Romans Chapter 6:22-23

Hey friend, you realize the book of Romans was used by God to change the lives of men like Martin Luther Williams in the history of self in the gaps we change your life. Join with us as we go through the book of Romans have committed my life to teaching the Bible of people like yourself won't help you understand the Bible to equip you to do with life and help you to find that abundant life that Jesus offers us to join us now is together we crossed the bridge welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge near Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Let's join Pastor David in the service as he continues in the book of Romans chapter 6 verse 22 but now having been set free from seven having become slaves of God, you have your fruit. The holiness and the end everlasting life, slaves of God. I totally reject spectator Christianity and if you're here today and you're not engaged in ministry, you need understand something. I love you enough to encourage you towards doing because that's where you find a lot of the joy in the fulfillment and peace and purpose in all these things are promisingly got from the word in the Bible talks about stirring one another to good works, you know, the Greek word you know that there's another way to translate things, agitate you need understand something. I love you enough that if I need to agitate you and the servant God I'm willing to do that summer obviously will do them are agitatedly first, men are more agitated.

You know I love you enough to do that because I know that if you take those babies that can push you carpool you are agitate unit taking those babies that you find out what I'm saying what the Bible say is absolutely true. But if you're there on the start and will start one United fund. All these things are swirling around us some time to be hanging out on the storm last time again but most churches. We talked about this before, but most churches have about 5 to 8% of the people are actively engaged in ministry in the church. I think that harm is a standard average. I don't know why that is, to me that's unacceptable understand a single word you get this.

It's all in the Bible actually that it talks about the fivefold ministry in Ephesians chapter 4 it talks about my responsibility as pastor teacher. You are my responsibility is to equip you to do the works of ministry. We've got that backwards because most churches. I will pastor pastors with new work of ministry, not according to the Bible were supposed to do the work. Could you imagine if I was trying to do the work of the ministry in this place now would be such a flop might go out and help him and I'll run in a great serving coffee in the café. Now go take your children as we join together happens we do the work of the ministry you're equipped or fed the word of God are equipped or challenged to do the work of the ministry and when works of my worst works beautifully. So in this church. We have over 50% of the people that attend this church are actively engaged in ministry. That's awesome you. I am convinced each person wants to make a difference.

Each person wants to see themselves as people influence him. They were talking and I said what you know. Just try to run to the grave as fast as I can and try to not make any difference while I'm on the way, I've never heard anybody say that the question is are you willing to do the things will make a different are you willing to yield to the spirit to do these things. Christianity is not just you know, getting your ticket to heaven is not just okay when you know I'm the thing live my own life and I think Jesus is talking about how to live life now is interesting life is mentioned in the Bible over 520 times live is mentioned in the Bible over 280 and you know what the sinful life is not the abundant life.

That's the blessed life. It's interesting so many people like: they do all this stuff so they can be blessed and you and they don't blessed you come to God and God bless you. What is a blessing. Jesus also teaches how to live, not tomorrow, not next week, right now we make a decision you make a decision in the next few minutes from where the follow Jesus and and listen to what he saying or saying I'm going. I'm doing my own thing. Jesus talks about life.

John 315 says that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 524 most assuredly, I say to you hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come in the judgment, but is passed from death into life.

John 1125 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life you believes in me, though he may die, shall live.

John 1010 the thief does not come except to steal, kill and to destroy. And I have come that they may have life, that they may have it more abundantly. There is there is the enemy of your soul wants to kill still destroy rip you off and have his way with some of them then here's God is Jesus saying I want to give you the abundant life. Even now there's a battle going on. As you know in a few moments whenever the Lord leads me to close on the enclosed some of you are engaged in a struggle. Some of you already know and invite people to come for neurotic trying to work through your want to do.

I want to do. I don't want to is about right now for each and every one of you have a decision attends a church service we get week. You know, we act like will be if you don't know Jesus had midmorning in your non-believer and unbeliever, you have a decision to make.

The reality is, every person listening right now is a decision that's the reality. Three words or favor, freedom fruits talk about serving God, but understand if you don't know them as your Savior. He's not interested in serving them right now. You want your heart want you to come in when you come to Jesus and asking to forgive you of your sins. Based upon what he did on the cross.

Send Jesus I'm sorry for my sins.

I turn from all the stuff and attorney the following. You have God's favor. Everything is dealt with in the past you have been forgiven and you will find freedom as you yield to the spirit as you yield to the spirit in that freedom you will find yourself bearing fruit just it's what happened. You don't have to sit there and try to bear fruit on your own know when you're grafted into the you bear fruit. What happens naturally fruit trees bear fruit because there fruit trees because they struggle so hard. It's what they are. As you follow the Lord guess what you will bear fruit while because that's what happens when you follow the Lord. But the world encompasses all that you don't get freedom by going to church or Bible study, you will get freedom by following the Lord, you don't get freedom that what you get freedom, but by doing your own thing a lot of people and that fact we have one example of that in the Bible man thought he was getting freedom is by the name of the prodigal son. Freedom was not what he got.

All he thought he was getting away from dad and go do his own thing he was going to find freedom and that boy long as the money. Lastly, had a great time a lot of freedom, but to tell you what. When the money ran out so the friends some of your prodigal's in your running just as hard as you can away from God. And this time the run to God, not away from them as you already know freedom is not what your fund start 2012 off right with the new daily devotional book from David McGee cross the bridge every day to cook for yourself what has already helped thousands cross the bridge every day.

Features 365 daily devotionals that are sure to make everyday life of God -sized adventure. This book is perfect for your quiet time lunch break evening wind down or can even be used as a small group resource with anti-subject index you can look up various topics on your life's unique circumstances to help encourage you to live every day for Jesus cross a bridge every day is available for a donation of $25 or more to cross the bridge ministries to order simply go online to cross a bridge.com or call our friendly representatives at 877-458-5508. That's 877-458-5508 cross the bridge every day with David McGee and find hope along life's journey. Now let's return to our study.

Follow verse 23 for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The wages of sin is death. Some people try to work their way into heaven as you can also visit you can only be saved and gain entrance into heaven through grace. The only place you can work yourself and do as you work yourself and they'll no doubt about that but not in that effort.

People several wages of sin is death, and in Bible does talk about hello how could a loving God send anybody to hell. God will not send anybody to help people choose it. Jesus is done so much is he's gone to the gates of hell itself and put do not enter signs all over it and warns us and warns you and warns people don't do it and some people said no no no I'm choosing, I'm going in there.

Jesus is not you can only go in there over my dead body. And yet some people choose. I don't understand it bothers me that bothers me a lot, and there's basically two lines. The payday according to this verse one leads to heaven. The one other leads to death, eternal separation from God. Does it bother you that some of your family and your friends and your coworkers are and that got us there in my heart right now I don't even I don't know what is going to require or request me to do or anything I just know my heart is so stirred right now for those who don't know Jesus, I mean in a new way.

I set my best to be honest I said in my best this past week and I just wet for people who don't know Jesus person in particular but just knowing there's people out there don't know if you know Jesus is human brain does that bother you at all recently ago I got nothing. Okay, following Jesus issue profoundly bother us. We spent a lot of energy and effort and time and resources to make this a place where you can bring family, friends, coworkers, and they can hear the gospel they can hear what the Bible has to say do certain things so that we create that environment from the time they get the parking lots might help in part to somebody in agree meters people to come in here that is been happy to see them all week, but a greater will get a response. I am glad you're here. The media team, the café, all these things coming together are you inviting people to come with when the last time you invited.

They did a survey and over 80% of unbelievers would go to church with somebody if they ask over 80%. 4/5. Sometimes it takes patience and persistence to math – more than once, but there's people in your life that are waiting for you to invite them. Maybe they've even wondered why you haven't. Maybe they think there's something wrong with me there ashamed of me. They don't want me to come to their trip.

The people that you know I can't go up and go hey I love free to come to church where you all know you but the listening and responding. Doesn't matter to you understand Jesus is waiting to come back because there's people that are not come in to the king.

That's what second Peter chapter 397. This is the Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return to some people think is been patient for your sake he does not want anyone to perish, was given more time for everyone to repent. Interesting times we live in Rome found in 750 BC about for timeline. It's about 100 years after the wife of Elisha.

They were looking at a 750 BC found it silly somewhere between five and 600 BC they go to caucus Maximus. It was like a sewage was an important one because Big-city well sewage also allow them to drain this is going somewhere just trust and drain the water around the city so they could build the city, then about 312 BC they start building these road roads and had never existed before and about 200 BC. They built aqueducts bringing water into the city's incredible thing hundred A.D. if you are in the city of Rome and you are well-off you had running water. If you're well-to-do you probably had and cold running water was important because with these roads. With all these things with with the Postal Service that they put in place.

This book, the book of Romans. The letter that Paul wrote to the book around travel to the Roman Postal Service is the room arrived at your from Tom Christ, about 200 A.D. that was what was called Vermont of the time of Roman peace. Talk about Rome and Israel's.

Because this was the place that Paul found himself in this unique convergence of all these things and it led to the fire spread of Christianity because of the roads because of the Roman government because a free passage because of the Postal Service. All these things combine and I think where we are friends where we are is an incredible place one because all the things the Internet. The television always think you can place the YouTube video about Jesus and within hours, hundreds of thousands of people can see that matter.

But the vehicles are now in place for millions of people to hear the gospel we live in a unique time in history that doesn't stir your hardening with I worked in the music industry was shocked to find that some of the people I worked with had gotten so incredibly hardhearted towards people that they would come out and in this it in these large crowds assessed and they would spit on the just looking down on they become so hardhearted you not understand the records basically paying your salary in your spindle when we sit here and we we hear that goal at Sakura so hardhearted yeah and you know what they got there my steps the same way you would get there friend. Over time, our hearts get hard towards people and is especially challenging. Sometimes in ministry because I have some I so you know I love you and I'm praying for you and then the next week. They're saying you know you're the son of Satan harden your heart.

It can hurt you have to guard my heart and you have to guard your heart and we all need God to soften our towards one another as we get her. We went to Calais over and we want to act like we don't care.

Jesus died for these people. He endured the cross, humiliation and shame need to soften your heart. I need to soften more. I'm not come out tomorrow, next week, right now, where fact this is not the closing prayer but I want to pray right now, Lord, we need you. We get so callous so quickly. Our hearts get hard from the pain and things that we suffered in Lord we just it's an option for us to Calais over and act like we don't care anymore in Lord that leads us down the road of being cynical and bitter God. We don't want to go there.

We don't want to end up there in Lord I ask in the name of Jesus according to the power of your Holy Spirit that you interrupt that journey right now that you would soften our hearts in this place today that we would begin the love you more love each other more and love those who don't yet know you Jesus. Sure couple more verses close. Ephesians 417 says with the Lord's authority.

Let me say this live no longer is the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. The close bonds are full of darkness.

They are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and harden their hearts against them. Proverbs 2814 says happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Another version reads like this. Blessed are those who have a tender conscience with the stubborn are headed for serious trouble. Mark 817 but Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, why do you reason because you have no bread, do you not yet perceive nor understand is your heart still heart were hearing this about hardhearted summer going on so glad you're saying because you know the person beside me, my spouse, much of they really need heroes because they really have a hard know this is for you. This is for each one of us because the world is a hard place in overtime. What happens we get hard hearts.

We live in a hard world, but we don't have to live with hard Hebrews 47 today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your heart so as to pass in front of you. Front of each person you get to choose God makes this path playing in the lightning's witnesses.

This is what happen and this is what it is.

At the end of this but you get to choose. If you've been on the start line.

It's time to get the race this final life lesson. You can have regrets or rewards you get to choose. You can have regrets or rewards you get to choose certain things that I know in this life. I know that one day I will walk off this platform and I'm done I will walk back on.

I don't know when that day.

I like to think that it's going to be years from it could be today.

And at that moment, I'm standing before the Lord.

I don't want to be filled with regret.

I should've said this, I should've encouraged him to serve you, Lord, I should've encouraged him to soften what regrets at that point is regrets are going to do any good at that moment in time friend in the battle is going on right now some of you know that I'm about to give an invitation.

Some of you probably grab in your chair. Don't do this, there's a battle going on friend. There's a decision that needs to be made in your life. Nobody else can make it. I wish I could make the decision for you, but you know the reality is that I thought that with my children. I thought you know I can just make decisions for no one made bad decisions even if they allow me to make every decision for them.

I would still make that decision. Some bad decisions, carry a lot of consequences, some not so much.

This decision the day choose well friend lots run on this, you will really follow the Lord be softhearted. What matters to God begin the matter to you just cannot have your ticket to heaven.

Wander through life and at the end of it be filled with regret. I want to 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. 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 for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed this prayer with Pastor David receiving Jesus Christ for the first time or re-dedicating your life to the Lord. Please call and let us know want to send you our exclusive first steps package for free. This package will help you grow in your new life receive your first steps package by calling 877-458-5508. That's 877-458-5508 or visit us online@crossthebridge.com when you call that are called team representative know where you heard about our broadcast if you enjoyed today's teaching and would like to hear more. We welcome you to join us Sunday mornings at 10 and Thursday evenings at seven at the bridge in Kernersville bridge offers contemporary worship engaging fellowship and David McGee's verse by verse teaching would love to have you join us more information and directions, visit about the bridge.com my name is Pastor David McGee and I am a bridge builder and across the bridge were continually amazed by what God is doing to the teaching of his work every day we hear from people who are getting saved and who are becoming real disciples of Jesus and these men and women, boys and girls crossing the bridge from sin and defeat to abundant and eternal life in Jesus Christ. Their lives are being changed forever, but teachings like the one you've just heard God's open doors of opportunity for us all over the country and around the world and he has shown us that with his help and your help, we can reach more. These people please join with us to become a bridge builder. What is a bridge builder will simply put, a bridge builder is someone who commits to a monthly financial gift that I may surprise you to know that I personally don't receive anything from those donations. I'm actually employed by the Bridges their pastor, some able to volunteer to cross the bread which were able to spend all 100% of those funds on purchasing airtime and providing materials to new believers as a set. I am a bridge builder. My wife and I give every month sacrificially to help build the kingdom of God through cross the bridge you can to please call right now our representatives are standing by at 877-458-5508. That's 877-458-5508 now there's unique blessings and we offer unique products to our bridge builder team to call the number 877-458-5508 go to cross the bridge.com and click on bridge builder. Thank you so much for helping us to reach more people you know each day comes with its share of stresses. So what better way to wake up with an encouraging word from the Lord. Log on to cross the bridge.com and sign up now for David McGee's email devotionals each devotion include Scripture and a message from the heart of David McGee. It's easy and it's free.

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