Sunday Service with Calvary Chapel Bakersfield

Happy New Year! I had to laugh this week as I was studying for today as some people might believe I chose this particular passage because of the recent events in Washington DC this past week where Bakersfield's own Kevin McCarthy was finally voted the Speak of The House of Representatives, the third highest position in our government behind the President and Vice President. If you thought people made fun of Bakersfield before, just wait. The topic of politics and our responsibility to it is going to be heating up more and more in the days ahead.

Happy New Year! Next week we will start back in our study of the book of Romans in chapter 13, but this morning being a “One Service Sunday” as we celebrate the New Year today, I thought we would dedicate today to looking at what the Bible teaches regarding how we should approach a New Year. And because it's a communion Sunday and the first one of this New Year, I wanted it to be memorable for you in shaping the course each of us would take.

When Jesus was born, hope came into the world.Galatians 4:4 tells us that "But when the right timecame, God sent his Son, born of a woman,subject to the law.” Paul said it was just the righttime. What does that mean?

A couple of weeks ago I titled my message “Mission Possible” with the thought of the television series “Mission Impossible” that always began with a scene where team leader, Mr. Phelps, would receive a “tape”  describing his next mission. The show began with the message, "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..."Paul here in Romans chapter 12 is telling us that our mission as followers of Jesus, should we choose to accept it (which he says in verse 1 in the (NKJV) is, “which is your reasonable service.” It's the logical thing to do Paul says. What chapter 13 is to the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 is to the book of Romans. It's all about LOVE.

How many of you recall back in the late 60's and early 70's, the television show that preceded all the “Mission Impossible movies that Tom Cruise made famous and went by the same name, “Mission Impossible”? It always began with a scene in which the team leader, Mr. Phelps, would receive a “tape” (a cassette tape that will tell you how old the show was) describing his next mission. The tape invariably began, "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..."Here in Romans 12 the apostle Paul is laying out what appears to be our own “Mission Impossible” that should we choose to accept it, will become “Mission Possible” by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. If there is one word that describes the “Mission” of chapter 12 it is the word LOVE. Paul is laying out for us what love in action looks like in the life of the believer. 

Here in Romans 12 we are in the last section of the book. When you study the book of Romans you can break the book down into four parts. Section 1: The Wrath of God. Chapters 1-3.Section 2: The Grace of God. Chapters 4-8.Section 3. The Plan of God. Chapters 9-11.Section 4. The Will of God. Chapters 12-16. The apostle Paul is writing to believers here in chapter 12 instruct us in God's will for our lives and to challenge us to genuinely love one another. Planting churches Paul has seen it all, he's done it all. He's concerned about people whose love is insincere.

I ended the service last week with a question that went like this, “If everyone in the church was just like me, what kind of church would my church be? Would you attend it?”If we each answer that question honestly its all the proof we need that we need each other to fulfill the purpose of God for our lives. We need spiritual gifts to do that. In Romans chapter 12 Paul lists 7 gifts that are not exhaustive but gifts to help us serve the body of Christ.

Before we turn to Romans 12 turn with me really quickly to Ephesians 2 and let me ask you a question as we begin our study this morning. Have you ever really stopped and considered God's greatest work, His crowning achievement, His masterpiece? Its you! 

Here in chapter 12 Paul makes a pivot. He spent the first 11 chapters laying out for us all that God has done for us in Christ and now as he closes out the book of Roman's the apostle Paul spends the last 5 chapters laying out for us what our response to “the mercies” of God. 

When you look at the world around you today what do you see? Do you feel helpless? Hopeless?Judges 17:6, “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes”If you are a follower of Jesus you have a weapon at your disposal that can change the world and all it takes is 20 seconds to enact it. Most of us know it by heart. Let's say it together this morning as we open up the service. If you know it by heart say it along with me or if you don't, read it along with me out loud. I am going to read it from the NKJV as most of you are most familiar with that translation.What we call “The Lords Prayer” is better stated, “The Disciples Prayer” as Jesus taught this to His disciples to pray in like manner which would mean not so much as a rote prayer just repeated without thinking but rather a model prayer on how we should approach prayer. 

One of the main lessons we take away from the study of Romans chapters 9-11 is nothing can stop God from fulfilling His word. Not towards the nation of Israel and not towards me and you! God is so faithful even when we are faithless we find over and over again in Romans 9-11. The bottom line is, When God says it that settles it. The nation of Israel is proof. The apostle Paul spends 3 chapters in the book of Romans to remind us of Israel's past, that they are the elect of God and even though currently the Jews for the most part reject Jesus as the promised Messiah, there was a reason and that reason is me and you, non Jewish people to have the opportunity to come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. And finally, when the last gentile, the last non Jewish person comes to faith, God will once again direct His attention to the nation of Israel and when He does, the eyes of the jewish people will be open and they will declare, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Its been over 2,000 years since The Roman army under Titus rolled into Jerusalem and sacked the city destroying the temple and killing many of the Jews and taking even more captive and dispersing the rest to the far corners of the earth. Jesus prophesied of what would take place for those who would reject so great a salvation. Like anyone who rejects Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, it ends in their demise.

Chapter 9-11 might best be summed up as God, the Jews and You as the apostle Paul here in Romans chapter 11 makes sure the church understands the message Paul has spent his life sharing with the Jews in every city he visited on his missionary journeys. The jews in large part have rejected Paul's message of salvation by grace where as the gentiles have largely accepted and embraced the message. The reason the religious Jews struggle with the Gospel is simple, the jewish people have for centuries been invested in a religious system that they interpreted provided salvation by works. If any religious group understood zeal it was the Jews. Where as the non jewish world had no investment in a misinterpretation of the Old Testament for the simple reason they never studied it. No gentile even considered getting to heaven based on self righteousnesses as their own history was barbarianism.

The study of eschatology which means “last things” or “end times” has 3 basic positions with regard to the Rapture of the church. There is pre-mid and post tribulation perspectives. I hold firmly to a pre tribulation perspective for many reasons all of which are found in the study of scripture.

Luke 4 gives us an example of how we can beat temptation. Not by our own strength, but by the power of the holy spirit. Jesus was tempted just like we were, although he never gave in to that temptations. Let's look at the example He set by his actions and words...

Hearing the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus Christ is essential to someone experiencing “Saving Faith” Its important to note its not just any kind of faith that saves a person, its faith in Jesus Christ, believing who He is and what He came to do and placing “our weight” upon Him. Remember the word “Believe” in the Bible means more than knowing something. To believe according to the Scriptures it means to “act upon, to rely upon, to trust in… to place all your weight on Jesus. God is One, One Lord, One Faith, One baptism…

Last week I began what I thought was going to be a simple two part series titled “Sharing is Caring” from Romans 10 where we find 7 stages of salvation. The 7 stages are as follows 1. Caring 2. Praying 3. Going 4. Sharing 5. Hearing 6. Believing 7. Calling The first 4 stages, CARING, PRAYING, GOING and SHARING are what believers do with the gospel and the last three, HEARING, BELIEVING and CALLING are what unbelievers do with the gospel in order to be saved. This morning we will look at the first four and next Sunday at the last three.

Can you say this with me this morning, “Sharing Is Caring” Every time I hear those words, I am reminded of my granddaughter Reese as when she was about 3-4, her mom and dad were teaching her to share. Believe it or not, we are not born with the desire to share with others. Whenever all our kids would come over with our extended family and the grandkids and nieces and nephews, cousins, and everyone was there, I could hear Reese talking with the other kids who were fighting over toys or playing together, “Sharing is Caring” It not only was cute it's true, and we use those words a lot around our house when the grandkids come over.

The gospel doesn't require us to go find Jesus. We don't have to work to find Jesus. We don't have to go up to heaven to find Him, we don't need to search among the dead as if to bring Him up. Paul says the message is on our lips and in our heart. All we need to do is believe and receive. All we need to do is trust in the word of God and what God has said all along. Verses 6-7 speak of the Incarnation of Jesus and in verse 7 the resurrection. Two doctrines the Jews find it hard to accept but are a requirement for salvation.

Don't you love Paul's heart for people... He is the real deal. Its why he could say, “be imitators of me as I am of Jesus” or “follow my lead as I follow Jesus” Paul has the heart of an evangelist... If you don't have a passionate heart it's hard to reach people. You can tell someone who loves you and cares about you. They take an interest in you. Wherever Paul went no one questioned his passion for his countryman, the Jews.

Dads often times get a bad rap… Humor: The story is told of a family who had three small children who were determined to have a puppy. Mom protested because she knew eventually she would end up caring for the dog. True to form, the children promised that they would take care of it. Eventually, she gave in and they brought their new little puppy home. The children named him Danny and cared for him diligently - at first. But, sure enough, as time passed, Mom found herself becoming more and more responsible for taking care of the dog.

We read last week in Chapter 9 that the apostle Paul was willing to give up his own salvation if only Israel could be saved. He more than anyone knew in spite of the blessings of God upon the nation of Israel, Israel failed. When the Messiah appeared, Israel rejected Him and crucified Him. No one knew this better than Paul, because in his early days he persecuted the church. Jesus said “those who love much have been forgiven much and those who love little have been given little.” Its understanding then why Paul had such great love for his Jewish brethren. He knew more than anyone what the zeal of the Jewish people was, even if that zeal was misplaced. You can be sincere and yet be sincerely wrong.

As we look at the first part of Romans 9 this morning I am reminded of something CS Lewis once said, “Why love if it hurts so much.” In Romans 9-10 and 11 we get a glimpse of the passion of the apostle Paul for his jewish brethren. Though Paul is the apostle to the gentiles by God's calling, Paul has a deep love for the nation of Israel and the tone of the next three chapters is a contrast to what we saw in Romans chapter 8 where he joyfully proclaims “nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” Continuing on with that thought Paul turns his attention toward the nation of Israel.

We choose to remember the supreme sacrifice on this Memorial Day weekend and to appreciate the great men and women of our armed forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we could know the freedoms we enjoy today.

Every problem, every sin in this world finds its root in brokenness. Broken fellowship with God and broken fellowship with others. The cure is to admit what the source of the problem is and to stop treating the symptoms. We need God and we need each other. I am thankful for the church and the relationships we are able to build here.

How confident are you in God's love? If you had to rate your confidence in God's love on a scale of 1-10, 1 being the least and 10 the most, how confident are you in God's love for you? That all depends on where your God story begins? Romans 8 is one of the most wonderful portion of texts in all the Bible. Oh how different our lives would be if we truly believed this. What confidence we would have before God. If all we had were the first few chapters of Romans we might believe God is against us not for us but here Paul makes clear that if God is for you than who can be or (stand) against us? Chapter 8 of Romans is such an amazing chapter especially in light of how the book of Romans begins.

The word “predestined” is from the Greek word proorizo, which means “determining beforehand,” “ordaining,” “deciding ahead of time.” Predestination you can say then is God determining certain things to happen ahead of time. Ephesians 1:5 and 11 declare, “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Many people get very upset when hearing about the doctrine of predestination. They really shouldn't as predestination is a biblical doctrine. The key is understanding what predestination means, biblically speaking.

Today is Mothers Day, the second Sunday of May where we as a country stop and celebrate the women in our lives who gave us life and to those who raised us and loved us and cared for us when we could do nothing for ourselves. Happy Mothers Day to you moms with us today. We are so blessed by the number of godly women and mothers who faithfully serve Jesus each week here at Calvary Chapel and impact not only the lives of our children but us all. I would be a miss if I didn't say Mother's Day is a difficult day for many people. Difficult in that maybe you didn't have a good relationship with your mom. Maybe you have yet to have children or you are unable to conceive at all. Maybe you have lost a child or have an estranged son or daughter. Maybe your mom is no longer with you and the pain of today outweighs the joy you once had on this special day. Though all those reasons are painful most women would still agree its appropriate to give honor where honor is due in remembering the love and sacrifice so many women have made. If you have been with us for a few years you know Mother's Day is a great celebration for me as I am surrounded by godly Mom's. I have been my whole life. My Mom is in heaven today and I still thank God for the gift of her life. Her life taught me more about the unconditional love of God than any one person. My wife and the Mom of our three kids, Lee. My grandmother, my two older sisters Beth and Susan, my mother in law Marj. My daughter Bree and my daughters in law, Jackie and Britney. Countless women who make up our staff and volunteers. There is no shortage of amazing women and Moms and I thank God for each of you today.

Romans 8:28 is one of the most quoted verses in all the Bible. Not only do people enjoy it they share it with others. As well. Almost every survey that is taken on peoples favorite verses these usually make the top 20 every time and for good reason! I like the NKJV translation on a day like this because I want to help you break down these verses into bite size pieces. When people as the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer usually is, one bite at a time. To fully understand and appreciate this portion of Scripture this morning its best to enjoy it one bite at a time. The people who appreciate these verses the most are the ones who best understand the context in which they are given.

Romans chapter 8 is considered by many to be the crown jewel of any single chapter in all the Bible as it opens with the proclamation that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus and it ends with the declaration that there is no separation from God for those who are in Christ Jesus. If the gospel is good news this is great news! And yet right in the middle of the chapter the apostle Paul reminds us that pain and sorrow and suffering are all part of being members of God's family. I titled todays message based on the text, “What's all the groaning?”

Easter is unlike any other religious event in the world as no one but Jesus Christ has died and risen from the dead just as they said they would. Here's the point… Pretty much all the world celebrates Christmas. There is nothing threatening about a baby being born into the world… Thats pretty natural. It's another thing all together to celebrate Christianities most outrageous claim, that Jesus Christ was crucified then rose again from the dead on the third day. You can believe in Christmas and still not be a Christian, but you're not a Christian if you don't believe in Easter. The reason we celebrate Easter is because the resurrection is proof that everything Jesus said is true! What does that mean for me and you personally?

Today we celebrate what is known around the world as Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, presenting Himself openly as the King of the Jews. Palm Sunday is the beginning of the last week of Jesus earthly life as He completes His mission at His first coming, to live a perfect sinless life then go to the Cross in our place securing eternal life for all who come to Him by faith.

Most of us when we read Romans chapter 8 love reading verse 1 and learning that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” And we love reading verses 38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” But who even hardly remembers reading Verse 17, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” Last week we learned that being adopted into the family of God provides us with some amazing privileges. We get to call God, Abba, daddy. As joint heirs with Christ we have a new identity, an inheritance to all that God possesses. We love the idea of sharing in His riches and glory but here in verse 17 the apostle Paul reminds us we also get to share in Jesus sufferings too.

To call God Father… The first thing the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to us is we are children of God. Easter is coming up. Here is something interesting. Before the Cross we were not family, but the Cross changed everything, When Jesus rose from the dead he said in John 20:17, “17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' ”

Of all the wonderful chapters of the Bible most biblical scholars believe that Romans chapter 8 out shines them all. Its been said if the Bible is like a gold ring then the book of Romans is the diamond of the ring and chapter 8 is the sparkle of the diamond. As we studied last week in verse 1 the chapter begins with the proclamation that there is therefore now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Period). No comma, period. And chapter 8 ends with there is no separation. No condemnation and no separation for those in Christ Jesus. (Period).

I titled this mornings message, “Don't put a coma where God put a period” for the simple fact that is exactly how the Holy Spirit desired that the sentence read. In the original Greek language there is no coma there or any other condition stated in the sentence. The message is plain and clear, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus, period. End of sentence, end of story. I'm not going to hurry through Romans 8 as it is the pinnacle of the Paul's letter to the church in Rome. If I could only preach on one chapter in all the Bible I am certain this chapter would be the one I would pick. What stands between the victory we read about in Romans 6 over sin and the glory revealed in Romans 8. The struggle we must face daily in Romans 7. Its what makes Romans 8 so amazing to us.

Newton who was a pastor of a small church in 18th century England. A book was written that complied letters he had written over his life in ministry. The book was titled “Select Letters of John Newton.” You might not recall the name John Newton but you probably know him as he is most famous for writing the famous hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Throughout his ministry, he often wrote other believers letters of encouragement. My favorite letter that John Newton wrote was when he was 83 years old. In a letter to a fellow pastor, he confessed that he had always assumed, after walking with God for 40 or 50 years, that he would have made more progress in the Christian life. He wondered why, at 83 years old, the temptations of the flesh were still as strong in him as they were when he was a young man.

The theme of Romans is the theme of salvation. It's not just being forgiven, it's being given eternal life. There was an old bumper sticker that said, “Christians aren't perfect, JUST forgiven.” That is not true… We are perfect in Christ and we aren't just forgiven, we are free to live righteously. Here in Romans chapter 6 you could say the apostle Paul is taking issue with that bumper sticker and that way of thinking as it sells us short of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us in His death and resurrection. Paul used baptism to teach us about our relationship with Jesus. We were baptized into His death and raised to new life by His resurrection. Jesus did provide us with forgiveness when He died in our place. He also provides us victory by His resurrection!

The apostle Paul now seeks to move us from position to practical experience starting in verse 11. But before we get to the practical application of our new life we cant forget what we learned last week as we began Romans 6. Knowledge is power to live out the Christian life.

When I read Romans chapter 6 I am reminded of the Civil War that began in this country back in 1861 between the northern and southern states over the issue of slavery. When President Abraham Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation, it put an end to slavery on January 1, 1863. The problem of slavery wasn't overcome simply by Lincoln's declaration. Many slaves had been beaten physically, tormented emotionally. Most were third and fourth generation slaves and slavery was all they knew. When some would tell them they were free others would tell them they were still slaves. Most slaves needed to be retrained in how they thought about slavery. They needed to be taught how to live as free men, how to embrace their new identity. What was true then is still true today for believers. Before coming to Christ we were slaves to sin, beaten down and in bondage to the Old man, the old way of living and the old way of thinking.

In our study of chapter 5 we learned Jesus introduces us to God as royalty. We are royalty not because of us but because of how loving God is. God was aware of everything about us, we were without strength, we were ungodly sinners and ultimately we were enemies of God. The nature of God, the character of God, everything God is we are the opposite of and yet, knowing all of this about us, Christ still chose to die for us. That is agape love! It's not what is in us that attracted God to us, it's what is in Jesus that drew His heart to us.

It's not over…That's the title for today's message. When all seems lost, when our situation seems to bleak…it's not over. When the cards seem “stacked against you” it's not over…The word I want you to leave with today is made up of only four letters....hope. No matter what you are going through right now, there is hope!

I titled this mornings message, “Love is Not Blind” as we will read that God's love is so amazing that even though He knows everything about us He still loves us… You recall from our study in chapters 1-3 the apostle Paul removed all doubt that all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. Any way you cut it, everyone of us, from the self righteous sinner to the religious to the full blown open sinner. We have all sinned.

What Abraham went through God puts all through… 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.” The point is this… What Abraham had to go through we all have to go through too. God orchestrates the circumstances of our lives to teach us how to walk by faith and not by sight.

Have you ever had your keys or phone or glasses in your hand or on your face and you are looking for them? How many times do you go back into the house before you leave? One of My favorite examples of forgetfulness is a story Larry Vasquez told me. He was about to leave work one Friday and he was out in his car in front of the office. He started the car and one of his employees came out and waved him into the office. He went back in and while he was there Mona came to the office and when they left they decided to take her car and leave Larrys at the office. When Larry arrived Monday back at the office there was his car, with the engine still running since Friday…

Christmas Eve I walked outside to play with my dog and a rainbow suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I had never witnessed the birth of a rainbow before. It was surreal to say the least and got my mind going a million miles an hour as I considered the promises of God and His faithfulness to deliver on all of them, some against such impossibilities no one could question the miraculous origin. The Bible is filled with promises, something like 8,810 promises with over 7,487 made specifically to mankind. If you are wondering what the first promise made in the Bible is, its found in Genesis 3:15 where God says to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

“18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

All this week as I was studying for this morning an old bumper sticker kept coming to mind. “If God said it, I believe it, that settles it.” Every time I would see it I would think to myself, cool but not theologically correct. It should read, “If God said it, that settles it, I believe it.” Let me say this right out of the gate this morning… The most important thing you need to remember this morning is this… Do you know that what you believe about God is the most important thing about you? Circumstances will not make you or break you. They simply expose you. They reveal you. What you believe about God is the most important thing about you. It determines what you believe about everything else.