INTRODUCTION

Where do you turn when you are in need? When you experience a grim time, a weary time, a backsliding time, a suffering time, a tempting time, a lonely time, a testing time, where do you turn?

Some turn to their family or friends, and there’s a place for that. Some turn to doctors, counselors, and pastors; and there’s a place for that too. Others turn to self-improvement and lifestyle gurus. There may be a small place for that. Some turn to sin – the bottle, the syringe, the vape, porn – there’s no place for that. That’s where we turn, but where should we turn when we are in need? Let’s get God’s answer in Hebrews 4:16.

BACKGROUND

We began this series last week by looking at the cross. This week we’re looking at the throne, something the Hebrew Christians desperately needed to see. Many Jews who had accepted Jesus as the Messiah and put their faith in him for salvation were on the verge of giving up their faith and going back to Judaism. That’s why Paul urged them to hold fast their confession (4:14).

Persecution by political and religious leaders had worn them out and worn them down so much that they thought God didn’t care about them. That’s why Paul urged them to remember the compassionate sympathy of Christ (4:15).

It was a grim time, a tiring time, a backsliding time, a persecuting time, a tempting time, a lonely time, a testing time. It was a time of desperate spiritual need. Where could they turn? Where should they turn? The Apostle answers: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16).

What kind of throne is this?

I. WE HAVE A GRACIOUS THRONE

The Throne of Grace

There are many different thrones in the world: unstable and unpredictable thrones; tyrannical and abusive thrones; distant and detached thrones; weak and poor thrones; unjust and unfair thrones; deserted and empty thrones.

But this throne is a throne of grace. It is stable, close, accessible, powerful, rich, just, and occupied. But above all, it is a throne of grace. The late Queen Elizabeth II’s throne was characterized above all by faithfulness. This throne is characterized above all by grace – kindness for killers, gifts for the greedy, faithfulness for the unfaithful, truth for liars, strength for the weak, a future for the hopeless. “Grace” constructed this throne and oozes out of this throne.

The King of Grace

It’s a throne of grace because the one sitting on it is the King of grace. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had God’s throne in the Holy of Holies. The ark of the covenant was designed to resemble a throne. It was a golden box with a golden lid and on either side were golden winged cherubim. In the Old Testament, it was called the “mercy-seat.” But it was empty. The cherubim looked inwards at the empty seat with a person-sized gap.

But now, Jesus sits on the throne of grace, God’s mercy-seat. He fills the person sized gap. The cherubim now have someone to look at. It’s King Jesus who triumphed over temptation and testing without falling (14-15). He is the perfect combination of power and sympathy, majesty and mercy, greatness and grace, sovereignty and salvation, throne and grace.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Power for prayer. Prayer brings us to a royal throne and a royal king. That means prayer is powerful and influential. We’re not coming to someone who says, “There’s nothing I can do.” We are coming to the all-powerful King on his all-powerful throne who can do all things.

Pity for prayer. Prayer brings us to a gracious throne and a gracious king. That means our prayers get a ready and willing hearing no matter how undeserving we are or we feel, no matter how small and undeserving our prayers are.

A GREAT THRONE IS A POWER-THRONE
A GRACE-THRONE IS A PITY-THRONE

How does this throne of grace and King of grace change our prayers?

2. WE HAVE A GREAT “THEREFORE”

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Therefore let us come confidently

No other kind of throne or king can give us confidence in approaching it or him. Unless it was a throne of grace we would not come, or we would with fear, timidity, doubt, hesitancy, etc. But because the king of grace is on the throne of grace we can come boldly and courageously. We don’t come brash, cocky, and careless – it’s still a throne and he’s still a king – but we come with a careful confidence. We don’t come dictating and demanding but we do come with certainty and assurance.

Therefore let us come close

Most thrones and monarchs are intimidating and keep people at arm’s length. Here we are invited not just into the Holy place but into the most Holy place, the Holy of Holies. He takes away all curtains and barriers and says, “Because I ripped the curtain with my death, you can now come close. Don’t be stand-offish but draw-nearish.” Many courts will find reasons not to admit you or your petitions. But this court finds reasons to admit and receive.

Therefore let us come constantly

In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could approach the throne in the Tabernacle or Temple, and that only once a year. Now, all can come – the weak, the sinful, the tired, the backsliders, the poor, etc. The verb here can literally be translated, “Let us keep coming, let us keep coming near.” Not just once a year or even once a day but all day every day. Come again, and again, and again. Whenever a need arises, come for mercy and grace. Whenever you feel convicted, come for mercy and grace. Whenever you’ve sinned. come for mercy and grace. Come for mercy when you feel miserable (subjective needs) and for grace when you know you should be condemned (objective needs).

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Come to the throne first. Turn to this King and this throne before anyone else. Instead of turning to Google, Facebook, friend, family, husband, wife, parents, teacher, pastor, counselor, etc, turn to the King of grace on his throne of grace. Bring all your needs to him before you bring them to anyone else.

Come to the throne most. You can bring anything and everything to him. His power invites us to bring our big needs; his grace invites us to bring our tiny needs. Given that we are always needy, we should always be at the throne.

NEEDY TIMES ARE
NON-STOP TIMES

SUMMARY

List your needs. Make a list of all your needs and ask yourself how many of them you are bringing to God in prayer. Perhaps you could designate each day of the week for different needs that you bring to God in prayer: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, familial, social, sexual, and vocational needs.

Increase your confidence. The more needs we bring in prayer, the more confidence we will have in prayer. The more we see the King of grace on the throne of Grace, the more confidence we will have in prayer.

Prayer. Gracious King, I come to your gracious throne needy yet bold, with confidence that you are able and willing to give me grace and supply all my needs.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Where do you turn first and most when you need help?

2. How do you hope this sermon will change the way you pray and what you pray for?

3. What do you doubt most: God’s power or God’s pity?

4. On a scale of 0-10, where are you on the confidence scale when it comes to prayer?

5. What needs are you hesitant to bring to God? Why?

6. Do your prayers reveal the throne of grace to others? Do your prayers help them do this verse?

PDF OF SERMON NOTES

INTRODUCTION

We live in an ungodly and godless world don’t we? We look around our culture and see ungodly words and actions coming from godless people. We conclude, “They are ungodly and godless.” They do not believe in God, they have no awareness of God, and their conduct and character demonstrate that.

God looks at this same scene and agrees with our conclusion that we are living in an ungodly world. But he disagrees with our conclusion that people are godless. Romans 1:18-32 tells us that God does not believe in atheists. He sees their sinful character and conduct, yes, but he also sees they are not godless. They believe in God and are aware of God no matter what they say or what their lives say. If God does not believe in atheists, what should we believe about atheists? How should we react and relate to atheists?

BACKGROUND

Paul has just declared that he is unashamed of the Gospel, implying that there was a temptation to be ashamed in Rome, probably because of the rampant confident atheism of Rome. What hope could these young Roman Christians have of convincing and converting any Roman citizen when they all denied the existence of the true God and instead worshipped their Emperor? Paul had a deeply encouraging message for these Roman believers, and for us, about our interactions with atheists.

How and what do atheists know?

1. GOD SPEAKS TO ATHEISTS

Atheists do not read their Bibles, come to Church, or hear the Gospel. How then can atheists know anything about God. Isn’t that like saying someone knows algebra without ever going to school? It sounds impossible. How can atheists know God without knowledge of God?

They know God through creation

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made (19-20).

God shows his invisible attributes to everyone through his visible world. The Creator shows himself to his creatures in the creation. Just as a handwritten note tells you there was a hand that wrote and even a little of the character of the writer, so the created things act as God’s handwriting.

They know God through conscience

They know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die (32)

Even though they have never heard or read the Ten Commandments, they have an inbuilt knowledge of God’s Law in their hearts and know they are being disobedient to it and will be judged for that. As Calvin said, “The stupefaction of men is never so complete as to prevent them from being dragged occasionally before the judgment seat. The conviction that there is some deity still persists.”

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Christians, you have two great assets when you bring God’s Word to “atheists.” They already have God’s Word through creation and conscience. The perfect supernatural revelation of God in the Bible comes to those who have already received the natural revelation of God through their imperfect senses and imperfect consciences.

Atheists, whatever you say, I can say, on the authority of God’s Word, that you know there is a God. Every time you are awed by creation, you are hearing God’s voice. Every time you feel pain in your conscience, you are hearing God’s voice. God is calling out to you in great mercy.

ATHEISTS BELIEVE IN GOD BUT
GOD DOES NOT BELIEVE IN ATHEISTS

What do atheists know about God? Is it little or much?

2. ATHEISTS HEAR GOD

If God communicates to atheists through the creation and through conscience, what’s the content of his message and what do atheists know about God?

• The Existence of God. Atheists know that God is, that he exists. The reality of his existence is chiseled on their minds no matter how angrily they deny it. This is obviously implied in verses 18-32 but also made explicit in verse 21: “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God…”

• The Anger of God. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (18). Atheists know that God is justly angry with them for their sins (18).

• The Eternity of God. They know that God had no beginning and will have no end. “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world” (20)

• The Power of God. As verse 20 above asserts, atheists also have an eerie sense of God’s enormous and eternal power (20).

• The Deity of God. Verse 20 also teaches that they know God is a different being entirely to themselves. He has a divine nature and therefore is not simply slightly bigger and better than them, but wholly other, different, separate, transcendent.

• The Judgment of God. “…they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die” (32). Not only do they have a moral sense of right and wrong but they also know they will be judged by God’s standard and condemned to death by it.

• Other verses in the Bible give us further information about what everyone knows about God. They know God is good (Acts 14:17) and God is glorious (Ps. 19:1-3).

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Christian, do you see how encouraging this is as you seek opportunities to witness. You are not starting with a blank sheet of paper. To use a computer analogy, everyone has gigabytes of theology already stored inside.

Atheist, what are you doing with this knowledge? General revelation through creation and conscience is a great gift of God that invites you to know God far deeper and savingly in his special revelation, his Word. You cannot know the salvation of God without the Word of God. 

NO ONE IS AN ATHEIST
EVERYONE’S A THEOLOGIAN

So why are there still so many atheists? What are they doing with all this knowledge of God?

3. ATHEISTS REJECT GOD

We’ve learned what atheists know about God and how they know it. What then do they do with that knowledge? Through creation and conscience, God has given a clear, real, and large revelation of himself: “God has made it plain to them” (19). There has also been a clear, real, and large reception of that knowledge: his divine characteristics “have been clearly perceived” (20). God has communicated clearly and the message has been clearly received. The problem is not with the divine broadcast or with the human reception. The problem is what people do with that knowledge.

To use an illustration, it’s like a TV broadcast that is clearly transmitted from the satellite, and clearly received by the aerial, but then the viewers do everything they can to not see or hear the program.

• They suppress the signal: “…by their unrighteousness [they] suppress the truth” (18). They try to turn down the volume and stifle the signal with their ungodly lives” (18)

• They change the channel: They “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things” (23). “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (25). They know they were made by God to worship him, but they exchange the true worship of God with the false worship of what God made. They try to convince themselves that this is a fair and appropriate exchange.

• They try to switch off the TV: “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God” (28). Literally translated, this is telling us that they decided not to retain God in their knowledge. They simply denied his signals existed. They deliberately pushed all thought of God out of their minds.

• They try to drown out the volume. When they failed to turn the volume of the signal down they tried to drown it out with immoral and sinful lives (29-31).

Yet, despite all these attempts, they still know, they really know the judgment of God is a major moral and spiritual problem (32).

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Christian, do you see how much you need the Holy Spirit. You needed natural revelation and supernatural revelation to be saved, but you also needed the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart. Likewise, when you are witnessing, you need the Holy Spirit so much for anyone to stop rejecting the knowledge of God and start accepting it by faith.

Atheists, do you recognize yourself here. Do you see how evil it is to reject God’s knowledge in this way. You have no excuse for your “atheism” (20), you are only adding to your judgment, and you know it (32).

THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE COMMUNICATOR
THE PROBLEM IS THE VIEWER

If that’s how “atheists” respond to God, how does God respond to “atheists”?

4. GOD GIVES ATHEISTS OVER

We’ve learned how atheists know, what they know, and what they do with that knowledge. What then does God do with atheists who respond to his truth by rejecting and denying it in various ways?

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves” (24).

“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (26-27).

“God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness…” (28-29).

• God judges people for rejecting the knowledge they have about him and creating their own gods (23, 25).
• God’s judgment involves giving people over to sin, especially the sin of homosexual lust and practice (26-27).
• God’s judgment is understood by the judged (32).
• God’s judgment does not save them but rather hardens them not only to continue in sin but promote it (32).

NB. This is not an explanation for all homosexuality, all same-sex attraction. That can be part of our fallen nature and even continue to be a battle for Christians. It is describing the kind of militant, out and proud, homosexuality that we see so much of today.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Christian, here’s God’s interpretation of our culture. It’s not that God will judge our culture for its perversion of sex (he will), but he already has. His judgment is the widespread aggressive practice and promotion of perversion.

Atheist, do you see how dangerous your position is? God has given you so much knowledge of him, you have given it up, and therefore God threatens to give you up to your own choices in a sinful and perverse lifestyle. Do you see how foolish this is? Atheism is not sophisticated but stupid (21-22).

IF YOU GIVE GOD UP
GOD MAY GIVE YOU OVER

SUMMARY

A NEW CHAPTER

Gospel. No matter how full and clear natural revelation is, people need supernatural revelation to be saved. Conscience and creation is insufficient to save. Only the cross saves.

Witness. If the Gospel is a plug, know that God has already made a socket for it in every heart, no matter how much people try to cover it up.

Atheists. God does not believe in you, neither do I, and neither do you. You are a theist, but you are taking a terrible risk in your professed rejection of your Creator and your love of sin. God may judge you by giving you exactly what you want.

Prayer. perfect Communicator, thank you for all you have made known about yourself in creation and conscience. Help me to know you and make you known through the cross.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What’s been your experience of relating to atheists in the past?

2. How will this sermon change the way you relate to atheists in the future?

3. Can you identify with any of this sermon in your own personal experience of atheism?

4. How might atheists react to this message and how could you help them receive it?

5. What does Paul teach about the connection between atheism, idolatry, and homosexuality?

6. What atheist will you speak to about the Gospel this week?

PDF OF SERMON NOTES 

INTRODUCTION

For most Christians, whenever we hear the topic of a sermon series is prayer, we say to ourselves, “Prepare to feel very guilty.” I don’t know any Christian who is happy with their prayer life. Few if any Christians will say, “I’m happy with my prayers….I’m good at praying…I have no problem with prayer.” Instead, we feel convicted about the poverty of our prayers and that sense of condemnation dissuades from praying or even thinking about how to improve our prayers. That’s why I want to begin this series about prayer by facing up to our prayer problems but also bringing to you God’s prayer solution. What’s God’s solution to our prayer problems? What’s God’s answer to our prayer puzzles?

BACKGROUND

Before we answer that question, let me lay out the series for you. When I started thinking about this series, I initially thought of answering specific questions about prayer: What is prayer? Who do we pray to? When do we pray? What do we pray for? Does God answer all our prayers? and so on.

But having reflected on the series further, I decided to take a more textual approach rather than a topical approach. A topical approach would involve us skipping around a lot of scriptural passages rather than focusing mainly on one. That’s a good method for Bible studies, but not so good for sermons.

Also, I wanted less abstract approach. I wanted something more concrete, something more memorable. That directed me towards the places of prayer that we find in the Bible. So, the series will look something like this:

• The Cross (John 14:13)
• The Throne (Hebrews 4:14-16)
• The Battlefield (Ephesians 6:10-20)
• The Table (Rev. 3:20)
• The Door (Matt. 7:7-10)
• The Window (Psalm 73:17)
• The Calendar (Daniel 6:10; 1 Thess. 5:17)
• The List (Matthew 6:7-14)
• The Help (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:26-27)
• The Hospital (James 5:13-18)
• The Family (Acts 1:13-14)

In the course of this series, we will answer many of the original questions I mentioned, but our focus will be on these images and places that will help the answers stick better.

What are some of our prayer problems?

1. WE HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH PRAYER

Here are some of the problems that we can encounter in prayer:

• We don’t really believe it works: We do it but we don’t expect much to change.
• We have many unanswered prayers: It sometimes seems we have more unanswered than answered prayers.
• We use “vain repetitions”: We say the same things over and over either unthinkingly or superstitiously.
• We get legalistic: We think we will be heard for our much speaking or our impressive speaking.
• We pray too long or too short: Either way, we leave prayer feeling more guilty than before.
• We get angry with God: Why is he so slow to answer? Why has he shut heaven’s doors to me?
• We forget to pray: We can go hours, even days, without prayer.
• We are too formal or too flippant: We approach God in a business suit or a bathing suit.
• We pray to show off: We think more about what people think of our prayers rather than what God thinks.
• We don’t ask: We have not because we ask not (James 4:2) because we think it’s too big or too small for God.
• We ask for the wrong things: We prioritize the physical and material over the spiritual and eternal.
• We ask for the wrong reasons: We are motivated by self-satisfaction and self-centeredness (James 4:3)
• We doubt God’s listening: We send prayers towards God but don’t really believe he stops to listen.
• We are hypocritical: We look and sound pious in prayer but we live ungodly lives (Mark 12:40)
• We use prayer as a last resort: We try everything before we try prayer.
• We get focused on results not relationship: We use God as a clerk rather than relate to him as a friend.
• We see it just as an obligation: I know I should pray, but I don’t really want to.
• We are too ashamed to pray: We have sinned and cannot face God until we’ve cleaned up a bit.
• We pray our will not God’s: We don’t ask or consult about what God wants but focus only on what we want.
• We are blind to God’s answers: We pray, and God answers, but we do not return to prayer to thank him.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Confess. Let’s confess our sinful prayers to God. “Lord I don’t believe prayer works, I am discouraged by so many unanswered prayers, I often use vain repetitions, I am legalistic in prayer, and so on.”

Help. Let’s ask for the Holy Spirit to change our prayers. We cannot do this ourselves no matter how many books we read, sermons we hear, resolutions we make. We need outside help.

PRAYING CAN ADD SIN
RATHER THAN SUBTRACT SIN

What’s the solution to these problems? Where can we go to get help?

2. GOD HAS ONE SOLUTION TO PRAYER PROBLEMS

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it (13-14. See also John 15:16; 16:23-24).

Does this mean that we will get what we want if we simply add “in Jesus’ name” to our prayers. Many in the “name it and claim it” movement seem to think so. As one Christian man recounted: “On one occasion, I mentioned to a self-proclaimed ‘prophetess’ that I was going bald. Instantly, she placed her hand on my head and shouted, “No you’re not—in the name of Jesus!” That ‘prophetess’ treated prayer like a credit card she could whip out at any time to make major purchases.”

What then does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? Let’s begin by looking at the background to the words, which is Christ comforting his disciples in the prospect of his departure from them. He reassured them that despite his absence from them, they would continue to have miraculous powers through faith that would result in even more conversions (12), and continued access to Christ and his power through prayer (13-14).

We’re praying by Christ’s merits not our own. We are saying, “Our only hope of a hearing is the merit of Christ that he earned by his life, death, and resurrection.” We’re asking our heavenly Father to hear us not for our sake, but for Jesus sake. We’re coming to God’s throne united to Christ by faith and admitting that without Christ’s work on the cross we would never get a hearing at the throne. It’s saying, “We have no right or authority here, but we’re asking for Christ’s authorization.”

We’re praying for pardon for our prayers. All these prayer problems we mentioned are all covered by the Name” of Christ, his person and work that secures our forgiveness and pardon.

We’re praying for Christ’s will not our own. While presenting our will we are submitting to Christ’s will. We bring all our desires and longings to our Father but say, “Whatever is not on Christ’s lists, please strike it. If it does not match Christ’s desires, let his have the last word.” As Clayton Kraby said, “Prayer is like a man in a rowboat pulling on a rope tied securely to the shore. He is not pulling land toward him, he is pulling himself towards the land.” We will increasingly align to God’s will as we are shaped by his Word and prayer

We’re praying in communion with Christ. “In” speaks of relationship both in the baptism formula and this prayer formula. Prayer is not just a list of requests, but an invitation to communion and relationship.

We’re praying for Christ’s glory not our own. We are asking God to advance Christ’s interests above all others. As Aaron Berry said, “Praying in Jesus’ name is less about including the phrase at the end of your prayer, and more about positioning your heart properly when you pray.”

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Pause. Every time we say this phrase, “In Jesus’ name” we are invited to stop, to linger at the cross, and ponder what Christ has done for us and who he is to us. Pause and be pardoned for all your prayer problems.

Power. “What a powerful name it is, the name of Jesus. While we must not over-apply this name, neither must we under-apply it. It’s not a magic wand but neither is it a thoughtless full-stop. It’s the most persuasive name in heaven.

JESUS’S NAME IS
POWERFUL AND PERSUASIVE

SUMMARY

A NEW CHAPTER

Repent of your prayers. Even our prayers for forgiveness need forgiveness.

Re-order your prayers. Put Jesus name at the start of your prayers for a time to encourage and edit your prayers.

Re-shape your prayers. Let the cross perfect and power your prayers. Cross-shaped prayers are God-heard prayers.

Prayer. Lord Jesus, I love your name and thank you that I can pray in your name for pardon of my prayers and power in my prayers.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What have been your greatest prayer problems and why?

2. How have you tried to fix your prayer problems in the past?

3. What has helped or hindered your prayer life?

4. How will this sermon change your prayers?

5. How does the Gospel influence your prayers?

6. How can you disciple someone else to pray in Jesus name?

PDF OF SERMON NOTES

INTRODUCTION

We are all influencers and we are all influenced. We all impact and change others and others impact and change us. Some of this is good and part of how God originally made us. However, because of sin and the effect of the fall upon us and our relationships, influence can also be bad and damaging.

When God originally made us, he made us to be primarily influenced by himself. Part of the fall is that we are now primarily influenced by others and God’s influence is second, third, fourth, or even non-existent. People become the primary influence in our lives, both individuals and groups of people. It may be a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend. It may be a class, a peer group, a friend group, a team, a political party, or any number of other kinds of tribes. It may be real life influences or it may be online influences such as podcasts, social media, YouTube, etc.

Taken together, these influences are often called “public opinion” and comprise individuals or groups outside of ourselves who are influencing the way we think, believe, feel, speak, dress, act, etc. As such, “public opinion” is one of the most dangerous weapons in the devil’s arsenal. He marshals it to turn us away from God and the Gospel, to turn us away from biblical truths and morals to falsehoods and sin. Anyone with any self-knowledge will confess they are influenced in this way. How then can we be saved from public opinion? The Apostle Paul points the way in Romans 1:1-7.

BACKGROUND

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Romans about AD 57 while living in the Greek city of Corinth. 16-year-old Nero had recently become Emperor of Rome, but his vicious persecution of Christians had not yet begun.

Its overall message is “Grace to you” (Rom. 1:7) Some of the themes covered in the book are:

• The sinfulness of all
• The role of the law of God
• Justification by faith
• The meaning of the cross
• The power of the Holy Spirit
• The sovereignty of God
• The promises of God
• The reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles.
• Christian ethics

I’ve adapted the ESV outline of the Epistle as follows:

• We lack God’s righteousness because of sin (1–3)
• We receive God’s righteousness by faith (4–5)
• We demonstrate God’s righteousness in our sanctification (6–8)
• We confirm God’s righteousness in how and who he saves (9–11)
• We apply God’s righteousness in practical Christian living (12–16)

How can we be saved from public opinion?
We begin by recognizing the influences upon us.

I. WE HAVE REASONS TO BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

After the love of sin, fear of personal shame and embarrassment is the main reason why people reject the Gospel. People want the approval and acceptance of their friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, team-mates, class, etc. They do not want to be laughed at, left out, or belittled for believing the Bible and following its morals. This is not a new problem. The people of Paul’s day also had reasons to be ashamed of the Gospel

Religious Reasons

Both the Jewish religion and the Roman religion of Emperor worship were old, well-established, and State-approved. They were characterized by impressive religious ceremonies, impressive religious leaders, and impressive religious works.

In contrast the “new” religion of Christianity was had a barbaric and offensive crucifixion at its center. It was characterized by faith in a crucified man, repentance from sin, the Gospel of grace, simple worship, and unimpressive leaders and followers.

Intellectual Reasons

Greek philosophy was the dominant intellectual influence of the day. It created an educated cultural elite who prized the sophisticated thought of both ancient and modern Greek thinkers.

While Christianity was sufficiently profound to challenge the greatest intellect, its simple central message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, offended the proudest minds of that culture. Its availability and accessibility to the poorest and least educated was enough reason to reject it as intellectual suicide.

Moral Reasons

Greek and Roman culture were both notorious for their debauchery and depravity. They gloried in sexual deviancy and the triumph of the strong over the weak in both the stadium and the marketplace.

The Christian ethic was an indictment and condemnation of the immorality of the day, demanded moral change, and insisted that the strong use their power to defend the weak rather than oppress them.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Are you ashamed of the Gospel in our day? Maybe you don’t actively engage in shaming the Gospel, the Christians who believe it, or the morals they uphold. But you are influenced into silence, dissociation, or even compliance by our culture’s approved religions, intellects, and morals. It’s understandable and even reasonable because there are many religious, intellectual, and moral reasons to be ashamed of the Gospel today.

Will Christ be ashamed of you in his day? However many reasons you have to be ashamed of the Gospel in our day, there is one big reason why you shouldn’t. Because Christ will be ashamed of you in his day (Luke 9:26).

SHAME BEFORE THE CULTURE
OR SHAME BEFORE THE CHRIST

How can I move from shame to unashamed of the Gospel?
By the many reasons to be unashamed of the Gospel.

II. WE HAVE BETTER REASONS TO BE UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17).

Look at the “fors” in these verses, the many reasons not to be ashamed of the Gospel. There are two explicit “fors” and four implicit “fors”

The Gospel is Good News. “Gospel” literally means “glad tidings.” Most published news today is thoroughly shameful. So why should we be ashamed of the best news this world has ever heard or could ever hear? What could be better news than how to be forgiven all our sins by God’s grace? Why would we be ashamed of the Gospel’s happy news?

The Gospel is Powerful. It’s only words, words that describe a historical event that happened 2000 years ago, and yet it’s the most powerful force in the world. It can do what no other power can do. As these weak words are published God delivers people from sin – the penalty, power, pleasure, and presence of sin. These little words give people a love for holiness and for communion with God. Why would we be ashamed of the Gospel’s power?

The Gospel is Saving. It’s not just the power of God to reformation or transformation, but the power of God for salvation. It saves from sin, guilt, condemnation, hell, and death. Not for a time, but forever. Why would we be ashamed of the Gospel’s salvation?

The Gospel is Available. It’s available “to everyone who believes.” As such it is freely available. The Jew says, “Do this and that.” The Greek says “Think this or that.” The Roman says “Enjoy this or that.” The Gospel says “Believe this Christ.” It’s so simple, and therefore so available, to both Jew and Greek. In other words anyone can believe this Gospel regardless of sex, color, birth, time, place, experience, past, present, or future. Why would we be ashamed of the Gospel’s availability?

The Gospel Clothes with Perfection. The “righteousness of God” is not the perfection that God prescribes, but the perfection he provides. The believer stands before God clothed with nothing less than God’s own righteousness. Why would we be ashamed of the Gospel wardrobe?

The Gospel is a New Way to Live. Instead of our lives being influenced by others, we are now influenced primarily by faith. Why would we be ashamed of living by faith, rather than fleeting public opinion?

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Believe the Gospel. You’ve heard it. Now put your faith in it. You’ve heard the reasons, now use these reasons to move you to faith. Believe it because it is happy news, strong, saving, accessible, perfecting, and freeing.

Be “proud” of the Gospel. If people with wrong beliefs, wrong ideas, and wrong ethics are out and proud, how much more should the Christian be out and proud of the Gospel. However many reasons there are to be ashamed of the Gospel, there are many and better reasons to be unashamed of the Gospel.

BE ASHAMED OF BEING ASHAMED
OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

SUMMARY

A NEW CHAPTER

Gospel. Get a clear grasp of the Gospel for yourself and the many reasons to be unashamed of it in public.

Public opinion. Understand the influence of public opinion on you and consciously fight against it so that you are more an influencer that the influenced.

Speak boldly. Regardless of the religious, intellectual, and moral reasons to be silent, pray for and take one opportunity to overcome shame and speak the Gospel this week.

Prayer. Unashamed God of the Gospel, take away all shame and embarrassment about the Gospel and give me the boldness to speak the Gospel this week.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How has your spiritual life, beliefs, morals been influenced by others, for good and bad?

2. What are the greatest influences on Christians today?

3. What religious, intellectual, or moral reasons are there to be ashamed of the Gospel today?

4. What other reasons can. you think of not to be ashamed of the Gospel?

5. In what ways can we be rightly “proud” of the Gospel?

6. Who will you speak to about the Gospel this week?

PDF OF SERMON NOTES

INTRODUCTION

How do I know if God loves me? Have you ever asked that question? It’s the kind of question we might ask when going through hard times: pain, loss, failure, family trouble, etc. How do I know God loves me? Maybe, we don’t feel loved by anyone else or we don’t even love ourselves very much. How do I know God loves me? Or maybe, we don’t question that God loves us, but we do question how much he loves us. We believe he loves us, but it doesn’t seem to be a very deep or passionate or constant love. How much does God love me? Unanswered, these questions will weaken our love for God in return. Thankfully God wants to answer these questions and does so in Romans 8:32.

BACKGROUND

During this series, we have seen God the Father from many different angles.

• Designer for creatures
• Love for the loveless
• Compassion for the hurting
• Provision for the poor
• Discipline for the disobedient
• Assurance for doubters
• Peace for the anxious
• Grace for Prodigals
• A Giver for Receivers
• A Sacrifice for Sinners

In this last sermon in the series, we will see into the center of our Father’s heart.

How do I know if God loves me? And if so, how much doe he love me?
Jesus shows us the Father’s answer to this on the cross.

1. THE FATHER SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON

Most Fathers spare their sons

Most fathers have the tendency to protect and shield their own children from pain, loss, injury, danger, and death. It’s a natural instinct that is not only God-given, but God-like.

A general who has a son in the army, will try to spare his son going to the most dangerous wars or parts of the battlefield. A coach who has a son in his football team may try spare his son injury by moving him to another position rather than face a violent opposing player. A teacher grading his son’s capstone project may spare him his most rigorous marking.

There are many situations and circumstances in which we spare our children in ways we do not spare others. We show favoritism and bias towards them. We make exceptions for them we would not make for others.

This Father did not spare his own Son

He who did not spare his own Son (Rom. 8:32)

God the Father did not make any exception for his Son. He did not treat him better because he was his only Son. There was no favoritism. He did not hold him back from anything painful or dangerous or hold back anything painful or dangerous from him. He did not spare his eyes, ears, head, hands, feet, back, heart, body, mind or soul. He did not spare him denial and betrayal at the hands of his friends or of feeling abandoned by his father.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GODS STORY

How can I know God loves me? Because when given the choice of whether to spare his uniquely beloved Son or me, he chose to spare me. Given the choice between hell for me or hell for Jesus, he chose hell for Jesus.

How much does God love me? He loves me so much, he spared Jesus nothing. He spared you from all that Jesus was not spared. He spared your eyes, ears, head, hands, feet, back, heart, body, mind, and soul. He spared you

And when I think
that God his Son not sparing
sent him to die,
I scarce can take it in.

If God didn’t spare his Son, what did he do with him?

2. THE FATHER GAVE UP HIS SON FOR US ALL

A Sacrificial Son

…but gave him up… (Rom. 8:32).

While most Fathers would defend their sons from danger and evil, our Father gave up his perfect Son to the worst evil. Like Abraham in Genesis 22, God surrendered his Son entirely. He handed him over

• to the penalty of his broken law
• to religious leaders, military leaders, and civil leaders.
• to guilt, condemnation, sentencing, execution.
• to the devil and evil spirits
• to divine anger and the judgment of hell.

This is the language of Old Testament sacrifice. As Jewish fathers handed over their best lambs as a sacrifice to God for sin, so our heavenly Father handed over his best Son as a sacrifice for sin on the altar of the cross.

A Substitute Son

…for us all… (Rom. 8:32)

“For” is not just for our benefit, but in our place. Not just for our good but instead of us. “Us all” reminds us that this sacrifice is equally a substitute for all God’s children. He’s not more of a sacrifice for some and less of a sacrifice for others. He is equally a sacrificial substitute for all his people.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GODS STORY

How can I know God loves me? I can know God loves me by what he gave for me. We might spend a few dollars on a colleague’s birthday present. We might spend more on a friend. We spend the most on our children. The amount given expresses the amount of the love. When we see the Son on the altar of the cross, God is mouthing to us “I love you!”

How much does God love me? God loves me so much that he gave his only Son to the worst death so that I could have the best eternal life.

A SACRIFICIAL SON
A SUBSTITUTE SON
FOR SINFUL SONS
AND DAUGHTERS

If he gave me his Son to save my life what else will he give me to live?

3. THE FATHER WILL FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS

All things for us all

…how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32).

“All things” does not mean everything we want, but all things we need. It doesn’t mean all that all God’s other children have, but all that each child needs. Some children need more than others. Some children can cope with more than others. Some children give what they’ve been given more than others. “All things” may also be a reference to the believer’s ultimate inheriting of the earth (Ps. 37:11)

What ever is in our “all things,” it’s all grace. Not one thing is deserved, Nothing is paid to us as a debt due. “All things” are all gifts. “Graciously” is translated differently in different versions. It can be translated “freely,” or “cheerfully,” or “willingly.” There’s no reluctance here. The whole being of God is in the giving.

All things with Jesus

This is an argument from the greater to the lesser. For example, if someone gives you a million dollars, he’ll also give you money to buy a coffee. If he gave us something so great, he’ll also give us something so small.

Similarly, if God the Father gave us such a great gift as his Son, how much more will he give us such small things as enough to live on. “With him also” reminds us that for the Christian, every small gift comes connected with the greatest gift.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GODS STORY

How can I be sure God loves me? He gave me the greatest gift of his love. So he will give me the smallest gifts of his love. He gives to me freely, happily, cheerfully.

How much does God love me? He loves me so much he gives me all things with Jesus. He gives in such a way that it makes me see Jesus in all things and love him more in return.

IF WE HAVE THE ONE GREAT THING
WE WILL HAVE ALL SMALL THINGS

SUMMARY

A NEW CHAPTER

Doubt: When you doubt God’s love, let Jesus assure you of his love at the cross.

Self-hate: When you hate yourself, let Jesus show you God’s love for you at the cross.

Need: When you are poor or needy in any way, let Jesus show you God’s giving at the cross.

Cold: When you feel no love for God, let Jesus show you God’s love for you at the cross.

Hopeless: When you have no hope of salvation, let Jesus show you God’s salvation at the cross.

Worthless: When you feel of no value, let Jesus show you God’s valuation at the cross.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What makes it hard for you to believe God loves you?

2. When do you feel most loved by God?

3. When have you spared your son or daughter?

4. How would you explain “substitution” to an unbeliever?

5. How would you counsel a depressed Christian who feels worthless?

6. How would you disciple a Christian who had been abused by their earthly father?

PDF OF SERMON NOTES

INTRODUCTION

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? You are facing a situation in your marriage and you just don’t know what to do. Or it may be a parenting challenge, a friend problem, or a workplace dilemma, or a career choice, and you don’t know what to do. Perhaps you are having to make choices about which job to take, what course of study to embark on, a major purchase. Or maybe you need spiritual wisdom about a spiritual predicament. You feel your lack of wisdom, don’t you? It’s limited in width, depth, length, certainty, duration, practicality, etc. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Two passages, Luke 11:5-13 and James 1:5-8 both point to three similar and practical encouragements when we’re in this situation.

BACKGROUND

God’s Fatherhood brings many desirable blessings into our lives.

• Designer for creatures
• Love for the loveless
• Compassion for the hurting
• Provision for the poor
• Discipline for the disobedient
• Assurance for doubters
• Peace for the anxious
• Grace for Prodigals
• A Giver for Receivers

The context here is of trial, trials that reveal our lack of wisdom, our not knowing what to do next.

What do we do, when we don’t know what to do?
We do what most children do in healthy families, we go to our Father.

1. OUR FATHER GIVES GENEROUSLY

Our Father gives more generously than us

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give… (Luke 11:13).

If an earthly father knows how to give good gifts to his children, how much more will our far richer and more benevolent heavenly father give us? If even the worst earthly father gives his child something sometimes, how much more will the best heavenly father give his children? However much an earthly father has to give, our heavenly father has far more to give. He knows what to give, how to give, when to give, and to whom to give.

…God, who gives generously to all (James 1:5).

God does not just give generously to his children, but to all. As James says later in the chapter, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). God gives comprehensively and consistently.

Our Father gives more happily than us

…God, who gives…without reproach (finding fault), and it will be given him (James 1:5).

An earthly father may give to one of his children, but he may give reluctantly, through gritted teeth, and with resentment. His heart is not in it and he makes sure that’s communicated. He takes from us while he gives to us. He makes us small and himself big. But God is not at all like that. When he gives, he gives willingly, heartily, enthusiastically, cheerfully. He does not communicate impatience, annoyance, belittling, or contempt. He doesn’t scold or lose his temper. His giving makes us feel loved and valuable.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Praise our generous God. We deserve nothing, yet God gives us everything we need. Just as we’d thank anyone who gave us anything and praise them to others, so let us join in thanking and praising our generous God. His gifts are not limited but large in width, depth, length, certainty, duration, practicality, etc.

Commend our generous God. Remind people that all they have is a gift from God. Point them to the one in whom they live and move and have their being (Acts 17:28).

GOD IS NOT A GREEDY MISER
BUT A GREAT MERCIER

So what does God give us?
The best gift of all.

2. OUR FATHER GIVES SPIRITUAL WISDOM

Our Father gives the Holy Spirit

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit… (Luke 11:13).

No earthly father will knowingly give you anything harmful (a snake, a scorpion) or useless (a stone). He will only give what is helpful and useful. Even more so, our Heavenly Father will not give us any bad gifts. He will not only only give us good gifts, but he will also give us the best gift, his Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit brings with him regeneration, sanctification, gifts, graces, power, holiness, etc. In this context, the Holy Spirit is the one who teaches us to pray, especially the when, the what, and the how of prayer. He is our Counselor (John 16:13), our Comforter (John 14:26), our Companion (John 14:16), our Cleaner (1 Cor. 16:19), and our Cultivator (Gal. 5:22-23). Here’ it’s especially his counseling role that’s stressed. When our spirit has nothing left to give, he gives his Holy Spirit.

Our Father gives wisdom

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God…and it will be given him (James 1:5)

Given the opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted, Solomon, aware of his limited wisdom and massive need, prayed, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9). God demonstrated his generosity by replying, “Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days” (12-13).

“Wisdom” in the Bible is always practical, it’s always to do with living our daily lives. It’s not about knowing a lot, or teaching a lot, or writing a lot, but living a lot.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

The Holy Spirit is God’s greatest gift to his children. This spiritual gift is better than all other material gifts put together. There is no gift so valuable or useful. The Holy Spirit shows us our sins and our Savior, our folly and Christ’s wisdom, our weakness and Christ’s power.

The Holy Spirit is our source of wisdom. He influences our spirit, nudging, prompting, directing. He often uses Scripture together with providence and the mature counsel of others. He will never direct you to do what contradicts Scripture.

WE BECOME WISE BY
ADMITTING WE’RE FOOLS

How do I get the Holy Spirit?
It’s very simple.

3. OUR FATHER GIVES TO ASKERS

Ask repeatedly

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence [persistence] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened (Luke 11:8-10).

This is a desperate man, who has prioritized his greatest need, and won’t stop until he gets what he needs. It’s not complicated: ask for the Holy Spirit until you get the Holy Spirit. God is not promising us everything we ask for, but he’s promising the Holy Spirit when we ask for him persistently. When someone knocks on our door again and again, that person is saying, “There’s nothing more important in my life than you opening the door to me right now and I’m going to knock and knock until you come and open.”

Ask resolutely

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-7).

This assumes the asker is asking in faith and out of faith. He’s not a wavering, hesitating doubter like a storm-tossed ship on the sea. Single-minded faith is better than double-minded doubting. Confidence in asking comes from confidence in the one we are asking. Half-hearted, defeated asking does not honor the one we are asking.

CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY

Ask for the Holy Spirit. Jesus uses the word “ask” five times in Luke 11 because he knows how reluctant we are to ask for help. How many times have you prayed for the Holy Spirit? This is one of the few guaranteed prayer requests we are given in the Bible. We have to ask, and we have to ask persistently, but we will receive if we do.

Get spiritual wisdom. Imagine if you lived so in step with the Spirit, so filled with the Spirit of God, that you make decisions that God himself would have made. You will have insight into yourself and into others. You will understand yourself, others, and God. You will foresee consequences before they happen and learn from mistakes better. You will pick the best friends, you will be the best friend, and you will have better relationships. People will recognize your God-given wisdom and ask you for it. You will become more teachable and a better teacher. You will ask advice and take it. You will become a reliable spiritual counselor that people come to for advice and direction about spiritual matters. You will understand the Bible better and teach the Bible better. You will pass the tests that God sends your way.

ASKING IS FAR EASIER AND CHEAPER THAN STUDYING

SUMMARY

A NEW CHAPTER

Gospel. Our Father has a giving heart, as evidenced by his generous giving of his Son and Spirit to us to save us, sanctify us, and guide us.

Jesus. No one was more filled with the Holy Spirit than Jesus. No one asked more for the Spirit, no one had more of the Spirit, and no one gave more than Jesus. In so doing he shows us the Father.

Ask. We have not because we ask not. The price tag on the Holy Spirit is “Ask.” It doesn’t say, “Reserved” or “Work” or “Study” or “Graduate.” When you don’t know what to do, “Ask!” No amount of studying can give you spiritual wisdom. Only asking can.

Prayer. All-wise God, we ask you for spiritual wisdom with steady confidence in your generous supply, especially when we are paralyzed and destabilized by trials.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What have you done in the past when you didn’t know what to do?

2. Compare and contrast your giving with God’s.

3. What would you have asked for if you were Solomon?

4. Give some examples of how God has given you wisdom in trying situations.

5. How has your experience of fatherhood affected the way you pray?

6. Who do you know that could benefit from these truths?

PDF OF SERMON NOTES