mp3 (Paul's epistle to the Romans
chapter 1 verse 8-17
first, I thank my God throug Jesus Christ because
your faith is being reported all over the world
God whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son is my witness
how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times
and I pray that now at last
the way may be opened for me to come to you
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong
that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith
I do not want you to be unaware
from do so until now
harvest among you just as I have had among the other gentiles
I am obligated
that is why I am
may the Lord add a blessing to the reading of his word
Paul writing to the romans
Title of our message today is From Faith to Faith
if you had the KJV that's the way it read from faith to faith
this righteousness that is by faith it starts at the beginning all the way to the end
and today I am in faith year 2007 but my faith is built upon the faith of my mother who
was a christian who passed her faith on down
it was important ot her that her whole household was in church
I dont know who inspired her to first hear God's word
but I trust that it was faith passed down from generation to generation
I step over here and I think about
Theopholus
reading the letter aloud to that first century church
two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus
Acts 1:
Theophelus is reading a letter to a group of people
it's the beginning of faith for some
faith is being built by hearing the word of God
the word of God that Luke has
an orderly account
telling him
this is the sequel to that first letter I wrote to you
verse 5 we read along with Theophelus,
we read along with the first century church
Luke 1:5-13
may the Lord add a blessing to the reading of his Word
our faith is built upon that Word
their names might as well have been Gill and Madeline
they were beyond the years of childbearing
some of us show up because it's our turn
we show up at the door with the buletins in our hands
to greet people at the door because we're on the list
our time has come up
and we're spotless
we're blameless
in our duty
our responsibility
our sense of obligation
because we're living for the Lord
and our names on the list
we're in a rotation
and it's time for us to show up
it was time for Zechariah to show up that day
and the lot fell on him
to be the one
priviledged
to burn the incense
and as he was going about his obligation
his religious duty
that thing that he wanted to do
because he wanted to serve God
something happened that was unexpected
an angel
Gabriel appeared to him
afraid
Fear not
your prayers have been heard
we didnt know what exactly it was that Zechariah was praying
at that stage of his life
the narrator tells us
the writer
Luke tells us
Zechariah and Elizabeth were well beyond the years
of bearing children
and their household was empty
no one to pass on Godliness into the next generation through
no offspring
the man's prayers were heard
Elizabeth would be with child
and he was to name him John
our faith is built upon the story of John the Baptist
who preaches repentance in his generation
and yet
at the hight of his popularity he points to Jesus and says
behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
Acts 1:4-5
that Jesus has been participating in a
spiritual season of emphasis
40 Days of Resurrection
he's been with them 40 days as the resurrected Christ
nail prints in his hands and feet
he has eaten with them
we read in that
an old man and an old woman
who've been given an answer to prayer
maybe even a prayer that was unspoken
angel says
your prayer has been heard
all these years later we read in Theophelus second letter
John has already come and he's baptized with water
but in a few days
Jesus tells his disciples
you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit
so when they met together ... Acts 1:6-8
everybody say POWER
now this word in the Greek is dunimis
it's the same word that Paul was using
I am not ashamed ... Romans 1:16 power of God
Jesus said to his disciples who have walked with him during this
40 days of resurrection
I want you to wait
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will Acts 1:8
Matthew 28:18 All authority
some translations say All power has been given
a different greek word
exucia
authority
we have been given the authority from Jesus
to go and make disciples of all nations
baptizing them by the authority of the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
and to teach them everything that Jesus has commanded
same authority
go before us
follow up after us
authority
presence of Jesus himself
Matthew 28:19
that authority is accompanied for us in 2007 by Power
dunimus of the holy spirit
we need more than just words
in the name of Jesus
we need power in which to proclaim that name
we need more
Sunday School
Team Kids
more than to just go through the motions
know that there is nothing to be ashamed of
what we proclaim is the power of God to save souls
there was a season
a moment
a time when Jesus said
you're gonna have to wait on me
wait until the Holy Spirit comes to dwell
the very spirit of Christ
to fulfill
I will be with you always Matthew 28:19
I love the Bible
the book has no power in and of itself
the book has to be made living word
through a believer speaking that word
living that word
there's a superstition
that book under their pillow at night
lay their head down on that Bible
that they're safe
there's a form of godliness that denies the power of God
the power comes through receiving the Holy Spirit
the Spirit of Jesus Christ
Acts 1:8-9
everybody look up
can't see very far can ya
Acts 1:9-11 but he was taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight ...
we watch him
our faith is built upon faith upon faith upon faith
from generations past
from first to last
we're here
in the present
but we're still looking ahead in the future
BECAUSE
we have been called to be his witnesses
empowered
not only to auburn
not only to the foothills
out through CA
through the USA in the year 2007
supposed to go to the very ends of the earth
not only to the very ends
but to the very ends of the human spectrum
senior citizen
home bound
institutionalized
nursing home
prisons and jails
mental institutions
we are to take the Gospel to the uttermost ends of the earth
people groups
7 year old
6 year old
3 year old
what can a 3 year old possibly know about the love of God? [Jeremiah Patterson John 1:1]
what can the preborn baby ..
the 3 month after conception
3 month old little baby
what could she possibly know about the love of God
well, if the church is the church ....
that little child will be exalted as sacred
as made in the very image of God
one to be protected
one to be cherished
likewise the senior citizen
87 years old
homebound
is not to be forgotten
by the ambassador of Jesus Christ
wow, what an assignment we have, huh?
its faith built upon faith built upon faith
Zechariah had no idea what was happening that day
the lot fell upon him to burn the incense
but he was foreordained
to have a heavenly visitation
Gabriel, a famous angel, is gonna speak to him
its a rainy day today
look around
see some empty seats
couple weeks ago it was packed, wasnt it?
today there's some empty seats, what does it matter?
the lot has fallen upon you today
you're here
righteous
in right standing with God
at least looking toward God rather than running away from God
but there's a righteousness that comes from God
that no amount of our human effort
showing up with verse in hand
or work out
or work in
Romans 1:17 for in the gospel
Gospel- good news
in the good news
now what is the good news message?
that although all have sinned Romans 3:23
there is no one righteous in God's eyes
no one righteous no not one
though all have sinned
Jesus has paid the price [John 3:16]
that our sins may be forgiven
and that when the sins are forgiven fellowship can be restored
one mediator between God and man and he is Christ Jesus the one {1 Timothy 2:5}
in this good news
a righteousness from God is revealed
its a righteousness that is from faith to faith to faith
just as it is written in [Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17]
Life
what is life? [John 14:6]
for us the life of the good news is everlasting life
its not just biological life
not just the beat of a heart
the pulse
felt through the blood being pumped
not just brainwave activity
the life is talked of in the covenant with Jesus Christ
everlasting life [John 3:16]
very life of God
when you ask Jesus Christ
grafted into an eternal vine
vine of Jesus Christ {John 15:1}
if you are found in him
a branch attached to the True Vine
you have everlasting life
pumping through your veins
without beginning
without end
very life of Christ
born in Him
born again [John 3]
he died on the cross
because you're in him
you died on the cross with him {Galatians 2:20 "Crucified with Christ pastorob"]
his sacrifice
made upon your behalf
he died and you died
when he rose
you also rose from the dead
the wonderful
glorious good news
and we dont always understand it when we're 3 years old
4 years old
but our faith is built from faith to faith to faith
its important for us today
that those who gathered
understand as much as we can today
and hold on to it
we have a visitor with us today
I met him beforehand
maybe there's on I didnt meet
maybe nobody came and greeted
I'd say to you that God has brought you here today
that you might hear this message
that your faith might be built up
you shall be
Acts 1:8
this is where we find ourselves
we are the church
this is our commission
for those who have asked Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior
we dont just speak the words
we have to have the power behind the words
we have to be led of the spirit
filled with the Spirit
because we leak, dont we?
I come in and I dont feel like singing the songs that have been chosen today
sometimes that's the only way that I'm gonna get filled with the spirit
to forget about
every care and concern of this world
choking out the Word {Matthew 13:3-9}
and just take that song in
breath in that word
open the bible and read it out loud for myself
say amen to that which I know is true
regardless of my feelings
my faith is not built on feelings
faith is built on faith
faith that's been delivered to me
from a faithful generation
I'm considering
where are we gonna go as God's people?
we're gonna go to Jerusalem
to our Jerusalem
to outlying areas
Judea
we are gonna go to the ends of the earth
Mission Committee
last tuesday night
about an hour and a half
we laid out a strategy for tying in every mission that there is
so that nobody'd be isolated
no little mission endeavor would be alienated
congruency to it all
somebody say
we dont have an international mission
I know we already do
already been written
forecast for us
somebody in this room's gonna go to Africa
Liberia
otherwise I'm brought here in vain
I dont think it's just to sit on the back burner the work that God started in me
in this country Liberia
this west african nation of Liberia
15 years of Civil War
children weren't educated
many parents killed
school
orphanage
sanctuary built
another school in an inner-city neighborhood that's gonna go up
I really think that I've been brought here to cast a vision
to empower with vision and with resource somebody that will go there
maybe for a year
somewhere in my heart
my passion for Cathy and me would be
that we would go and teach a generation who want to learn
to learn how to read
to hear God's word
so these are building days for us
I've got a vision for that country
as well
there's a pastor in Pakistan who has 27 other pastors
who are looking to him for leadership
regularly begging for a baptist church in America
to offer guidance
havent had time yet
to pass that vision to you guys
writing about it
vision's been written down
and we have just a couple of us
gathered enough resource for that pastor
Shamas Pervais
to go to the Asian Baptist Congress in May
it's not much
connection with other brothers in the world
just like the New Testament
who was paul writing to?
a church at Rome
name renown around the world already
heard about your faith
your faith is heard about all around the world
the world as paul knew it
and I ask myself
who knows about Bell Road in Auburn?
well
frontpage coverage couple weeks ago
some people heard about us
that front page coverage
carried on with a so called Prophetic Voice [hyperlink to newspaper article/photo]
looking me straight in the eyes and saying shame on you
Shame ...on ... you
and that front page coverage went on to say
case closed
Bell Road Baptist church is dead as are all the institutional churches housed in buildings in Auburn
when someone looks you in the eyes and says
Shame ...on ... you
how does that make you feel?
it might make you feel guilty because
Romans 3:23, right
but I come to God's house today
I'm gonna be told
there is therefore now no condemnation {Romans 8:1}
and the Apostle Paul
we just read it today Romans 1:16
good news
there has throughout history been those who want to pound on people
hammer on people
and yet
even the way the gospel is translated
connotes joy
a good report
something good to share with people
you know in this world you will have trouble {John 16:33}
tribulation
experience evil
just as Paul in that first century world would experience evil
everywhere he went
society tends towards the flesh
but good news is sprouting up
and we're to take good news to the
prostitute
drug dealer
gangster
adulterer
sexually immoral
homosexual offender
pervert
prisoner
sweet little old lady
rambunctious boys and girls
we're to be witnesses
locally
nationally
to the ends of the earth
and in that Great Commission Acts 1:8
that forecast of being witnesses
he also says you'll be my witnesses in Samaria
today's the day
happened upon this passage today
we've gotta talk about Samaria
often time ...
we just draw a bunch of concentric circles
that's samaria-- North America etc
annie Armstrong easter offering
that's our samaria
then the ends of the earth
Lottie Moon Christmas offering
foreign missions
nice tidy little package
every time samaria's mentioned
it has to do with
our prejudice
that place we dont wanna go
that people group we look down on
samaria is different for every people group
my samaria might look and smell different than you're samaria
jesus walked straight through when everybody else wanted to walk around
that's why it's so ironic
the samaritan would be the one person who treated someone as a neighbor should [Luke 10:30-37}
the story of the good samaritan is ironic just the idea that you'd have a good samaritan
it'd be like saying a good, good-for-nothing
we always have to ask ourself
am I willing to go to that place I dont wanna go?
most likely Jesus is gonna walk us straight through that place where we dont wanna go
we gotta be willing to go there
maybe the mission trip to mexico
to the deaf school
is so fun
because the people are so loving, so welcoming
the trip to Africa is so fun
music is joyous
people are struck with poverty and so much want
they're so glad
maybe the skatepark in Auburn might be somebody's samaria
maybe the nursing home
not the top notch nursing home
but the nursing home struggling along to make ends meet
smells of the nursing home
you'd just soon walk right past
challenges that come with working with rambunctious boys and girls
on a wednesday night
maybe that's samaria
maybe you're not ready quite yet to sit down at the well and talk with a samaritan woman [John 4]
but Jesus wants to ...
and he wants us to learn about this
this food that he has to eat
this everlasting food
that food that when you eat it
it stirrs you up on the inside
reminds you who you are
whose you are {1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23}
so I ask
what is our samaria?
and I ask ...
like paul...
what are we known for?
Paul said that the faith of the Romans is known the world over.
What are we known for?
are we known for faith?
are we known for forgetting about what's behind {Philippians 3:13-14}
forgetting about the feelings
and building our mission on faith
that this is what Christ has said he wants us to do
and this is the power that he has extended for us to do it
this is the step we're gonna take by faith
here's the next step that we're gonna take
by faith
and that somewhere in the world
somebody's gonna write to Bell Road
and say
I've heard about the faith
and I wanna stop at Bell Road and impart to you some spiritual gift
I'm not ashamed Romans 1:16
you aren't either
now what about the senior citizens
they were in our message today, weren't they?
names might as well ahve been gill and madeline
fay clyde
cathy and rob
what ministry is to be born next?
what is that thing that you wouldnt even expect
because you're faithfully following the footsteps of faith
messenger of heaven
leaving this temple transformed
vision
even have a name to call him
his name's gonna be John
he's gonna point others towards Jesus
God's word does not go forth without {Isaiah 55:10,11}
goes through one ear and out the other
might just be like a pipe cleaner
I dont want that to be what God's word is doing
I want God's word to work a wonder in me
work in me today
as I chew on
why these 3 passages are chosen for us today
who is it that has been entrusted to you in years past?
do you have a John in your life?
do you have somebody, a daughter in the faith ?
a son in the faith
somebody who you had vision for
somebody God put on your heart
as I consider that
I think about candles I lit
before Easter
praying for certain people
and I've gotta revive that again today
it's not easy raising John
he's the child of promise
I've got a great hope for him
raise him in a certain way
there's his free will
it's not easy
raising up the person God has entrusted to you
might be your biological kindred
might just be a spiritual son, daughter
going from faith to faith
Zechariah
Elizabeth
john's just about 14 years old
yet a ways to go
before he's going to be pointing people to Jesus
vision that that's what God wants
the very best that can happen for him
might look different
than any kind of ministry that we've seen before
height of John's popularity
do you think mom and dad are just pleased as punch?
well, if he got a haircut
maybe put on a robe
think about John
does he look anything like
maybe mom and pop thought he would turn out to look like
but he had the message God wanted him to speak
spoke with passion
the two went together perfectly
John was faithful
even to the point of
giving his head
to speak out
prophetic voice
again this shame ..
I'm not ashamed Romans 1:16
as long as its the gospel
out of my heart and my mind
if I'm preaching anything else
maybe shame is all over me
but if it's good news for lost sinners
strayed souls
no matter how many steps
away from the Lord
one step back
I've got nothing to be ashamed of