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December 17, 2021 1:00 am
One. The race of life will and will be finally at rest all our labors.
Believers run that race while they can. Because our goal is to please Jesus redeems us from our sin in pleasing him. We honor the father stay with the Moody Church in Chicago this morning to win with Dr. Erwin Sir, we're teaching helps us make it across the finish line elixir today you wrap up your series on what is God up to help us take a last look back at planet or in a day when you speak about looking back on planet Earth. I'm reminded of course, of the astronauts who look on planet Earth from outer space, but the time is going to come when we are going to be looking back on what God has done throughout history and we hear it running to win are deeply committed to showing the uniqueness and the sovereignty of God in the midst of every circumstance. Let me ask you a question. Have you been blessed as a result of this series of messages entitled what is God up to well as a resource we are making this series available to you in a permanent form. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com or if you prefer, call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for this series of messages. What is God up to it will give you some perspective of the larger purposes of God, even as we navigate the details the discouragements the hopes and fears of life we would never possibly understand the depth of the love of God. Once we understand our sinful and know how far we fall, we could never possibly understand the depth of the love of God unless God were willing to reach down and to love fallen creatures who are distinctively unlawful and we would never know the height of his love for us. Were it not for the fact that he would take us from the quarry of sin and shows a loss and then exalt us and put us at the right hand of God the father kings and priests with never happened were not for the fact that there was evil in the world. So you see, God is displaying his incredible grace, his love: humanity and so God is showing his superiority in love, for he shows us his wisdom. Notice what it says in chapter 5, verse 12 and I wish that we had time to go through the entire song here which is sung in honor of Christ, but it says in verse 12, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and the word that I want to emphasize here is wisdom. Wisdom we can see God's wisdom in creation.
When God put you together. It was much more complicated than you maybe realize you have billions of cells in your body and every one of the cells that you have as much activity in it is a city the size of Chicago or Tokyo. We are incredibly wonderfully and verbally made and we can see God's wisdom, but we can also see God's wisdom and salvation fact that the Lord was willing to come down and you become identified with human evil, Jesus still remaining spot this and fewer in his person could nevertheless take the sin of the world upon his shoulders and merit so that God the son would make a payment to God the father so that we as sinners could be acquitted without bending the rules. One I incredible with this morning when I arrived at the church.
I was looking for a quotation I couldn't find I'm sorry I couldn't find it because it talked about the absolute wonder of God being able to come so close to human sin and suffering and come to this earth and be identified with the whole thing and still remain untainted by that wisdom. And throughout all of eternity. Once we understand it better. We are going to marvel at the wisdom of God and say this is on believable to think of what he did and how we did it once we understand the nuances of what was all about. Then also we will emphasize the truth of God his superiority. In truth, turn to Revelation chapter 19. For just a moment after these things I heard as it were allowed to voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, hallelujah, salvation and glory and power belong to our God because his judgments are true, you realize today that sin gave God an opportunity to contrast his truthfulness with all the lies that Satan and the world have to offer and I might say that in opposition to the living and the true God who is truth by his very character. Truth is something that God just does truth is something that God is that his very nature is true. And every thing that is so close to God, of necessity is always false and illusionary. That's why Satan is described in the New Testament as the founder and the author of lie and you know that the whole world is filled with alignments. That's why we are tempted so strongly it's because of the believability of some of the lies that come to us through society through the media through our relationships or whatever and we believe these lies because sometimes allies can feel so good, but we never understand truth truth would be quite meaningless in a universe in which there was no evil. So God is on display in his same throughout all of eternity.
The saints are saying God you are true and I want you to notice a six way in which God is showing his superiority and that is in the very same text. Revelation 19 to because of his justice.
If we had time to read chapter 17 and 18 of the book of Revelation we find out that God has just destroyed that the city of Babylon is symbolic city of all the evil and the wickedness of the world all coming together and it says after these things I heard is where the sound of a great multitude in heaven, you sell who in the world is a great multitude at you, my friend, that you you're gonna be a part of that great multitude of you believed on Christ. I don't care how many problems you have today.
I don't care how many difficulties I don't care how often you struggle in your relationships. If you are born again of the spirit you are going to be part of this company and were going to be singing together, and were going to be saying hallelujah, salvation and glory and power belongs to God because his judgments are true and righteous people are always saying how can you possibly believe in the doctrine of hell.
First of all let me contrast the justice and the righteousness of God with human courts. You know that our court system here in the United States is essentially a disaster and it's a disaster for a number of reasons. Some of the reasons can be helped. Others can't be one of the reasons is because men do not have perfect knowledge. Most judges and juries have to go on the basis of a lot of ignorance. Just the way it is given notice when someone is charged with a crime. Very seldom do you hear somebody say yes, I'm guilty do with me as seems good in you site I'm waiting for the day for something to say that Bill begin to run like gophers into holes all seeking some kind of a hedge, all seeking to somehow be covered by some technicality of the law. That's the way in which we live. And so what people have to do is to flush them out to try to get witnesses to try to prove a point. And so there's ignorance regarding the fact there is also ignorance regarding what a correct sentence should be, how long should you sentence someone and is jail. The best kind of sentencing. All of this is is subject to human error and human evaluation. And of course we live in a society that is filled with misuse of the law heard about a cartoon recently where the couple had just eaten supper eaten dinner with some of their friends and this other couple was walking out the door. The man turns to his wife and says he knows Hagstrom's. They are such nice people. They are so relaxed they are so calm there so joyful. Let's let's the way it is today. Now with God is going to be totally different. It says in the Psalms that someday when people stand before God will say how does God know how come he had such detailed knowledge. So God is going to be able to say to this person. Yes you are accountable X percent, but your parents are also going to be held accountable because they mistreated you and that will be factored in. And then they mistreated you because their parents mistreated them, and God who has accurate knowledge is going to take all those things into account when he judges people and for all of eternity were going to be able to sing with enthusiasm and conviction all Lord, your judgments are true and righteous. You didn't look anything I can tell you why they're going to be so many people in hell. I don't know why it is that there's so many populations of the world do not know the truth and then there are millions of people who know the truth and say no to it. All that I know is that throughout all of eternity. When we see the big picture, we will agree with God that he is perfectly just, and that what happened in the universe throughout all of eternity.
All the cases that are then closed on earth are going to be retried. Justice is going to be distributed because right here in the text. It goes on to say, for he has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and he has advantage the blood of his bond servants on her know sometimes people say, well, I can't believe in God because there's so much injustice your friend. 00. Don't tell me that please.
What a foolish thing to say, think that through. Have breakfast before you say that you'll think differently. Do you realize that if there is no God, then all the injustices that have ever taken place on planet Earth will never ever ever ever be addressed in the whole universe throughout all eternity will be nothing but a collection of the injustice that will be perpetuated because all those who sin will have gotten by and there will never recommend hands and justice be made only if you believe in God. Is there any hope at all.
Some of the wrongs in the world are to be made right my dear friend, if you take the holiness of God and you had to with the power of God and the love and the grace and the mercy of God which we long together and the wisdom of God and the truth of God and the justice of God. What do you end up with the glory of God, which is always what the people were singing about. It is like various beads on a strand of pearls, all of the attributes of God contribute to his awesome beauty and glory and wonder. I know what you're saying are you single pastor Luther you still didn't really answer the question why was that earthquake in Mexico several years back 16,000 people dead, how do you explain the little girl are the little boy that is being abused by angry, abusive, alcoholic parents.
You still didn't explain that what is the connection between that and the glory of God.
I have to confess to you that sometimes the relationship between those two is difficult to see, though throughout life.
I could give you many instances where we begin to see hints of it, especially in the lives of those who allow God to work mightily through the man's spine. The tragedies of life. You can see the grace of God. One day we were living in Skokie many years ago I remember mowing the lawn and before I did, I noticed that there was always paper around, and as I looked at it I realized it was a letter that someone had just torn up and apparently thrown out of the street and the wind blew some pieces onto our lawn and so I went and I picked up the pieces and I tried to put the letter together.
I even found the name of the person, but then after that there was just one or two sentences and the rest of the letter was missing and a part of it made sense, but I didn't really know the people and I didn't know the context and so and so there's a part of the letter that was missing one to submit to you today that everything that is in the Bible is absolutely true, but there's no question but that some of the explanation is missing. I don't understand exactly the direct connection in every instance, but this much I know that I believe in my heart that there is not so much as one single individual or one single situation that takes place on planet Earth that in some way will either in this life or in the life to come contribute to the glory and the one there and the Magis of God. That's a statement of faith because I can't give you all those explanations, but you see it is precisely the trial of our faith which is so precious to God. God says I'm telling you this much. And then there are some things I'm not telling you but you believe and trust me enough to know that if I showed you the whole picture.
It would make sense.
I believe that throughout all of eternity. When we see the whole picture will not spit in God's face like Hg Wells says he was going to do. Too bad, but that we will cast their crowns before him, and will say, oh God forgive us for all the times that we doubted you on earth because because we took upon ourselves burdens that were too heavy for us to bear an old Lord you are the only one that knows the end from the beginning and now that we begin to see the big picture. We confess oh God here ways are righteous and true, thou King of Saints, forgive us for snatching from God's hand in the battle and send the rod read judging his justice in becoming the judge of God forgive us you so what does this have to do with me and my need is the attributes of God that we have spoken about this morning are already evident in the lives of his people.
What is it that you need this morning. Do you need forgiveness that you need is love and grace and his mercy that is available to you. Do you need guidance because the future to you seems to be so clouded and you don't know where you're going to go or what decision you're going to make why indeed you come before the God who has all wisdom and you receive wisdom from him is it that you need deliverance from some sin that keeps tripping you up.
Jesus said you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
You need the truth of God because one of the things that God is after is to begin the work already in the lives of his people of the transformation of character, the wonder of his attributes because it is not just as if God is going to be on display in eternity future. God wants to be on display now. The apostle Paul says through his church. And when people look at my life in your life, they should be able to say God is on display.
You know when the apostle Paul gave those three chapters on the total sovereignty of God. Romans chapter 9 chapter 10 got to the end of chapter 11 and he just broke out.
I think Paul was writing. He didn't use a computer like I do, or more accurately, like I tried to pull didn't do that he was writing with his can and I'm sure that he must've taken a fresh driving because it was going to be a long sentence. This is what he says suddenly throws up his hands and he says all the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out for who has known the mind of the Lord pulses you know what God is up to do you read his diary every day. Does he show you the future. No who has known the mind of the Lord, who has been his counselor.
Scott ever phoned you early in the morning and says you have to make a decision and I'd like a second opinion, is he ever asked you what he should do, who has been his counselor who is paying anything to God so that God owes him anything in return. Does God owe you anything just got really owe you anything. Do you have coming to you answer scriptures know not a single thing does he owe us that he gives us something. It is his grace and then Paul says, for all that is the source and that is the means and to that is the goal to go already in me than on and power for ever and ever, ever. Amen. Nothing more to say. So let's pray father. We know that when we get to heaven will be no trouble worshiping you teach us on earth.
What were going to be doing. May we bow humbly sale God, you are absolutely worth a you will loan the Lord are worthy of worship praise of honor, my friend, this is Pastor lutes her toes.
There was a Bible teacher who made the remark that what comes into your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you, what comes to your mind when you think about God, you know, I have preached for many years but I don't think that I have ever preached a series of messages like the one that you have just heard entitled what is God up to where I have with such a sense of compassion tried to exalt God's sovereignty God's purposes. God's love. God's justice to help us think rightly about God and I'm so convinced that when we begin to think rightly about God, we begin to see other things in a proper perspective. That's why I believe this resource. This series of messages will be of tremendous blessing to you would love to be able to send it to you in a permanent form so that you can listen to it again and again shared with your friends when you get discouraged when you begin to see the details of life without the big picture, this series of messages I believe will help you the most.
What is God up to for a gift of any amount. It can be yours, simply go to RTW offer.com.
Of course, RTW offers all one word RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 because I believe that this series of messages. This resource will be of tremendous help to enable you to run the race of life. I'm giving you that contact info again and thanks in advance for helping us because together we are making a difference. Your gifts your support are tremendous blessing to help others. Here's what you can do. Go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. I know another chance for you to ask Pastor lutes or a question about the Bible or the Christian life, understanding prayer can be challenging an anonymous listener is asking this many scriptures say we should pray in the spirit. But how do we distinguish this from just praying in accordance with what we feel about a matter excellent question. I'm not sure that I can always distinguish between these two myself. I think to pray in the spirit means to pray in faith it means to pray with yielded nests. So even though we come before God. Often times, wanting to pray about things that are on our agenda and we aren't sure whether or not they are on God's agenda. We still pray in submission we give these matters to God and we trust him and I think that that's what praying in the spirit means doesn't mean that we talk in tongues or that we have some special revelation.
It simply means. I believe praying in submission to the Holy Spirit and sometimes we don't know how to pray as Romans chapter 8 indicates, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groans that cannot be uttered. Bottom line, pray in submission to God my God help all of us to understand that often times those who live in faith may not receive the answers that they want but they are willing to accept what ever God gives them. That's what I think.
Praying in the spirit means some wise counsel. As always, from Dr. Erwin lutes or thank you Dr. lutes or if you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor lutes or or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 during this holiday season. We should consider Christmas from a different viewpoint from a place far away in a time long ago.
Next time on running to when Erwin lutes or talk about a housing shortage message on lots of space, but no room. This is Dave McAllister going to win is sponsored by the Moody Church