Fusion Church Morning SOAP Bible Study
Monday May 6 |. Romans 8
Welcome to Morning Soap. At Fusion Church, our desires to see everyone attend church and hear from God daily through His Word. The Bible reveals God's responses to various situations, and through daily devotions, we can reshape our thought patterns, transform our minds, and become more Christlike. Join us here every Monday through Friday as different pastors and leaders from Fusion Church provide insightful devotions and teachings based on the day's scripture. For the current Soap reading plan, visit fusionchurch.cc/soap and join us as we deepen our understanding and relationship with God. Good morning. Good morning. Happy Monday. As you can hear, my allergies are still killing me this morning. If you had the unfortunate encounter with me yesterday at church who have heard my voices pretty much the same, if not worse than yesterday. So, hopefully no one else is dealing with allergies yet by the fuck a bunch of you. I know it's been a rough couple days or couple weeks. So that being said, Pastor Sean has been amazing. He's going to hop in this and take over soap for me. So thank you so much Pastor Sean. You're just your lifesaver. Thank you. You got two choices today. You go ahead with no voice. I'll be. That looks eternal allergy mess. You stuck with me. We will figure it out this morning. So I'm not sneezing right now. So that's a good thing. So let me just jump into it and have a thank you for the notes. All right. So just a couple of quick announcements. So this Sunday is Mother's Day. We do have child education's happening this Sunday and that's best that Danielle is speaking. Also, connect group leader forms are open for summer groups. Those are due by next Monday, May the 13th. So a couple of things for you there. Let me pray and then I'm hoping the call can read for me and it will be OK. Let's pray. Father, we just thank you for this day. We thank you that even with no voices sneezing with energies with all the crazy stuff going on there. You are still here with us and that you have a revelation for us this morning. So father, we just pray that he would inspire us and pray that as we look into your word that you would lead us to new truths and to just things from your word and just action steps this morning. So we thank you and we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, we are in Romans eight. I entitled life for the spirit. And when you're ready to call taken away. Yeah, stand by one second. I looked too far on the room so far. I thought today was Tuesday. Okay, Romans eight. I'm reading out of the NIV version. Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. The law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh. God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us who do not live according to the flesh but according to the spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their mindset on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their mind set on what the spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law nor can it do so. Those who are in the same realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but are in the realm of the spirit. If indeed the spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. Therefore brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if, if by the spirit, you put to death the misdeeds of your body, you will live for those who are led by the spirit of God, or the children of God, the spirit of you, the spirit you receive does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again. Rather the spirit you received brought about your adoption to sons sonship, and by him we cry, Abba Father, the spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are his heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Verse 18, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected in hope that the creation itself would be will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth, right up to the present time, not only so, but we ourselves we who have the first fruits of the spirit grown inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship sonship the redemption of our bodies. This hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is no hope at all, who hopes for what they already have. But if we hope for what we do not have yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans, and he who searches our hearts knows the minds of the spirit, because the spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. For those God for knew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the first board among many brothers and sisters, and those he predestined he also called those he called he also justified those he justified he also glorified us. What then shall we say in response to these things, if God is for us who can be against us, he who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. How we not also along with him graciously give us all things, who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen. It is God who justifies who then who then is the one who condemns no one Christ Jesus who died more than who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. We shall separate who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. As it is written for your sake, we face death all day long, we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, for I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor death nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God. That is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. All right, thank you Nicole. So, quite diverse, there's a lot of stuff to dig into here. There's graciously outlined this for us into three different sections, and let me scroll down a little bit. Okay, so the first section is entitled Life Through the Spirit, and if you look at different versions of the Bible have different titles, so it could be living by the power of the Holy Spirit. Okay, from bondage, the solution is life and God's terms from the message and each title gives us a slightly different perspective and how to view these verses so let's look at the first 17 verses. I'm not just read it but I might just read a few verses again. So this is one through 17 starts with therefore there is no condemnation for Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death, and I'm not going to read the rest. Let's jump into those first 17 verses. So, there's a lot to digest here so that's why. And then look at different translations will do that to kind of see what makes sense to you now also why each of the titles from the different translations can help sum up a portion of text and help keep us focused on the main message. So, I'm going to try and stay energy free for a while. So, let's sum it up from the title so verse one through 17 explains how to break free from the bondage of our past and present flesh and live by the spirit in God's freedom so that's pretty cool so breaking free of the past. Interestingly we live in the flesh by the spirit and by God's freedom so it can sound very harsh overwhelming to hear that those are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God alright so it can make us think well then how can I please God if I feel unworthy or even stuck in my fleshly desires rather than overwhelm us these verses are meant to encourage us. You cannot work your way to God in your own me say that again have to put it in big bold letters you cannot work your way to God on your own. Bottom line is you can't work your way to anything spiritually because it's by grace that we say right it's by the power of the Holy Spirit so there's no much we can do on our own. Many different religious backgrounds right even sometimes in question denominations or pastors try to teach you that if you just pray more or pray to a certain person saying to God you'll get in God's good side. And if you just do more or serve more will be pleased with you if you give more money to this church or this cause guide or reward you. But all these teachings seek the servant for our fleshly desire for what will control striving selfishness or even pride. It's just even thinking about Donner's testimonies today where pastors are going to tell you, you know it's okay just do this and everything's going to be fine. Okay, all the issues that in front of you know what's happening but we know that none of that is true right we have to. If I stop the video now and again it's just because I need to blow my nose or something so I'll keep talking though. Okay so there's nine clarifies this for us. If indeed the spirit of God lives in you in parentheses you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior right so the first step to activating life in the spirit is choosing to follow God because of which he's dead for us. You are you are ever are not in the realm of the flesh but in the realm of the spirit. You don't have to do anything else to please a win over God but live out the desires and righteous guiding of the Holy Spirit so I think that verse is really important you are not in the realm of the flesh but you are in the realm of the spirit. What does that mean it's not a battle against flesh and blood right it's not a battle against human beings it's a spiritual battle that's been fought for us. And you don't have to do anything else to please God a win over God. But just live by the way that the Holy Spirit and the word of God shows us right. Do what he says so like the same goes. God designed us to be human beings not human doing right we have to be not to he wants us to be with him and let his spirit be with us. And without having to give into our fleshly tendencies or cultural expectations of doing more. To get to him is nothing more we could do. Because Jesus already did it all for us thanks a lot right. It's all been done for us which Jesus wasn't the cross he said it is finished. I've done everything that needs to be done. And verses. Let me just get the video back verses 12 through 15. It's going to position myself here. Okay so pointing to the differences in seat ourselves and the things around us. So what does it look like to live according to the flesh. What does it look like to live according to the flesh versus over the world versus to live according to the spirit. Oh God's perspective I'm going to sorry guys I'm just going to try and keep the allergy infestation away from you. So we just find my place again. Okay. What does it mean to live according to the flesh versus to live according to the spirit of God's perspective. So living for the world or living as children of God. You know crying out Abba father which is a term of intimate affection and relationship. So Jesus tells us in John 15 19. If you belong to the world. It would love you as its own. As it is you do not belong to the world but I've chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Right so we are in the world not of the world. We're also reminded in Hebrews 1314. We do not have an enduring city. But we are looking for the city that is to come so eternal city we are just. Travelers passing through this world. So is the first application question. Application question number one. Where is my focus today my flesh or my spirit. Am I stuck in my flesh or worldly desires. Or am I living out of my identity as a son or daughter crying out Abba father to God. So let me read that one more time. Where is my focus today my flesh or my spirit. Am I stuck in my flesh or worldly desires. Or am I living out of my identity as a son or daughter crying out Abba father to God. So just take a second think about that maybe it's something you're going to ponder throughout the day. And as you ponder that question you know if you feel like you're stuck in the flesh. Try to get to the root of that right what is this one of the things about keeping you stuck. Really good question from Heather there. You know is there a better route we need to spit out is there forgiveness that we have to give someone. Yeah there's the series and forgiveness I think has been incredible for everybody. And sometimes we think I'm going to set myself on fire and help the other person feels the pain and we know that's not true right. So forgiveness is as much about what it means for us or more about what it means for us than it does for the other person. So figure out today if you are stuck in the flesh or is keeping you stuck there. All right here's the second section. Entitled present suffering and future glory at NIV. A passion translation says sons and daughters destined for glory. So you can figure out what the sections are. So verses 18 through 30. I'm going to read this again or parts of this. And then I want to give you. Also a slightly different take on an additional look at verses 18 to 20. So I consider that our present sufferings are not worth. Comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. And here's an interesting verse verse 19 for the creation. Wait in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed right. What the creation was subjected to frustration not by its own choice. But by the wall of the one who subjected it. And hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves. We have the first fruits of the spirit. Grown inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption to sonship the redemption of our bodies for endless help. We were safe. But hope that is seen is no help at all. Who hopes for what they already have. But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. I'm going to stop reading there. So recently, Pastor Brendan. Priest of Marvel message from our 2023 summer road trip series on the book of Philippians. We spoke about how my circumstances. Don't determine my outcome. Right. Philippians one six says. We just do this being confident of this. And he will begin a good work in you. We'll carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. So until Christ comes back again. Okay, so that's a Brendan also said. Until you meet Jesus is going to be working on and refining and developing you. All right. So what is suffering do suffering allows us to widen the capacity of our heart and look more like Jesus. That's a huge, huge thing. Right. Because we have been set aside as Christians. We're never going to quite get they don't make it. But this, you know, this period of time that we live on earth, you know, God is doing the work of refining and growing us to become more like Jesus. All right. And we're never going to get there. But we have been, we are sanctified and set aside to. And we are given the privilege of suffering to allow us to become to look more like Jesus. So that's pretty, pretty amazing. Another thing I just want to mention about this is. In 1920. This whole section, it talks about creation, growing and creation. I hope my light just switched off. But moving enough things blocking the sense in my office. Is it reminds us that creation literally declares who God is creation is broadcasting. You know, the hope and the future and the existence we have that is because of God and because of what God has done. Creation itself is speaking for God. I think that's a very powerful visual when you think about that. So there's a book that a lot of us have been working through recently called emotionally healthy. A spirituality by Peter Scazero, and he talks about the necessity of suffering in order to find empathy and compassion towards understanding others and ourselves. Right. So all of these things would go through a not just. Yeah, you can say things just happened or life just happened. But there's more to it than that or everything we go through is a tool that we can use. All our suffering is helping us find empathy is helping us find compassion. And through that we can connect more deeply with others and ourselves. Sometimes we need trials. It's a book by Bob. I'm not sure I pronounce this, but I'm going to say it's a RGE is his last name. Bob Sork is a short but powerful book about the power of seasons of suffering. In order to grow closer to God and deepen the foundation of our faith. So if you see suffering there's something unnecessary missing the point. God is trying to do something in the suffering is trying to draw you closer to him is trying to deepen your faith. First Corinthians 1520 to 23 says, but Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. First fruits of those are fallen asleep for since death came through a man. The resurrection of the dead also through a man was 22 for as an Adam all die. So in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn Christ the first fruits. Then when he comes those who belong to him. So we have the first fruits of the spirit because of Jesus death and resurrection because of what he did. Death no longer has the final say our bodies experience the worldly results of sin. But a spirit experiences external results of Jesus death and resurrection as those who belong to him. Because we have the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We need to stay close to him connecting with him daily in our lives. To be open to what he's doing and saying so you can move in our life, especially in our suffering right. Otherwise you know who will be an advocate who will speak for us. Our human sisters and brothers in faith are there for prayer support too. You know, because we're not meant to do life alone. But no one can intercede for us like the Holy Spirit who knows us so uniquely and intimately. Right? So don't miss that. Of course we want to do life together but don't miss what only the Holy Spirit can do for you. Right, you don't need to overthink or write that long prayers for him to guide or support you. Basically just saying help or I need you. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to pray. But I know you do, Holy Spirit. And he's all on this vulnerable and humble prayers we can pray to exercise our faith and trust that he will. He can and it will intercede for us. Yeah, Romans 828. Excuse me, one of those questionees, typical verses. You know, we want to quote to ourselves or to someone else to make ourselves feel better. But don't most study works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose. Your purpose isn't the same as everyone else. So this means that we need to be in loving pursuit of him, not to sitting on the sidelines waiting for him. He already loves us but this verse is saying that we must be the ones who love him in order to alarm room for submission to move in our lives. So does that mean you need to work? No, it just means that you need to allow room for God to work in your life because he loves you because he wants to do things for you. So I'm to do that by submitting to him by being with him. We also need to remember that if we are truly going to believe that he will work on our tough situation, we need to be reassured and take help. That his purpose is still in us, no matter how confusing or heartbreaking our situation might be. Because if we're breath in our lungs and our hearts are beating, then we are among those people called. We call called according to his purpose, right? So we are called for a purpose. Let me just go back to 28. So we read that verse one more time and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love it, we've been called according to his purpose. So it doesn't say who have been called according to our purpose, according to our desires, according to what we want to do for God, but it says according to his purpose, don't miss that part. Application question number two. Do you need the Holy Spirit in the seed for you or someone you love today? Pray and ask him to show up in your weakness today. So what do you need today? What do you need to ask for? We should go ahead and probably ask those things. And if we're not sure, let's just tell him that I'm not sure what I need, but I know I need you today. All right, we go one more section here. The third section, verse 31 to the end. And if we can add some titles here would be more than conquerors are victories in Christ, or the triumph of God's love. So Romans 831. So another Christian is verse, and it can be taken out of context says, what then shall we say in response to these things if God is for us who can be against us. Okay, God is always for us, but sometimes our poor decisions take us out of God's plan or blessing, right? It's not God, but it's sometimes we just make a dumb decision. And if God is for us who can be against us, he will graciously graciously give us all things. Let me just do one thing here. Sorry, guys, and I'd like to pass a break and say during our late ghost series. We can have unrealistic, I'd agree upon expectations of what that means of God, right? It does not mean that if God is for you, you got to get that job, that promotion, the house, that relationship, that marriage, that wedding ring, or whatever else you want on your timing or your way, the way you see it. It means that he is for you. It means that when your co-worker comes up about you, or your boss criticizes you. It means that he is for you, right? He's with you. When you're struggling in your finance or some mental health, it means that he is for you in your spouse or family. Excuse me, family member or friend walks out on you. It means he is for you. And he has not and will not ever abandon you. It means he loves you and wants to speak truth and grace into your situation, because even if others or your mind seems to be against you, God, our Heavenly Father, our Abba is for you. And we know that. Well, he gave up his only son for us, right? Because he is for us. What else could we ever ask? That is too big or too much for him to handle. He's already been through it all. He wants to graciously give us all things. But notice our scriptures stop short of giving us the details on how and the when of the all things, right? Because that's up to him and not up to us, right? Because he's gone and we're not. Rome's 833 is a key reminder and promise to us when we feel like others or even our thoughts are trying to attack or condemn us. Remember, Romans was raided by Paul, was thrown in jail, beaten over and over again for his faith in Jesus, he knew what it meant to have charges brought against him. To be condemned, he had encourages those facing physical and cultural persecution. Then just as encourages us in our own persecutions, we are dealing with in culture in our jobs or school. So persecution from the enemy. Remember that God has chosen us, justified us, redeemed us. And even now, our resurrected Jesus is interceding for us. He's a great advocate for us to strengthen and uphold us through what we are personally facing today. So key takeaways, in verses 38, 39, there is no way we can hide and no one that can hide us from God. Psalm 139, 7 to 12, where can I go from the Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Well, you can't. If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely darkness will hide me," and the light become light around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you. Sorry, the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you. And I think that even physical or spiritual darkness can separate us from the light and love of God. Alright, so we'll get a wrap up on this last part here. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor demons, neither the presence nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth, and insert your struggle or sin right here. My pride, nor my over-eating tendencies, nor my relapse, nor my divorce, nor my mother, and father wounds, nor my financial status, nor my mental or emotional issues, nor anything else in all of creation can separate us from the love of God." Did you get that? Nothing could separate us from the love of God. So, here's your last application question of what struggle or sin pattern do you need to remind yourself today that God loves you and wants to make you a conqueror in the face of the enemy? So, what struggle do you need to remind yourself today that God loves you and wants to make you a conqueror over in the face of the enemy? So, just to remind of the other questions that Heather laid out for us, the first one was "Where is my focus today, my flesh or my spirit, am I stuck in my flesh or worldly desires or am I living out of my identity as a son or daughter?" Number two was "How do you need the Holy Spirit in the seed for you today, for you or someone you love?" Brain, ask them to sharpen your weakness today, and then this last one of a what, struggle or sin pattern do you need to remind yourself today that God loves you and wants to make you a conqueror in the face of the enemy. Alright, well thank you Heather for really good notes that I could mostly read for everyone here, so just a reminder that God loves you, is for you. He wants you to seek him today through the path of the Holy Spirit. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need and remember you don't have to always have the words to say what you feel, say what you need because God is for you. Sometimes he's going to take a little courage to overcome that issue, the struggle you have, but through courage, faith and the Holy Spirit we can get through. So let's pray and close this up. Father we thank you that there's nothing that separates us from your love. Even the darkness seems as light to you and so Father we bring our thoughts, our tendencies, our struggles, our anything related to these three questions that Heather has posed to us today. And with you in it, Father would you bring light, would you bring revelation. Father we pray for courage to bring things to you that maybe if you buried things that need to be spit out by the things that are separating us from the fullness you have for us. Well I pray for each one today for healing, for restoration, for the fullness of your spirit to be on that pray for healing for Heather too, that you would restore. And Father we just give this day to you and everything we are and we thank you for everything that you will do in us and through us. We pray this powerful name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you everybody. Have a great day. You You