WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.719 This summer we've been in a series on Romans 8, walking in God's promises for today. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.040 It's called the Great Romans 8 for a reason. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:15.359 It's one of the strongest arguments, most beautiful pictures for understanding God's love for his people, understanding God's love for each of you. 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:22.559 We're nearing the end, and today's theme is on God's calling to live for him. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:24.480 God's calling to live for him. 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:31.359 There's a story that I heard from one of my mentors this past year, and I love revisiting this story. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:33.280 And here's how it goes. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:38.880 Think back to the 1700s in Warsaw, Poland. 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:39.439 Okay? 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:45.920 There is a rabbi that is walking down the street, and this rabbi walks across a government building. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:50.719 In front of this government building, there was a gate, and there was a soldier that was standing in front of the gate. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:54.719 The soldier sees the rabbi, and the soldier says, Who are you? 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:56.640 And why are you here? 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.520 The rabbi kind of takes it in for a moment. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:04.560 And then he responds with a question. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:09.840 And the rabbi says, How much are you paid to ask such questions? 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:14.000 And the rabbi says, Four grossi. 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:30.959 I'm not sure what that is in currency, but the rabbi then responds by saying, Okay, I see your four, and I will give you eight grosi each day if you ask me these same two questions every day. 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:33.840 Who are you and why are you here? 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:36.079 Turn to your neighbor, ask those two questions. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:38.319 Who are you and why are you here? 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:41.680 Get a couple of ponder emoji faces. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.560 Who are you and why are you here? 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:53.439 Let's dive into today's passage to hear the answers to these very important questions. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:02:02.239 In honor of God's holy, living, and active word, if you're able, let's stand together and let's read Romans 8, 27 through 28. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:07.040 And let's read these two verses together as one. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:07.599 Here we go. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:09.759 Three, two, one. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:16.639 The Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:27.199 And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:28.800 This is the holy word of God. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:30.319 Thanks be to God. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:31.599 You may be seated. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:33.520 All right, church family. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:41.759 God empowers us, he strengthens us, and he calls us to follow him. 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:48.639 So let's dive into this by walking out God's calling for our lives. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:50.479 What the church say, walk it out. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:51.520 Walk it out. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:52.719 It's that time. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:53.599 Let's go deep. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:03:01.599 Verse 27, the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:05.360 So when you give your life to Jesus, you're not left on your own, right? 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:11.439 You're not left on your own to just get by, to cope, just to plateau. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:21.840 No, even when, especially when we don't know how to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for us, interceding for us with words that can't even be expressed. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:32.719 Isn't that amazing that in every moment of the day there is an intercessor, a counselor whose name is the Holy Spirit, who has your back. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:38.879 And with God helping us pray, we can then boldly bring our heart to the Lord, no matter what's inside. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:46.400 That we can ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us in accordance with His will, the will of God, and to trust Him in it. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:52.400 And one of the ways, how we do this together as one is through prayer. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:04:04.000 Asking the church to intercede through prayer for the life of the church in accordance with the will of God is one of the key gifts of what it means to be a part of the local church today. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.120 So let me throw out a couple of examples of how this is lived out. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:09.439 Every week there is prayer that happens here. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:15.520 And in particular, I want to highlight the prayer that happens here at 6:30 in the morning on Tuesdays. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:23.600 There's also a phone call that you can jump in in case you don't want to drive here early in the morning. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:29.279 But I'm here and this sanctuary is opened up to anybody to come and join us and to pray. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:36.079 And for years, there's been Tuesday prayer that has been happening, even before this building was an idea. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:43.120 Back when we were at the Ford School across the street, Tuesday prayer was happening week in and week out. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.399 It's very important to the rhythm of this church. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:55.519 And we, the last number of years, we've been going through this awesome resource called face-to-face, praying the scriptures for intimate worship. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:06.800 And essentially, it's just praying God's word through adoration, praying God's word through confession, and then bringing our request before the Lord and to thank Him as well. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:10.160 So it's been a huge resource and a great opportunity. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:17.920 And if you are interested in growing and deepening your prayer life this year, this invite's always there, especially Tuesday morning. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:19.360 We'd love to see you. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:21.920 But it goes beyond that. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:32.079 You know, we also pass the mic here every once in a while, and we fade out from the message here, and then we pass the mic and lift up joys and concerns. 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:45.279 And it has been such a gift to see this summer, y'all praying for each other, coming around and hearing what's going well, what's been going, what's been hard as well, and to pray and to intercede. 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:48.480 That's that's Romans 8.27 lived out, church. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:52.160 And then it's beyond just here. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.839 Honestly, I'm I'm really looking forward to tonight. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:59.519 A church that intercedes with other churches across the city. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:01.439 Tonight is blessing of the students. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:07.199 In fact, here's a kind of a group photo of all the folks who were involved in last year. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:15.519 A bunch of other kids and worship teams were also involved that aren't in the photo, but many of them are going to be here again tonight. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:33.519 And I love that this is a praying church, connecting with other praying churches to be dependent, to seek the power of the Holy Spirit this year as we consecrate and dedicate this upcoming year towards the Lord in accordance with his will. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:36.959 So we'd love to see you tonight because it reminds me of Hebrews 12. 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:46.639 Hebrews 12 that says, therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, and take a look at the cloud of witnesses around you. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:51.120 Yeah, a couple of awkward, you know, eye contact, that's all good. 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:54.720 This is a great cloud of witnesses that are around us. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:07:06.480 Because we're because we're surrounded, let us throw off, as scripture says, everything that hinders the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run the race that has been marked out for us. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:20.959 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and the perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorned its shame, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:30.480 And we are now invited boldly to be a people who intercede, who lift one another up in prayer and petition with thanksgiving. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:33.839 So when we do that, there's a result. 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:40.399 The result of prayer is his peace and is his shalom, which is something we deeply need. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.199 Amen. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:43.920 All right, verse 28, the next one. 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:46.319 I've got just two verses for you today. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:59.680 And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:01.439 Let the church say called. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:07.759 The first thing I want you to notice is that scripture says all things right there. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:12.720 And I know more and more folks are bringing their Bibles on Sunday, and so keep doing that. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:20.959 And if you're taking notes today, you want to circle, you want to underline, you want to focus on those two words, all things. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:27.040 God works in all things, not just isolated incidents for our good. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:34.000 Now, this does not mean that all that happens to us is good. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:36.320 Can I get an amen on that? 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:40.639 Evil is very much prevalent in our broken world. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.360 Can I get another amen on that? 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:49.120 In our scripture today, Romans 8 lists promise after promise of God. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:54.559 There's about 15 or 20 different promises alone in the great Romans 8. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:09:01.440 And today, we're just mainly applying these two with a focus on verse 28. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:10.320 God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:19.039 God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:21.759 What a promise, church family. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:27.919 Um, now a pastor friend of mine, uh, Pastor Jason Bopbeil, he's preached here quite a bit over the years. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:29.279 Many of you know him. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:41.360 Uh, I remember back in the day when we were across the street, um, before South Hill, before Franklin, we were Ford, and we were in the cafeteria of the Ford School across the street. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:46.080 And I remember him preaching, and near the end of his message, he shared a song. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:49.120 A song from Elevation Worship. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:54.559 Um, add this to your playlist called Nothing Is Wasted. 00:09:55.200 --> 00:10:02.159 And I remember the song just being played because here are some of the lyrics. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:05.440 You know my every need. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.919 You see my poverty. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:10.639 You were enough for me, Jesus. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:15.600 You gave the blind man sight, you raised the dead to life, you've done the same for me, Jesus. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:19.360 And then it says these lines, which I love. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:24.960 It says, You are loving, you are wise. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:31.039 There is nothing in my life that you cannot revive. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:34.320 There is nothing too hard for our God. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:39.519 Nothing is wasted, which is what our scripture is all about. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:42.720 You work all things, church, all things. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:48.799 For good, your promise remains forever you reign. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:11:01.200 When these truths, when they sink in, when we let them sink into our lives, you hear these biblical promises, and there's an incredible application. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:08.960 You get a new perspective on life, you get a new mindset, a new outlook. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:20.720 Your trust in God deepens rather than on the treasures of this world, the things of this world, you look to heaven, not just to the world around us. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:26.720 You don't just know the truth of, but you walk in the promise of experiencing who God is. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:31.279 One of his names being Emmanuel, God with us. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:32.559 Right? 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:38.879 But now, now notice God is not working to make us happy, right? 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:43.279 But to fulfill his purpose. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:49.200 God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, which is really important. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:59.759 This promise, Romans 8.28, says it's for those who love God, who love him with their lives, who have been called according to his will and purpose. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:06.720 Now, the enemy wants nothing more than for us to veer off from this. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:11.679 He is very much satisfied if we veer off course. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:17.120 He's happy to see us drift from our purpose in God. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:22.480 Now, there's a helpful tip that I learned from Andrew, who worships here. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:23.919 He's a local pilot. 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:35.679 And I need this every once in a while as well, especially in light of the season that is ahead with school around the corner in this new year, fall approaching, here's how it goes. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:40.720 In aviation, in flying, there's something called the one to sixty principle. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:51.440 And here's the rule of thumb that for every one degree being off course target, you will be one mile off track after traveling 60 miles. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:13:04.960 So to kind of lay this out, if your plan is to fly from Grand Rapids to LA, but if the pilot is off one degree, you're gonna land in Phoenix, way off from your intended target. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:08.559 And I just want you to take a moment and do some inventory. 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:13.840 Where are you experiencing one degree of drift? 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:18.000 It's easy to look at like 180 drift. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:24.879 I'm just talking a little shift, a little off from the target of God's calling in your life. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:29.200 Where is that temptation right now facing you? 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:37.600 Um is there an off-ramp that has you drifting to take the change course ramp? 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:43.519 Sometimes it's a personal decision that was made personally, individually. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.120 It was way off. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:50.720 Um, maybe it's something that happened to you to veer you off course. 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:59.519 Other times it's gradual and it just takes a little bit of time, you know, a couple of steps, and then you wonder, how did I end up here? 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.480 Here's where I feel it. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.240 I'll be honest today. 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:09.679 Um, I have a calling on my life to be a God glorifying dad. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:22.480 The drift, the off-ramp is to figure it out on my own without relying on God or accountability with other fellow fathers and dads. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.960 Or check this one out. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:28.960 Uh, a calling in my life is to be a servant, leader, pastor. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:35.600 The drift is to do so with self-reliance or to do so with approval and to seek affirmation. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:43.759 God calls, and if we're not careful, there are plenty of off-ramps, just one degree that can get us off course really quick. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:52.080 And this is really key to understand about drifting today as we're honest before the Lord. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:15:04.000 The author, Rosaria Butterfield, she once said, One very difficult aspect of sin is that my sin never feels like sin to me. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:08.480 My sin feels like life to me, plain and simple. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:15.679 In other words, a faithful believer is at war with his or her sin. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:20.159 A drifting believer is simply at peace with it. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.320 It's all good. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:23.840 No worries. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.000 Let me say that again. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:28.480 I was hoping for some finger snaps, but here we go. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:32.799 A faithful believer is at war with his or her sin. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:35.200 A drifting believer is at peace with it. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.799 Can I get some finger snaps on that? 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:37.759 All right, all right. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:46.480 So if we're honest, we feel this angst deeply in the callings that we see in us and around us. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.960 So let me just paint a couple pictures here. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:56.000 How do we step into the calling to give our families our best, not just the leftovers or the temptation to drift and withdraw? 00:15:56.159 --> 00:16:05.840 How do we live into the intentional calling to disciple our children when our screens are chomping at the bit to do that with our kids? 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:12.799 How do we live into the calling of faithfulness and singleness and Christ-centered community instead of drifting into isolation? 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:19.039 How do we live into the calling to fight for our marriages in a world that is happy to see us drift apart? 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:24.639 How do we live into the calling to see our public lives and private lives match with integrity? 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:28.960 Well, this is exactly what Romans 8.28 is all about. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.559 And here's what I'd like to do. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:38.240 I want to go through each phrase here because every single phrase of Romans 8.28 preaches. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:17:08.160 And we know where it begins, which means we have rock solid assurance and certainty, not guesswork, but instead certainty in the Lord that all things, everything, without exception, this means the good, the bad, the joyful, the painful, the confusing, yes, even the unfair. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.839 God works. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.920 Let the church say, God works. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:20.880 God works together, weaving every situation in his perfect plan. 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:23.119 This is called the sovereignty of God. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:32.640 Think about what event that you're facing that is a trial, a challenge, a conflict, a suffering, whatever it is that you brought to the Lord with open hands today. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:47.839 This tells us that God works through the events of our lives, especially the event that is most prominent on your heart, whatever is taking most attention in your mind today. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:51.279 There's a pastor Darrell Ism that I love to quote. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:56.160 He says, God has already figured out the figuring out. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:57.839 Yes. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.000 God works for the good. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:02.960 This is key. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:06.640 The good isn't always about comfort, wealth, or success. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:08.720 It means his spiritual good. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:12.079 And if we need a reminder of this, look behind me. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:17.279 It is why we have the cross situated behind us centrally. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.279 We need the gospel. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:22.240 I need it week in, week out, day by day. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:39.200 The sovereign, good, and perfect plan and the will of God included this truth, the death of his one and only Son that would come and die in our place on the cross to take away the sin of the world and to offer new life and forgiveness. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:49.279 And he works for the good of those who have been called according to his purpose for the good of those who love him. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:53.920 Now, this isn't just love or as emotion. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:56.480 This is love as devotion. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.440 Love as devotion. 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:14.799 Which means loving God means surrendering to his will, being devoted to it, trusting it, even when it's hard to understand, even when we're filled with many questions. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:20.480 To those who have been called, which means God's calling on your life is not random. 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.880 God doesn't do random, right? 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:28.640 No, but we've been given a calling, an intentional caring and strengthening calling. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:32.640 Jeremiah says, I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.480 Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:40.720 Plans to give you a hope and a future according to his purpose. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:45.200 The events in your life are not the result of chaos. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:53.119 God's purposes existed before anyone of us, before any one of us came on the scene. 00:19:55.279 --> 00:20:01.519 He already had your life and your calling planned before you were born. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:06.480 Isn't that amazing that God's calling goes way before your birthday? 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:15.599 And again, Jeremiah 1, verse 5 says, Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:19.680 Talk about beautiful calling. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:24.480 But we need to be honest about something today. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:29.200 And uh here I got a glass and some water. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.160 Alright, and I'm just gonna fill this up here. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.839 It's an average glass, right? 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:36.480 Nothing special about it. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:42.240 But um an average glass filled with water, I'm gonna need your help. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:46.480 Any guesses on how much this weighs? 00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:49.519 Any any guesses? 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:52.319 We got some science, some math folks here. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:54.319 Any any guesses on how much this weighs? 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:56.480 Yeah, uh 12 ounces? 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.279 Yeah. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:01.519 So I I had to Google it as well. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:06.319 It's about um a half pound or so that I'm holding here in my hand. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.559 It's quite light. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:14.960 Um, but if I hold it for a couple minutes, it's gonna hurt, right? 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:19.920 After a couple of hours, this thing is gonna ache. 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:28.319 And if I hold this cup all day, it is gonna be excruciatingly painful, even though it's light. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.440 And why is that? 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:36.559 Why can something so light be so heavy? 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:40.400 So excruciatingly heavy if I hold it for so long. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:42.079 Well, that's why. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:46.720 Of holding it, of clenching it like a vice. 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:59.759 When Jesus appears to his disciples, and a number of them were fishermen, and they they had their hands on. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.680 Something was nets, right? 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:03.119 They love to fish. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:06.640 But Jesus, he comes to them, he says, Come and follow me. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:09.359 And so they let go of the nets. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:12.559 And they come and follow Jesus. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:18.880 Later on, he would say, Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:24.480 And I will give you rest, rest for your souls. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:35.279 So one of the things that we receive in Jesus by laying our lives before him, we're invited to follow him, and then just simply to let the glass down. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:39.039 What is it that is weighing you down? 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:48.720 What stress, what anxiety, what trial that you've been clinging to that has just been so heavy. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:55.519 Jesus says, Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:59.519 And the rest that we receive comes from this scripture. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:06.319 In all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:13.759 The word they're called is the Greek word kaleo, and it mainly has two meanings, two meanings. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:17.839 The first meaning is that calling is an invitation. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:30.559 It's an invitation to receive the good news of Jesus, the gospel into your life, that Jesus took your place and my place on the cross, and then in him to receive forgiveness and new and abundant life. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:35.039 That invitation is available for all. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:39.920 And then the second meaning of called is appointment. 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:53.039 God has given you an appointment in his freedom, away from the stresses and the anxieties of the world to be appointed and anointed for such a time as this. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:24:03.680 Because when you follow the Lord and say yes to him, you receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are used for such a time as now. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:15.359 And God fills the body of Christ with many gifts of the Holy Spirit that are relevant, that are purposeful for this very season. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:18.240 Began the message with two questions, two questions. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.039 Who are you? 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.640 And why are you here? 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.880 The scripture nails it. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.240 Who are we? 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:26.480 We're called to be God's children. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:29.119 Children of Ah the Father, right? 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.799 And why are we here? 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:35.519 We're here to be called according to his purposes. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:43.039 So let's just take a moment and uh and let's pray together and lift up these things before God. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:47.440 Heavenly Father, God, we come before you and we thank you for this morning. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:56.880 We thank you for these very relevant biblical truths from the great Romans 8, these promises that we we so need today, Lord. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:25:08.240 We we come before you and we acknowledge drift, Lord, where you've you've spoken to us and you've asked us to consider where are we drifting from your calling? 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:12.480 And uh sometimes it's just that one degree shift. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:18.880 And so, Lord, we lay that before you and uh veer us back on course with you. 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:36.880 We repent and we confess and acknowledge where we've taken off ramps that have gotten us off track, and we lay that we surrender it before you, Lord, because we want to be, we want to be a people who are fixing our eyes on Jesus and running the race that has been marked out for us. 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:54.160 And Lord, we also uh lay before you things that may be light that we've been holding on to for so long, that have just become a massive burden, like a glass that's held on to all day. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.680 We can't do it. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:02.720 We thank you, Lord, that you provide rest for our souls and that you provide rest through your calling. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:05.599 Um, that oftentimes, Lord, we go to our purposes. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:09.759 No, we we need your purpose over the callings of our lives. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:23.440 And as we look ahead, Lord God, to the season that you have ahead for us as we anticipate school and um from the youngest to maybe college students and grad students and maybe new jobs as well, Lord. 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:30.880 We we want to be a people who are walking step by step in the power of the Holy Spirit, a people who are consecrated for you. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:33.039 We thank you that we cannot do this alone. 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:40.799 We need one another, we need the body of Christ, uh, small groups, various ministries to help, to help us be discipled, Lord. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:44.319 We all need that together as one. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:27:04.400 We thank you, Lord, for what it means to worship you, as Romans 12 says, that this is our true act of worship, to offer our lives to you as a living sacrifice that transforms our hearts to be a people who are called and appointed, who say yes to your invitation. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:15.279 And so, oh Lord God, we offer all this up before you and we thank you for encouraging us, strengthening us through these promises of the great Romans 8. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:24.400 We lift all this up before you, Lord, and send us forward today in your love and strength and mercy and your calling. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.920 In your name we pray. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.880 Amen. 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.839 Amen.