Author: missionspaul

People
Romans 16
There are people who have all played a part in my journey.
Servants, fellow workers, dear friends, hard workers, outstanding fellow prisoners, people I love, those tried and tested, whole families, relatives, those in the Lord, who worked very hard and who became mothers to me. 28 individuals in total plus their families.

There are people who are still with me today in this journey. Fellow workers, relatives, administrators, hospitable workers, professional people, people who became like brothers to me. 8 individuals in total.

All these people are special to me.

But then there is one person. Only one who is able. He alone who establishes all things.
It is Him who is to be truly praised above all others.

Today, thank the Lord for those who journeyed with you over the years. Thank them if you still can.
Thank the Lord for those who are still with you. Honour them.
But pause and thank the Lord for being the only One who has made all things possible.
Amen!

3 things we don’t often say:
Romans 15

God is pleased with the work I do, v17

I have finished the work I am meant to do, v23

Others are blessed by God when I am with them, v29

We should say these more often!

Lists …
I grew up in a time when most Christians had lists. These lists were never produced it was like an oral tradition passed down through the generations dependent on which church you attended.
On this list there were things like:
The cinema
Make up
Clothes
And these things Paul mentions
Food and drink.
Sabbath.
The lists showed whether someone was a true Christian.
Maybe some people still have lists.
Romans 14 tells us that we should live our lives with other people in mind. Not that we try and get them to conform to what we think is acceptable but that we allow them to be who they are. They don’t come on our list.
Similarly we don’t use our freedom to offend. We don’t try and get on their list.
It will be a good day when there are no lists.

The powers that be …
Romans 13
The powers that be are there because God appointed them.
For the Christians, living under the wicked Roman Emperor, Nero, they would find this hard to swallow.
You may also. For your powers that be may not act anything like God.
You may struggle to obey them.
Your government.
Your manager or supervisor.
Your spiritual leader.
All these can make things difficult for you.
In turn you may want to belittle, rebel and usurp the authority above you.
But strangely God has them there for a season.
They are serving a bigger picture than just your life here and now. You are part of that big picture so submit, do what’s right and respect those people.
For when you do this you are in line with God.

Some people do not like do not’s
Romans 12
However I like these ones …
Do not let your culture fashion you, v2
Do not let your success fashion you, v3
Do not let disappointment fashion you, v11
Do not let hurt fashion you, v14
Do not let your titles fashion you, v16
Do not let injustice fashion you, v17
Do not let the desire to win fashion you, v19
Do not let sheer evil fashion you, v21

What’s trying to fashion you today?
If it’s not God, then do not!

A few things for the chosen …
Romans 11

1. The chosen know it is all about the chooser.
v5 Grace!! You were chosen by it.
v7 Nothing of you!! You cannot do anything to be chosen.

2. The chosen do not boast about being chosen.
v20 Fear is part of our faith.
v22 The experience of God’s kindness is a choice the chosen have to continue to make.

3. The chosen understand about miracle grafts.
v23 Second chances! God grafts His people back into the place they should be in.

4. The chosen have guarantees.
v29 No matter what has happened gifts and calling are never cancelled, never!

5. The chosen must know mercy
v32 The chosen have got to experience sin so they can fully know the Saviour.

“The only thing that matters is God’s victory over our unrighteousness, that God alone be the one who is righteous.” Bonhoeffer.
Romans 10
The only thing that matters is when God works He makes things right for us, v8.
Let’s give Him room to do what matters.

So why did that happen? And why didn’t it happen?
Familiar with such questions? Of course.
Romans 9
“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” v21
How do we journey through confusing circumstances with belief in God.
In tackling the questions over why Israel hadn’t turned back to God Paul says:
* the failure is not in the Word of God, v6
* the failure is not in the justice of God, v14
* the failure is not in the impatience of God, v22

In your questions of which there may be many …
Don’t doubt what God tells you in the Bible.
God is fair.
God is working it out for good.

No condemnation!
Romans 8
Are you more aware of the Spirit doing the work of God in you or more aware of you doing the work of God?
Are you focusing on being or doing?
No condemnation means:
The standards of God are satisfied, v3-4
The mind is satisfied, v6
The body is satisfied, v11,13
Our identity is satisfied, v14-17
Who can beat us? v31
Will God suddenly become stingy? v32
Does it matter who accuses us? v33
Does it matter who condemns us? v34
Can you think of anything that is a sign that God has stopped loving you? v35
There is no condemnation. It doesn’t exist for us.

There’s a lot of people trying to be what they already are
Romans 7

1. This new life in Christ means you don’t have to try anymore. It’s a new life, v1-6
The Law of God (trying to be good) has not died, we have. The Law still declares the lifestyle that pleases God but we are dead to trying to please God by living that lifestyle.
This new life is a life of the Spirit.

2. This new life in Christ means if you try to be what you already are, you will fail, v7-13.
Whatever part of the godly lifestyle you set your focus on it will only show you how far short you have failed to keep the standard.
The law (trying to be good) was always meant to establish guilt for sin not be a means for salvation.

3. This new life in Christ means if you try to be what you already are then you will not be true to yourself, v14-24
The Law (trying to be good) cannot change you nor help you into freedom and certainly cannot set you free.

Stop trying.
Start being.
Freedom is not what I can do for Him
But what He can do through me.