Romans Chapter 1:9-14

We are motivated by people in ministry at some point, your motivation, because somebody's not going to be as appreciate it if you think but if you understand that God sees what you're doing and that it really is the Lord, your servant welcome to cross the bridge with dignity as the senior pastor of the bridge. Conclusion with Carolyn often in life we can get a straight deal with people whether it's in a work situation, or maybe even a church member who we serve.

What find out more about this is Dave. He continues in the book of Romans chapter 1 before we get into today's teaching from beginning to end. The Bible shows the special nature of God's relationship with the nation's. What does that have to do.

Romans chapter 11 tells us that God's covenant relationship with Israel has huge implications for to help you understand more pastor David wants to send video record called is the Bible. This powerful resource will encourage constraints and how connected you are God's chosen people Israel Bible is our gift to think more donations to help more people. This station and beyond cross the bridge from across the bridge.com to request again. Let's cross the bridge. Now, here's the his teaching blessing term limit Romans chapter 1 we talked about Paul is the all of the book of Romans, but is writing this epistle. This letter to Rome before his ever been there is going to express a desire in this passage to go to Rome, but we need understand that's why there's an introduction here in and I know that work were taken some time and spend some time in the first chapter. There's just a lot of stuff in here.

J. Vernon McGee, who is one of the commentaries that I read when I was going through that he actually spent 42 pages in his commentary on this first chapter, so obviously there's a Lotta stuff in here and there's a reason to come take it slow but were in verse nine. So Romans chapter 1 verse nine for God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. So first of all, I just pray without ceasing, pray without ceasing out. He says that another place so what is actually mean pray without ceasing. Does that mean that Paul got up in the morning and first thing he did was praying and he prayed throughout the day and maybe I guess he prayed as he was eating his meals. In one embodiment got to the end of the day and then went to bed still uttering prayer no that's not what it means and means he stayed attitude of prayer all the time that there was a conversation with the Lord there was a recognition that God was always with him and he was always speaking to the Lord for not something that we all should have. I don't know where we got to the point that we think God is really impressed with long link the repetitious prayer because Jesus actually says before he gives us the Lord's prayer.

He said let don't make vain repetitions like the healings do what's in vain repetitions when you're saying something. It is repeat and you don't really mean that you don't understand what it says what you say it anyway, that's interesting to me that that was his introduction to the Lord's prayer because what have we done with the Lord's prayer. If you raise the nondenominational church as I was, you know you you all set up. Every Sunday morning and anyone that I was a vain addition, the thing that Jesus said don't do we turn the very prayer where he was teaching us how to pray into a vein repetition will come across in a few weeks.

Historian Kings where these profits available, prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed and nothing happened and then we look at the short, sweet prayer, the prophet prayed and a lot happened. Does that mean we should never travail for now or sometimes in some situations frown that and you should you should bathe yourself in prayer. You should spend time in prayer, extended time in prayer, but a lot of us don't pray as much, as we should, because we think well you I it would be difficult for me to work in 30 minutes before I get to work on it some of you do that, that's awesome and and that's great.

Some of you just you're not doing it because you're thinking 30 minutes just take a compliment, maybe get in the habit of praying in the shower when you get in the habit of praying while you're shaven or doing whatever you do are getting dressed.

Maybe get in the habit of praying while you're driving to work. When I lived on Summerfield for a while.

When the church was here about a 25 minute drive one way. Give me a lot of time to prayer.

Now like I live in Kernersville like six minutes away is one of things I miss so I structured my data have more time for prayer because I commute so you know you have all these opportunities in your day built in your day for prayer. If you go to Walmart today.

A target or even to some retail place and you get up there to the register and there's a long line. Thank God you got a couple minutes to pray and impulse.

And here he prays without ceasing, diocesan Centenary, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel.

He speaks about serving the Lord.

We talk about serving and and the Bible. Why do I talk about serving. We talk about serving here so much in the church because I teach the Bible and the Bible talks about serving and so yeah do I want to challenge that spectator sport mentality of Christianity absolutely because in the Bible the word server serving is in there over 200 and the time as we go through the Bible is going to come up that were supposed to serve. There were supposed to be servant and keep in mind you going to serve somebody in that old Bob Dylan song.

You gotta serve somebody might be Lord, it might be the devil. Would you serve some I guess we could do 1/3 one in their self-serving, self-serving, but Jesus talks about serving and and and warns us that we need to serve him wholeheartedly. Luke chapter 16 verse 13 says no one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money that is happening you know you can go to work because that serving money no.

That means what you need understand as you go to work that you're serving the Lord and what you do and remember that it's for the Lord. If you're here and you're serving in the parking lot or greeters or children's minister Café or media that is, as unto the Lord. Colossians chapter 3 verse 23 and 20 forces in whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord, you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ. That's what you do you serve the Lord if you serve your knitting ministry capacity you're serving the Lord, and you need to remember that is the form of your service to the Lord, take the form of serving people absolutely. But if you're motivated by people in ministry at some point you're not here to lack motivation because somebody is not going to be as appreciative as you think, or surmise like a notice or service.

The way that you say, but if you understand that God sees what you're doing and it really is the Lord, your servant, then you will understand that in the writer of Hebrews points itself. Chapter 6 responses, for God is not unfair he will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you've shown your love to him by caring for other Christians as you still do. So evidently in the Bible points us up and we get to heaven there will be rewards and God take time to recognize what we have done in loving other people and serving other people and I guess the flipside of that is that if you're not doing that and you don't do that, then you will not be recognized. Make mention of you always and lepers were sent making request is some means now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. Paul's praying about getting around. So this kind of makes it obvious he has not been there and again I pointed this out were going back in the low 20s this more in the book of acts is where we are asked the book of acts closes with Paul being in Rome and this is before the close close in the book of acts and explain the sink I you know I want to get to you any way possible.

And interesting because now that we've studied the book of acts of you been here for a few weeks. You know how God answered that prayer also. Let me go to Rome anyway possible works okay, here's what it's going to involve us can involve you getting beat up, involve several trials can involve you been in jail involve you being in the shipwreck involve you getting snake bit and then it and then finally you'll get to run life lesson here. God answers prayers in his own timing and in His Own Way, God answers prayers in his own timing in his own way. Appreciate part of Paul's heart. It shows through in this verse when he says God you know what if there's any way possible to go to work anyway that you see fit. I want to go to guy makes it possible for some challenging circumstances and at the enemies he calls okay with that understand prayer times we treat prayer like we write out the whole contract and then just one God is not a five-page contract or to use my life which is near work in my life and say coworkers and friends in years, which was to go now here given to the assignment given is that really prayer the prayer is that I want to see my friends only see my family was in my coworkers come to you anyway that you see fit to do that to use other people are use me is awesome that's prayer.

Prayer life that we think will prayer is to change the will of God.

More often. Prayer is the change are will about our circumstances and what's going on in her life to remember that when you pray, I want you to do this guy want you to do that.

It's not a honeydew thing innovative you married to get the honey do list honeydew that honeydew this and prayer is not supposed to be a honeydew list, especially talking to God and and useless when you pray, use your regular voice. Don't try to use King James English don't do all those things. I know guys only pastors they can just pray the most beautiful prayers and are so eloquent and I appreciate it, but something that freaks me out a little bit is a click change their voice and they begin to speak to the use of dollars and then come as and it's just a little weird appreciate it's very beautiful. Appreciate King James work letter but use your normal voice being reverential really is God, and any and when you pray Lord use me anyway you want to guys looking for somebody with a willing heart somebody being available and understand when you step out to make yourself available in ministry.

You're going to be challenged.

Paul stepped out made himself available. God centered around Rome. He was challenged in that the next life lesson minister and are serving people is often difficult and hard ministering or serving people is often difficult and hard, but it's a glorious thing there is is it the most challenging thing you can ever do it. It really because there's a spiritual battle going on as you step out of your comfort zone and you begin to serve other people you get challenged but that's part of the plan is that once you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that you begin to pour out your life so that other people can come to that same knowledge. And so it is hard.

It is difficult but it's the best thing you could ever do, and it's what you were designed to do what you were created to do.

Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10 says that we are his workmanship, created in him for good works for serving him and serving people. Colossians 320 forces knowing that from the Lord, you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ. So as you serve the Lord.

There is rewards LS understand something when we clear your entrance in the habit your salvation. Your heaven get in the habit that is all by faith and grace. Kate maybe plain about this, not workspace vision to a not talk about that what happens when you get depends on what you do for him that the Bible is very plain about that as you do things for the Lord as you serve the Lord and serve people that you are storing read heavenly rewards, some telling you now so that you know when you get there you're not shocked, you know, guys. What remained of reward 20 minutes was the third is a note to my up there is no this Hoosier pastor getting in trouble with you so I'm telling you now disclosure. Disclaimer the whole that because it is the Lord that you choose to serve. If you choose to serve in this place, serving me not serve another pastors just serving the people here, although all that is true or serving the Lord and Paul had this heart of services from from the moment he got saved and we talked about this moment he gets a piece of what you want me to do and then he lived the life out turning to what he only knew what he wanted you listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge to be back with more powerful insight from God's word in just a moment but first, God's grace and mercy is greater than any of us could ever fathom. That's why he's been so faithful to the nation of Israel throughout the ages. He's not finished. He's promised to remain true to them to the end. We want to show you what God's faithfulness toward Israel says about his relationship with you by sending you Pastor David's teaching video Israel the Bible and you in this exciting teaching recorded in the heart of the holy land.

Pastor David unpacks important truths from God's relationships with Israel that impact your life today.

Israel the Bible and you is our gift to thank you for your donation to help more people on this station and beyond cross the bridge from death to life. So visit cross the bridge.com to request yours again. That website is cross the bridge.com, this is Pastor David McGee with cross the bridge and I want to thank you for listing the cross the bridge also want to tell you about an exciting website. The website is lost loved ones.org and it works very simply like this you go to the website you put the first names of up to 10 people that we begin praying that they get saved takes two things to get same presentation and prayer, and what were offering is prayer and also there's different tools there to help you present the gospel to them.

So were there with you, helping you with the presentation helping you with the prayer. There's over 920 people that belong to the prayer team on lost loved ones and you can join the prayer team as well and help us to pray for others who don't yet know Jesus and together we can see a huge revival starting with your lost loved ones.

Now back to today's teaching verse 11 for along the sea, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be established to policy and he wants to impart spiritual gift and it's interesting what we've done with spiritual gifts that it's spiritual gifts are not to your own horn about a conversation with a woman and they certainly listening older spiritual gifts and think you got get the product to over the whole thing. Spiritual gifts are not the teacher on our two glass other people.

If you've been blessed with spiritual gift will save encouragement to be a blessing to other people.

If you've been blessed with the gift of mercy has to be a blessing to other people. I think that's what sweetheart, not just of Paul, but of all pastors and all believers.

I'm so blessed here. I and we talk about miniature being are absolutely sort it is difficult man is a glorious, so I am so blessed to be able to do what I do and I love what I do love being a pastor love teaching the word of God and anyone you when I'm studying really good to make a little-known included, can't wait to share with the people. I hope this blesses them see I want to be a blessing to us, and what happens if something happens in your heart where you are being blessed by being here blessed by teaching anything with. I want to be a blessing. Other people to nastily the church is supposed to operate this cycle or circle of blessing if you will, we see that and will give a pastor does not love the word of God love the people he should leave the ministry I'm messing you will occasionally be challenged with no I'm not hurt people teach. It seems like they're mad at everybody and they don't love the Bible is like you know what time out from your starting to hurt people go take a break or some Luke 638 talks about the circle or cycle of blessing if you give and it will be given to you good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use will be measured back to you as I seek to bless you guys understand what happened last. As you step out ministry and seek to bless others happen. You're gonna be blessed, and you're sitting here this morning to waddle silver blast on don't feel like I'm being blessed step out and be a blessing to somebody you watch what happens. You'll be blessed in this what God intended and put in motion. Being a blessing others and you get glass back on you to sit there and blessing blessed me blessing blessed me blessed me Lord, you're probably in a mess out a whole lot of blessing, but you say Lord use me to bless others.

You'll be amazed at how God will bless you.

Verse 12. That is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you both of you and me. So again we see, that circle he wants to encourage them in and what can happen is there going to encourage him back in conflict together and one thing that encouraged together and you will see the phrase one another in the Bible. If you got Bible software you got access to the Internet. Do a word search of one another. It's really an amazing thing. What you see.

Because the Bible tells us spend time on the one another. What were supposed to be doing with one another. Roman says this because suddenly affectionate to one another with brotherly love and honor giving preference to one another.

Romans 13 a owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has filled the law.

Romans 1616 says greet one another with a holy kiss.

Be careful, this the churches of Christ creature first rankings. 1113 therefore, my brother, when you come together to eat, wait for one another in Galatians 513 for you brother have been called the liberty only. Do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Ephesians 432 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one, even as God in Christ forgave you cautiously 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, and everyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must complain about Africa for settling for 18 therefore comfort one another with these words is just a little smidgen of all the one we get from these verses. How were supposed to be interacting with one another loving one another. Blessing one I'm waiting on encouraging one another and I have to think that if we did that Christianity before more contagious than it is one of things that happens here is a way you guys love on people and welcome people. You have to understand that is a blessing to people and because you do that, because some of you in the parking lot ministry love one another helping of matching you guys got the rain umbrellas and hold an umbrella over the person wire in the rain at 11. Somebody the greeters out here media team servants and what happens is able to get back because you know if you guys are out there sneering at people when he knew no longer will you know I'm never going to get actually knew me.

My wife visited church when I was kind of floundering, so I came up. This is what you doing here, thanks for the greeting.

One of things Bible talks about a lot is loving one 13 times in the New Testament were told to love one what Larry told that 13 time and Jesus often repeats himself of your notice. I used to wonder what Jesus repeated himself so much that I had children and now understand what Jesus repeated himself because I found myself as a follicle don't do that. Don't do that.

Don't do that don't. So why in the Bible 13 times in one way think that I think were supposed to be encouraged in loving one another and that we need to be reminded to love one another. John 1330 forces this a new commandment I give to you that you love one another and here's the challenge as I have loved you, that you also love one another. How did Jesus love us across.force and simple fashion were to lay down our lives for others as well.sacrifice our selfish nature for one another. The Bible also says that if you say that you love God and you don't want people your line is a strong statement and it John in his epistle.

First he says you know it if you did, if you say that you love God you don't want people in your life because how can you say that you love God whom you've never seen and you don't like her hate or dislike people that you have seen so whenever somebody exhibits a real hatred and bitterness towards other people.

The Bible seems to indicate that showing something about their relationship with the Lord friend you know for sure that your sins been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous. So congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can call us toll-free at 877-458-5508 to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ before we go, we want to encourage you in your faith so that you can experience more of the grace and love of God for you. That's why we like to send you Pastor David's teaching video recorded in the heart of the holy land called Israel the Bible and you this encouraging look into the history of Israel and God's covenant faithfulness to his chosen people will help you take bold new steps in your relationship with God. Israel the Bible in you is our gift to thank you for your donation to help more people on this station and beyond across the bridge from death to life. So visit cross the bridge.com now to request a copy.

Also, if you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday.

Why not join us for our lifestream at 9 AM and 11:30 AM. Just visit cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream. Here you can watch Pastor David teach from his home church. The bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Again, that website is cross the bridge.com and be sure to join us next time across the bridge with David to hear more from the