Cynthia Lynette Hale - "And We Know That" (July 14, 1996)
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Transcript
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- | Good morning. | 0:14 |
I'd like to welcome you to Duke Chapel. | 0:15 | |
We're blessed this morning to have Dr. Cynthia Hale | 0:17 | |
as our guest preacher. | 0:21 | |
Dr. Hale is the founding pastor of the | 0:23 | |
Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia. | 0:25 | |
She is a native of Roanoke, Virginia | 0:28 | |
and has degrees from Hollands College, | 0:31 | |
a master of divinity from Duke Divinity School | 0:34 | |
and a doctor of ministry from the | 0:37 | |
United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. | 0:38 | |
We're also pleased to welcome her mother and sister | 0:42 | |
who are here with her today, | 0:44 | |
and hope you'll take a time after the service to greet them. | 0:46 | |
I wanna say a word of thanks to Gary Scott | 0:51 | |
who is our elector, he is a Duke Divinity School student | 0:53 | |
and also our guest organist today is Mr. Andrew Unsworth. | 0:57 | |
Now let us continue with the call to worship. | 1:02 | |
Please stand. | 1:04 | |
Good and upright is the Lord. | 1:10 | |
(congregation speaking) | 1:13 | |
God leads the humble in what is right. | 1:16 | |
(congregation speaking) | 1:19 | |
(traditional Catholic music) | 1:24 | |
(congregation and choir singing) | 2:01 | |
Let us pray. | 5:44 | |
Creator of all things, form us anew | 5:48 | |
in the likeness of Christ. | 5:51 | |
Open up to us possibilities we cannot imagine | 5:53 | |
and free us from self-imposed limitations. | 5:58 | |
Helps us explore the depths of faith | 6:04 | |
and heights of possibility. | 6:06 | |
Help us open ourselves to you healing power | 6:10 | |
and your saving grace. | 6:13 | |
For wherever we go, you are with us. | 6:16 | |
Unite us now with your presence | 6:21 | |
as we worship in spirit and in truth, amen. | 6:24 | |
You may be seated. | 6:29 | |
- | Let us pray the prayer for illumination. | 6:41 |
Open our hearts and minds oh God, | 6:45 | |
by the power of your holy spirit so that as the word | 6:49 | |
is read and proclaimed we may hear your message | 6:54 | |
with joy this day, amen. | 6:57 | |
The old testament reading is from the book of Genesis, | 7:02 | |
chapter 25, verses 19 through 34. | 7:06 | |
Hear the word of the Lord. | 7:12 | |
These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham's son. | 7:16 | |
Abraham was the father of Isaac and Isaac | 7:21 | |
was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, | 7:24 | |
daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, | 7:28 | |
sister of Labanm the Aramean. | 7:33 | |
Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife | 7:37 | |
because she was barren. | 7:39 | |
And the Lord granted his prayer | 7:41 | |
and his wife, Rebekah, conceived. | 7:43 | |
The children struggled together within her | 7:48 | |
and she said, if it is to be this way, why do I live? | 7:52 | |
So she went to inquire of the Lord and the Lord said to her, | 7:58 | |
two nations are in your womb and two people's | 8:03 | |
born of you shall be divided. | 8:08 | |
The one shall be stronger than the other. | 8:12 | |
The elder shall serve the younger. | 8:15 | |
When her time to give birth was at hand, | 8:20 | |
there were twins in her womb. | 8:23 | |
The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle. | 8:25 | |
So they called him Esau. | 8:31 | |
Afterward, his brother came out with his hand | 8:34 | |
gripping Esau's heel, so he was named Jacob. | 8:37 | |
Isaac was 60 years old when she bore them. | 8:44 | |
When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, | 8:49 | |
a man of the field while Jacob was a quiet man | 8:53 | |
living in tents. | 8:56 | |
Isaac loved Esau because he was fond of game, | 8:58 | |
but Rebekah loved Jacob. | 9:03 | |
Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, | 9:07 | |
Esau came in from the field and he was famished. | 9:09 | |
Esau said to Jacob, let me eat some of that red stuff | 9:13 | |
for I am famished. | 9:18 | |
Therefore he was called Edom. | 9:20 | |
Jacob said, first sell me your birth right. | 9:23 | |
Esau said, I'm about to die. | 9:27 | |
Of what use is a birth right to me? | 9:31 | |
Jacob said, swear to me first, so he swore to him | 9:34 | |
and sold his birth right to Jacob. | 9:41 | |
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew | 9:44 | |
and he ate and he drank and rose and went his way. | 9:48 | |
Thus Esau despised his birth right. | 9:53 | |
This is the word of the Lord. | 9:59 | |
Thanks be to God. | 10:02 | |
- | This morning's salter is Psalm 25, verses one through 10, | 10:11 |
found on page 756 and 757 in your hymnal. | 10:15 | |
Please stand and sing the salter and glory responsibly. | 10:19 | |
♪ To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul ♪ | 10:27 | |
♪ Oh my God, in you I trust ♪ | 10:33 | |
♪ Let me not be put to shame ♪ | 10:38 | |
♪ Let not my enemies exult over me ♪ | 10:42 | |
♪ Let none that wait for you be put to shame ♪ | 10:49 | |
♪ They shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous ♪ | 10:55 | |
♪ Make me to know your ways O Lord ♪ | 11:02 | |
♪ Teach me your paths ♪ | 11:07 | |
♪ Lead me in you truth and teach me ♪ | 11:12 | |
♪ For you are the God of my salvation ♪ | 11:20 | |
♪ For you are I wait all the day long ♪ | 11:26 | |
♪ Be mindful of your mercy O Lord ♪ | 11:32 | |
♪ And of your steadfast love ♪ | 11:36 | |
♪ For they have been from of old ♪ | 11:40 | |
♪ Remember not the sins of my youth ♪ | 11:44 | |
♪ Or my transgessions ♪ | 11:50 | |
♪ According to your steadfast love remember me ♪ | 11:54 | |
♪ For the sake of your goodness, O Lord ♪ | 12:00 | |
♪ Good and upright is the Lord ♪ | 12:07 | |
♪ Therefor the Lord instructs sinners in the way ♪ | 12:11 | |
♪ And leads the humble in what is right ♪ | 12:17 | |
♪ And teaches them their ways ♪ | 12:22 | |
♪ All the paths of the Lord are steadfast ♪ | 12:27 | |
♪ Love and faithfulness ♪ | 12:31 | |
♪ For those who keep his covenant and testimonies ♪ | 12:35 | |
♪ All glory to be to you creator ♪ | 12:43 | |
♪ And to Jesus Christ our savior ♪ | 12:46 | |
♪ And to the holy spirit let us be ♪ | 12:49 | |
♪ As it was their time began ♪ | 12:56 | |
♪ Is now and ever be forever more. ♪ | 13:00 | |
- | You may be seated. | 13:09 |
- | The second reading is from the gospel | 13:20 |
according to Matthew, chapter 13, verses one through nine | 13:23 | |
and 18 through 23. | 13:30 | |
Hear the word of the Lord. | 13:34 | |
That same day Jesus went out of the house | 13:39 | |
and sat beside the sea. | 13:42 | |
Such great crowds gathered around him that he got | 13:44 | |
into a boat and sat there while the whole crowd | 13:47 | |
stood on the beach. | 13:50 | |
And he told them many thing in parables saying, | 13:53 | |
"Listen a sower went out to sow and as he sowed | 13:57 | |
"some some seeds fell on the path and the birds | 14:03 | |
"came and ate them up. | 14:07 | |
"Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not | 14:09 | |
"have much soil and they sprang up quickly | 14:13 | |
"since they had no depth of soil. | 14:16 | |
"But when the sun rose, they were scorched, | 14:20 | |
"since the had no root, they withered away. | 14:24 | |
"Other seeds fell among thorns and the thorns | 14:28 | |
"grew up and choked them. | 14:32 | |
"Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, | 14:34 | |
"some a hundred fold, some 60, some 30. | 14:39 | |
"Let anyone with ears listen." | 14:44 | |
Hear then the parable of the sower. | 14:50 | |
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom | 14:53 | |
and does not understand it, the evil one comes | 14:56 | |
and snatches away what is sown in the heart. | 14:59 | |
This is what was sown on the path. | 15:03 | |
As for what was sown on rocky ground, | 15:07 | |
this is the one who hears the word | 15:10 | |
and immediately receives it with joy, | 15:14 | |
yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while. | 15:17 | |
And when trouble and persecution arises | 15:20 | |
on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. | 15:25 | |
As for what was sown among the thorns, | 15:31 | |
this is the one who hears the word, | 15:34 | |
but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth | 15:38 | |
choke the word and it yields nothing. | 15:42 | |
But as for what was sown on good soil, | 15:47 | |
this is the one who hears the word and understand it, | 15:50 | |
who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case | 15:56 | |
a hundred fold, in another 60, in another 30. | 16:00 | |
This is the word of the Lord. | 16:06 | |
Thanks be to God. | 16:09 | |
(choir singing) | 16:42 | |
- | The third lesson is take from Paul's letter | 18:59 |
to the church at Rome. | 19:02 | |
The eighth chapter, beginning with the first verse. | 19:04 | |
Therefore there us now now condemnation for those | 19:09 | |
who are in Christ Jesus because through Chirst Jesus | 19:13 | |
the law of the spirit of life set me free | 19:18 | |
from the law of sin and death. | 19:21 | |
For what the law was powerless to do and that it | 19:24 | |
was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending | 19:26 | |
his own son in the likeness of sinful men and women | 19:30 | |
to be a sin offering. | 19:34 | |
And so he condemned sin and sinful man and women | 19:36 | |
in order that the righteous requirements of the law | 19:39 | |
might be fully met in us, who do not live | 19:42 | |
according the sinful nature, but according the spirit. | 19:46 | |
Those who live according to the sinful nature | 19:51 | |
have their minds set on what that nature desires. | 19:53 | |
But those who live in accordance with the spirit | 19:57 | |
have their mind set on what the spirit desires. | 20:00 | |
Mind of sinful persons is death. | 20:04 | |
But the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace. | 20:09 | |
The sinful mind is hostile to God. | 20:13 | |
It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. | 20:15 | |
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. | 20:21 | |
You however are not controlled by the sinful nature, | 20:25 | |
but by the spirit if the spirit of God lives in you. | 20:29 | |
And if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, | 20:33 | |
he or she does not belong to Christ | 20:37 | |
because if Christ is in you, your body is dead | 20:41 | |
because of sin, yet your spirit is alive | 20:46 | |
because of righteousness. | 20:50 | |
And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead | 20:52 | |
is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead | 20:55 | |
will also give life to your mortal body, | 20:58 | |
through his spirit who lives in you. | 21:00 | |
This is the word of the Lord. | 21:06 | |
Congregation | Thanks be to God. | 21:09 |
- | My precious brothers and sisters, | 21:12 |
what a joy it is for me to be here with you | 21:14 | |
standing tall on the platform that some short person | 21:16 | |
must use regularly on Sunday morning. | 21:19 | |
I don't know if you saw me processing down the aisle, | 21:24 | |
but I am six feet fall and I don't need | 21:27 | |
Will Williman's platform. | 21:31 | |
My gracious hostess, Debra Brazzel and Gary Scott, | 21:39 | |
the members of the choir, the members of the congregation, | 21:45 | |
my brothers and sisters in Christ, | 21:48 | |
those who are not and maybe want to be, | 21:51 | |
those who are not and don't want to be, | 21:53 | |
those who just came to church this morning | 21:55 | |
because it's the thing to do. | 21:57 | |
I really am delighted to be with you and share | 22:00 | |
the word of our God with you. | 22:03 | |
If you will permit me, I'd like to continue reading | 22:06 | |
just another portion in Romans the eighth chapter. | 22:10 | |
I got excited when I read it and I decided | 22:13 | |
I wanted to preach from the whole chapter, | 22:16 | |
but I promise I won't take more than 15 or 20 minutes. | 22:20 | |
I understand if you preach too long, | 22:23 | |
people begin to get antsy. | 22:25 | |
In the 28th and 30th verses, we find these words. | 22:30 | |
And we know that in all things God works for the good | 22:35 | |
of those who love God and have been called | 22:39 | |
according to his purpose. | 22:43 | |
For those God foreknew he also predestined | 22:45 | |
to be conformed to the image of his son, | 22:48 | |
that he might be the first born | 22:51 | |
among many brothers and sisters. | 22:53 | |
And those he predestined, he also called | 22:56 | |
and those he called he also justified. | 22:58 | |
Those he justified, he also glorified. | 23:02 | |
Pray with me. | 23:06 | |
God, thank you for this word and for this sweet | 23:08 | |
opportunity to preach. | 23:10 | |
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations | 23:14 | |
of all of our hearts be found acceptable in thy sight | 23:16 | |
because you alone, oh God, are our strength | 23:20 | |
and our redeemer, amen. | 23:23 | |
Over the last couple of years it seems that my life | 23:27 | |
has been inundated with crisis, one right after the other. | 23:30 | |
You've heard the saying, when it rains it pours, | 23:34 | |
and I tell you the truth, it's been raining | 23:37 | |
cats and dogs in my world. | 23:39 | |
Just as soon as I'd recover from one thing | 23:42 | |
something new would pop up. | 23:44 | |
Every time I thought I had it all together again, | 23:47 | |
something new would come unglued. | 23:50 | |
You know what I mean? | 23:52 | |
In the midst of all the craziness, I tried to remain | 23:54 | |
cool, calm, and collected, but inside of me | 23:58 | |
a volcano of uncontrollable emotions was surging up | 24:01 | |
and erupting and sometimes in the middle of the day | 24:05 | |
I felt like exploding in fit of frustration. | 24:07 | |
Or in the middle of the night, I would wake up | 24:12 | |
crying out to God, where are you? | 24:15 | |
Have you forgotten about me? | 24:19 | |
I thought you loved me, why is all this happening to me? | 24:21 | |
And God would reply in God's calm and cool way, | 24:26 | |
I've got you covered. | 24:30 | |
It's all under control and you know that. | 24:32 | |
I do, I retorted. | 24:36 | |
Somehow it doesn't feel like. | 24:38 | |
All hell is breaking loose in my life | 24:40 | |
and you say you've got it all under control. | 24:42 | |
You call this control? | 24:46 | |
It feels like any moment with all the pressures | 24:50 | |
that I am going through, my life will self destruct. | 24:52 | |
Why is all this happening to me? | 24:55 | |
Again God would quietly say, | 24:59 | |
"Cynthia, you know that it's not just happening to you. | 25:00 | |
"You know that because of the original sin | 25:04 | |
"that's in the world and because of all that's happening | 25:07 | |
"through the evil that the creation that I | 25:11 | |
"originally created, good is now groaning | 25:14 | |
"as a woman in the pain of childbirth, | 25:17 | |
"waiting to be delivered from its bondage to decay. | 25:19 | |
"You know that not only creation, but all persons, | 25:23 | |
"especially Christians are groaning also | 25:26 | |
"because of the suffering that is inherent in life. | 25:29 | |
"You know that in this world we shall have troubles." | 25:32 | |
Jesus made that quite clear, but he also said | 25:36 | |
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. | 25:40 | |
You're right God, I do know that. | 25:44 | |
We all know that suffering and pain and fustration | 25:48 | |
that goes along with them are all a part of life. | 25:52 | |
And we know that life isn't easy. | 25:56 | |
As a matter of fact, sometimes life can be downright hard. | 25:58 | |
There are times in our lives when it seems | 26:02 | |
that the darkness will never end. | 26:04 | |
The trials won't stop coming. | 26:06 | |
The frustrations won't stop growing | 26:08 | |
and the tears just won't stop flowing. | 26:10 | |
But we also know that God works together in all things | 26:13 | |
for the good of those who love God | 26:19 | |
and are called according to God's purpose. | 26:21 | |
We know that, don't we? | 26:25 | |
How many times we have read, heard, or quoted | 26:28 | |
this verse and it's promise. | 26:31 | |
But isn't it interesting how we can read, hear, | 26:35 | |
or even quote the promises of God to comfort, | 26:38 | |
encourage, and give all of us blessed assurance | 26:42 | |
and then yet fail to claim its promise in our lives | 26:45 | |
so that we can live victoriously. | 26:49 | |
Why do we continue to go through these emotional | 26:52 | |
ups and downs every time some new trouble | 26:55 | |
comes in our lives. | 26:58 | |
When Paul wrote this promise, an affirmation | 27:02 | |
of the sovereignty and providence of our God | 27:05 | |
to the saints in Rome, he wrote it as a part | 27:07 | |
of a powerful letter in which he makes clear | 27:11 | |
our position as persons in Christ. | 27:13 | |
This eighth chapter of Romans is for Paul, | 27:17 | |
the Christian's declaration of freedom. | 27:20 | |
In it he affirms four freedoms that we experience | 27:23 | |
that we are privileged to have as Christians. | 27:27 | |
Paul began this chapter by declaring that we a | 27:30 | |
are free from condemnation. | 27:33 | |
Didn't you hear it when I read it? | 27:35 | |
Therefore, there is now no condemnation | 27:38 | |
to those who are in Christ Jesus because through | 27:41 | |
Christ Jesus we have been set free | 27:44 | |
from the law of sin and death. | 27:46 | |
Because of Jesus' death on the cross, | 27:49 | |
those of you who have accepted him as our | 27:52 | |
personal Lord and savior have been forgiven | 27:54 | |
of our sins and set free from the guilt | 27:57 | |
and shame of our past deeds. | 27:59 | |
And even the penalty of sin, death. | 28:01 | |
We are free from condemnation. | 28:05 | |
We have been justified, declared righteous. | 28:08 | |
Once we were sinners, persons who were guilt, | 28:11 | |
but God and God's love and grace | 28:14 | |
have now made us righteous. | 28:16 | |
We have been made right with God and reconciled. | 28:19 | |
No condemnation, nobody can tell us | 28:22 | |
I remember what you did 10 years ago. | 28:25 | |
It's forgiven, it's forgotten, it's over. | 28:28 | |
No condemnation. | 28:30 | |
Paul goes on to say that not only are we free | 28:33 | |
from condemnation, but we are also free | 28:36 | |
from any obligation to live according to the flesh. | 28:38 | |
Romans 8:12 says, therefore brothers and sisters | 28:43 | |
we have no obligation, we have an obligation, | 28:47 | |
but it is not to the sinful nature to live according to it. | 28:50 | |
For if you live according to the sinful nature, | 28:54 | |
you will die. | 28:57 | |
But if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds | 28:58 | |
of the body, you will live. | 29:01 | |
Once we were powerless. | 29:04 | |
Helplessly, hopelessly enslaved to do whatever | 29:05 | |
our sinful nature, our flesh desired and demanded. | 29:08 | |
Now we live no longer according to the flesh. | 29:12 | |
We have been set free, not only from the penalty of sin, | 29:15 | |
but the power of sin in our lives. | 29:19 | |
There is no obligation to live according | 29:21 | |
to the sinful nature because the spirit | 29:24 | |
of Christ lives in us. | 29:28 | |
It's the spirit that helps us to say no | 29:31 | |
to those things that displease God. | 29:34 | |
It's the spirit that helps us to make | 29:36 | |
the right decisions and the right choices. | 29:38 | |
It's the spirit that helps us to do the right thing. | 29:41 | |
Being in Christ sets us free from condemnation | 29:46 | |
and from obligation to sin, but it also sets | 29:50 | |
us free from frustration. | 29:52 | |
The frustration that comes from the trials | 29:55 | |
and troubles of life. | 29:58 | |
Freedom from frustration is as real as freedom | 30:01 | |
from condemnation and no obligation to sin, | 30:03 | |
is in our lives as Christians. | 30:06 | |
Just as we have victory of sin and death, | 30:09 | |
we have victory over frustration and those things | 30:13 | |
that cause us to be frustrated. | 30:16 | |
I think some of us believe that as long as we | 30:18 | |
are in the world experiencing pain and suffering | 30:21 | |
that frustration is to be a natural part of our lives. | 30:24 | |
Not so, frustration is a choice. | 30:29 | |
You can choose to be frustrated or not. | 30:32 | |
Frustration is detention, the anxiety, | 30:35 | |
the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness | 30:38 | |
that we feel when we aren't sure what is happening to us, | 30:40 | |
why it is happening and what the outcome will be. | 30:44 | |
Frustration happens when we are all alone | 30:49 | |
and feel that no one cares that we are in | 30:52 | |
the situation we find ourselves in. | 30:55 | |
We feel frustrated when we feel we have no control | 30:58 | |
over what's happening in our lives. | 31:02 | |
It's frustrating, you know, when you or someone else | 31:05 | |
you love is addicted, has cancer, | 31:09 | |
AIDS or is HIV positive. | 31:12 | |
It's frustrating watching your children continually | 31:16 | |
make dumb decisions, seemingly wasting or ruining | 31:18 | |
their lives when you invested so much in them. | 31:22 | |
On the other hand, it's frustrating dealing | 31:25 | |
with parents who are usually unreasonable | 31:27 | |
and won't hear another perspective. | 31:29 | |
It's frustrating, isn't it, dealing with the aging process. | 31:32 | |
Not being as vital or as virile as you used to be. | 31:37 | |
Having to deal with physical and emotional challenges | 31:40 | |
that only a few years ago you didn't even think about. | 31:44 | |
It's frustrating when you lose your job | 31:48 | |
and you're not sure where your next check is coming from. | 31:51 | |
You're not sure whether or not you're even gonna | 31:54 | |
be able to get another job given your age | 31:55 | |
or experience or the circumstances of your removal. | 31:58 | |
It's frustrating being single and living alone | 32:03 | |
when you want to be married. | 32:06 | |
Living alone, cooking and cleaning for one, | 32:08 | |
renting movies, popping popcorn for one. | 32:10 | |
Taking out the trash, bringing in the groceries | 32:14 | |
and mail for one. | 32:16 | |
On the other hand some of y'all are frustrated | 32:19 | |
because you're married and you wanna be single. | 32:21 | |
It's always greener on the other side. | 32:23 | |
Frustration comes when you're not sure | 32:28 | |
what's happening to you and it seems | 32:30 | |
like everything is out of control. | 32:32 | |
You try to pray but you don't even know what to say. | 32:34 | |
When you manage to get a few words out, | 32:37 | |
it feels like it only goes to the top of the ceiling, | 32:38 | |
but Paul says that even when we don't know | 32:41 | |
what to pray, the spirit that lives in us | 32:43 | |
is interceding for us, speaking in words | 32:46 | |
that we cannot understand. | 32:49 | |
You see though we may not understand what's happening | 32:51 | |
in our lives, but the holy spirit does. | 32:53 | |
And the spirit knows what to pray for | 32:56 | |
because the spirit also know the will of God for our lives. | 32:58 | |
And when we can't pray, when you've got the spirit | 33:01 | |
living in you, the spirit is praying on your behalf. | 33:04 | |
We may not know what's happening to us and why. | 33:10 | |
We may not know what to say to God and what to pray for, | 33:14 | |
but we know that in all things God works | 33:18 | |
for the good of those who love him | 33:22 | |
and are called according to his purpose. | 33:25 | |
Now when Paul wrote this verse, he wasn't engaging | 33:29 | |
in some endeavor to impress people with his fortitude. | 33:32 | |
Paul was writing out of his own personal experience | 33:36 | |
of pain and suffering. | 33:39 | |
Paul was intimately acquainted with pain and suffering. | 33:41 | |
He was no stranger to challenges, but notice that Paul | 33:44 | |
doesn't take this occasion to chronicle | 33:48 | |
his challenges to show us awful life has been for him. | 33:50 | |
Sometimes some of us become so obsessed with what | 33:56 | |
we've gone through or what we are going through | 34:01 | |
that we fail to recognize or remember | 34:03 | |
that our experiences may have some | 34:06 | |
redemptive purpose for us. | 34:08 | |
Paul in this instance is focusing not on the pain, | 34:12 | |
but on the gain. | 34:16 | |
In all things, everything, anything. | 34:18 | |
God works for the good of those who love God | 34:22 | |
and are called according to God's purpose. | 34:25 | |
This experience of God working in everything | 34:28 | |
for our good is for those who love God | 34:31 | |
and it is for a purpose. | 34:35 | |
To love God is to be in personal relationship with God. | 34:38 | |
To love God is to have responded to God's | 34:41 | |
irresistible love for us because first John 4:19 says, | 34:44 | |
we love God because God first loved us. | 34:48 | |
Having responded to God's love, we love God | 34:51 | |
with all of our hearts, or we're supposed to, | 34:54 | |
all of our mind, soul, and strength. | 34:57 | |
To love God is to know God, to know that God is all knowing, | 34:59 | |
to know that God is all powerful. | 35:03 | |
To know that God only wants the best for us. | 35:05 | |
Loving God is trusting God and accepting God's | 35:10 | |
will for our lives. | 35:13 | |
It's saying to God, I'm yours. | 35:15 | |
Do whatever you want to do with me. | 35:17 | |
Have your way in my life. | 35:19 | |
When you love God and trust God, | 35:24 | |
then you know that nothing can happen in your life | 35:27 | |
that God does not permit and God does not | 35:31 | |
intend to use for your benefit and for God's glory. | 35:34 | |
God has a wonderful plan for each of our lives. | 35:39 | |
We have been called according to God's purpose. | 35:43 | |
God's plan, God's scheme, God's design for each of us | 35:46 | |
ultimately is to be like Jesus Christ. | 35:50 | |
Verse 29 says, for those God foreknew, | 35:54 | |
God also predestined to be conformed | 35:57 | |
to the image of God's son. | 35:59 | |
He might be the first born among many brothers and sisters | 36:01 | |
and those whom God predestined, God also called. | 36:06 | |
And those who called, he also justified | 36:11 | |
and those God justified he also glorified. | 36:14 | |
When God created us, God made us in his image and likeness, | 36:18 | |
but because of sin, the image and likeness of God | 36:23 | |
in us has been marred. | 36:27 | |
Before the creation, God knew that this would happen | 36:30 | |
so God put a plan in place because God knew | 36:32 | |
that we weren't going to be able to reclaim our creation | 36:35 | |
in our own strength alone. | 36:39 | |
So he sent his son Jesus Christ into the world. | 36:42 | |
Jesus is the express image. | 36:46 | |
The exact representation of God in the flesh. | 36:48 | |
Jesus came to earth to give us a perfect example | 36:51 | |
of what God created us to be. | 36:56 | |
Then he died on the cross, as I said earlier, | 36:58 | |
to set us free from sin and to help us | 37:00 | |
recover the image of God in us. | 37:03 | |
Before we were created, before we were born God loved you. | 37:08 | |
God loved us so much that he decided, | 37:13 | |
he predetermined that all those who came to know him | 37:17 | |
through his son, Jesus Christ, he would justify | 37:21 | |
and then he would one day glorified. | 37:24 | |
To be glorified is to ultimately be like Jesus. | 37:26 | |
First John 3:2 says, dear friends, | 37:31 | |
now we are the children of God. | 37:34 | |
And what we will be has not yet been made known. | 37:37 | |
But we know that when he appears we shall be like him | 37:40 | |
for we shall see him as he is. | 37:44 | |
Now in the meantime, in the between time | 37:48 | |
this is important, we are in process. | 37:50 | |
God is working out God's purpose in our lives. | 37:54 | |
And guess what, God is using all the things | 37:59 | |
that frustrate us, that hurt us, that humiliate us, | 38:03 | |
that disappoint us to shape and mold us | 38:07 | |
and change us and transform us in to the very | 38:11 | |
image of Christ. | 38:14 | |
Like sand paper on rough edges, like buffing stones | 38:17 | |
on calessed corners, like brillow on stained places | 38:21 | |
God is changing us. | 38:26 | |
No need to be frustrated now that you know what's happening. | 38:29 | |
We have the victory. | 38:33 | |
We are to live in hope. | 38:35 | |
God is working it out. | 38:37 | |
God has us covered, God has our back. | 38:39 | |
God has everything under his control. | 38:41 | |
God is changing us, transforming us. | 38:44 | |
We are diamonds in the rough. | 38:46 | |
Remember how diamonds are made? | 38:50 | |
From a lump of coal that undergoes intense pressure. | 38:52 | |
Remember too that a pearl is formed in an oyster | 38:56 | |
from a grain of sand that causes irritation in the oyster. | 39:00 | |
And gold is purified, all of the draws, | 39:04 | |
all of the impurities are take out through intense fire. | 39:07 | |
A diamond, a pearl, gold, take your pick. | 39:13 | |
Whatever you wanna be, God is transforming you. | 39:16 | |
Let me share with you, in closing, | 39:22 | |
the last frustration given to us, or excuse me, | 39:24 | |
freedom that is given to us in this text. | 39:27 | |
Freedom from separation, no separation. | 39:30 | |
Often when we go through challenges in our lives, | 39:34 | |
the most difficult part is hanging in there | 39:39 | |
particularly when we feel all alone and no one cares. | 39:42 | |
There are times when we feel deserted and the reality is | 39:46 | |
sometimes we are. | 39:49 | |
Friends and family members may not always understand | 39:52 | |
and know how to support us when we're going | 39:55 | |
through difficult times. | 39:58 | |
It's when we feel deserted that we hurt the most. | 40:00 | |
But we can rest assure that in Christ, | 40:05 | |
we have freedom from separation. | 40:08 | |
That is how this chapter ends. | 40:11 | |
Go back and read the entire chapter some time, won't you? | 40:13 | |
Paul asks the questions, and then masterfully | 40:17 | |
gives the answer to it to bring us sweet assurance | 40:20 | |
as we go through our trials. | 40:23 | |
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ. | 40:26 | |
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or nakedness | 40:30 | |
or danger or sword, know in all these things | 40:36 | |
we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. | 40:39 | |
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, | 40:43 | |
neither angels nor demons, | 40:46 | |
neither the present nor the future, | 40:48 | |
nor any powers, neither height nor depth | 40:50 | |
or anything else in all creation shall be able | 40:53 | |
to separate us from the love of God Christ Jesus. | 40:56 | |
And we know that, amen. | 41:02 | |
(choir singing) | 41:41 | |
- | You may be seated. | 43:48 |
The Lord be with you. | 43:55 | |
- | And also with you. | 43:56 |
- | Let us pray. | 43:58 |
Oh lamb of God, we come to you this morning | 44:01 | |
just as we are, with our sinfulness, | 44:06 | |
our brokenness, our frustrations, our fears. | 44:11 | |
We come just as we are knowing that in you | 44:19 | |
there is no condemnation, but forgiveness, | 44:22 | |
wholeness, assurance, peace. | 44:27 | |
We come believing in the power of your holy spirit | 44:32 | |
to transform us from the inside out. | 44:35 | |
We come clinging to the promise that you are able | 44:40 | |
to free us from your death dealing ways | 44:44 | |
and give us life abundant. | 44:48 | |
We come knowing that whoever are and whatever | 44:51 | |
we've done, you receive us with open arms. | 44:55 | |
We come boldly believing that it is your will | 45:01 | |
to call us children, to make us your own | 45:06 | |
and to work all things for our good. | 45:11 | |
For this and all your blessings, we give you thanks. | 45:15 | |
Lord and your mercy, hear our prayer. | 45:20 | |
Oh God, teach us to walk according to the ways | 45:25 | |
of your spirit. | 45:28 | |
Be our vision and our guide. | 45:30 | |
Our highest aspiration and our deepest hope. | 45:34 | |
Show us what is possible when we live life | 45:38 | |
according to the spirit. | 45:41 | |
Helps us learn to seek you first in all things. | 45:44 | |
Dwell in us that we may dwell in you. | 45:48 | |
Make our ways your ways. | 45:52 | |
Empower us with your holy spirit so that we | 45:54 | |
may fulfill the law of love. | 45:59 | |
Make us transparent so that those who look | 46:01 | |
at our lives may see a glimpse of your | 46:05 | |
great love and mercy. | 46:08 | |
Lord and you mercy, hear our prayer. | 46:11 | |
Oh God, from the beginning of time you have provided | 46:16 | |
for our physical and spiritual needs. | 46:19 | |
In Christ you revealed your concern for our whole lives, | 46:23 | |
choosing to walk and live among us. | 46:27 | |
We know that you know our needs before we even speak them, | 46:30 | |
but you have also said, ask and you shall receive. | 46:34 | |
So we ask for your blessing and your healing touch | 46:38 | |
upon all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. | 46:42 | |
And silence, we lift up our own needs and frustrations, | 46:47 | |
and the needs of those close to us. | 46:52 | |
Lord make us whole in the way you know to be best for us. | 47:06 | |
Make us free. | 47:11 | |
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. | 47:13 | |
We pray also for the needs of our community and world. | 47:18 | |
Be with all those recovering from the damages | 47:23 | |
of Hurricane Bertha. | 47:25 | |
We pray for those in distress, with financial difficulty, | 47:28 | |
unemployment, homelessness, violence, illness, oppression. | 47:32 | |
We pray for the churches that have been burned | 47:38 | |
and for those who live with the thread of violence. | 47:40 | |
Help us become more caring communities, | 47:44 | |
where all share in the blessings of creation | 47:47 | |
and overcome the forces of hatred and teach us | 47:50 | |
to celebrate the glorious diversity of your creation. | 47:54 | |
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. | 47:58 | |
Oh Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people. | 48:02 | |
We pray with great hope because we know that your spirit | 48:07 | |
takes up our prayers where they leave off | 48:11 | |
and praise with us and for us. | 48:13 | |
We pray with great confidence that all things | 48:17 | |
work together for the good of those | 48:20 | |
who love you and are called according to your purpose. | 48:22 | |
In the name of Christ we pray, amen. | 48:26 | |
Let us show our gratitude to the Lord | 48:32 | |
with our gifts of thanksgiving. | 48:35 | |
(soft organ music) | 48:43 | |
(choir singing) | 50:16 | |
(choir singing) | 54:15 | |
♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ | 54:42 | |
♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ | 54:47 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 54:54 | |
Amazing God, the gifts you have give us, | 55:08 | |
our gifts pale into insignificance. | 55:12 | |
And yet we know that just as we accept us, | 55:17 | |
though we be unworthy, you accept our gifts. | 55:20 | |
Increase our vision and enlarge our compassion, | 55:25 | |
that we might embrace our brothers and sisters in need | 55:29 | |
as you have embraced us. | 55:33 | |
Receive these gifts in love and use them and us | 55:35 | |
to further your caring in the world. | 55:40 | |
And now let us pray with confidence as the children of God. | 55:43 | |
Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. | 55:48 | |
Thy kingdom come, they will be done | 55:52 | |
on earth as it is in heaven. | 55:56 | |
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us | 55:59 | |
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. | 56:02 | |
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil | 56:07 | |
for thine is the kingdom and the power | 56:12 | |
and the glory forever, amen. | 56:14 | |
(choir singing) | 56:59 | |
Go forth abounding in the hope and power | 59:54 | |
of the Holy Spirit. | 59:56 | |
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, | 59:58 | |
the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit | 1:00:00 | |
be with you all. | 1:00:03 | |
♪ Hallelujah, amen, amen. ♪ | 1:00:07 | |
(traditional organ music) | 1:00:18 | |
(choir singing) | 1:03:18 | |
What joy there can be loving God. | 1:03:28 | |
In the giving and receiving of cool, refreshing water. | 1:03:30 | |
Thank you for the living water that we have received | 1:03:35 | |
from Christ and our privileged to share. | 1:03:40 | |
Bless the resources gathered to today to sustain | 1:03:45 | |
the programs and outreach of this chapel | 1:03:49 | |
and the congregation. | 1:03:53 | |
May these gifts of our words and our deeds | 1:03:56 | |
and our sustenance make an effective witness | 1:04:02 | |
to Jesus Christ, savior of the world, | 1:04:07 | |
who taught us to pray together saying, | 1:04:11 | |
our father who are in heaven hallowed be thy name. | 1:04:15 | |
Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth | 1:04:20 | |
as it is in heaven. | 1:04:26 | |
Give us this day our daily bread | 1:04:28 | |
and forgive us our trespasses are we forgive those | 1:04:30 | |
who trespass against us. | 1:04:35 | |
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. | 1:04:38 | |
For thine is the kingdom and the power | 1:04:43 | |
and the glory forever, amen. | 1:04:47 | |
(traditional organ music) | 1:04:53 | |
(choir singing) | 1:05:46 | |
Go in peace. | 1:09:42 | |
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, | 1:09:43 | |
the love of God, the communion of the holy spirit | 1:09:45 | |
be with you and keep you, amen. | 1:09:48 | |
♪ The Lord bless you and keep you ♪ | 1:09:58 | |
♪ The lord make his grace to shine upon you ♪ | 1:10:04 | |
♪ To shine upon and be gracious ♪ | 1:10:09 | |
♪ And be gracious unto you ♪ | 1:10:14 | |
♪ The lord bless you and keep you ♪ | 1:10:20 | |
♪ The lord make his grace to shine upon you ♪ | 1:10:26 | |
♪ To shine upon you and be gracious ♪ | 1:10:32 | |
♪ And be gracious unto you ♪ | 1:10:36 | |
♪ The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you ♪ | 1:10:42 | |
♪ The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you ♪ | 1:10:53 | |
♪ And give you peace ♪ | 1:11:05 | |
♪ And give you peace ♪ | 1:11:10 | |
♪ And give you peace ♪ | 1:11:15 | |
♪ And give you peace ♪ | 1:11:20 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:11:27 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:11:31 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:11:37 | |
♪ Amen, amen ♪ | 1:11:42 | |
♪ Amen, amen ♪ | 1:11:47 | |
(traditional organ music) | 1:12:06 |
Item Info
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