Ben has been preaching for the last few weeks at his Dad's church. After much prayer and discussion with Papa, he changed his plan to God's plan, a study of the first few chapters in Romans. He covered chapters 1-5 the first week, chapter six the second week, chapter seven last week and is taking on chapter eight this week. Tonight we were talking about what the Spirit was leading him to, and just how wonderful Romans is altogether. Romans is also one of the hardest books of the Bible to comprehend or explain.
It's been such a joy to watch his journey as he guides the rest of us through what Papa is saying to him. We have gotten a tiny glimpse into our future.. another piece of the puzzle. You see, we know that a church plant is in our future. We just don't know any of the details yet. We know the name, we know the content, we know the community... We don't know the when, the where, or the how. We know when it is time, He will make it happen. We know because we believe. In Him. In His promises. In His truth.
It makes me wonder... (not that I'm comparing us to them, mind you..) When the founding members of the early church were beginning their journey, what was it like for them? Did they have a clue? Were they excited? Petrified? Were they worried that they were going to mess it up? Did they feel like they were equipped to take on the challenges He had laid before them? Did they know the enemy was near or were they oblivious to his ways? Did they trust? We know the answers to some of those questions, because it's laid out in the Bible. Jesus tells his disciples that they will be hated even more than Him, but He was going before them and was sending the Holy Spirit to help them on their journey. He was guiding their every step, even if they couldn't see Him any longer. It required their trust in Him and His truth and love.
He didn't require perfection, but transparency. He didn't require a production, but truth. He didn't require personal preservation, but tolerance... the love of others. He didn't ask us all to be perfect automatons, having no personality. He also didn't ask us to go around spreading lies and hate. He asked us to be imperfect lovers of Himself and the world around us. He asked us to trust Him, to have a relationship with Him, to believe in His truths. In doing these things, He promises us this:
Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Did you catch that? No condemnation, no separation, but redemption, justification, glorification. And.... Love. The Creator of everything-- the heavens, earth, the sun, moon, stars, trees, flowers, animals, US-- LOVES US! Seeks us. Guides us. Protects us. Intercedes for us. Despite our transparency or lack thereof, despite our selfishness, despite our icky nasty... He is always there, waiting on us. Loving us. Asking us to be transparent and real, but to seek Him and that wonderfully sweet, sometimes painful relationship of a loving Papa and his children. Asking us to not hide behind a mask of perfectionism, but to share our lives with people, helping them to see what it is He is doing in our lives. Allowing them to see all of it.. the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between. We all have that part of ourselves that we hide from other people. Papa sees it all, and loves us anyway. He wants us to drop our walls and share the hidden ick. In that hidden ick, He does His best work. He takes it all, and works it together for good. Our good, their good... His good.
And His way is good. He is good. All the time.....
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