Sermon delivered by Mr. Lee Herring on July 27, 2008
Romans 8:26-39
Paul the author of Romans was writing to a church he did not start, he had not visited, in a city he had never been to. He would eventually go to Rome as a prisoner awaiting trial.
Paul wrote to the church in Rome in 58 AD and was in Corinth organizing a collection for the Jerusalem Church. There were two primary reasons for this collection.
1. Opportunity for his younger converts to put Christian charity into action which by the way we practice today, some 1,950 years later, in part thru our two cents a meal program. These are excerpts from a 2007 Coastal Carolina Presbytery report reflecting past and current works
In 1859 medical missionary David Livingston stood on the Zomba Plateau where he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with the African people which was the beginnings of the Scottish Presbyterian mission in Malawi leading to its development of churches, schools and hospitals.
More recently a mission’s trip by Coastal Carolina Presbytery members witnessed:
- The feeding of 300 orphans at two village churches
- Saw newly installed wells and heard how much fresh water meant to the village people
- Met over 60 street children who are now enrolled in a Primary School in Zomba. Three of them are now in high school and one of them wants to be a Dr.
These children went from living on the street, begging for food, to now wanting to go to college and be a physician.
- The dedication of a brand new day care and community center housing 100 preschool age children, 70 of whom are orphans.
2. Impress on all Christians the unity of the Christian Church.
Remember, two cents a meal is next Sunday.
Verse 26 - 30
When I started reading verse 26 I ran into a bit of a problem. I did not agree with the statement saying I did not know how to pray. I can pray for ME, I can pray for I and I can always pray for MYSELF and by the time I finish those prayers that is usually all the time I have.
However, C.H. Dodd said it a little better “prayer is the divine in us appealing to the divine above us”. When we pray, How do we know what will happen in the future? How do we know what is best for ourselves?
The Holy Spirit Himself knows our weaknesses and will intercede to God our thoughts. How are we to tell God what is right? Who are we to tell God what is right? Intercession thru the Holy Spirit hears us, understands God and is able to transition the will of God with the faith and love God has given us to be used for His glory.
Jesus reveals the perfect prayer when He prayed “Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit. Not my will, but Thine be done”.
Jesus commended His Spirit to God.
We know the purpose of God which the Holy Spirit desires to accomplish when:
All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” This is not to say all things work together for me, but for good.
From the beginning of time God has known us and by this He has a plan for each of us.
Those who love God are called by God.
We are each called according to His purpose.
Our love of God is our response and action.
(Insert Josh’s Story)
Genesis 28:10-17
Despite Jacob’s actions prior to his dream, God chose to use Jacob to fulfill the promise made to Abraham and his descendents.
Do you think God makes plans?
Sure, God has a special plan for you
How do we know God has plans for people’s lives?
1. God planned for Moses to bring the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt
2. God planned for Noah to build the ark
3. God planned for Jesus to die and rise again for us
God has a plan for you too
Some fix things, some will make people better, some will invent things
No matter how big or small God’s plans may seem to us, they are all big and important to God
What a great message for the children, and since we are all children of God it is a great message for us all. Thank you Joshua.
God also knew Israel, but Israel chose to deny God and the destiny God intended for her. The disobedience of the will of man can refuse the call and the pride of man will not allow God’s plan for him to be successful
All things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to His Purpose.
In Verse 31 we are asked:
“If God is for us, who is against us?”
And then in Verse 32 we are told:
“He who did not withhold His own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with Him also give us everything else?
The only thing to add may be>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Nothing.
This is so straight forward it is like a parent telling a child “what part of no do you not understand?”
Where is this going? Only God acquits us for our sins and having done so only Jesus Christ can intercede on our behalf.
We are so used to our Apostle’s Creed telling us Jesus will come to judge the quick and the dead we fail to realize Jesus will plead our case to God.
We have done nothing for the Christian experience, God did everything:
Jesus Christ came into this world
He went to the Cross for you and me
He rose again
Jesus intercedes for us
Jesus, who sits on the right hand of God the Father, is the friend to plead our case to God.
What a friend we have in Jesus.
How far does this friendship go?
If you can see it, touch it, smell it, taste it
It will not separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ
If you have never heard of it, imagined it or thought of it
It will not separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ
There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ
PRAYER
God you have provided all we need for all things to work together for
your purpose. Only you know what is good and right. The Holy Spirit
hears our pleas and knows our minds and realizes your call for good.
Thank you for Jesus who pleads for our forgiveness and our wrongs as
we have forsaken your call by our will and refused your plan thru our
own pride.
Thank you God for the daily encouragement of your love in Jesus
Christ Lord and Savior.
Amen