulties, pains,

[00:12:14] heartaches. We will deal with all these things. Jesus told us that we would. But can we hold on to that truth that God is for us? Even when everything in our minds screams out that that's not the case? Even when the lying voice of the enemy comes in and tries to convince us that it's not true? Even when distractions and the weight of our sin and the body of death and the problems we have and the things that we've done,

[00:12:44] even when all of that weighs us down, can we bring it to the cross and simply declare God is for us? Not in a bluff or a positive affirmation sense but deep down in our soul with the deposit of the Holy Spirit that is in us, the call of our inheritance that has been promised as a first fruits of what is to be born and what is to be redeemed. Can we declare that God is with us? Can we declare that God is for us?

[00:13:14] These rhetorical questions from Paul are precise, potent, clear, direct, apart from being a useful rhetorical technique. It should encourage us. Can we actually come up with an answer if God is for us? Who can be against us? Well, many can attempt to stand against us. Many can even have victories against us. We can be divided amongst and against ourselves but in the

[00:13:44] ultimate sense. If God is for us, who can be against us? Because to overcome our protector, our Lord, our Savior, our Messiah, our God is not possible. These things cannot overcome him and even if they overcome us in a sense, he is not overcome. In verse 32, we remember on Good Friday, he,

[00:14:14] God the Father, who did not spare his own son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? God was willing to give up his son. He was willing to be separated for a time. He laid down his life so that we could live eternally with him so that we could fulfill the purposes for which

[00:14:44] we are created. God did not spare his own son so that we could be spared, so that his justice could be upheld and his mercy, grace, and love could be shown and that we could be restored to rightful fellowship, not through our own righteousness but through the righteousness of Christ. Jesus was delivered up and laid down for us. If God is willing to do that,

[00:15:14] what more could he do to convince you that he is for you? He laid down his very son while we were still in sin. He gave us everything and he wants to give you everything as well. not in the sense of personal financial enrichment or anything else like that. He wants to give you himself. He wants to give you the opportunity for a relationship with him. He wants to set you free

[00:15:43] from the cares of this world and this age. He wants to equip you to be active and to be motivated and to be present on the ground. He wants to build you up. He wants to make you courageous. He wants to give you knowledge and giftings and wisdom. He wants to position you to have an impact. He wants you to have a life suffused with meaning and purpose as you follow him and as you glorify him in what you do. He wants you to show love for others,

[00:16:13] have the heart of a cheerful giver. He wants you to extend a hand of fellowship. He wants you to forgive the people who hurt you as he forgave you. He looks upon you with a smile today saying will you go for me? Will you let me help you? Will you let me change you? Will you let me transform you according to my word and according to my promises? I have done it for so many.

[00:16:42] Will you let me do it for you? Will you let me say to the accuser who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It all tumbles down. At the cross. There is no more ability for anything to stand and accuse. Jesus stands in the way protecting us, interceding for us. It is Christ who died and furthermore has also risen, who is

[00:17:12] even at the right hand of God. Will God not hear the prayers and intercessions of our high priest, our Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, his Son, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? In all these things, we are more than conquerors

[00:17:42] through him who loved us. Jesus has conquered. We follow him in his victory and we are convinced. We are convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creative thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus

[00:18:11] our Lord. brothers and sisters, you have a possession of the love of God in your hearts that he has given you that you will have forever eternally. place your faith in him. He is worthy of it. God did not spare his own son but delivered him up for us all and as we remember the cross of Christ on this good

[00:18:41] Friday, as we remember the goodness of God and all that he has done for us, as we remember the promises of God and his faithfulness and steadfastness, can we rest? Can we rest in the security that God has given us in his word and in our hearts? Can we be at peace finally from the attacks and

[00:19:11] the snares and the fiery darts of the enemy? Can we understand the nature of the situation? Can we move forward in the things of God? Can we be his people? Can we declare his love to this generation? Can we be persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate us from his love, which is in Christ Jesus? Can we acknowledge him today? Can we say thank you and be grateful to the Lord?

[00:19:40] Can we carry this with us? Can we change and be changed by his power into the people who he deserves? I say yes, I say we can, I say we must. For the sake of all those who have yet to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, we must, we must. We owe it to them and we owe it to him. He deserves it.

[00:20:11] He is worthy of it all. His name is above all names. And I pray on this Good Friday that you would join me in acknowledging the cross and what it has accomplished. Lord, thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your cross. Thank you for laying down your life, that we would be saved. I pray, Lord, that every

[00:20:40] time we look at our loved ones and our children, that we would entrust them to you and that we would realize that for those who are in Christ, we will be together forever with you and with each other. You have given us the gift of life. You have given

[00:21:09] us the gift of newness of life, of eternal life, of life more abundantly. And even if we have trouble seeing or imagining these things now, we hope in them. We trust your word. We place our faith in you. Not without evidence, not for the point of just believing in something, but because you laid down your

[00:21:38] life for us and because you rose from the dead. and because you declared the works of God, establishing your kingdom, your heavenly eternal kingdom. Let it be so in our hearts and in our homes. Let your kingdom be established in us and through us. I thank you, Lord, and I pray that you

[00:22:08] have helped us, that you've nourished us, that you've comforted us, that you've encouraged us, that you've given and delivered, Holy Spirit, what each and every one of us needed to hear and needed to receive from you today. I know you did that for me and I trust that you did that for others. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for your victory. Thank you for your love that you've demonstrated over and over and over and

[00:22:38] over and over again. give us tenderness of heart. Give us steadfastness in our purpose. Strengthen our faith. Help our unbelief. Help us to be in a continual state of thanksgiving and praise. Glorify your name in the earth. In Jesus' name, amen.