Romans Chapter 4:20-25

Your feeling a lot about someone your wife, your feelings of what you were in school and maybe she's the one your feelings launching me time to be sure the situation only to find out you had a completely wrong welcome to cross a bridge with David McGee in life. Our circumstances will change with the good news is that our God will not today. Pastor David encourages us to believe God and not our circumstances. As he continues in the book of Romans chapter for this teaching thing, let's go now to form Romans chapter 4 Paul is a writer of this book is writing to the church at Rome really think it up in Romans chapter 4 verse 16 says therefore it is a faith that might be according to grace so that the promise might be sure to all the seed not only of those around the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham was the father of us all as it is written. I've made you a father of many nations in the presence of him whom he believed God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist so that it the contrary to help and hope believed so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendents be and not being weak in faith. He did not consider his own body already dead.

Since it was about 100 years old and the deadness of Sarah's womb was 20, he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God so he's believe in God. He did not waver. Look at verse 20 and he did not waver at the promise through unbelief mean and he didn't think all well this is never.

He believed God strengthen and faith, giving glory to God. Maybe Seneca will yeah I do believe was part of me downs. That's what you should be honest with God.

Mark chapter 9 verse 23 says it and this guy had a sick son and Jesus said to him, if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. I love the guy's response 24 immediately the father the child cried out to what I believe, help my unbelief that we read I go when he was aiming he believes would help us unbelief. Don't even believe you don't not know you believe in some time to my hand. But in those moments of doubts as moments of this very good guide to God, please place, help my unbelief.

God will honor that. I'm sure many times it when I went hiking the Lord a first time I had a lot of doubt, I really wondered if God could forgive me for all the things I had done and God honored the belief that little spark that I have and I had at that moment again in you and your mind and your heart is the ability to believe God for incredible things and at the same time, there's disability the downtime over the most basic of things which will you trust your doubt, your faith, we trust God as a passageway whenever chapter. So go in Romans chapter 3 verses.

Indeed, let God be true, but every man a liar now. What this means is let God's word be true. Let what God says to you, be true and let everybody else feel are let me fix that little bit because maybe you don't have problem calling other people wires but according to the first every body that says something against the word of God's lien so friend in love at times you may be that liar.

You may say, why don't I don't feel like God can come through you know what your feelings are lined your feelings will lot your feelings have a lot to at some point you like your feelings of logic you were in school and maybe you saw girl is all she's the one you just knew she was doing what in the juvenile your feelings launching many times have you felt sure the situation only to find out you had a completely wrong what you felt was completely wrong. We don't basis holding on for you we base it on faith. That's what's important. You have opportunity to share the Lord's money and lead somebody in a prayer that they're asking Jesus to forgive the mother sent after they say amen do not have her look at them see now how do you feel because maybe they feel awesome. Maybe they're weeping and all but maybe they felt nothing when you say how do you feel about wanting feelings then work on Stilson bounces now that if you confess your sins to the Lord your forgiven plan would trust her circumcision in our circumstances or situations. Life lesson here believe in God instead of in your circumstances. Your circumstances will change. God will not believe in God instead of in your circumstances.

Your circumstances will change. God will not, here's the tough part because you are tempted to believe in your circumstance to look around or will this is a way to that's never the way it is things that the Bible has a phrases as it came to pass, you don't mean it means an income estate just came to pass.

It came for a little while and instantly got I believe God heals people believe he does it sometimes instantly on sometimes the medication, surgery does a lot of different white, but I believe God will speak. I believe God heals every believer, without exception, and here's how I can say that is not a question of if he will hear and heal them.

The question of when, may not be here.

You may take sickness or disease or stars or whatever, up to the gates of heaven limit promise you you're not taken a man, you will be healed.

It's a question of when. Don't trust your circumstances.

Circumstances change. Trust in God. First John says this, that if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sense to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and we say that we have not said to make him a liar and his word is not in interestingly these verses love these verses I want to pray about minimum memory basically say people are into camps one say they haven't said in their lien to be here this morning, I'm not really center and pretty religious pretty right to do this right.

I do that right God says in his word. Your lien trying to tell your family or friends are righteous. You're not, you know, we know, and it says if we confess our sins to say we're faithfulness is, he is faithful to forgive others. I grew in denominational, religious background and and I was pretty much talk, will you know you your ear you just go through life and you hope you good outweighs your bat good outweighs your bed to get to have and have the concept that will that you know good people go to heaven that they would sway this sconces the more I learn about the Bible come to the understanding actually opposite is true that people go to heaven. Good people go to hell. Here's what I mean about if you think you're good enough in your own works on your own righteousness. Guess what you're going to do. Refuse you I don't need your help.

I got it covered. Guess what, you're not going to have but if you realize that your bad enough that you need forgiveness then you come to Jesus and Jesus. I really need your Savior. Forgive Mona Jesus said, I don't income.

Save the righteous can save center. Those who understand that they've messed up. So what are you trusting you trust in your works. Are you trusting in him.

Verse 21 being fully convinced that what he had promised, he was also able to perform what you notice. Hopefully whatever version your your reading out of and being fully convinced that what he there's a capital H there should be that what he had promised, and then he H was also able to perform another speaking about Abraham no. Was Abraham and the little H so big H1 visit. It tells us he is God's refer back to God. So in other words, he promised and he was able to perform. So is it about Abraham's ability is about God's ability.

God's ability are we going over and over and over and over the because a lot of times we think it's our ability especially when it comes to grace, especially when it comes righteousness.

We think well it's it's about our abilities, not about your ability is about God's ability to affect what you can find out of and I found out sometime at some point and struggle your fault you're going to fail God will still be faith and still be faithful what can God do do anything supply break a promise to do anything. Ephesians 326 is now to him. Notice again. There's a H there who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us the new living translation thing versus this glory be to God by his mighty power at work within us is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask for help is amazing. Verse more than we can dare ask her how Abraham, Abraham knew that. Thank you for listening to cross the bridge with David McGee will return to David's teaching in just a moment the tragedy in Benghazi.

The bombings in Boston in the current unrest in Egypt are all vivid accounts of terrorism each time an event like this occurs, it often causes us to respond with fear. But it doesn't have to because God knows your future and you can to with David McGee's teaching entitled know your future immune to terrorism.

You'll come to understand the realities of radical Islam while rejoicing in God's promises for your future. Don't allow fear to consume your life.

Instead, find hope with this month's special offer. Know your future be immune to terrorism know your future is available as a CD or DVD, and is our gift to you when you call today with a donation to cross the bridge ministries is because of your continued faithful support that were able to broadcast across the nation. With the life-changing word of God to help support cross a bridge and receive your CD or DVD copy of the know your future call 877-458-5508 or go online to cross the bridge.com. Now let's return to pastor David's verse by verse teaching in the book of Romans. Look at verse 22 and therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness hours he believed God, and God reckons him righteous enough.

Abraham did some bad things familiar with his life story. They did some things at work, they will not get he lied about who his wife was said that she was a sister went back to Egypt when I shouldn't have. And then some other things.

He was declared righteous talk about David last week week before and David was, after all, he messed up, David was declared righteous in our practice got interesting in the whole Bible. There's only other than Jesus. There's only two people that it doesn't talk about their sin. Once Joseph they understand now they were sinners. I messed up somewhere but the Bible doesn't talk about that. I think in part because they were, type or shadow of Christ with everybody else talks about how Vanessa the heroes of the faith talks about how they've messed up talks about how Abraham talked about Peter. Peter messed what I say that because I think we got. No sooner had these people in the Bible never messed up like this is this is the reason I don't really read Christian biographies and because you know you read Christian biography and it just really never share any struggle or any failing or any you know you read it now only prayed 27 hours a day. That is amazing not only have 24 and mine is not very encouraging everything to walk him.

No wonder God used 327 hours. When you look into the Bible and see who God used EC people like Abraham we see people like David see people like Peter Peter who we must be honest if you've read the Gospels. Peter is a very interesting study while because Peter is one of my favorite biblical characters in part because shared some of the same flaws yet, in the sense that you know is geez couple times.

Peter went to Jesus detailing how the minister was supposed to go Jesus and Hamlet to Jerusalem to be crucified.

And Peter says not so, Lord, and it says he took him to the side was gonna tell Peter was going to tell Jesus how the ministers were. I've tried to do the same thing. He didn't listen. The major and I think sometimes we think of the disciples as these aloof characters but never messed up and never had a weakness it never shared any of the human frailties that we have, we think of them.

The disciples they were big tall men with deep voices and they spoke about deep spiritual issues. You know this but records the deep spiritual issue. They talked about more than anything else.

You know what it is the thing. The Bible records I talked about more than anything else is a grace in the kingdom to be makes me me me me no time to meet. They were doing this when Jesus done having Chris about and that's not to have them sent their Jewish mother to talk to Jesus about who is vigorous and thinking this is what this book tells us than the same thing with the Peter God blessing someone sometimes it was only open his mouth to change the guy referred lovingly.

I refer to them as ready fire aim Peter being a disciple was a challenging thing we look back at all when Eventbrite it would've been challenging while because Jesus was always doing things that they didn't count and they stayed pretty much for those three years. Any read the Bible without your religious glasses on.

You'll see they stay pretty much freaked out for three. I probably look up everything around at what's he going to do today.

We don't know, yesterday was different.

And here's the spelling thing is every time they had a ministry problem. You know what the disciples solution people away when people are hungry and they said what's in just an hour to fit a simile with the Same as I get this ministry thing will be great if it wasn't for all the people I think some churches or something. But you know they will call me maybe because they won't do anything unexpected or anything that you have to be honest, Jesus did. Somewhere thing, I know that look there somewhere things in and that the disciples look at all let me maybe they would escape and women is about to come.

Some people come up to him somewhat logic and he's always doodling in the dirt is not a big deal. Wishing do that before were okay with that. But what he's what he's mixing up and spit. Let's not get we need to keep vileness, make sure doesn't do any he's what he's wiping it on the Gaza wish you wouldn't do that. Jesus asked us about no no you talk to him or something to be me. You could talk to Mr. have to be honest, that's weird that you don't think that's weird. I want to pray for you, sir, I read that when the guy ran away then say praise be his bit my that's really put you onto any set of spline.

I can see now that man was not able to see before and did an incredible thing with the disciples because they ended up to be the spiritual giants before and they didn't start out that way.

They didn't start out that way.

That's interesting because we recognize that Jesus was teaching them right was also an teaching is they had all these weird misconceptions about who God was who he was and what he was there to do find it very interesting that not a lot has changed in 2000 years because when I came to the Lord.

I probably had more I needed unlearn that I needed to learn. I needed to learn that it was about God, not about me.

Not my abilities. It's his ability and understand that's probably a real challenge for some of you, but that's a challenge is not for me is from the Lord.

So Abraham is counted.

Righteousness, not because of his abilities but because a God new and interesting, they been Abraham, you realize the New Testament never mentions ascent of Abraham never mentions any sense of the whopper. God forgot the forget beautiful thing. Verse 23 now is not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him was not written for Abraham's sake while was written for our site so that we can see this so we can understand it's not our ability. It's his ability look at this, but also for us. Verse 24 shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead he may be sitting here today and think I don't have a lot of faith. Esther David, I just don't ask a question, do you believe that Jesus Christ died and was raised again. We believe in a literal resurrection.

We believe the Bible teaches a literal resurrection. I believe that any church that doesn't believe in a literal resurrection should shut the doors is not a church anymore. If you believe that you got faith affect you got incredible faith to believe that Jesus it was dad came back to life friend that strong faith what needs to happen is just fan that faith let the Holy Spirit blow that spark into arranging fire as if you believe Jesus was raised from the dead, you do have that Abraham got God was raised from the dead. Why were told what he's doing right now. Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 says therefore he is also able to say to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them saves to the uttermost was the matter what you've done the deepest darkest thing you've ever done. It can be forget it can be forget save to the uttermost and he's making intercession for us. What does that mean he's at the throne of God pleading our case giving us forgiveness. What's enemy doing portal with an image that at Revelation chapter 12, her senses, and I heard a voice from heaven saying in heaven now salvation, strengthen kingdom of God and the power of his Christ of God, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast such future is to be cast out.

What you doing right now standing there accusing us to God. He's done this and he's been that he then asked me that he did that twice he did that a lot. They did this a lot and then we turn it is that Jesus forgiving Jesus innocent dismissed lack of evidence going on versus what Jesus is doing, not just hovering over our send the little bits of it doesn't rain to our were okay casting our sands into the sea of forgetfulness and sticking of sign-ups is no fishing allowed the lid back. Don't look for those things are no solutions and listening letting go walk in the freedom and the forgiveness that God has given us. You Vlad. You can be forget you cheated you can be forget you stolen, you can be forgiven committed adultery can be forget if you committed murder. You can be forget. And God doesn't forgive like us to forgive somebody it is hard to forget it and God chooses to forget. It's not so you'll come to him. Verse 25 says it was delivered up because of our fences and was raised because of our justification was delivered up for offenses. What is that mean that means Jesus died because of our sins. If you've ever said the Jewish people killed Jesus, that the wrong state then correctly, logically, is manifest physically is incorrect. The Romans are the ones who actually crucified Jesus but more to the point wasn't the Romans wasn't the Jewish people was our sin that put them on that cross and it was his decision was his decision. The whole time and if you ever thought the crucifixion was some type of political conspiracy gone wrong, you're wrong. Jesus was in control time the leadership the religious leaders who wanted to execute them. Said lesson not taken during the Passover. The people have a right they go to the room. Jesus is in charge of not only his own sacrifice, but he's in charge of the timetable turns to Judas and says that you're going to do, meaning the training go and do it now. Go do it quickly and just runs off starts the whole chain of motion. These guys are really ready.

That's why there is such a scramble for the false witnesses and they weren't sitting there ready to do it and Jesus was in charge though.if you think it's a complete political conspiracy, you're wrong. The plan of God created before time began for you and for me because there's no other way saw your righteousness. It's his will will how was Abraham safe will blow Abraham. He was saved he was safe through works know if you ever thought that anybody in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures are safe there work that your bad theology that's wrong because the Bible tells us Romans chapter 3 verse 20 says.

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight by the law is the knowledge of sin happen through the deeds of the law and Romans 328 says. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. So how's Abraham saved her forgive him wasn't to the needs of what was to sacrifice the universe offers no again were told nor got Hebrews chapter 10 verse four says it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. How was Abraham then saved by faith and by faith alone.

Same way your say same way that each one of us can be saved and forget not through works through offerings or sacrifices by grace and grace alone, friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna 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 can 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. So congratulations you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you if this was your first time praying that prayer with Pastor David we would love to hear from you.

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