God is Sovereign
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, [a] my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, [b] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Prayer: Father God thank you for this moment that you have given us, to praise, to worship, and to proclaim your name. Transform and free our hearts, by your spirit. Allow us to walk and live in freedom according to your scriptures. Now let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my strength and my redeemer amen.
God is sovereign...
He is the supreme ruler of all... the ultimate power... absolute, unlimited, unrestricted, unrestrained, undisputable, and preeminent. God is sovereign!
The last few weeks we have experienced this crescendo of scripture that Paul writes to the Roman Church. We have also experienced this crescendo in our hearts, Faith, Righteousness, and Praise! Last week we ended with this crescendo of belief, understanding, and victory!
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. 38 For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God is Sovereign,
In the text Paul describes the sovereignty of God as he displays his emotions, he relies on his spirit to understanding, he knows his identity, the promise is fulfilled, discover prophetic purpose, actionable mercy, felt compassion, Gods will.
In God’s sovereignty we should rest our emotions, find our understanding, define our identity, remember what God has promised, discover your prophetic purpose, live, and know God’s applied mercy and fell His compassion all according to God’s will.
With this understanding we can understand today's text with this point:
Point 1- Christ over everything
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, [a] my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Paul displays another moment of transparency... (pinky swear, say word, word to my mother, facts, I am not gonna hold you...) he includes the Holy Spirit, with him making himself vulnerable with his concern of his tribe. He spoke and displayed a
level of care and selflessness about people he knew and that was not a part of the Faith as a Christian.
Many of us should display this same type of transparency to our family.
He listed the benefits of the Israelites “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.”
To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
No matter how, what, when, where, or why, know that Christ is over everything.
Point 2- God Determined by Promise
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”
First, we need to understand that Gods word will not fail... Paul explains “for not all who are descended from Israel (Jacob) are [the true] Israel; and they are not all the children of Abraham because they are his descendants [by blood], but [the promise was]: “YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED THROUGH ISAAC” [though Abraham had other sons]. That is, it is not the children of the body [Abraham’s natural descendants] who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are counted as [Abraham’s true] descendants.
God made a promise to those who are his children
A God determined promise will give you an identity
A God determined promise makes us true descendants of the son and the father
“ABOUT THIS TIME [next year] I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.”
Remember the promise... It is unbelievable, but it happened, in retrospect of what God promised you, it was unbelievable, but it happened!
Point 3- God's promise is not a hit or miss thing it’s a sure thing
10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
A promise was made that took priority over genetics. When she became pregnant by Isaac, and her babies were still innocent in the womb—incapable of good or bad—she received a special assurance from God. What God did in this case made it perfectly plain that his purpose is not a haphazard thing dependent on what we do or do not do, but a sure thing determined by his decision, which is his purpose...
Here is a gem when God makes a promise: there is an enormous potential of a paradigm shift taking place
“The firstborn of your twins will take second place.” “I loved Jacob; I hated Esau.” God’s word is sure... and this thing happened
Point 4- God is in Charge
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, [b] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Is that grounds for complaining that God is unfair? Not so fast, please. God told Moses, “I oversee mercy. I oversee compassion.” Compassion does not originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy.
The same point was made when God said to Pharaoh, “I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power.” All we are saying is that God has the first word, initiating the action in which we play our part for better or worse.
Today let us play our part... we will not understand it all at once but rest assured God is in charge.
Will you trust God today? Will you trust his will? Will you accept his purpose? Will you respond to the scripture
Giving: Above and Beyond, Child Dedication Baptisms