Thursday, Apr 10, 2008

April 10, 2008

Download this episode (20 min)   
April 10, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Genesis 29:1-14; Ezekiel 34:1-16; Revelation 14

Today is April 10, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. We are doing something of eternal significance. We are redeeming the time. That is one of the basic premises of TWG. We believe that what we do every day is so important that we must do the important things each day. That is why we read the word every Day

Yesterday found me in my office. I spent a portion of the day editing our radio broadcast. Today I should be able to post a new message titled, Storming the Castle with Hamsters. A humorous look at our attempts to win the battle against the flesh. I spent some time talking to Whitney Harsh. She is the booking agent for her husband David. He is an amazing guitarist. You can check him out at David Harsh.com. My brother Dale called about my mom’s internet problems. I called my mom and talked her through her internet problems. I don’t know whether I solved them or not. I did some preparation for Bible Study. We talked about the building of the Tabernacle and the free will offerings brought for it. They brought so much, TV evangelist Moses told them to stop! He didn’t need a gold plated Mercedes! I found at that Gene is in the hospital with Pneumonia. Pray for him. I put a picture of Carl doing dishes at www.timewithgod.mypodcast.com. This is one of Carl’s gifts. He loves to serve people and doing dishes is one of the ways he does it.

This week’s theme verse is Romans 8:31-34. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! Condemnation comes in many shapes and sizes. Giant size condemnation comes at the final judgment where the unbelieving are sent to the Lake of Fire for eternity. But in this life, we Christians face condemnation in various forms. Most of mine is self condemnation. Paul felt the sting of it when he cried out, “Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death?” As a sinful man, Paul often did the things he knew were wrong, and often failed to do things he should have… thus resulting in self condemnation. Self condemnation is a powerful force with a loud convincing voice, a voice difficult to silence. How do we do it? We need to give this super sized condemnation a taste of its own medicine. We need to remind it that Christ died for our sins. The penalty has been paid. Our condemnation was the condemnation that condemned Christ. Now it is his death which condemns our condemnation, so that now there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. According to the poet, someone once asked Martin Luther if he FELT forgiven.
He answered, “No, but I’m as sure as there’s a God in heaven.
For feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving.
My warrant is the word of God, naught else is worth believing.
Though all my soul should feel condemned for want of some sweet token
There is one greater in my heart who’s word can not be broken
I’ll stand on His unchanging word till soul and body sever
For though this world shall pass away, His word will last forever

Dear Jesus. Thank you for dying for me so that I do not have to face condemnation. All too often I do feel wretched because my soul feels condemned. I am forgiven in Christ. Convince me of that. Loudly if necessary. I stake my freedom on the Word of God which does not lie, and the truth of justification which shouts, “I am free! These chains are gone!” Thank you Lord.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:44 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

<< Home