Scripture: Romans 8:18-28
Introduction
- I realize that the most important value that I bring to this ministry is
- God has been good about equipping me with an abundance of encouragement to give.
- But what happens when my well runs dry and I feel lost and useless and broken?
- Believe me, it happens – the enemy knows by bringing me down, he can hurt this ministry.
- The enemy knows my weaknesses and he attacks where it hurts the most.
- But, let me assure you that there is a war going on behind the scenes.
- God asked me to do a job and I am obedient to do His will and do my job.
- God also realizes the spot He puts me in – the big target that He has placed on my back.
- He personally takes responsibility for defending me against these vicious attacks.
- How can I be sure of this? How do I know that God has my back?
- God doesn’t make house calls – He uses other people to take care of us.
- In my case, Friday was a perfect example when He personally sent four different people to help me (five if you count Roy):
- First, my daughter Maddie came to spend the day working with me
- Second, Donna Faye took me aside and gave me some encouragement
- Third, Judy came by and told me that her and Roy were praying for us
- Finally, despite sever leg pains, Johnny Baughan came by to tell me how much he appreciated my words at his sister’s funeral.
- It all comes down to two very simple realities of life:
- The enemy discourages
- The Lord encourages
1. The enemy discourages
- I think when it comes to practical application, I like to lean on the Gospel of Paul
- There’s no “Gospel of Paul” preacher. What are you talking about?
- I’m talking about the 13 books of the New Testament attributed to Paul where he tells HOW the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be spread
- To the churches: of Galatia, Rome, Corinth, Colossae, Ephesus, Philippi, and Thessalonika, and to three major early church leaders: Philemon, Timothy, and Titus
- Paul is what I would call “applied Gospel” because he says “this is how you do it.”
- Today’s Scripture comes from his letter to the Romans; perhaps the most concise of his letters because he literally tries to cover everything.
- He tells them he knows there is suffering, but its nothing compared to the glory that is coming.
- Ever since the enemy first appeared in the garden of Eden, humanity has been doomed to suffer.
- When was Satan first mentioned in the Bible? Genesis, the serpent
- In the Old Testament, Satan is mentioned briefly in 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 1 Samuel, Zechariah, Psalms 21 and 91, and he is a pivotal character in the story of Job.
- One might conclude that Satan played a role throughout the Old Testament history.
- Every time he is mentioned, he is perpetrating some scheme that is opposite of God.
- God knows about it and He allows it because the enemy of God provides a choice.
- 1 Kings 22:21-22:
Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, “I will entice him.” The LORD said to him, “How?” And he said, “I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” Then He said, “You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.”
- There you have it: he was sanctioned by God to do his thing.
- Then in the New Testament, everybody’s talking about Satan; all the books cover him.
- Jesus has come to set things right and place good and evil back in the proper balance.
- Jesus defeats sin and death on the cross and creates a path for believers right to heaven.
- It is the enemy who is behind the bad things that happen to good people.
- It is the enemy who is discouraging you and me – often to the point of despair.
- It is the enemy that makes us think we should give up and its not worth it to carry on.
- It is the enemy who says “just get a divorce” or “take your own life” or walk away.
- It’s the enemy that turns church members against each other and splits churches.
- And it’s the enemy that closes churches forever.
- The enemy is a great source of discouragement to us all.
2. The Lord encourages
- Paul said: “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.”
- The Spirit is that little “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up” button that God gives all of us.
- Just say a prayer to God that you need help and it’s the same as pushing that button.
- Help will be dispatched immediately, and you will get what you need.
- As Paul says “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
- Well, ok, is that too much of a price for us to pay? Love Him and answer His call.
- Do you ever wonder when you call God that maybe He’s ghosting you?
- Do you think maybe He is ignoring your calls? Well, try answering one of His!
- He’s calling you all the time and you know you’re like click – I don’t have time to talk.
- You know those people who you inevitably spend so much time talking to you need to pack a lunch.
- I’ve got people like that. I know you do too.
- I get it. I’m probably one of those people – I’m a big talker. I can understand people not answering my call.
- I was thinking about what I wanted to say about encouragement and started looking through the cards you gave me in November for Celebrate Ken Day.
- “Thanks for what you have done for our family”; “thank you for being you”; “Biltmore is a better place because of you” ; “thank you for sharing the Word with us”; “you made me feel important”; “I feel so at home here”; “the Spirit is alive and well here”
- And there’s more: “thank you for breathing life back into our church”; “thank you for your dedication to our members and the community”; “you and Leslie are loved and appreciated”; “you mean so much to this church and we are blessed to have you”; “your encouragement has been wonderful and you have done so much more than encourage”; “thank you for being so available”
- God is working for the good of those who love Him.
- I love Him and I love all of you whom He has used to encourage me and my family.
- This is why people should go to church – to love and encourage and lift each other up.
- You know some days you’re the windshield and some days you’re the bug.
- In the words of the great Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel:
When you’re weary; Feeling small. When tears are in your eyes, I’ll dry them all.
I’m on your side. Oh, when times get rough and friends just can’t be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.
When you’re down and out; When you’re on the street;
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you.
I’ll take your part. Oh, when darkness comes and pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.
- God calls each of us to be that “bridge over troubled waters.”
- Sometimes, I may be that bridge for you; and sometimes you may be that bridge for me.
- But this is the meaning of church; why we go to church; why we take the church to others
- Someone out there needs a bridge.