Let's Sing It! - Romans 16:25-26

First thing Paul wants to sing about is this compassionate, caring, dynamic of God, who is actually interested in us. He is actually interested in establishing us that we were God, we would be fed with us, not this God comes in as we acknowledge our weakness. He welcomes us and he lets us in his everlasting arms, and he adds firmness to our faith.

He helps us stand. No wonder we would say praise God from whom all blessings flow. The doxology at the very end of Romans. Paul ended with the doxology of praise as well.

Today Stephen baby begins a two-part series looking at those closing verses from Romans in a short series called the final doxology. Today's lesson is called let's sing it. This is wisdom for the heart. Stephen Devi is the senior pastor of colonial Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina. Our ministry is rooted in the belief that God's word is true and that God transforms lives through the power of his word. If you're able to open your copy of the Scriptures turned to Romans 16 as we get started with this series. The final doxology today all around the English speaking world. Thousands of Christians are gathering and they are raising their voices to sing praise to God as we have done so far today. One particular palm's song probably is much as any other become quite a treasure in her English language and aiding our worship of God was written by a rather courageous church leader pastor in the late 1600s to, among other things, refused to allow the Kings mistress to stay in his home when she came to visit, usually to live through those refusals of the king, and he did. He was respected.

He sort of grew in his leadership of the church in England.

On another occasion he demanded that a relative of the king follow through with the marriage proposal. The woman that he had proposition, so he was willing to buck the current and and challenge those in the highest echelons of power do the right thing. Thomas can was his name. He was a scholar and author who not only let a flock, but he he taught at Oxford in the middle late 1600s and erodes hymns for his students. He wrote hymns for their devotions on the B song in the morning and some to be sung in the evening. In 1709. He published an addition of his hymns and and in that edition. One of the MC called the morning him.

He attached to the end of his 14 stands. If you think hymns have a lot of stanzas now will not evaluate these guys knew of the 14th stanza came and at the end of that finishing off this him.

Was this Paul now nearly universally recognized as the doxology praise God from whom all blessings flow USA with me praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above the heavenly hosts praise father son and Holy Ghost. The name doxology comes from the Greek word docs originally meant simply opinion this was your opinion of someone it was your doxology regarding that person. It came to refer to a person's reputation and later attributes or their personal power. Something about them that would bring honor.

Of course eventually came to be used specifically of God. Of course, in the Bible. The one deserving of all docs, all glory, all honor the one who is worthy of our highest opinion is God alone. God himself throughout the New Testament the word docs it appears in reference or regarding Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is raised by glory, the glory of the father of a six for he is taken up in the glory for 73 years of the right hand of glory.

Acts 755 glory is ascribed to him in Hebrews 1321 where the writer closes his particular letter by writing, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory the docs forever and ever. Amen Paul and James refer to Christ as the Lord of glory in first Corinthians 2 and James to one of the strongest verses on the deity of Jesus Christ. The divine nature of our Lord, who was God incarnate, is Paul's letter to Titus and chapter 2 were all believers are looking for that blessed hope and the appearing of the docs so the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ that a great text we will see Christ, who is God in all his glory and honor and power.

One day in the meantime, our opinion of him should match who he is, should not, what is your opinion of God.

What is the reputation of Christ to you. When you think of God. What do you think of AW toes or wrote that were we able to extract from anyone a complete answer to that question. What comes in your mind when you think of God, we would predict with certainty the spiritual future of that believer. No wonder JI Packer would challenge the believer then disregard the study of God and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction.

One of the wonderful things about the assembly, designed by God. One of the wonderful things about this day rolling around when we gather to meet is that we elevate our opinion of God together we are refreshed in our perspective of Jesus Christ in glory and honor and praise to this one. Who is God in the flesh. If there is one thing needed for the church and every believer today. It is an eminent opinion of our eminent Savior. It is a prominent perspective of our prominent distinguished gracious Lord, after all that Paul has written to the Roman believers.

After all of the proper theology and the practical theology. Would you believe he would now in his letter with nothing less then a doxology and so we should for ladies and gentlemen.

Theology should lead to doxology the knowledge of God leads to the praise of God.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow is the natural response of coming in contact with our supernatural Lord. So is it any wonder then that Paul will end this great letter on the theme of this true docs saw the declaration of the glory and honor and majesty of God. I divided his doxology for our study today before stanzas the first stanza. Paul begins singing praise to the glory of God's might notice chapter 16 of Romans verse 25 now to him who is able to establish you. Who is that one you could go to the end of the doxology where he ties that phrase, and with the last phrase in verse 27 when I get to get to the verse today. I just wanted to know ahead of time day but let's at least reference it now to him who is able to establish you to the only wise God through Jesus Christ that you can read it and everything in between that are descriptive statements of the glory of this great God and some specific way, and he begins by singing praise than the glory of God's might now to him who is able do Namenda to the one who has the dynamic.

It gives us our transliterated word dynamite which I like to think of periodically.

What I see this word because I think of the fact that it takes the dynamite of God's supernatural power to break through mountains of disbelief and granite hearts to him. Paul writes, who is dynamically capable of not only breaking through our depraved unblinded hearts, but building and establishing us for his glory.

Establishing us this word established is used often by the apostle Paul. It comes from the original word steroids which gives us our word steroid steroids so is the word which means to make firm to make stable now. We certainly see plenty of newspaper articles were at least misused steroids either bulk up for other drugs to speed up gaining an advantage over other athletes who traditionally build their bodies, but steroids do have a good use. They are often prescribed by the medical community for someone who needs help struggling with some weakness or some disability or to help them recover from some disease so this would strengthen the body.

Paul knows that it is the ability of God. Ultimately, that strengthens the body, spiritual body, the Roman believers we've already been told are known all around the world for their faith, but whether faith is famous. Their faith is not firm it needs to be established. Further, it needs to be strengthened and so in this analogy, the apostle Paul is encouraging the believers, that is, they follow after God. He is able to lab my soul to their ministry. He is able to add firmness to their faith. So the first stanza of Paul's doxology is simply this, my God is able. Paul sings even when we are not my God is capable even when we can't mind God is strong even when we struggle and you must notice that in order for Paul to say now to him who is able.

That would imply that everyone else is unable, in fact, Paul finishes the doxology without thought the only wise got all other gods or speculations.

All other ways only lead to more weakness, not to greater strength. All gods of wood and stone.

They are nothing but takers.

Our God is a giver. He gives strength to establish believer to those who acknowledge they are weak. After all, we we learn about everything Paul has revealed in the book of Romans. The first thing Paul wants to sing about is this condescending, compassionate, caring, dynamic of God, who is actually interested in us. He is actually interested in establishing us if we were God, we would be fed up with us. Not this God he comes in as we acknowledge our weakness. He welcomes us in… Us in his everlasting arms, and he adds firmness to our faith. He helps us stand.

No wonder we would say praise God from whom all blessings flow and Paul here would sing praise God for his might.

Now, just what does God's exercise program look like is how does the Christian add fiber to his faith was found in the second stanza, the first Paul praises God for his might. Now he begins to praise God for his message. Notice again now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, to first we have the praise of God's mind and now we have the praise of God's message.

Praise God for the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, you can actually translate the phrase make it a little more clear. According to my gospel.

Even then the preaching of Jesus Christ, to see the gospel is Jesus Christ without the gospel we would not know God who is known only through Jesus Christ. Without Christ, ladies and gentlemen, there is no gospel and especially in our culture. Please stay alert everybody talks about God. Listen for somebody who will talk about Jesus Christ that is the name of the mediator between God and man listen for that without Christ there is no gospel in our world needs the gospel they know intuitively gospel sibling is good news. They want good news about the afterlife, so this doxology of God sings the glory of God's might the glory of God's message and now Paul will sing about the glory of God's mystery. Let's go again through this text now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, and it has been made known to all the nations. Many believe that the Scriptures of the prophets there in the middle of this doxology is a reference to New Testament prophets, and I would agree the apostolic community. Paul wrote of himself Apollo's and Peter that they were stewards of the mysteries of God in first grade. In chapter 4 verse one. They were among the New Testament prophets who delivered the revelation of the mysteries of of of Christ unfolding them for this church in this era. Those things hidden in ages past. Now revealed through the apostles and this that you hold in your lap. The writing Paul further wrote to the Ephesians by Revelation, there was made known to me the mystery.

As I wrote before. In brief, and by referring to this. When you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed in his holy apostles and prophets in the spirit. Now when we use the word mystery. What particular mystery is Paul referring to here in Romans 16. Perhaps all of them or maybe one of them in particular which I think is the case because Paul talks about one particular mystery.

Being what he calls a profound mystery. This is a a startling mystery. This is mind numbing as if the others are. This is profound to us and it is the mystery of Christ marrying the church. It is the mystery of a predominantly Gentile bride being wedded to God the son Paul in Ephesians talks about this he says, but this mystery is great. I am speaking in reference to Christ and the church as he gives the analogy of a man marrying a woman is profound mystery of the inclusion of the Gentile into the family of God just blew his mind another hands of this of the Old Testament but see because were living in the New Testament, we can understand the Old Testament was hidden then it's revealed to us now, but it was disclosed to them in some way.

There were hints of it to Abraham. He was told in Genesis 12 that he would be a blessing to all of the families of the earth encapsulated in that covenant promise is the coming Messiah who will be a blessing to everyone who believes in fact, Isaiah 42 verse six, God told Israel at the Messiah would be a line of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. They didn't really know what that man's we do mystery has been disclosed and we have the creation of something the Old Testament and nothing but that.

That's the church. This era of this dispensation we call the dispensation of grace. This is only one of the myriad of mysteries and types in illustrations and prophecies and predictions regarding the fulfillment of Christ and his bride, the church ladies and gentlemen is CS Lewis said one of the greatest evidences of Christianity that it is in fact the truth is that nobody could ever dream it up. But God, nobody could ever created. Christianity had to have been created by God. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God for his might praise God for the glory of his message. Praise God for the glory of his mystery, and finally praise God for the glory of his ministry.

Look at the latter end of verse 26. According to the commandment of the eternal God. This is been made known to all the nations leading resulting to obedience of faith. The ministry of God is best reflected in those who obey him.

Those who come to him by faith reflect the glory of God.

As they obey the faith. Paul writes here observed by the world. This obedience of faith, which by the way, is an odd phrase as it the obedience of faith. If I can only appears one other time in the entire New Testament Romans chapter 1 verse five but while salvation comes by faith in Christ. Apart from works faith in Christ produces good works, faith is essential to salvation. Good works are evidences of salvation you could say that faith is the attitude that saves good works are the action of those who are say somebody will ask me what you say about somebody is as I asked Christ to save me when I was six or eight or 10 or 16 or whatever. And now I know them and they have no desire for the church and no desire for the Scriptures, they do not love God.

They use his name in vain.

They don't live forum and NUS. The Mozilla I pray that prayer, what would you say to them, I would say that you have every reason that the comforter perhaps false hope of heaven warn them of hell. True faith works true faith in Christ brings salvation apart from works but the one who has that true faith, guess what they do it. Paul said to the believers and through Titus the believers are purified for God, and they become zealous for good works that simply how reflect the glory of God. That's the doxology of life we belong to one we want to walk like we want to talk like we want to live like we want to grow up and be like our father are perfect heavenly father. Paul wrote to the Ephesians and Jeff are two verse 10 we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for what for good works, why didn't Jesus just take us off the planet.

After we got say because he wants us to live here and through our good works and glorify God so that the world will see our good works and glorify God. The world doesn't understand anything about God. The only thing they can see is your life and mine. And when they see you. Forgive like you forget they say only God could cause them to forgive like that when I see you live a pure life in this corrupt culture.

They was saying, surely God must strengthen you to live like that they see your good works and the glorify God in heaven. So salvation, then, is God's gift to us.

Our good works are gifts to him. Thomas can published his doxology in 1709. The doxology had this stanza preceding which sings of the duty of the believer to serve Christ awake, my soul, and with the sun by daily stage of duty run shake off goal's loss and joyful rise to pay thy morning sacrifice. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below.

Praise him above the heavenly host praise father son and Holy Ghost. We praise God for the ministry of God in and through our lives and the change that comes demonstrating the glory of God to our world by the privilege of meeting minutes serving time in prison. He began to listen to our program on the radio and God marked his life with it and that he had such a sweet testimony of how I came to faith in Christ and in the he came here drove here from another stay with his mother's sister just to say thank you.

We were able hug one another and to take a picture or two and it was very significant to know that changes were occurring in this man's life because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God on the salvation it isn't the power of the preacher.

It is the power of God.

When you share the gospel with your friends.

It is in the cleverness of you. It is the cleverness of God, we simply deliver the gospel and we let the gospel do its work.

I read recently of another inmate who was let out of prison a convicted thief and a heroin addict. He'd been led to Christ by one of the members of the families of those one of his victims when he burglarized her home can imagine having a burger come to your home still all your stuff and you go to prison to witness to vest the power of the gospel in that person's life when he got saved and the changes in his life were dramatic. His original conviction was overturned because of the legality and he was released from prison all the way to a retrial and in the process of being released, he joined the church she got involved in in Bible studies and he joined in NX prisoners fellowship group and continue to grow in Christ, and as his retrial came due. Fred believed having grown now in Christ that it was his obligation to tell the court in complete honesty about burglaries that he had committed that they didn't know about how different is that rather than covering over anything he wanted.

He wanted to do whatever he needed to do to make it right and so to the shock of everybody in the courtroom.

He confessed the other crimes he committed and told the judge he be willing to pay whatever he needed to pay and go to prison for additional time served.

Whatever the judge thought that he ought to do in an awkward silence filled the courtroom. You can only imagine the judges up there at his bench, considering what to do with Fred. The system doesn't quite work well with the sort of people.

Those who confess their crimes. When the judge announced the sentence reflected wisdom, the gay Fred back his life. The remaining years of his life, but also brought justice. He was to make restitution to all of these victims for their losses with 50% interest, and then he was sentenced to 10 years for each separate robbery within the judge suspended all of the prison time as time served.

For a moment.

No one in the packed courtroom moved and then Fred's pastor jumped to his feet and shouted let's sing it sing what will he begin to lead the entire courtroom in the singing of the doxology, the Seattle Times captured the scene.

Everyone stood up little ladies and spring dresses, girls and jeans men in business suits a biker with his motorcycle jacket and helmet, prison guards and ex-cons and they began to sing the doxology officials later said it was the first time a Seattle Superior Court case it ever close with the doxology abetted what's is it any wonder then that Paula redeemed sinner with guilt. He never forgot. Of course, piled high before God even got it. Forget that would now lead the church for 2000 years and doing what all of us redeemed sinners due upon realizing the glory of God in our lives. The glory of the ministry of God in our hearts, the glory of the mystery of God revealed to our minds and our eyes the glory of the message of God delivered to us in the mind of God revealed and offered to us when we come and we do when we honor weakness. Is it any wonder. Little wonder that what we would love to do when we assemble, sing, sing praise and honor and glory to this wonderful God, the church sings praise to God when we gather and you can sing and live a life of praise to God today as you go about the activities that will fill your time. This is wisdom for the heart.

With this lesson. Stephen Devi begins a short two-part series entitled the final doxology.

Today's lesson is called let's sing it and when we come back tomorrow. Stephen will bring you the second part of this series. In the meantime, I want to make you aware of what's coming up on Wednesday. Stephen begins a series on angels and we have a study guide associated with that series that study guide is our featured resource this month and you may want to get a copy in advance so that you can have it available as we go through this teaching together give us a call today 86 648 Bible. That's 866-482-4253 and will give you the information you need. Thanks for joining us today and tune in tomorrow for more wisdom for the hearts