Wow I watched Louie Giglio's newest sermon on Romans 8 and I just wanted to say that it was just phenonomly awesome and I enjoyed listening to it!! Romans 8 is in my opinion the epitome summarizing the amazing truth of what God has done in redemptive history and I am just blown away by the fact that God has revealed first to the Roman church and by extension to me the amazing realities of all that we have as Christans, such as sons of God, heirs of God, the promise of God's allegiance, and His everlasting unbreakable love!! WOW!! I can't even begin to think about it!!
Look at Romans 8:12-17
12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are 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.
Louie just points out the realities of what it means to be have the Holy Spirit, and how He testifies of our sonship with God. I am a loved son of God and an heir of God and a co-heir of Christ!! And now I pray that I can suffer through the hardship of loving my unlovable parents by looking forward to the future glory to be revealed and the future grace that God wants to grant me day-by-day.. I have a strange feeling that future grace will come in my time here at EBC that will shock many people and testify to the powerful grace of God!
Romans 8:18-25
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
23And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
24For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
25But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Louie Helped me out this sermon by giving me
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Persecution in India
I just saw a video by Francis Chan that just opened my eyes to the reality of the dangers of being a Christian! There are brothers and sisters in India who are being persecuted to this moment for their faith in Christ and in affirms what the apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all who live in Christ will be persecuted for their faith. And it also opens up my eyes personally to the reality that there is still hope for the persecutors because the grace of God in super-abounding where sin is abounding and that as Saul converted to Christianity in the midst of a persecution through resting in the promises of Jesus, Christ is at work in their hearts by the power Holy Spirit showing them their sin, the beauty of a life lived in Christ through the JOYFUL suffering of the saints in India (through resting in the future promises of God), and that they can have this eternal beauty of God forever as a free gift in Christ alone REGARDLESS of any of the bad things that they have done in the past. The awesomeness of the gospel is that we are not saved by becoming better people or by not persecuting Christians but rather we are saved by GRACE to be received in Christ alone! So may the gospel that these saints in India have it's full effect on the persecutors and show them the joy of a suffering saint that they might have it as well.
As for those who are being persecuted, my prayer is that they would see that the sufferings of this life are NOTHING compared to the glory to be revealed to them in the future. And may their satisfaction in God and all that He is for them in Christ Jesus (His rule, promises, provision) be their motivation to overflow in love for their persecutors in extending the all-satisfying grace of God in Christ Jesus that they have found to those who are in need because the apex of God's joy in Himself is doing good to us by extending His Son to us so that we can be brought back to Him! That is what the cross and resurrection proved, that God would not compromise His self-giving glory of His grace by ignoring sin and separation from Him for good. Rather He put Jesus through the cross and rose Him again to make a way back to the all-satisfying, and thereby at the same time defending and vindicating the glory of His grace and beauty! (See Romans 3:21-26 for more information)
As for those who are being persecuted, my prayer is that they would see that the sufferings of this life are NOTHING compared to the glory to be revealed to them in the future. And may their satisfaction in God and all that He is for them in Christ Jesus (His rule, promises, provision) be their motivation to overflow in love for their persecutors in extending the all-satisfying grace of God in Christ Jesus that they have found to those who are in need because the apex of God's joy in Himself is doing good to us by extending His Son to us so that we can be brought back to Him! That is what the cross and resurrection proved, that God would not compromise His self-giving glory of His grace by ignoring sin and separation from Him for good. Rather He put Jesus through the cross and rose Him again to make a way back to the all-satisfying, and thereby at the same time defending and vindicating the glory of His grace and beauty! (See Romans 3:21-26 for more information)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Sometimes I don't feel like a Christian anymore
Sorry guys that I haven't kept up on my blog but here is my post.
My house is totally depraved and God is not even in the picture, much less in the center. I just had to go through a challenging night at my house and my father twisted my mother's arm and it was just horrible. And when I am at home I am questioning whether I am a true Christian because of all of this. I sure don't feel regenerate as the fruit of the Spirit of love in the midst of people who are unlovable seems impossible.
But then again there is the good news.... feelings can come and go but the Holy Spirit does not. And so I am grateful that the Word of God and His promises to me in His Word and especially in Romans 8 and eternal and certain. I now pray that I can keep up the trial of being semi-separated from my EBC brothers and sisters in Christ and that I can truly display the gospel in the midst of a totally depraved battleground.
A Word of Prayer to my Heavenly Father
I am so grateful that I can talk to You directly where I am now and not having to go to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice to do so. Thank You Christ that You made this a reality for me!
I know that You want to give me amazing You-glorifying relationships at EBC and I ask You to give me a trust in Your absolute sovereignty over these relationships, that is, Your Word is final on this. Promise me future grace and rewards in the life to come and in these relationships now as motivation to continue to shine the gospel and to have faith working in love in the midst of a dark environment. My father may have disowned me as a son but I know You have not even if I do not feel it all the time so God please remind me of this reality and just keep me pressing towards my desire for my parents to worship You and that my joy would be in their joy in You!
In Your Son's Name, Amen!
Longing for future grace and rewards to come
and beautiful relationships the way that I am...
Kevin Chu!
My house is totally depraved and God is not even in the picture, much less in the center. I just had to go through a challenging night at my house and my father twisted my mother's arm and it was just horrible. And when I am at home I am questioning whether I am a true Christian because of all of this. I sure don't feel regenerate as the fruit of the Spirit of love in the midst of people who are unlovable seems impossible.
But then again there is the good news.... feelings can come and go but the Holy Spirit does not. And so I am grateful that the Word of God and His promises to me in His Word and especially in Romans 8 and eternal and certain. I now pray that I can keep up the trial of being semi-separated from my EBC brothers and sisters in Christ and that I can truly display the gospel in the midst of a totally depraved battleground.
A Word of Prayer to my Heavenly Father
I am so grateful that I can talk to You directly where I am now and not having to go to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice to do so. Thank You Christ that You made this a reality for me!
I know that You want to give me amazing You-glorifying relationships at EBC and I ask You to give me a trust in Your absolute sovereignty over these relationships, that is, Your Word is final on this. Promise me future grace and rewards in the life to come and in these relationships now as motivation to continue to shine the gospel and to have faith working in love in the midst of a dark environment. My father may have disowned me as a son but I know You have not even if I do not feel it all the time so God please remind me of this reality and just keep me pressing towards my desire for my parents to worship You and that my joy would be in their joy in You!
In Your Son's Name, Amen!
Longing for future grace and rewards to come
and beautiful relationships the way that I am...
Kevin Chu!
Prayer to God in time of uncertainity, lonliness, anixiety, and godlessness in the home
Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask that You would give me Your Spirit and the life of Christ in order that I can live out the gospel in my godless home which is moving in the direction of divorce. I humbly ask that you would cleanse my heart of any idols that exist and that I would give all of the attention back to You and that You would show me future grace to come so that I can endure the dark times keeping my eyes focused on the glory that is to come in the future.
O God I have so many anxieties about the future and I ask that You would just take them from my heart because I am too prideful to give them up on my own. So God by Your Spirit take my desires and replace them with peace about the present and trust in Your promises regarding the future. O God I need You in this time more than ever. I am not as loving as I should be and so therefore please Father search the desires of my heart that may exist and grant them for your own glory and give me eyes to see that You will sovereignly bring them to pass for the glory of Your grace.
May I cling to Christ in this time of temptation because He is the One who endured it all and yet without sin and I just want to ask that You would just fill me up with Yourself, Your all-satisfying grace which I richly do not deserve but was given to me out of delight in Yourself and stemming from that Your desire to magnify Yourself. Cleanse my heart of any idols that will prevent me from loving my parents.
I confess, I want to live in Simi Valley and live life with my newfound EBC family which I cherish but I pray that I can serve my family. Promise me future grace so that I can endure the dark moments and give me a passion for my family's worship of You because that is what You are passionate about! Please God change my wicked heart inside out like You you are doing with Israel right now and will do when Your Son returns.
May the Spirit grant these requests for the glory of Your Son's name!!
I ask that You would give me Your Spirit and the life of Christ in order that I can live out the gospel in my godless home which is moving in the direction of divorce. I humbly ask that you would cleanse my heart of any idols that exist and that I would give all of the attention back to You and that You would show me future grace to come so that I can endure the dark times keeping my eyes focused on the glory that is to come in the future.
O God I have so many anxieties about the future and I ask that You would just take them from my heart because I am too prideful to give them up on my own. So God by Your Spirit take my desires and replace them with peace about the present and trust in Your promises regarding the future. O God I need You in this time more than ever. I am not as loving as I should be and so therefore please Father search the desires of my heart that may exist and grant them for your own glory and give me eyes to see that You will sovereignly bring them to pass for the glory of Your grace.
May I cling to Christ in this time of temptation because He is the One who endured it all and yet without sin and I just want to ask that You would just fill me up with Yourself, Your all-satisfying grace which I richly do not deserve but was given to me out of delight in Yourself and stemming from that Your desire to magnify Yourself. Cleanse my heart of any idols that will prevent me from loving my parents.
I confess, I want to live in Simi Valley and live life with my newfound EBC family which I cherish but I pray that I can serve my family. Promise me future grace so that I can endure the dark moments and give me a passion for my family's worship of You because that is what You are passionate about! Please God change my wicked heart inside out like You you are doing with Israel right now and will do when Your Son returns.
May the Spirit grant these requests for the glory of Your Son's name!!
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